2019 Coblentz Student Awardee
Nicole Ralbovsky is a third-year doctoral candidate in Dr. Igor K. Lednev’s laboratory at the University at Albany, SUNY. Her research focuses on developing a novel method for medical diagnostics using Raman hyperspectroscopy in combination with advanced statistical analysis. Nicole has had great success in developing the method and has published an article in Biophotonics magazine describing the methodology. Specifically, Nicole was able to apply the method for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease through investigation of saliva, achieving over 99% accuracy. Nicole has extended her research efforts toward diagnosing Celiac disease, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and Lyme disease. Nicole has two first-author manuscripts published and has recently submitted two additional manuscripts. The advantage of her developed methodology resides in the ability to definitively, quickly, and accurately make a diagnosis in a cost-effective and non-invasive manner – thus providing a huge advantage over current diagnostic procedures. Nicole received a grant from the State University of New York Technology Accelerator Fund to pursue this research.
Nicole Ralbovsky, University at Albany, SUNY, Professor Igor K. Lednev
In addition to the progress she has made regarding her research, Nicole has also maintained an overall 4.0 GPA and was the two-time recipient of SUNY Albany’s Harry L. Frisch Memorial scholarship in Chemistry as a result of her academic achievements. Nicole was an invited speaker at Pittcon 2019 where she discussed her research on medical diagnostics and has also been the recipient of multiple travel awards, including five awards presented to her by SUNY Albany and one sponsored by SCIEX to attend the 2019 International Symposium on Microscale Separations and Bioanalysis. What’s more, Nicole has demonstrated her ability to successfully balance her academic career with community outreach and volunteerism; she spends time participating in SUNY Albany’s Graduate Student Club for Chemistry, where she is the secretary, is involved in SUNY Albany’s Graduate Student Association, volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association, and spends many weekends throughout the year at her local church, volunteering with various projects and fundraisers.
Call for the 2020 Coblentz Student Awards and William G. Fateley Award
The Coblentz Society has for many years encouraged young scientists to pursue studies in spectroscopy by seeking nominations of outstanding students for the Coblentz Student Awards. The awardees receive a copy of the Society's Desk Book, a certificate, and a year's membership in the Society. The three leading graduate students selected by the Coblentz Award committee will automatically become candidates for the William G. Fateley student award that includes a plaque and a cash prize. No separate nomination for the Fateley award is required.
The nominations window for Coblentz Student Awards closes February 15, 2020.
The nominations window for Coblentz Student Awards closes February 15, 2020.
Nominations should be sent to the Chair of the Student Affairs committee at nominations@coblentz.org.
Graduate or undergraduate students who have shown excellence in vibrational spectroscopy research and/or coursework including vibrational spectroscopy may be nominated. The nominator must be a member of the Coblentz Society (to become a member contact the Society Office or complete the online membership application).
Requirements for a complete nomination:
- Curriculum Vitae of the nominee.
- Biographical statement (300 words)
- One (1) letter of nomination from the supervisor
- One (1) additional letter of recommendation
- Abstract for a presentation at SciX 2020.
Past Awardees
2018 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Kajari Bera, University of Minnesota, Professor Renee Frontiera
- Santosh Kumar Paidi, Johns Hopkins University, Professor Ishan Barman
2017 Coblentz Student Awardees
- David Bryce, University of Utah, Professor Joel Harris
- Ewelina Mistek, University at Albany, SUNY, Professor Igor Lednev
- Christian Graefe, University of Minnesota, Professor Renee Frontiera
- James Brooks, University of Minnesota, Professor Renee Frontiera
2016 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Mustafa Unal, Case Western Reserve
University, Professor Ozan Akkus
- Emily Keller, University of Minnesota, Professor Renee Frontiera
- Aashish Tuladhar, Temple University, Professor Eric Borguet
- Alyssa Cassabaum, University of Minnesota, Professor Renee Frontiera
2015 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Marie Richard-Lacroix, Université de Montréal, Professor Christian Pellerin
- Shalaka Dewan, Temple University, Professor Éric Borguet
- Stephanie Dejong, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Professor James Durig
- Martha Vardaki, University of Exeter, Professor Nick Stone
2014 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Chris Huber, University of Minnesota, Professor Aaron Massari
- Antonio Campos, University of Minnesota, Professor Christy Haynes
- Ikhlas Darkhalil, University of South Carolina, Professor Micky Myrick
- Jay Kitt, University of Utah, Professor Joel Harris
2013 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Tomasz P. Wrobel, Jagiellonian University, Professor Malgorzata Baranska
- Sarah E. Holton, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Professor Rohit Bhargava
- Tao Liang, University of Georgia, Professor Gary Douberly
- Rachel Masyuko, University of Notre Dame, Professor Paul W. Bohn
2012 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Xiaohua (Sarah) Zhou, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Professor James R. Durig
- Eduardo Berrios, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Professor Martin Gruebele
- Marleen Kerssens, Gloucestershire Hospitals, Professor Nick Stone
- Rajesh Morampudi, Cleveland State University, Professor John F Turner
- Jonathan Schaefer, University of Utah, Professor Joel M. Harris
- Andreas Wilk, Georgia Institute of Technology, Professor Boris Mizaikoff
2011 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Rohith Reddy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Professor Rohit Bhargava
- Nathaniel R. Gomer, University of South Carolina, Professor S. Michael Angel
- Esther J. Ocola, Texas A&M University, Professor Jaan Laane
- Savitha S. Panikar, University of Missouri – Kansas City, Professor James Durig
- Megan R. Pearl, University of South Carolina, Professor Michael Myrick
2010 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Ali Eftekhari-Bafrooei, Temple University, Professor Eric Borguet
- Ram Bhatta, University of Akron, Professor David Perry
- Praveenkumar Boopalachandran, Texas A&M University, Professor Jaan Laane
- Bryon Herbert, University of Delaware, Professor Karl S. Booksh
- Yuliya Luzinova, Georgia Tech University, Professor Boris Mizaikoff
- Hajime Okajima, University of Tokyo, Professor Hiro-o Hamaguchi
2009 Coblentz Student Awardees
- Christopher J. Addison, University of British Columbia, Professor Michael Blades
- Kyle C. Bantz, University of Minnesota, Professor Christy L. Haynes
- Sudhir Dahal, Towson University, Professor Boon Loo
- Arindam Ganguly, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Professor James R. Durig
- Rosina A. Lombardi, Syracuse University, Professor Laurence A. Nafie
- Allen M. Ricks, University of Georgia, Professor Michael A. Duncan
- Sean T. Roberts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Andrei Tokmakoff
- Bhavya Sharma, University of Pittsburgh, Professor Sanford A. Asher
- Christina R. Young, Georgia Institute of Technology, Professor Boris Mizaikoff