Et cetera : Center Point native conducts original research at Central College

Marissa Brandt of Center Point and 21 other Central College students are setting a record. They’re filling the labs with Central’s largest-ever number of chemistry researchers, says professor of chemistry Cathy Haustein.

Brandt, a chemistry major, has been working with visiting assistant professor of chemistry James Dunne to use chromium lignins to create useful chemicals.

Brandt says she loves to work independently, then talk with Dunne to reimagine strategies that failed. “It hasn’t been 100 percent figured out yet — we’re not just validating someone else’s research,” Brandt said. “Often times, we’re just flying by the seat of our pants.”

No student is required to do original research at Central. However, a growing number are taking advantage of opportunities to collaborate with their professors. “For professors, it keeps us mentally stimulated and involved in our fields,” Haustein said. “For students, it shows them what it’s really like to be a scientist. It’s a hands-on part of education that every student needs.”

Meanwhile, ongoing research provides an opportunity for Central professors to invest in students and explore topics they’re curious about. “We do it because we like it, and it’s just so good for our students,” Haustein said. “It’s fun to teach chemistry, but this is really doing. It makes you feel really alive as a department.”

Founded in 1853, Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, residential four-year liberal arts college known for its academic rigor and strength in global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), sustainability education, athletics success and tradition, and leadership and service. Central continues to value its long-standing relationship with the Reformed Church in America that began in 1916. The college participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Iowa Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just two minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake.