LTU professors’ journal article honored with supplementary cover

SOUTHFIELD-A scholarly journal article written by two Lawrence Technological University professors about an innovative LTU summer camp for high school students has been honored with a supplementary cover of the Journal of Chemical Education.

Scholarly journals award supplementary cover status to articles that its publisher believes have contributed significantly to advancing the state of knowledge in their respective fields.

The article's authors are Shannon Timmons, associate professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Natural Sciences in LTU's College of Arts and Sciences, and Aleksandra Kuzmanov, assistant professor of biology in the department.

Titled "Molecules in Medicine: A Week-Long Multidisciplinary Summer Camp for High School Students," the article describes how a Lawrence Tech summer camp teaches important lessons about medicinal chemistry in a fun, impactful way.

"Health-related career goals are popular among high school science students, yet few understand the application of chemistry and biology research to the field of medicine and its impact on society," the paper's abstract begins. "In this five-day multidisciplinary summer camp, high school students learn about the real-world relevance of medicinal chemistry research and its application to human health through a series of hands-on synthesis, isolation, and biological testing experiments."

The journal's cover features a puzzle with pieces depicting chemistry- and biology-related summer camp activities, such as building molecular models, the synthesis of aspirin, antibacterial testing, and the use of microscopes. The words "Collaborative Science" are used to communicate the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of science, which is needed to solve society's most pressing challenges.

"We are honored to be recognized by this esteemed educational journal for showcasing the need for scientists to work across disciplinary boundaries to discover new cures and treatments to improve human health," Timmons said. "We need to connect STEM degrees with real-world applications to inspire the next generation of scientists."

Added Kuzmanov:"I am delighted to have the opportunity to instill the value of team science in our younger generations. As they navigate through an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and tackle challenges that a single discipline might not be able to solve is becoming more crucial than ever."

The camp is one of nearly 30 week-long science, technology, architecture, design, and business camps Lawrence Tech offers to high school students. This year's camps run the weeks of July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26, and July 29-Aug. 2. For more information on LTU summer camps, visit https://www.ltu.edu/summer-camps/.

Timmons joined the LTU faculty in 2008 following a postdoctoral fellowship in drug discovery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research is focused on the synthesis and medicinal testing of biologically relevant organic molecules. In her research laboratory at LTU, her undergraduate researchers have synthesized aspirin analogs for anticancer and antibacterial testing, bisphenol A analogs for toxicity testing, and contrast agents for imaging related to degenerative disc disease.

Kuzmanov joined LTU in 2017 following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California at Davis. She also holds an MD degree from the University of Belgrade in Serbia. Her lab studies the effects of environmental toxicants on reproductive health using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. She and Timmons are collaborating on a research project funded by the National Institutes of Health titled "A Search for Safer Plastics: Synthesis and Reproductive Toxicity Evaluation of Novel Bisphenols."

Lawrence Technological Universityis one of only 13 private, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932 and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU as part of its growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation's top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation's top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report list it in the top tier of the best Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, "theory and practice" education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech's 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

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