May 27, 2009 By: yunews
May 27, 2009 -- When Sam Blass began studying protein crystallization with Dr. Neer Asherie, assistant professor of physics and biology, the Yeshiva College undergraduate became so enamored with nanotechnology that he decided to major in chemistry instead of his previous pre-med track.
Now, after three years of research with faculty, including his mentor, Dr. Asherie, and Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, Stern College for Women professor of physics, Blass will enter the PhD program in materials science at the University of Minnesota 鈥 Twin Cities this fall.
鈥淎ll those hours in the lab made me want to do more of this,鈥 said Blass.
At Minnesota he鈥檒l be studying both chemical engineering and materials science--the 鈥渟tudy of any material 鈥 solid, circuits, concretes, metals,鈥 Blass explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very interdisciplinary, which is what attracted me to it.鈥
The Paramus, NJ, resident was one of four scholars awarded the first annual Henry Kressel Research Scholarship, a fellowship established to perpetuate YU鈥檚 student research community, in 2008. He was also one of four students across the country selected to participate in NASA鈥檚 Undergraduate Student Research Program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he studied carbon nanotubes in fall 2007.
To top all that, Blass received a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship, which provides a $30,000 stipend plus extra money for expenses to study with a mentor in graduate school for three years.
鈥淕raduate school will give me the opportunity to pursue research ideas for a longer time,鈥 Blass said. 鈥淗opefully resulting in more publications and a greater sense of independence.鈥
As for his future career? 鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 thinking of going into industry, but that can change to government or academia鈥︹
For a bright chemistry student, the world is full of possibilities.
