Summer Camps

Chemistry Summer Camp (Byblos Campus)

This summer camp provides high school students with an immersive experience in drug design, focusing on platinum-based complexes used in medicinal chemistry. Through a combination of lectures, seminars and hands-on experimental work, students will explore the fundamental principles of metal-based drug design, synthesis and analysis. The camp will guide participants through the design and characterization of platinum complexes in different oxidation states and investigate their interaction with biological systems, including cellular uptake studies.

Hurry up and register before June 10.

Camp Objectives

1

Introduce students to the fundamentals of drug design with a focus on platinum-based therapeutics, as well as explore the chemistry and biological applications of platinum complexes in medicine.

2

Teach methods for synthesizing and characterizing platinum complexes in different oxidation states, along with providing hands-on experience in spectroscopic and analytical techniques for chemical characterization.

3

Investigate the cellular uptake of platinum-based drugs and their potential mechanisms of action, as well as enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills through experimental design and data interpretation.

4

Inspire students to pursue careers in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceuticals or related scientific fields.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Date Program Location Person(s) Involved
08:30 - 09:15 Registration and Breakfast CHSC Main Entrance
CHSC Cafeteria

Dr. Nathalie Hayeck
Dr. Robin Taleb
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

09:30 - 09:45

Chairperson’s Welcome to LAU

CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Nathalie Hayeck

09:50 - 10:25 Platinum Chemistry CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb

10:30 - 12:30

Lab 1: Pt(II) Complex Synthesis

  • Lab Intro and Safety
  • Preparation of Pt(SSDACH)Cl2 (AM and MM)
  • Preparation of Pt(II)5ClSS Chloride Salt (AM and MM)
Chemistry Lab - Sci 508

Dr. Areej Merhi
Marc Moussa

12:30 - 01:00

Session with the Financial Aid Office

Science Auditorium 402

 

01:00 - 02:00

Lunch with the Chairperson and Chemistry Program Faculty

CHSC Cafeteria Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
All Chemistry Program Faculty

 Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Date Program Location Person(s) Involved
08:30 - 09:00 Breakfast CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

09:00 - 09:30

Lab 2:  Pt(II) Complex Synthesis

  • Convert Pt(II)5ClSS to a Nitrate Salt
Chemistry Lab - Sci 508

Dr. Areej Merhi
Marc Moussa

09:30 - 09:55 Platinum Chemistry CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb

10:00 - 12:00

Lab 3: Pt(SSDACH)(NO3)2 Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation

Chemistry Lab - Sci 508

Dr. Areej Merhi
Marc Moussa

12:00 - 12:30 Lecture by SDEM CHSC Auditorium

Ms. Grace Saliba
Ms. Ivaly Melhem
Ms. Mira Moussa
Ms. Rachel Khoury

12:30 - 01:00 Lunch with SDEM CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb

01:00 - 03:30 Lab 4: Purification of Pt(IV)5ClSS Chemistry Lab - Sci 508

Dr. Areej Merhi
Marc Moussa

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Date Program Location Person(s) Involved
08:30 - 09:00 Breakfast CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

09:00 - 10:25

Lab 5: Wrap Up Lab 1

Chemistry Lab - Sci 508

Dr. Areej Merhi
Marc Moussa

10:30 - 11:55 Drug Design CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb

12:00 - 12:30 Honor’s Program Lecture CHSC Auditorium

Mrs. Ghada Naous

12:30 - 01:00

Lunch with the Honor’s Program Faculty

CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb
Mrs. Ghada Naous

01:00 - 03:30

Lab 6: Cell Culture Techniques and Cytotoxicity Assay

Chemistry Lab - Sci 501

Dr. Stephanie Mehanna
Ms. Joelle Abi Kharma

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Date Program Location Person(s) Involved
08:30 - 09:30 

Breakfast

CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

09:30 - 11:30

Uptake and Fractionation and ICPMS an LCMS

CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb

11:30 - 12:30

Campus Tour

 

Dr. Robin Taleb
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

12:30 - 01:30

Lunch with SoAS Student Council Members

CHSC Hall

Dr. Robin Taleb
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb

01:30 - 04:00

ICPMS Analysis

  • Sample Digestion and ICPMS Run
  • LCMS
Chemistry Lab - Sci 105
Sci 501

Dr. Stephanie Mehanna
Ms. Joelle Abi Kharma

Friday, July 11, 2025

Date Program Location Person(s) Involved
08:30 - 09:00  Breakfast CHSC Cafeteria

Mrs. Alissar Elbakht

09:00 - 11:00 Data Analysis CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Stephanie Mehanna

11:30 - 12:30

Quiz and Filling Evaluation Survey

CHSC Auditorium

All Faculty and Staff
Dr. Robin Taleb
Mrs. Alissar Elbakht
Mrs. Rana Ghorayeb

12:30 - 01:30 Lunch CHSC Cafeteria

All Faculty and Staff

01:30 - 02:00 Mini Lecture CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb

02:00 - 03:30 Awards Ceremony CHSC Auditorium

Dr. Robin Taleb