Kamaya Ronning

Mary Gates Research Scholar, Winter 2024

Research Project: Metal Organic Frameworks as Catalysts for Biomass Upgrading

Project Description: As our world progresses through technological advancements, much of our planet regresses as an effect of climate change, highlighting a need for underutilized resources to be brought to the forefront of industry. One avenue for transforming abundant resources into useful chemicals for sources like fuel is the catalytic upgrading of biomass derived molecules. However, catalysts traditionally used for these reactions are not stable to contaminants in biomass mixtures, such as water or organic acids. For biomass derived molecules to serve as precursors for biofuel and other related energy sources, more stable and efficient catalysts are needed. I am working on synthesizing metal organic frameworks with secondary amine and carboxylic acid functionality to use in acid-base catalysis. The goal of this project is to improve upon previous work that successfully used a primary amine and carboxylic acid pair to run catalysis.

What have you learned throughout your research project?

Patience and hard work are a key combination to succeeding in research. It can be hard to be trying to perform work that you know should run smoothly, but is not. Taking a step back and remembering that this is a learning process releases some of the stress and makes the process more enjoyable. By doing this, I was able to develop instincts and learn how to trust those instincts in the lab to make the best choices for my project. In addition to valuable lessons surrounding professional development and in lab work, I have learned immense amounts of background chemistry relating to my specific project as well as a lot about the general field of inorganic chemistry.

What piece of advice do you have for future applicants?

Ask people for help! There are so many students and professors who want to see you succeed and are happy to help you get there.