In high school, Elizabeth Gruen realized that chemistry can unlock the mysteries of how and why systems function. She was instantly hooked.
“I’m someone who’s always loved to learn the ‘why’ behind everything,” she said.
Now a biochemistry major at Ohio Northern University, Elizabeth is diving deep into the intersection of chemistry and biology, both at the molecular and environmental levels.
This summer, her innate curiosity and drive led her to a prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA).
Elizabeth is assisting UAA professors with a project to detect and monitor 6PPDQ, a chemical product of tire rubber degradation. Recent studies have identified 6PPDQ as toxic to coho salmon, a species vital to Alaskan ecosystems and economies.
The research aims to determine if elevated 6PPDQ concentrations could be contributing to the declining salmon populations in Anchorage, Elizabeth explained.
Elizabeth’s works spans both field and lab settings. On field days, she assists in collecting water samples from storm drains and key waterways around Anchorage, including Ship, Chester, and Campbell Creeks. She also measures parameters such a temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen content. In the lab, she processes those samples using solid phase extraction and conducts chemical analyses before inputting the resulting data.
She’s gaining a deep appreciation for the precision and control required in environmental testing.
“It’s been a great experience in the real-world application of chemistry and has definitely helped me to further develop my problem-solving skills.”
Her summer in Alaska is not only sharpening her scientific skills, but affirming her goal to pursue graduate school and a research career in environmental chemistry.
“It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said.
“It’s the beginning of my journey to personally contribute to the field of environmental chemistry and do my part to broaden our understanding of the world.”
