Alex L Boswell

Personal Information

Monmouth College class of 2023

Chemistry Major; Physics Minor

From Dixon, IL

Email: alboswell@monmouthcollege.edu

Phone Number: (1)815-677-1450

Undergraduate Research Activities

Exploring Underwater Environments with Fifish V6 Expert Drone

Data analyzation

Alex Boswell

Exploring Under Water Environments

•Under water environments and the human body are similar in the fact that we are made mostly of water and have a microbiome. Science has mapped the human body, can obtain samples of the microbiome through fecal matter, and convey the information into a readable format. Under water environments have yet to be mapped, this is where SONAR becomes a very helpful tool as it maps the ground below the water. To collect samples a Fifish V6 Expert Drone was used which not only gave us a means of collecting samples but also gave access to exploring the water in a first-person view from the safety of land. Once the samples have been run through an instrument it will provide a text file, converting this file into images through the Qiime2 software gives easy to read and informative graphics such as bar plots.

BS

•Underwater environments and the human body have many similarities in that humans are made mostly of water (60%) and have a resident microbial community, aka. a microbiome. Science has mapped the human body, can obtain samples of the human microbiome, and offer a variety of health related recommendations. Most underwater environments have yet to be mapped in a similar way. We have developed methods to use SONAR (SOund NAvigating and Ranging) to map the bottom surface of underwater environments. In addition, we have acquired the Fifish V6 Expert underwater drone to collect underwater samples and to gave access to a "first-person view" (FPV) from the safety of land. Microbiome samples from water environments have been analyzed to determine bacterial species presence using Qiime2 software.

Presentations

Coming Soon

Interests

I am interested in chemistry, physics, coding, and teaching. I enjoy a challenge and the responsibility of leadership.

Career Goals

With these interest in mind I am excited to apply to Graduate School and possibly enter the work force in a lab or industrial setting after graduating from Monmouth College. With the experience I have so far from research and communicating with my Professors I can already sense that there are many options available to me in terms of education, research, and work.

I want to attend Graduate School and study more in the field of Physical Chemistry or a mix of Chemistry and Physics. I particularly want to focus on one of these two options as I have found a love for the physical side of chemistry and enjoy the hands on experience that is accustomed to it. Physics is something I did not start to learn till I was a Junior at Monmouth College, but since joining physics I have enjoyed learning how the universe works and the complicated questions and issues that physics ask or does not explain. During my hunt for schools I would like to attend my top priority will be how their Physical Chemistry department is and what they are currently doing with research as well as future projects they want to pursue.

Finding a job is also extremely important and although I do like using Instruments and learning about what they do I like to use my hands along with my brain. My preferred job would be teaching as a Professor at a college level institution. This would allow me to have lots of communication with others, being able to teach, and set up and perform research on a subject that I select. I would also enjoy working in a lab as a managerial position where I am expected to know how things run in the facility but also take part in working with those that I am responsible for.

Work Expierience

August 2021-Current

Teaching Assistant|Teaching|Monmouth College Department of Chemistry

Working in the Analytical Chemistry Lab, I set up materials and instruments and helped students with questins they may have as well as understanding the concepts of each lab.