August 06, 2014

Student attends prestigious chemistry program

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A doctoral student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a member of an elite group a scholars invited to attend a program for tomorrow’s scientific leaders. 

Sambasiva Reddy Bheemireddy, who is pursuing his doctorate in chemistry at SIU, is attending the “SciFinder Future Leaders in Chemistry” program, Aug. 5-14. Now in its fifth year, the program, sponsored by Chemical Abstract Service, is billed as one of the most prestigious of its kind, with many of its participants going on to present research at major scientific conferences and publish in high-impact journals. 

Sambasiva will join a group of just 18 other diverse, international scientists who are gaining an opportunity to share research experience and knowledge while taking part in a top scientific meeting. Participants can share their insights with those directly responsible for SciFinder, a tool researchers worldwide rely on daily, and can help hone and enhance the resource. 

Sambasiva earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Kakatiya University, India, in 2006 and his master’s degree in organic chemistry from Osmania University, India, in 2008. He worked at Thomson Reuters in 2009 and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology as a full-time research scholar as part of a research fellowship program from 2009-2012, before joining the doctoral program at SIU. 

At SIU, Sambasiva works in the laboratory of Kyle Plunkett, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Sambasiva studies the design and synthesis of small molecule and polymeric materials based on cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have relevance for organic electronic devices. 

Held in Columbus, Ohio, the program will give participants the chance to interact within the scientific community on a global scale. They will get a behind-the-scenes look at how CAS builds and maintains its databases, while also discussing scientific challenges and touring facilities. 

This year’s participants also will attend the American Chemical Society’s National Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco. The meeting is an opportunity for researchers to present, publish, discuss and exhibit the most exciting research discoveries and technologies in chemistry and related disciplines.