AnylSpec: Independent Projects

Chemistry 620
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Instructions for Independent Projects
Your last assignment in Chem620 is to write a paper and present an oral summary of the paper reviewing an emerging optical method or novel application of an optical method selected by you with the advice (if needed) and consent (required) of the instructor. You should avoid a topic close to your own research or that conducted by other members of your research group so that this assignment gives you the broadest possible exposure to literature research. Instructions for the paper and presenation are below.

Instructions for Research Paper
This paper should be at least 12 pages, but no more than 18 pages long (double-spaced), not including figures and references . The paper should focus on innovations in technology or application of optical molecular spectroscopic methods. Two types of papers are acceptable: you may elect to 1) survey an emerging (novel, innovative) method and describe its principles and the range of its application or 2) focus on an analytical investigation or application of a mature optical method to an innovative, intriguing problem or analysis. If you write about an emerging method, such as second harmonic generation, you need to describe a few (2-3) applications described in peer-reviewed journals that illustrate the range of potential applicaitons. If you write about an intriguing investigation or application, such as FTIR characterizion of the differences in smoke composition as function of the amount of time a cigarette has been lit, you need to summarize the results of a series of papers (2-3) published in peer-reviewed journals documenting the milestones reached as the investigators acheived their goals. In either case, the paper is an opportunity to utilize the material covered during the course to evaluate work described in the literature. It must include descriptions of the principles (light/matter interactions) underlying the method; the instrumentation required (brief summaries of components discussed in class, complete descriptions of operation and construction of new devices); the form and factors influencing the signal collected, noise that distorts it and the calibration and noise suppression strategies used to recover chemical information from the raw instrument signal; the advantages and disadvantages of the method to established technology; (Method) OR the limitations in the results of earlier investigations (Application)

A good Abstract States the primary thesis of the paper Summarizes the main elements of the paper A good Introduction Identifies and/or defines the subject of the paper Summarizes the history/background of the subject Previews the scope of the paper (provides compelling rationale, focus) A good Theory (photon-matter interactions) section Describes the source of the signals. i.e., the processes that occur in the sample that produce the signals, that are collected A good Instrumentation section Describes the layout of the instrument used to acquire the measurement that is the focus of paper completely Summarizes the operation of familiar (discussed in class) components Describes the operation of new (not discussed in class) components completely Describes important variations in components and layout Describes how variations in components and layout impact signal quality A good Application (Method Paper) or Review (Application Paper) section Recounts the details of measurements that have been reported in peer-reviewed publications and illustrate (even emphasize) the unique features of the measurement (method paper) or the evolution in the technology leading to resolution of the analytical question (application paper) Interprets the results of the measurement(s) A good Conclusion section Compares the results to those available using other methods Briefly discuss aspects that require further development A good References section Lists all the sources cited in the paper Consists primarily of citations to peer-reviewed sources (graphical illustrations from internet sources are important exceptions) When material covered in the course is relevant the topic, it should be incorporated into the paper briefly, saving space for thorough descriptions of new concepts and technology. Remember that good papers are well organized at all levels. Each section will only be effective if it consists of well constructed paragraphs linked by effective transitions. Each paragraph should consist of sentences relating to a single issue or argument. The topic sentences from all the paragraphs should form a cohesive narrative. See the ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors (2nd ed., Janet Dodd, Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1997 (in Chem Library Reference) for guidance on technical writing including word usage, grammar and citation format. The Guide describes three citation systems used by ACS publications, any one of them is acceptable as long as the title of the article is included and the list is internally consistent (do not switch between formats).

Instructions for Research Presentations
The oral presentation summarizing the main points in each section of the paper should be between 20 min and 25 min long (depends on number of presentations), including 5 minutes for questions. Power Point or other presentation software should be used to make slides which may be displayed from a computer or transparency. The form the class will use to evaluate the presenations can be viewed here. Students should provide hard copies of their slides (4 slides per sheet) on which the audience can make notes. Ten copies will be enough for the class. See Betty Cowgill (BRL 104) or SLN (LDL 107) to have copies made.

Example Topics* for Method Papers (If one of the papers we discuss in class covers one of these methods, delete the method from this list.)	Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Polarized Absorption Spectroscopy Degenerative Four-Wave Mixing Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Near-field Scanning Optical Microscopy Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy Fluorescence Line-Narrowing Spectroscopy Hyperspectral Fluorescence Imaging Chemiluminescence Spectroscopy Step-Scan FT-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperspectral IR Imaging Attenuated Total Reflectance-IR mapping Transient (Time-Resolved) Infrared Spectroscopy FT Raman Spectroscopy Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Imaging Raman Imaging Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Near-Infrared Imaging FT Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Spectroscopy Second Harmonic Generation Spectroscopy Optical Detection of Magnetic Resonance

Example Topics* for Application Papers (If one of the papers we discuss in class covers one of these methods, delete the method from this list.)	Optical Spectroscopy of Single Molecules Optical Spectroscopy of Biological Samples (Tissue, Cells, etc) Optical Spectroscopy of Thin Films Optical Spectroscopy of Quantum Dots Optical Spectroscopy of Trapped (Levitated) Droplets Optical Spectroscopy of Engineered Materials Optical Biosensor Development Optical Chemical Development Optical Sensors based on Quantum Dots Biomedical Optical Spectroscopy

*Clearly, this is not a complete list. It is offered as a starting point for investigation. The technique topics can be refined by focusing on a particular application, i.e., Polarized Absorption Spectroscopy of Thin Fims. If a topic is a central element of a paper discussed by the class, it should not be selected for independent study.