Florida Tech Student Honored for Excellence in Chemistry

MELBOURNE, FLA.—At the Florida Institute of Technology’s recent Spring Honors Convocation, Flaminia Marrucci was the recipient of the Florida Institute of Technology Dr. J. Clayton Baum Chemistry Award. Named for a current Florida Tech professor, the award recognizes outstanding junior chemistry majors based on academic and research achievements.

Marrucci, from Nepi, Italy, studies in the research chemistry program. Her research, under the direction of Joel Olson, Florida Tech associate professor of chemistry, has involved the study of tryptanthrin analogs using scanning tunneling microscopy. Tryptanthrin, originally isolated from the woad or medicinal indigo plant, has anti-parasitic activity. For example, it inhibits Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes the human disease toxoplasmosis. Tryptanthrin may also be an effective chemotherapeutic drug against certain forms of cancer including leukemia. After graduation, Marrucci would like to pursue a career in forensic science.

The Dr. J. Clayton Baum Chemistry Award was established by friends, students and colleagues of Baum in recognition of his continuing dedication, devotion and service to Florida Tech and the Department of Chemistry. Baum has been with the University since 1979.