Chandler Society combines science, sandwiches

In a sunlit Havemeyer classroom, students lunch around an antiquey wooden table covered with sandwiches and salads.

The topic of discussion? DNA.

These students are members of the Chandler Society for Undergraduate Chemistry, and they aren’t all expert chemists.

But at the society’s meeting, these science enthusiasts saw themselves as electrons in a high-energy orbital, who were, “when gathered together, in a constant excited state,” Chandler Society president Markrete Krikorian, CC ’11, quipped. (As they well know, electrons become excited when infused with energy.)

The group, which dates back to 1995, is a venue for students to explore their interest in chemistry. The only requirements for prospective undergraduate members are attendance at meetings and activities, and a love for science.

The Chandler Society works to bring students and researchers together through regular conversation. With topics ranging from academic advising to guest’s research, both undergraduates and scientists say the events bolster collaboration between the two groups.

The first guest of the year was Colin Nuckolls, a Columbia chemistry professor. Nuckolls’ research focuses on the creation of new molecules that assemble to form molecular devices, or tiny manmade structures that interact with atoms.

Nuckolls discovered how to connect the ends of a small, hollow “nanotube” and place altered DNA between the ends to identify mismatched base pairs—a finding he called one of his greatest “aha!” moments.

The sequencing of cytosine (C), guanine (G), thymine (T), and adenine (A) nucleotides of DNA encode the genetic information of living organisms. The A of one strand interacts with the T of another strand, and the same is true for C and G. When there is a CA or GT mismatch, mutations form and can be severely harmful to an organism.

Researchers can detect such mismatches by measuring the difference in the electrical conductance of the DNA. Scientists have found that properly matched DNA strands had a resistance 300 times lower than DNA strands with CA or GT mismatches.

Such an ultra-sensitive molecular device could be instrumental in detecting mutations associated with common diseases such as diabetes at the individual nucleotide level. It might also make it possible to detect how vaccines and drugs affect variations in DNA sequences, and provide information on how to prevent the physical manifestations of the disease associated with a specific mutation.

Being able to engage with researchers on a personal level, students said, is key. These events help undergraduates learn about lab position openings and what kinds of research their professors are pursuing, said Chandler Society secretary Louise Stewart, CC ’11.

“We even encourage students to ask more personal questions, like what it is that drives the professor to do research and teach at a college level,” Stewart said, adding that this may help some in choosing a career path.

These conversations “showed us all that professors are people too,” member Ivy Fortmeyer, CC ’11, said.

The lunches are scheduled for Fridays at noon in 717 Havemeyer, and are followed by a brief lab tour.

And, of course, it is always comforting to know the interest goes both ways.

“It is great to talk to students, because they are exciting individuals,” Nuckolls said. Sort of like electrons.