Germantown Native Conducts Chemistry Research

Protecting our environment is a complicated problem, but that won’t stop one aspiring chemist from finding creative ways to keep our planet green.

Mary Yenca, now a rising senior studying chemistry and biochemistry at Mount St. Mary's
University, is deeply passionate about science. Mary is one of only 10 outstanding chemistry
students from across the country who spent this summer doing research as a part of the highly
selective Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program at The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville.

The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a highly competitive 10-week
research opportunity in which the participants are paired with a UT faculty mentor and have the
opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in a chemistry laboratory.

Throughout the summer, Mary conducted full-time research focused on chemical reactions and
lab work and also worked to develop the professional writing and oral communication skills she
needs in order to share her research with members of the chemistry community and the general
public.

Under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Johnathan N. Brantley and his team, Mary learned
what it was like to work in an advanced chemistry laboratory, an approach that allowed her to
gain skills and confidence that will support her future scientific career.

In Dr. Brantley’s lab, Mary worked to understand and manipulate the physical properties of a
unique set of compounds called terpene-derived polymers. Polymers are large molecules formed
from a repeating sequence of a single structure, or monomer, and make up many everyday
products and household items, from garbage bags to hard hats. The polymers Mary worked with
are made from terpenes, a large group of naturally produced compounds. These special polymers
are interesting because they could have a broad range of applications and can be produced more
sustainably than traditional polymers.

Mary’s work in Dr. Brantley’s lab focused on building a chemical bridge between (crosslinking) polymer chains to make a large network of connected polymers. This process can dramatically change the physical properties of the crosslinked polymers, potentially making them more resistant to damage. Mary’s goal was to explore reversibly crosslinked polymers, in which the chemical bridges can be built or destroyed in specific situations, in order to create a crosslinked polymer that could be easily recycled after use.

A Germantown native, Mary has always felt at home in a diverse and collaborative community.
As a high school student, she was drawn to chemistry because she found it challenging and
ultimately rewarding after her hard work led her to a more complete understanding of the subject
and how it relates to other areas of science. As she continues to explore her field, Mary is only
growing more excited to pursue a career in chemistry. “There’s nothing else like it,” she says,
“there are so many applications.”

This summer was hardly Mary’s first experience in a chemistry lab, and it wasn’t her first time
doing chemistry with a focus on the environment either. “Green chemistry is a passion of mine,
and it’s something I’ve had the chance to explore a lot,” Mary says. Back at Mount St. Mary’s,
she researches the way in which different chemicals interact with light in order to find new and
more effective ways to harvest solar energy and to improve our existing technology.

In the future, Mary plans to attend graduate school to earn an advanced degree in chemistry. She
wants to develop her newfound interest in polymer chemistry while staying true to her roots in
green chemistry, but is intrigued by other possibilities like drug synthesis and design.

Whatever field she chooses, Mary’s experience and dedication will surely lead her to success.