Niagara University’s Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics was excited to host the 2026 Western New York American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday, March 28th, in Lewiston, NY. The event, organized by Dr. Lauren Rosch, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics, drew over 60 students, faculty, and industry representatives from across the Western New York area — a testament to the department’s growing presence in the regional chemistry community.
The symposium provided a dynamic platform for undergraduate researchers to share their work through both oral and poster presentations, spanning a wide range of topics in chemistry. Students and faculty from colleges and universities throughout the WNY region gathered at Niagara University’s campus, reflecting the institution’s commitment to advancing chemical education and research at the undergraduate level.
The event’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Konstantinos Plakas of Bristol Myers Squibb, whose talk — “From Medicinal Chemistry to Radiochemistry and Most Places in Between” — offered attendees a compelling look at the breadth of a career in pharmaceutical chemistry and the real-world impact of the field.
The Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics was proudly represented by eleven Niagara University students. Zachary Holmes delivered an oral presentation titled “Computational Studies of Telluropyrans,” while Adrian Martinez, Linsey Myers, Patrick Hennegan, Ryan Nguyen, Andrew Jin, Carson Blatner, Isabella Nakhla, Faith Leader, Anthony Townsend, and Carissa Haney each presented posters showcasing their undergraduate research under the advisement of Drs. Mary McCourt, Luis Sanchez, Christopher Stoj, and Lauren Rosch.
The Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society represents the Niagara Falls and Buffalo areas and surrounding communities. Membership in the local section is open to all ACS members. For more information on membership, visit the National ACS website at www.acs.org.
