This Washburn University student's research in lead detection won international award

Research changing the way lead in water is found helped Ethan Connors elevate his scientific career and determine what his future will look like.

Washburn University chemistry senior Ethan Connors received the James Manner Award at the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (Pittcon), an international conference for analytical chemistry.

"I'm proud of his work and his ability to communicate the work that he's done at a national meeting," chemistry department head Shaun Schmidt said.

Washburn student's research beat out 600 competitors

Conners’ presentation, “Development of Maleic/Malonic Acid Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Selective Colorimetric Analysis of Lead Ions in Water Samples,” was among 600 posters presented.

While at the conference, Conners said he enjoyed seeing the different presentations and meeting follow scientists in his field.

"I mean, we're all just people, so it wasn't too bad," Conners told The Capital-Journal. "They're friendly. The scientific meetings are about communicating the research. Being recognized is just an extra bonus."

His presentation was taken from research he did with his fellow student Manish Bhatta and chemistry professor Seid Adem. The research was to create a solution using gold to detect lead in water more easily and cheaply.

"Right now, lead takes instruments and trained professionals to actually say, 'Hey, there's lead in this,'" Connors said. "So what we're trying to do is we're trying to make a more user-friendly approach."

Right job for soon-to-be Washburn grad will have lab and field work

Connors will graduate in May with his undergraduate degree in chemistry. He hopes to further his studies in either Colorado or Washington.

While working on this research, Connors said he learned what kind of work environment he wants in his career after finishing school.

"I think I want a mix of lab and field work," Connors said. "I think if I'm in a lab for 10 hours a day, every day, five days a week, I'd be a sad person," Connors said. "But if I have some days where I get to go out and do sampling out in the field, that'd be nice."

Conners commended Washburn for supporting his educational journey, he said in a written statement, adding that it allowed him to explore chemistry research independently in the lab and the classroom.

"The chemistry department has provided the space to challenge my understanding of the chemical world around me in a way that facilitated my growth into the critically thinking chemist I am today," he said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Washburn student Ethan Connors wins James Manner Award for research