Name:
Nelvin Acevedo-Valle
Country:
United States
City:
Moca
State/Province:
PR
ACS Member:
Local Section:
Puerto Rico
International Chapter:
Technical Division Membership:
Technical Division Membership Emeritus:
Subdivision Member:
ACS Activities:
I was the past Vice-President of my Student Chapter 2010-2011 were we obtained the Outstanding & Green Chapter Award. In the present I'm in the 2011-2011 Directive Board of the Chapter: Public Relation.
I also participated on the ACS Younger Chemist Leadership Institute 2012.
Activities that I'm participating: National Chemistry Week, International Year Chemistry, Green Chemistry Week, Chem Demo & Expo, Help in the organizations of events and promotions, Usher in activities such as Sigma XI, Job Fair, Open House, Jr. Tech. Meeting, Senior Tech. Meeting. Freshman’s orientation and counselor; Social Volunteer activities with children’s from hospitals and orphanage.
Company/Institution Name:
Career Stage:
Retired
Research and Special Interests:
My name is Nelvin Acevedo Valle, I’m 21 years old and live in Puerto Rico. In the present I’m an undergraduate senior student majoring in Chemistry, minor in premed at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Since 2009 I’m part of the American Chemical Society. My current research interest is in medicinal chemistry, because two of my biggest passions in life are medicine and science. In this way I could sharpen and improve my skills in research and be more prepare for my graduate studies.
The research field is one that I like a lot, because in it a person could really demonstrate the investigation potential that one has and apply all the techniques learned during their studies at the university. A person like myself that can carry-on with a research is capable of develop to the fullest his or her laboratory skills. That’s why my goals are clear; I want to obtain a MD in neurosurgery and I will study hard until I could accomplish it. That’s why previous research experiences help me to keep moving on in the research area and gain more experiences watching doctor doing their job and seeing and imagine that what I would be in a future. They also help me to increase the confidence in myself.
Actually I am enrolled in the American Chemistry Society, where I’m an active member and the past vice-president & present Public Relations. This has been a great experience since I could share my passion for science with others when the chapter performs activities in elementary and high schools where we do experiments.
I’m an undergraduate student researcher in medicinal chemistry . My mentor at this time is Dr. Nilka M. Rivera Portalatin. The research aims to evaluate the medicinal plant Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) in order to verify if it contains any anti-cancer activity. This plant, native from North America, contains flavonoids, and has begun to emerge as a drug therapy against cancer. During the investigation, an extraction was made to obtain the essential oils of the plant using dichloromethane as a solvent. Then, the extracts were incubated with HT-29 cells (a colon cancer cell line) in order to determine its citotoxicity against the cancer cells. After incubation, the MTT assay was used to determine the cells viability. Citotoxic effects were observed in the cells incubated with the black cohosh essential oils. For future research, the concentration of the extracts will be increased in order to measure the IC50’s. Also, the components of the extract will be isolated and characterized by HPLC to identify the component with the anti-cancer activity.
All of the experience that I have acquire serve to me as a motive to keep trying harder to achieve my goals. The passion that I have for science and medicine is the battery that keeps me going.
Area of Expertise:
Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry
Years of Expertise:
1-5