The science department at Eastern New Mexico University has a new piece of equipment which determines the structure of molecules.  The Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer is a rare opportunity for a teaching school.

“We got the equipment from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech.  They decommissioned it and, instead of throwing it out, my Ph.D. mentor, Dr. Robert Shaw, chose to transfer it to Eastern in order to build collaboration,” said Dr. Newton Hilliard, associate professor of chemistry.

The equipment, which is about 10 years old and would have cost Eastern approximately
$400,000, allows faculty and students to

determine the actual structure of molecules.  Currently, it can be used for small molecules, 30-50 atoms, but the department is hoping to increase its capabilities to also look at small proteins.

“Dr. (Robert) Long and Dr. (Juchao) Yan were already doing this kind of work, but had to leave campus to do the research, but now they can work here.  The research is not something that you do overnight.  It takes weeks and months,” Dr. Hilliard said.

The equipment will broaden scientific research capabilities at Eastern, including more hands-on experience for students.

“Dr. Long and Dr. Yan’s research synthesizes new molecules.   They are making things that have not been made before and will be able to take the molecule and look at the structure to see if they made what they thought.  For protein work, we can look at the three-dimensional structure and gain a better understanding of what it is doing within the cells,” he said.

According to Dr. Hilliard, the equipment will allow for a better collaboration between Eastern and fellow schools.

“We will be able to work better with our friends at Texas Tech, at UNM and down in Las Cruces; it will allow us to work with them in a way we hadn’t been able to previously,” Dr. Hilliard said.

Doris Anaya, who will complete her 23rd year with Eastern this fall, has settled well into her new role as director of the Educational Talent Search program of TRiO.

A little over a month ago, she was a financial aid specialist, but after finishing her master’s in communication, she was given the opportunity to return to the TRiO program where Ms. Anaya was once the Upward Bound director. 

“I had the opportunity to move up and get back into the schools again. Our goal is to help students do well in school, middle school to high school, and then to graduate and go on to be successful in college,” Ms. Anaya said.

Her work in financial aid is an excellent resource within the TRiO program.

“A big part of who we work with are high school seniors and one of our goals is to help them complete their financial aid. I know the forms and the process that needs to be followed, and we share with them the importance of applying for financial aid and applying early,” she said.

Her experience as director of Upward Bound has also helped her because she has worked with the student population before and understands their needs, and the struggles they face staying in school, graduating high school and going to college, says Ms. Anaya.

“The type of work we do in all of those areas (Talent Search, Upward Bound and Financial aid) is very rewarding.  I gain a lot of satisfaction knowing that I help students reach their goals,” Ms. Anaya said.