University of Mary Washington student Jonathan Williams is attending a 10-week internship in Charleston, S.C., working with the Hollings Marine Laboratory through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The internship was awarded as part of an Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship that he received for 2009-2011. Williams is among 122 undergraduates nationwide selected from more than 600 applicants in 2009. The Hollings scholarship was established in 2005 to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology and education.
Currently, his project at Hollings Marine Laboratory involves assessing the levels of current-use Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in environmental samples.
“BFRs are a diverse class of compounds, many of which have been identified as human-generated organic pollutants,” said Williams, a chemistry major. “As a result, many historically used BFRs are being phased out in Europe and North America, but their replacements have the potential to be equally toxic and persistent in the environment. It is important that we monitor the release of current-use BFRs into the environment and study their potential to be persistent organic pollutants.”
A rising senior, Williams has been named to the President’s List and Dean’s List. He has received the Earl N. Meyer Analytical Chemistry Award for the student with the highest cumulative average in analytical chemistry, the Undergraduate Award for Achievement in Organic Chemistry and is the recipient of a Virginia Academy of Science Undergraduate Grant. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the UMW chapter of Chi Beta Phi National Science and Mathematics Honor Society.
In addition, Williams has participated in UMW’s Summer Science Institute and has been a member of the Mary Washington Student Senate. He volunteers at the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg and worked with Creigh R. Deeds Virginia gubernatorial campaign.
The son of Daniel and Sharon Williams of Stuarts Draft, Williams is a 2007 graduate of Wilson Memorial High School.
Established in 1970, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a federal environmental science agency within the Department of Commerce.