Pablo Morales-Zimbron, a junior in Ferris State University’s Industrial Chemical Technology
program from Toluca, Mexico was one of 10 2023 Summer Student Fellows active in research
on campus, working with associate professor of Physical Sciences Luis Rivera.
Pablo Morales-Zimbron learned of Ferris State University in high school from an international recruiter.
Now a junior in Industrial Chemical Technology and Manufacturing, he has completed a Ferris State University Summer Student Fellowship and is building career skills that might not have previously been available to him.
“I decided to pursue higher education outside of Mexico, and what I learned about Ferris was attractive as I considered my options,” said Morales-Zimbron, who is from Tocula, Mexico. “The advisor from my college helped me to consider ways to get involved with campus research activities, and the fellowship is an excellent way for me to begin.”
Morales-Zimbron is addressing “Solvation of Halogen Bound Complexes,” with associate professor of Physical Sciences Luis Rivera as his faculty mentor.
Rivera has been a mentor in the Student Summer Fellowship for five years and bases his students in the Physics Research Lab in the Science Building.
“The project I have pursued with Pablo is an extension of a project I started a few years ago, but it is not connected to previous studies done by research fellows,” Rivera said. “This program is a very good way to expose our students to research norms and activities, which includes the incorporation and utilization of technology available in our facilities.”
Kathryn DeSanti, a Ferris State University student from Columbus, Ohio was one of
10 2023 Summer Student Fellows active in research on campus, working with Associate
Professor Eric Nybo in the College of Pharmacy.
In a College of Pharmacy laboratory, Kathryn DeSanti, of Columbus, Ohio, teamed with Eric Nybo, an associate professor of Medicinal Chemistry in Pharmaceutical Science, on a Summer Research Fellowship opportunity entitled “Metabolic Engineering of Macrolactone Antibiotics,” which was her first research opportunity.
“I did not know what to expect, just wanting to get my feet wet,” DeSanti said. “I have learned a lot and tried many things; this has certainly helped me to identify the type of research work I would be interested in going forward. I am excited to continue with research activities while I work toward my degree.”
Nybo said this is a collaborative effort that builds on other endeavors with student fellows collaborating with David Sherman, a professor from the University of Michigan, a leading researcher in the enzymology of macrolactone natural products.
“We are very lucky to be working with a giant in the field, David Sherman from the University of Michigan,” Nybo said.
Eight other teams of faculty mentors and student fellows will present their findings on Friday, Sept. 15, in the 2023 Celebration of Student Research and Creative Activities Symposium, which will be held in Ferris State’s David L. Eisler Center.
“This type of presentation is definitely a first for me, and I began my work early on developing the content,” Morales-Zimbron said. “Being able to make the information relatable to a wide audience is certainly one of my challenges.”
Six university colleges were represented in this year’s Summer Student Fellowships. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs supports the program.