Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Magazine Fall 2018

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 1 The CATALYST CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2018

Dr. William Montfort explores the myriad aspects of nitric oxide Page 20 Donald Upson Alumni Association Professional Achievement Awardee Page 3 2 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CBC@UA!

t has been another year of growth for CBC! For the second ing into newly renovated labs in the Marvel and Chemical year in a row, we have brought in over 35 new graduate Sciences buildings. In addition, CBC has renovated seven Istudents into our PhD programs, as compared to only ~25 biochemistry labs in the Biological Sciences West building, graduate students per year in the previous five years—wow! upgraded three shared cold rooms in BSW, and added a The number of undergraduate majors has also grown with brand new Tuttnauer autoclave in partnership with the EEB 325+ students choosing Chemistry as their major (BS/BA), department. and 650+ students in the Biochemistry degree program (BS/ On the education front, CBC has entered the digital age BA). To help our undergraduate majors build their resumes with two online biochemistry courses (Bioc 384/385), in and gain experience in industry, we are launching the which 625 students enrolled in just the first two years. Or- BRIDGES program in Summer 2019 to provide internships ganic chemistry lectures will come online next year (Chem to rising seniors who have worked in an academic research 241a/241b), and online general chemistry lectures go live in laboratory, but want to expand their skill set before entering Fall 2020 (Chem 141/142). Students in these online courses the workforce. The BRIDGES summer internship positions are continue to take all lower-division chemistry labs in-person, being provided by several of our Industry Associates Program which can be done at a local community college. Lastly, we (IAP) partner companies located here in Tucson. established the CBC Departmental Breakfast, which includes As I look back on my five-year tenure as the CBC Department a White Lab Coat ceremony for incoming graduate students, Head, which ends in June 2019, it is amazing to me how the CBC Oktoberfest Family Picnic at Reid Park, and the much the department has changed. Our Industry Associates CBC HomeBrew Contest that kicks off with a “How to Brew” Program has grown to 15 partner companies since inception workshop taught by Scott Dreisbach and Amy Graham. If the in 2014, the Careers in Chemical Sciences (CiCS) graduate next five years are anything like the last five years, the next student mentoring program was established in 2016, and we CBC Department Head will be very busy indeed! initiated the Catalyst Awards to recognize faculty excellence The CBC Leadership Team, consisting of myself, Associate in applied chemical sciences based on numbers of patents Department Head Andrei Sanov, RSS Director Ken Nebesny, filed, license agreements signed, and start-up companies Academic Services Director Dee Belle-Oudry, and Business launched. Moreover, we hired three tenure-track Assistant Manager Amy Tary, along with Executive Assistant Tiesha Professors (Marty, Gianetti, Tomasiak), a tenured Associate Glover, invite you to join us in pushing the boundaries of Professor (Lee), and two tenured Full Professors (Page, Peti), Chemistry & Biochemistry in the areas of research, teaching, all of whom have their labs up and running and are training and outreach by helping support CBC@UA! with your tax- CBC students. The Aspinwall, Monti, and Pyun labs have deductible donation. moved or soon will move out of the Old Chemistry build-

Roger L. Miesfeld CBC Department Head Distinguished Professor

Be sure to see the full PDF version of the Catalyst L to R: Andrei Sanov, Amy Tary, Dee Belle-Oudry, magazine posted on the CBC Alumni News website. Tiesha Glover, Ken Nebesny, Roger Miesfeld Visit cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 3 DONALD UPSON 2018 Alumni Association Professional Achievement Awardee

Since 1943 the University of Arizona has granted awards to recognize alumni for outstanding achievement and/or distinguished service to the University of Arizona, the Alumni Association, their communities, and/or their professions. This fall, we are pleased to honor CBC alumnus Donald A. Upson, the recipient of the 2018 Professional Achievement Award. Congratulations, Don, on winning this prestigious award!

Donald A. Upson PhD Chemistry, University of Arizona, 1975 27-year industrial career spanning Photography, Medical Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Wood Products. Ten years on University of Oregon faculty teaching graduate-level Chemistry, and Business Entrepreneurship; Thomas E. Stewart Distinguished Faculty Member, University of Oregon, 2011.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Image: Model of drug binding to the nitric oxide receptor. Courtesy: Dr. William Montfort

Donald Upson, 2018 Alumni Frank Aylward ...... 18 Outreach Activities . . . . . 26 Association Professional Industry Associates Program . . 19 Careers in Chemical Sciences Achievement Awardee . . . . . 3 William Montfort ...... 20 (CiCS) ...... 28 Alumni News ...... 4 Faculty and Staff Awards . . . 22 Undergraduate Peer Mentor Barbara Golder ...... 13 Program ...... 28 New Faculty and Staff . . . . 22 Donna Wiedemann ...... 14 Students’ Research, Internships, Retirees ...... 22 Robyn McKee ...... 15 Conferences, Study Abroad, In Memoriam ...... 23 and more ...... 29 Ric Gonzalez ...... 16 2017–18 Student Awards . . . 24 CBC Scrapbook ...... 30 Wendy Ingram ...... 17 2017–18 Commencement . . .25 4 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Kathryn Tominey – BS Chemistry, 1968 ALUMNI NEWS I went on to earn an MBA degree at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. I am retired from the Thomas Arana – BS Biochemistry, 1951 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (managed by Battelle I am retired from Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett, MA. I Memorial Institute). have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Michael Bissell – BS Chemistry, 1969 (3) Edward Andres – BA Chemistry, 1960 Retired in 2014 from directing the Toxicology Laboratory at the I am a retired general surgeon and a candidate for Congress. Ohio State University Medical Center.

Roger Bate – BS Chemistry, 1960; MS Chemistry, 1962 Matthew Krause, Jr – PhD Chemistry, 1969 I am retired from Merichem Company; moved to Florida in 2017. My beloved Arizona Bride, Jan Parker Krause UA 1967, Phi Beta Kappa 1966, died while on tour in China Black Friday 2015. Kenneth Zahn – BS & MS Chemistry, 1960 (1) For a summary of my past activities, see the the Fall 2016 issue Armando Angel – MS Chemistry, 1970; PhD Chemistry, 1972; of The Catalyst. I am currently the 1st Vice President of the MD 1977 Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies. MORE ONLINE We have two great-grandkids, Harland and Calvin. I established the Estrella Consultant Group for evaluating radioactive issues. Eugene Seymour – BS Chemistry, 1961 (2) I’ve had a wonderful career as a practicing physician, medical Jerry Crawford – MS Biochemistry, 1970; PhD Biochemistry, 1976 school professor and CEO of two public companies in the anti- I am retired from the Agricultural Research Service where I was viral space. Life is great with a wonderful wife, 3 children and 6 a Technology Transfer Coordinator. grandchildren. MORE ONLINE Eugenia Eide Stoker – BS Chemistry, 1970; MD, 1974 John Kaczynski – MS Chemistry, 1966 Our granddaughter received an award for her science project in I am retired from Longview Community College. I have 6 grand- the physics category for fifth graders. She studied how heat af- children, all living in Tucson. fects the magnetic shield around a mag-lev train. MORE ONLINE

Norman Buck – BS Chemistry, 1967 Robert Jones – BS Chemistry, 1971; MA Science Teaching, 1973 I retired from working full time in 2011 after about 38 years of I am a hospital chaplain in Los Angeles. service in the UA’s Department of Entomology, but I still work a few hours a week. Siegfried Lodwig – PhD Chemistry, 1971 I’m getting to know more surgeons than I want to know. Old Harry Edwards – PhD Chemistry, 1967 age is not for the weak. After 41 years at CSU, I retired in 2007. Presently, I am a member of the City of Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board, and Dennis Savage – PhD Chemistry, 1971 I am coordinator for Financial Peace University at Timberline I retired from the Eastman Kodak Co. in 2004. Since then I have Church in Fort Collins. MORE ONLINE been at the University of Rochester doing organic synthesis in the laboratory of Prof. R.K. Boeckman, Jr. Curtis Schilling, Jr – PhD Chemistry, 1967 My wife Betty passed away in March. Larry Schwartz – PhD Chemistry, 1971 Still running my consulting business which includes business Jim Foster – PhD Chemistry, 1968 and technical analysis based on intellectual property, and my I am gliding along in a very pleasant retirement. I cut a few wife Leslie, (UA Nursing 1972) is head nurse at a family health gems from time to time (a Zen experience), give tours at clinic. MORE ONLINE Lotusland, travel, cook, and have fun with my friends and my wife Sandy. MORE ONLINE See more online for all the full stories! cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends Barry Haymore – BS Chemistry, 1968 I went on to earn an M. Sc. from Brigham Young University and a PhD from Northwestern University, Evanston. Now I am 1 2 3 retired from ChemLink International.

J. Steven Schwarting – BS Chemistry, 1968 Throughout my medical career I have always kept chemistry as an avocation.

Kenneth Zahn Eugene Seymour Michael Bissell DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 5

Robert Small – PhD Chemistry, 1971 (1) Roxane Gardner – BA Chemistry, 1978 (7) Since retiring in 2004 I did consulting work for the semicon- Most of my time is spent at Center for Medical Simulation ductor industry until 2016. I travel around much of the world, where I am the Sr. Director of Clinical Programs, Director of the doing volunteer work for the HSSA and in my community of Simulation Fellowship and International Scholars Program, and Civano. MORE ONLINE Co-Director of the Labor and Delivery Program. MORE ONLINE

Don Stevenson – PhD Chemistry, 1971 Mark Mittelstaedt – BA Chemistry, 1978 I am retired from Dow Chemical. Tucson was good to me, but I couldn’t take the heat anymore; retired to the mountains east of Albuquerque. David Bear – BA Chemistry, 1972 I retired from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Tim Krupa – MS Chemistry, 1979 (8) where I served as Chair of Cell Biology and Physiology, Associ- After a long career in clinical development, I am enjoying a ate Dean of Admissions, and Chair of Chemistry and Chemical second career with Cibus US LLC in the AgBio sector. Biology. MORE ONLINE Nancy Gin – BS Chemistry, 1982; MD 1986 Sheldon Clare – PhD Chemistry, 1972 I have been the Medical Director and Chief of Staff since 2011, After retiring from the University of Pittsburgh, I have taught overseeing nearly 1,000 physicians, two hospitals and 25 medi- part-time at the University of Arizona and Pima Community cal offices serving 600,000 members. College. I am a widower with 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Patricia Hill – PhD Chemistry, 1982 Kenneth Ehler – PhD Chemistry, 1972 I retired in 2014 and moved to Southern Utah. Now I focus on Since Sept., 2002, I have been the volunteer manager of “Sec- horseback riding and competing in reining and going on ond Hand Prose”, a used bookstore run entirely by volunteers bicycling trips around the world with my husband. for the express purpose of raising funds for the Eugene Public Library. MORE ONLINE Charles Eck – MS Chemistry, 1983; PhD Chemistry, 1991 Just continued the process of retiring by moving back to Tuc- Daniel Chang – PhD Chemistry, 1974 (2) son. My wife, Alice Whittaker, is a UA alumna (BSN, ‘75, MSN, I am retired and living in San Diego. ‘82) and has just retired from teaching at Creighton University College of Nursing. MORE ONLINE Robert Keesee – BS Chemistry, 1975 (3) I officially retired Sept. 1, 2018 after 27 years at U Albany, Dept Carlos Fabara – MS Chemistry, 1983 of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences (and 9 years at Penn As of 2018 I am Professor Emeritus from Universidad San Fran- State Univ. before that). MORE ONLINE cisco de Quito in Ecuador.

Andy Campbell – BA CHEM & Philosophy, 1976; MS CHEM, 1979 (4) Robin Humphreys – BS Biochemistry, 1983 Currently I am Deputy Director of Siting, Licensing & Environ- I am Senior Director of Pharmacology at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. mental Analysis at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Michael Routh – PhD Chemistry, 1976 (5) I am currently serving on the Boards of Directors of In-Situ, 4 5 ANDalyze, Symbios, and Climate Restoration Technologies.

Walter Rudzinski – PhD Chemistry, 1977 (6) Retired in 2017 after 38 years of teaching and research at an institution that grew from a 16,000 student, regional university to a nearly 40,000 student institution designated as one of 8 upcoming research universities in Texas. Andy Campbell Michael Routh

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Robert Small Daniel Chang Robert Keesee Walter Rudzinski Roxane Gardner Tim Krupa 6 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

, CONT. Millicent Firestone – MA Chemistry, 1988 ALUMNI NEWS I received a doctorate in chemistry (1993) at Northwestern University. In 2013 I moved to Los Alamos National Laboratory Meg Collopy LeVier – BS Chemistry, 1983 where I was made a strategic hire for soft matter. MORE ONLINE Retired but still consult for mining companies. Volunteer at the Douglas County Sheriff Office in the warrants group. Kevin Zavadil – PhD Chemistry, 1989 (4) I am a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Sandia Na- Leslie Clark Romanyshyn – BA Biochemistry, 1983 tional Laboratories. My career includes 20 years of analytical chemistry supporting drug metabolism drug discovery and 15 years (and going...) Jani Ingram – PhD Chemistry, 1990 (5) supporting clinical trials as a CRA. I received the American Chemical Society 2018 Award for En- couraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical William Struthers – BS Biochemistry, 1983; MD, 1987 Sciences in March. I am now practicing at United States Anesthesia Partners. Alan Smrcka – PhD Biochemistry, 1991 Soonya McDavid – BS Chemistry, 1984 (1) I took a position as Professor of Pharmacology at the University I am employed at W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. as a Quality of Michigan Medical School. Leader. David Arney – PhD Chemistry, 1992 (6) Lisa Farrell – BS Chemistry, 1986 (2) I have held the position of Global Laboratory Manager for the Celebrating 23 years with the Denver Department of Public Powertrain Solutions Lab in the 3M Automotive & Aerospace Health and Environment, Environmental Quality Division. Division since 2016.

Stephen Andruski – PhD Chemistry, 1987 Michael Ruane – BS Chemistry, 1994 (7) I am employed at US Pharmacopeia. I have earned tenure in the chemistry department at Texas Lutheran University and started my first year as Department Ginny Beal – BS Chemistry, 1987 Chair of Chemistry. I have made significant progress on a new I recently completed 16 years evaluating science education pro- stereospecific method to generate pyranones. MORE ONLINE grams funded by the NSF focusing on particle physics. MORE ONLINE Elizabeth Atkinson – PhD Chemistry, 1995 Currently I am Professor and Chair of the Department of Chem- David Mangelsdorf – PhD Biochemistry, 1987 (3) istry at Linfield College. Since 1993 I have been at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where I currently am Professor and Chair of the Heather Houston Clark – MS Chemistry, 1995 (8) Department of Pharmacology. I am a member of the National I am Director of R&D Program Management at Vertex Phar- Academy of Sciences. MORE ONLINE maceuticals and have spent the past 19 years working on the Cystic Fibrosis Research portfolio at Vertex. I am enjoying being Leah Ellingboe O’Brien – PhD Chemistry, 1987 the mother to three daughters. MORE ONLINE I have been married for 32 years to Jim O’Brien, whom I met and married while a grad student at UA. We have two wonder- 4 5 6 ful daughters, Christine and Emily. In 2012 I was named an ACS Fellow.

Anjan Bhattacharyya – PhD Biochemistry, 1988 I work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Pub- lic Health/Radiation Control Branch. Jani Ingram Kevin Zavadil recognized David Arney

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Heather Houston Soonya McDavid Lisa Farrell David Mangelsdorf Michael Ruane (far right) and students Clark and family DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 7

Paula Ray – PhD Chemistry, 1996 (1) Jennyfer Faridy Cocco – BA Biochemistry, 1999; MD, 2004 (5) Completing twenty years at P&G is a milestone worth celebrat- After completing medical school, I moved to Texas for residency ing and made possible by 5 years in Tucson learning with some in plastic surgery. I now have my own solo practice in Dallas. of the best. Our Midwestern lives continue, with our youngest In 2015 I met the love of my life and now have a son and two child entering college this fall. MORE ONLINE step-sons. MORE ONLINE

Jason Chruma – BS Chemistry, 1997 (2) Susanne Rafelski – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 1999 After seven years as an Assistant Professor at the University of I started my independent research lab in the Department of De- Virginia, my family and I moved to Chengdu, China, where I am velopmental and Cell Biology at UC Irvine in 2012. I then moved a full Professor and Assistant Dean (International Affairs) in the to the brand new Allen Institute for Cell Science in Seattle in College of Chemistry at Sichuan University. MORE ONLINE 2016 - see www.allencell.org.

Deepa Wadhwani Whipple – BS Biochemistry, 1997 (3) Adrienne Roehrich – BS Chemistry, 1999 My career began at Accenture, where I got to travel to fun plac- I am the Associate Manager of the NMR Facility at the Universi- es (Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Bangalore). I eventually left consult- ty of Washington. ing and hired on to Ross Stores, Inc. where I now work out of our Buying Office in NYC. MORE ONLINE Allison Shepherd – BS Chemistry, 1999 (6) I recently received the Laboratory Analyst of the Year award for Chandra Savage Marsden – BS CHEM, 1998; PhD CHEM, 2004 2018 from the AZ Water Association, the Arizona Section of the I am the Team Leader for Tritium Research, part of the Gas American Water Works Association. Transfer Systems group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. My team conducts tritium function tests of R&D gas transfer sys- Jessica Yingling – BS Biochemistry, 1999 (7) tems. MORE ONLINE I earned my PhD in biomedical sciences from UC San Diego. Seven years ago, I started Little Dog Communications, which Brian Schmidt – MS Chemistry, 1998 provides small biotechs assistance with PR and communica- Currently I am a Professor of Physical Science at the College of tions. MORE ONLINE Southern Nevada. Tim Sikorski – BS Chemistry, 2001 (8) Laurie Wood – PhD Chemistry, 1998 I moved to Stuttgart, Germany and was promoted to Lieutenant I just completed 15 years working at Beckman Coulter. Colonel in the Army. My new job is working as Deputy Chief of Plans for Information Operations at the United States Africa Charlie Chen – MS Biochemistry, 1999 (4) Command. Currently I am a Senior Research Investigator at Icagen-T Inc. Francisco Villa – BS Biochemistry, 2001 Currently I am a clinical professor at Northern Arizona Univer- sity – Yuma Branch Campus. My wife and I have twin 9-year-old See more online for all the full stories! daughters and a 7-year-old son. MORE ONLINE cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

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Jennyfer Faridy Paula Ray and family Charlie Chen Cocco Allison Shepherd

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Deepa Wadhwani Jason Chruma and family in Thailand Whipple and family Jessica Yingling Tim Sikorski and family 8 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

, CONT. Tally Largent-Milnes – BS BMB, 2005 ALUMNI NEWS In 2014, I was recruited back to the UA, where I started my lab in Medical Pharmacology. My husband and I have a 2-year-old Melanie Boshens – BS Chemistry, 2002 (1) child and enjoy gardening, hiking, and being back in Tucson in I am employed at Tucson Water, where I recently was promoted general. MORE ONLINE to Chemist Supervisor for the Inorganic Unit in the Water Quali- ty and Operations Laboratory. MORE ONLINE Andrew Lemieux – BS BMB, 2005; MS Biochemistry, 2006 I am living in the Netherlands and work at the Netherlands Jonathan Brekan – BS Chemistry, 2002 (2) Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement. I received a PhD in Organic Chemistry from University of Buf- falo, SUNY. I currently work at Daubert Cromwell developing Raymond Moellering – BS BMB, BS Chemistry, 2005 corrosion prevention packaging. I married Shevawn Leahy, and In 2017/2018 I was awarded a Research Scholar Award from the we have 2 children, Jack (4) and Josephine (1). MORE ONLINE American Cancer Society and the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. I currently am an Assistant Professor at the University of Tara Garrison Bunag – BS Chemistry, 2002 (3) Chicago. My 2-year-old daughter loves looking through chemistry books and asking what everything means. Wendy Hyatt – BS Chemistry, 2006 I am celebrating 12 years with ALS, where I am now Client Tracey Newlove – BS Biochemistry, 2002; MD, 2008 Service Manager. I am in charge of the lab and client services. I I currently am in practice at Tucson Dermatology. enjoy the work that I do and hope that I can continue it through my own retirement. MORE ONLINE Ben Fish – BS Chemistry, 2003 (4) I currently am employed by Bank of America. Sarah Statt – BS BMB, 2006 I am a Senior Scientist at Asuragen. Dana Gilmore – BS Biochemistry, 2003 I have been working at Arizona Department of Public Safety Bryan Thacker – BS Mechanical Eng, BA Biochemistry, 2006 since 2008 working in serology, DNA and now Toxicology. I I currently am working as a project scientist at a start-up bio- have testified over 80 times on blood alcohol analysis for DUI tech company in San Diego. My family consists of my wife and cases. MORE ONLINE three boys. MORE ONLINE

Cornel Popescu – BS Biochemistry, 2003; MPH 2014 Dominique Leitner – BS Biochemistry, 2007 (7) Currently I am a medical student with UA College of Medicine I am a research scientist at New York University (NYU) in the Phoenix. Department of Neurology where I evaluate the etiology of epilepsy and its implications in SUDEP and SUDC. MORE ONLINE Stephanie Slater – BS BMB, 2003; MS Biochemistry, 2004 (5) I am engaged to get married in October 2018! See more online for all the full stories! Retsina Meyer – BS BMB, 2004 (6) cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends I have been working in neuroscience for over a decade. I have been nominated for the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 3 4 6 Boston Business Journal Women to Watch in Science and Tech- nology, and 40 under 40. MORE ONLINE

Gilmar Salgado – PhD Biochemistry, 2004 Currently I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Bor- deaux in France. Tara Bunag’s daughter preps for CBC@UA Ben Fish Retsina Meyer

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Jonathan Brekan Melanie Boshens and family Stephanie Slater and fiance Dominique Leitner DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 9

Sukeshi Roberts – BS Chemistry, 2007 Joe Farmer – BS BMB, 2010 (4) My husband and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia in the summer of After teaching chemistry at Rincon High School in Tucson for 2016 after he graduated medical school. I work at the Centers 4 years, I enrolled in a master’s degree program at the Harvard for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an ORISE Fellow. Graduate School of Education and graduated with an Ed.M. in MORE ONLINE Mind, Brain, and Education in the spring of 2018. MORE ONLINE

Thomas Schultze – BS Chemistry, 2007 Keeper Sharkey – BS Chemistry, 2010; PhD Chemistry, 2015 (5) I am working at SPEX Certiprep. I accepted a position in Spokane, WA at Imprezzio, Inc. working as a Research Analyst on the Data Science Team in the Engi- Alan Wang – BS BMB, BS Math, 2007 neering Dept. I am also Director of Research Innovations with I graduated from neurology residency in 2017 from Thomas Jef- MichaelLogic Administration based in Chicago, IL. MORE ONLINE ferson and then held a fellowship in epilepsy at the University of Miami. I am a faculty member at Banner University Medical Triza Brion – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 (6) Center in Phoenix, AZ. I am an Outcomes Researcher at ICON.

Christina Birch – BS BMB, BS Math, 2008 (1) Jessie Brown – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 (7) I took a position at Caltech as a STEM Writing Specialist/Lec- I graduated and received my PhD from the Sackler Institute of turer in Engineering. I am training and racing full-time as part Graduate Biomedical Sciences at NYU Langone Health in Janu- of TEAM USA (in the sport of Track Cycling). My goal is to make ary 2018 and took a postdoctoral position at Columbia Universi- the World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Teams. ty Irving Medical Center in July 2018. MORE ONLINE Andrea Hartzell – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 Michael Ferracane – BS BMB, BS Chemistry, 2008 I successfully defended my PhD in neuroscience at UCSD and Currently I am working as an Assistant Professor at University am beginning a postdoc in neuroscience at Scripps in San Diego. of Redlands, a small liberal arts college located in Southern My husband Stefano and I welcomed son Luca in June. California. MORE ONLINE

Shang-U Kim – PhD Chemistry, 2008 (2) Ashley Head – PhD Chemistry, 2011 I am a principal engineer at Samsung Display, and a general I just started a new staff scientist position at the Center for manager of FA lab in quality and reliability organization. Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, NY. Guy Pilkington – PhD BMCB, 2008 (3) I joined ImQuest BioSciences as the Director of Molecular Vi- Diogenes Placencia – PhD Chemistry, 2011 (8) rology and Hepatitis Research. I run a division where we focus I assumed a new position as Science Director for the Office of on the development and application of novel assays for the in Naval Research Global, stationed in São Paulo, Brazil. My charge vitro evaluation of treatment options for Hepatitis B virus and is to engage researchers/military personnel across Latin America. Hepatitis C virus. MORE ONLINE MORE ONLINE

Hemant Badgandi – PhD Biochemistry, 2009 I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Van- 3 4 5 derbilt University.

Brian Bode – BS BMB, BA Linguistics, 2009 Worked as a doctor in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in my FY1 year (in Trauma and Orthopaedics) and moved to Inverness, Scot- land in August to complete my FY2 year. Keeper Sharkey Guy Pilkington Joe Farmer and family

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Christina Birch Shang-U Kim Triza Brion Jessie Brown Diogenes Placencia 10 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

, CONT. Spencer Carey – BS Chemistry, 2013 ALUMNI NEWS I just graduated with my PhD from the University of Washington and will start a postdoc at the Fritz-Haber Institute in Berlin this Amanda Davis Roca – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 fall. I just received my PhD in Biological Sciences from Northwest- ern University. My husband (who also graduated from UA) and I Daniel Dokuchitz – BS Chemistry, 2013 moved to Seattle where I am a postdoc at the Fred Hutchinson Recently I began a new job with Linde developing analytical Cancer Institute. MORE ONLINE chemistry methods for their Electronic Gases and Specialty Products business. Most of the work is done to support custom- Ashley Mason Zappia – BS BMB, 2011 er requirements for the semiconductor industry. MORE ONLINE I am employed at the Roche Diagnostics Corporation. Nicholas Nelson – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2013 Adele Zhou – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I graduated from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in May I completed my PhD in genetics, genomics, and development 2018 and accepted a position as a pharmacy practice resident. from Cornell University in 2018 and moved to the DC area where I am working as a postdoc in medical writing for a large Carly Schnoebelen – BS Biochemistry, 2013 pharmaceutical/drug development company. I graduated from Purdue University with my PhD in Chemical Education in May 2018 and am now a postdoctoral scholar at Niharika Changavalli – BA Chemistry, 2012; MA Chemistry, 2013 the University of California San Diego. I am employed at Vivacity Engineering in Australia. Aishan Shi – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, BA English, 2013 Lindsey Leve – BA Chemistry, 2012 I am in my final year of medical school at the University of I am working at Wintergreen Digital Media. Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, and I am applying to Internal Medicine residency programs. Laura Stratton – PhD Chemistry, 2012 Married Vinnie Maniola in a SCUBA wedding in Mexico in Duyen Vo – BS Biochemistry, BS Chemistry, BS MCB, 2013 (5) October 2017. After completing an MS degree in Medical Science at the University of Vermont, I was accepted to 4 MD schools and am Dan Whitfield– BS BMB, 2012 (1) attending the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Currently I live in Germany, working in Engineering at a Berlin MORE ONLINE FinTech startup as a QA analyst and automation engineer. I also work part time in Bioinformatics for the Berlin Center for Matthew Bigler – BS Chemistry, 2014 Genomic Diversity (BeGenDiv). MORE ONLINE Got an MS in Material Science Engineering; pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. Garrett Yagade – BS Chemistry, 2012 (2) Got married November 4, 2017 and honeymooned to the Lauren Dominic – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 Bahamas to watch the Wildcats play in the battle for Atlantis. I am currently in my 4th year of medical school and planning My younger sister also decided to attend the UA. on pursuing a residency in combined internal medicine and pediatrics. Benjamin Zarin – BS Chemistry, 2012 (3) I am currently pursuing graduate studies in Polymer Science at Eric Figueroa – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 (6) the University of Oregon. In addition, I remain employed full- I am a third-year PhD candidate in the Department of Pharma- time with Polymer Chemistry Innovations. cology at Vanderbilt University. I am working on developing the molecular pharmacology of volume-regulated anion channels. Christa Bockisch – BS Chemistry, 2013 (4) I completed my PhD in hydrothermal organic geochemistry at ASU and have since moved to Oregon, where I will be working See more online for all the full stories! as a Process Engineer at Intel Corporation. MORE ONLINE cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

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Garrett Yagade Dan Whitfield and wife Benjamin Zarin Christa Bockisch Duyen Vo Eric Figueroa DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 11

Matt Hettinger – BS Chemistry, 2014 Estefania Lopez – BS Biochemistry, BA Spanish, 2015 I have worked at Hexcel and Kreysler & Associates formulating I was hired by Cord Blood Registry as a Clinical Research thermoset resin matrices for a variety of applications within Assistant. I moved to Phoenix and am in the Pathway Scholars the composites industry. I am currently working as a polymer Program earning a Master’s in Medical Studies with conditional chemist at Kreysler & Associates, a custom fiberglass fabrication admission to the UACOM-P next year. MORE ONLINE shop. MORE ONLINE Casey Miller – BA Biochemistry, 2015 Lawrence Hill – PhD Chemistry, 2014 I am a Data Analyst at the University of Arizona. I am finishing my second year as an assistant professor at West- ern Kentucky University, and my first student graduated with Elizabeth Nguyen – BS Chemistry, 2015 his master’s thesis. I married Estie Lynn Carlson in July 2018! In the past year, I’ve moved from Houston, TX to Seattle, WA. I was fortunate enough almost immediately after moving to Meagan Johnson – BA Chemistry, 2014 (1) land my job working as a research technician for the chemistry Currently I am a 4th-year medical student at A.T. Still University group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. in Mesa, AZ. I am traveling between Texas, Arizona and Chicago this year for elective rotations. I am going to specialize in pedi- Samantha Calle – BS Chemistry, 2016 atrics and plan to further specialize in neonatology. After working at the USDA Honeybee Research Lab in Tucson, I have moved to Phoenix to work as a Chemist in the semicon- Aaron Pejlovas – BS Chem, 2014; MA Chem, 2017; PhD Chem, 2018 ductor and automotive industry at AnalysisNow! MORE ONLINE I began working at Clariant in Tucson, AZ as a development chemist for the oil and mining services business unit. Rhianna Valeria Valdez – BS Chemistry, 2016 (4) Hastings, (a CBC alumna) and I are anxiously awaiting the arriv- I am an Auxiliaries Officer in the United States Navy. al of our first child. Udeep Chawla – PhD Biochemistry, 2017 Kameron Rodrigues – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 (2) I have been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky I was recently awarded the Graduate Research Fellowship from since August 2017. the National Science Foundation! I am beginning my 2nd year of graduate school at Stanford University, within the Computa- Iman Daryaei – PhD Chemistry 2017 (5) tional and Systems Immunology program. MORE ONLINE I am currently employed at NuvOx Pharma.

Madison Dawn – BS Chemistry, 2015 (3) Gloria Le – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I have moved to Scottsdale, adopted three dogs, and began I accepted a research associate position at Ventana Medical Sys- working for the Phoenix Tribology Division of ALS Laboratory tems in Systems Integration. Although the research I perform is Service USA. I have visited Rome, Ireland, Iceland, Mexico and different from that in academia, the principles remain the same. Canada. MORE ONLINE MORE ONLINE

Summer Gardner – BS Biochemistry, 2015 Bret Maughan – PhD Chemistry, 2017 Currently I am serving two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Recently hired as a Chemistry and Materials Scientist at Space South Africa. I am a part of the Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Dynamics Laboratory. Program (CHOP), working with a drop-in center for vulnerable children and orphans in the community. MORE ONLINE David Renner – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I recently started at the University of Pennsylvania in their Haley Kent – BS Biochemistry, 2015 Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) PhD program, focusing on I re-located to Kentucky to pursue a career in forensics. I have 3 Microbiology, Parasitology and Virology (MVP). cats, 2 dogs and 15 chickens on 10 acres. Mehrdad Shadmehr – PhD Chemistry, 2017 (6) Currently I am working at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. MORE ONLINE

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Meagan Johnson Kameron Rodrigues Madison Dawn Valeria Valdez Iman Daryaei Mehrdad Shadmehr 12 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

, CONT. Ramya Ramesh – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 (4) ALUMNI NEWS I plan to attend medical school, but I will be working as a scribe during my year off. Matthew Stagg – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I hope to obtain a graduate Certificate of Population Health Jose Rios-Monterrosa – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 (5) Management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public I started my first year of medical school at the Carver College Health by medical school matriculation in 2019. MORE ONLINE of Medicine at the University of Iowa, where I am a medical student ambassador and a peer mentor to pre-health students. Matthew Varga – PhD Chemistry, 2017 I recently got engaged to my beautiful fiancée Madison. Currently I am a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Anthony Schwenker – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 (6) Kimberly Widrick – BS Biochemistry, BS Math, 2017 I plan to work in the chemistry field. I feel confident and pre- Transferred from the Master’s program to the PhD program in pared for this new step. MORE ONLINE Biomedical Engineering at the UA. Recently hired as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Gamma Ray Imaging (CGRI). Lawrence Sun – BA Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 (7) In my free time, I like long-distance running, singing, and learn- Adam Kai Aragaki – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 (1) ing how to cook “safely”. I am studying for my first MCAT, and I am attending Johns Hopkins University’s pharmacology I am hoping to get admitted into the University of Washington program. In my spare time, I enjoy petting cats and creating School of Medicine in the class of 2023. MORE ONLINE complicated spreadsheets to help me with trivial decisions. MORE ONLINE Jason Sweet – BA Biochemistry, 2018 (8) I am the first in my family to earn a college degree. I recent- Danielle Barrientes – BS Chemistry, 2018 (2) ly took a position at the UA’s Defense and Security Research I joined the staff at the ALEC facility on the UA campus as a Institute, where I will act as the Human Performance and SOF research technician, where my job is to perform various chemi- representative. MORE ONLINE cal analyses for samples submitted to the facility. MORE ONLINE Josephine Uong – BA Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 Brandon Goldenberg – BS Biochemistry, 2018 While taking a year off of school, I will be working at a retire- After gaining research experience in the biotech industry for a ment home as a server, then with a pharmacist. I will also be year, I would like to attend a PhD program in the genetics/ge- working on my applications for pharmacy schools. nomic medicine field. MORE ONLINE Dane Evan Zambrano – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 Sean Lansey – BS Chemistry, 2018 (3) I am pursuing an MD/PhD with a focus on Biochemistry at the I am a chemical technician for Global Solar, a company that University of Washington through their Biological Physics Struc- manufactures CIGS solar cells. My goal is to contribute in some ture and Design (BPSD) Program. MORE ONLINE meaningful way to the R&D into solar technology. MORE ONLINE Send your news to Olivia Mendoza at omendoza@email. Christopher Marshall – BS Chemistry, 2018 arizona.edu to be included in next year’s magazine! Three weeks after graduating with a BS in chemistry, I started my first job as a full-time formulation associate at Accelerate 4 5 6 Diagnostics in Tucson, AZ.

Neal Patel – BA Biochemistry, 2018 Working as a clinical research coordinator for Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona. Applying for dental school admission and looking to enroll in Fall 2019. Jose Rios-Monterrosa Ramya Ramesh and fiancée Madison Anthony Schwenker

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Adam Kai Aragaki Danielle Barrientes Sean Lansey Lawrence Sun Jason Sweet DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 13 A STRING OF CAREERS By Barbara Golder | BS Chemistry, 1972 Book signing in Telluride

t seems that the most important That does not mean that my training a high school chemistry and biology things in my life happen almost has been wasted. Learning the disci- teacher for a couple of years, much to by happy accident. I ended up at pline and science of chemistry is more my daughter’s distress. Having Mom I than accumulating a set of facts and around school is not an unalloyed bless- the University of Arizona (the other end of the world from my Flori- principles. It’s learning a way to ap- ing, especially when she is one of the da home) because of a wonderful proach problems from a particular, and “tough” teachers. in my experience, particularly effective, summer experience spent there as After nearly twenty years carving out scientific perspective. And that was a career as a health-care lawyer and in a rising senior in high school as an something I could not have appreciated medical politics and lobbying, I shifted NSF scholar. I ended up a chemis- as a wide-eyed 18-year-old sitting in the gears again to become the Director of try major when it became obvious front row of a lecture hall listening to Medical Quality Assurance for a large to me that majors in anthropolo- the finer points of carbon compounds. gy—my first choice of fields—had disability insurer. Nights and weekends, distinctly limited economic pros- After graduating, I went on to study tu- I was working on the first novel in what mor biology at the University of Florida, became the award-winning Lady Doc pects, and my Organic Chemistry ultimately getting my medical degree. I series of mysteries. It features a female professor—Dr. Lee Jones—helped specialized in pathology, hematopathol- physician-attorney who not only solves me apply for a scholarship that ogy, and forensic pathology, which were mysteries but delves deeply into the made it possible for me to stay obvious extensions of my chemistry spiritual side of life in the bargain. And in school. My training at the UA training. chemistry finally came out front and prepared me very well for a career center in my alter-ego’s life. In the most Not so obvious was how that training that has been unique, multifac- recent installment, the heroine has to prepared me to practice as a health care eted, and very rewarding. It just track down not one but two obscure lawyer after getting a law degree from poisons: applied chemistry at its best. hasn’t been in chemistry. Stetson College of Law, but it did. Cast- ing my mind back Most recently, I assumed the mantle of to my UA profes- the Editor-in-Chief of The Linacre Quar- The Bradenton Herald, March 21, 1983 sors—Dr. Quintus terly, the journal of the Catholic Medical Fernando and Dr. Association and the longest contin- W. Ronald Salzman uously published journal of Catholic leap to mind—I bioethics in the country. It’s a challenge found I had quite to integrate the principles of science a repertoire of with the demands of moral thought. ways to explain It’s clearly the farthest afield I have fairly complicated travelled from my roots as a chemistry medical concepts major. But I have no doubt that I will to people with find those roots will nourish whatever little or no medi- I do. Chemistry, it seems, has settled in cal training. That my very bones—thanks to an exception- repertoire came in al experience at the UA. handy once again when I filled in as 14 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE CHEMISTRY By Donna J. Wiedemann | BS Chemistry, 1984

t was at Santa Rita High School analysis for the detection of VOCs. Field ized the details of the product formu- that I got my first taste of work made me more aware of environ- lation. On the 10th anniversary of the chemistry, and I knew I had mental issues and has had a life-long brand I was recognized for my efforts I impact on how I practice chemistry. In in sustainability, and I narrated a short found my career. I was lucky to be selected for a new class called the 1986 I began to pursue a doctorate in video on the creation of the Tide Cold Professional Internship Program, chemistry at Indiana University with Water formula. I went on to invent the Dr. R. M. Wightman. I studied Dopa- first formulations of Tide with Febreze in which the student does volun- mine neurotransmission in the rat brain and Tide Advanced Power. I won the teer work in the community. I was using Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry to 2008 CEO award in recognition of how fortunate enough to work in Dr. assess the acute and chronic effects my formulation work has built the Tide George Wilson’s lab at the Uni- of psychoactive compounds as they brand. In 2011 I moved from Laundry to versity of Arizona doing research are related to Parkinson’s disease and the Baby Care organization. I currently on micro-immunodiffusion. This schizophrenia. I earned my doctorate in have responsibilities for the emollient experience led me to yearn for chemistry and began working at Procter lotions applied to Diapers, Baby Wipes a doctorate in chemistry. While and Gamble in 1991. and Feminine products. attending the UA I had the honor Procter and Gamble (P&G, Cincinnati, As a 33-year member of the American and privilege of doing research OH) has given me the opportunity to Chemical Society (ACS), I have been do- in Dr. Q. Fernando’s lab. He was a explore many different areas of chemis- ing public outreach for National Chem- mentor to me both as an under- try. I started in the Soap and Detergent istry Week and Earth Day for 20 years graduate and graduate student Division, Analytical Chemistry Group. and have led our local Section’s Earth and provided invaluable guidance Over the next ten years some of my re- Day Event for more than ten years. in my pursuit of chemistry. In his sponsibilities were leading the enzyme In 2017 I was elected to Second Vice lab I helped developed techniques analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy and Chair of the Cincinnati Section of the to measure zinc and lead ore wet chemistry laboratories. This helped ACS, and this year hold the post of Vice concentrations during the refining me build a diverse set of analysis skills Chair-Chair Elect. I am grateful for the process. that serves me well to this day. In 2001 opportunity to chair my local Section in I moved to a formulation role for the 2019. After graduating from the UA, I was Liquid Tide brand. The mid-2000s was On the personal side: I was born in employed doing in-field soil vapor an opportune time for proliferation of England into a military family and lived new premium Tide formulations. Utiliz- out west during my formative years. I A smokey opening to a chemical ing principles of surfactant chemistry, now live in Indiana with my husband demonstration show I invented the first formulation of Tide of 25 years, John Walser. Our daughter Cold Water. After thirteen years it has Keelin, a sophomore at Indiana Uni- enabled millions of people to save ener- versity, is studying anthropology. Is the gy by washing clothes without heating UA in her future? My hobbies include water. formulating essential oil blends, hiking This work led to several unexpected and gardening. The connection to my accolades: In 2005 I was interviewed Arizona roots drives our passion to grow by Chemical and Engineering News. Later a large variety of chili peppers from the P&G Company Historian memorial- mild to blistering hot. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 15 A TEACHER IN DISGUISE By Roberta (Robyn) McKee | PhD Biochemistry, 1987

f someone would have told where I could play a complementary problems, me back in 1985 when I was a role. My lab mates designed and synthe- I found Biochemistry PhD student that sized peptide analogs, and I focused on it highly I assessing their functionality. My aca- challeng- I would have the professional career I’ve had, I wouldn’t have demic circle extended beyond chemists ing, fast-paced and a place I could have believed them. to pharmacology and medicine, and I tangible impact. After solving the cause gained a strong appreciation for the for a serious manufacturing interrup- It’s not like I knew exactly what I would power of interdisciplinary collaboration. tion, we received a letter from a grateful do for the next 30+ years, but when I mother thanking us for making that Six years after coming to UA I was completed my PhD, I thought I had a life-saving drug available to her son. ready for the post-doctoral experience. pretty good idea of where I was go- That closed the deal for me. I found this Beyond developing further as a research ing. I enjoyed research and working in applied science environment to be an scientist, there were additional consid- labs, but I really saw myself teaching energizing setting where I could make erations. You see, while being a PhD in the University setting. Growing up, a meaningful difference. Even better student requires dedication and focus, I I admired educators and had several was the opportunity to lead and mentor also found balance on the personal side. respected role models. It seemed pretty teams focused on our common mission. I met and married the love of my life, clear. Academia would be my path. In many ways, I felt like the “teacher” I Brian (BS EE, UA 1987), and we started always wanted to be. I’m very grateful A funny thing happened on the way to our family – Alex, followed three years to Victor for opening this door. academia… Like most PhD candidates, later by Katie. As such, any decision I I pursued thesis work that sparked my would make was clearly a family one, Coming home… While Brian and I head- scientific interests. While there were and this one was no exception. Victor’s ed east 30 years ago to start our ca- many interesting studies in the Bio- extensive network introduced me to reers, we always knew we would come chemistry department at the time, there the pharmaceutical company, Merck. I back. In 2015 the signs were there, and was something about Victor Hruby’s lab hadn’t considered the industrial post- back to Tucson we came. I continue to that got my attention. Primarily filled doc route, but it sounded interesting be engaged in Pharma, serving as a con- with chemists doing peptide synthesis, and was a good fit with my skills. In sultant and working with clients across as a biochemist I found a unique spot addition, it was a stable opportunity to a variety of technical and organizational support the family while Brian explored topics. Even more rewarding was find- Robyn with husband Brian prospects in the Philadelphia area. Little ing my way back to CBC. I now co-chair did I know then that this decision would the CBC Advisory Board, and since 2016 change the course of my professional I have worked with Roger Miesfeld and career. CBC colleagues launching CiCS (Careers in Chemical Sciences)—a program de- Discovering a whole new world… What signed to inform and mentor students happened over the next 28 years was considering non-academic roles. It is a rewarding beyond expectations. The joy to get back on campus and connect post-doc was fantastic, yielding 13 with students. And who knows, maybe publications in two years. But the bigger that teaching role that I once had my “aha” occurred upon my entry into the eye on might just come up. manufacturing side of the business. As a scientist motivated to solve technical 16 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE LOVE, HONOR, LOYALTY TO UA By Ricardo Rene (“Ric”) Gonzalez | PhD Chemistry, 2001

feel honored and privileged to spectrometry expertise I gained at the Inc. I’ve been here almost 9 years, and be asked by our alma mater UA. Mike wouldn’t let me graduate until I am very happy and fulfilled in my to write about my experience I could teach him; he truly refined me career at this great company that is one I and made me the scientist I am today. of North America’s leading branded as a student at the University of Arizona, the impact on my life Mike, I love you so deeply, and I miss food companies dedicated to making because of my experience there, you as I miss my own father. I will be nutritious food in a responsible way forever indebted to you. I hope to see that fosters stronger communities and and my subsequent professional you in heaven. a better planet. and personal life since. I am con- I am happily married to my beautiful stantly thinking about all my in- Please read my entire article online wife, Susan. We have 5 grown chil- teractions with the faculty at the to see my commentary about Dr. dren and 6 grandchildren (with one on UA who profoundly affected my Neal Armstrong, Dr. Quintus Fer- the way!). We own and live on a horse life. Therefore, I will share some nando, Dr. Jeanne Pemberton and ranch with 62 animals, and our base- thoughts that come to mind: Dr. Bonner Denton. ment is decked out in UA memorabilia. Dr. Vicki Wysocki and Dr. I’m a proud UA Alumnus, Arpad Somogyi (now at Ohio and Susan and I are active State University) — I gained in alumni events every year. invaluable lifelong expertise Above all, my heart and soul in mass spectrometry from after God, my family, and the Vicki in the classroom (e.g., USA belong to the people in Quantum electrodynamics, i.e., my life from the University of QED theory, to predict frag- Arizona. I would not have the mentation in tandem or MSn happiness, security and deep as well as the consequential satisfaction in my career and mass spectral predictive and personal life if it weren’t for interpretive knowledge/skills) the UA, where I learned to and in practice with Arpad in BEAR DOWN, to NEVER QUIT, the laboratory utilizing a variety of in- I graduated in December 2001 with and to strive for EXCELLENCE with instruments with low and high resolution a PhD in Analytical Chemistry. While tegrity, honor, loyalty, grace, generosity mass analyzers for qualitative analyses. writing my dissertation, I received and the pursuit to help others. (I was a graduate staff member in the an extremely lucrative job offer from Mass Spectrometry Facility during my Altria, a large CPG holding company last 3 years there). which owned Philip Morris USA and In- ternational, Kraft Foods, Nabisco, Oscar Dr. Michael Francis Burke (deceased) — Spot Wildcat Fan Ric at the end of Meyer and Miller Beer. Altria waited 8 My deepest gratitude belongs to Mike, this PAC-12 video: www.youtube.com/ months for me to graduate, at which my Research Advisor and my Great- watch?v=o83C9CqydC8 time I accepted their offer of a scientific est Mentor. He truly was a genius. He leadership role in Analytical Chemistry. taught me everything that I know about I am presently a Research Fellow and chemical separations, and it’s been in- For the full story, see the online Catalyst! the Senior Director of Analytical and valuable to this day along with the mass cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends Applied Sciences for Conagra Brands, DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 17 USING THE MIND TO

Wendy, with Joe Miller, KNOW ITSELF Liberty Wildlife’s head eagle By Wendy Marie Ingram | BS Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, handler, and Aurora BS Psychology, 2007

he brain is the most per- in science as co-president of Women in electroconvulsive therapy. I use medical sonal and important organ Biological Sciences and a member of informatics and computational biology in our bodies. It determines Women in Science and Engineering. At to study the electronic health records T the same time as my love for research and genetics of patients to better our intelligence, our emotions, our decisions, and behaviors. And grew, my psychology studies had me understand the causes and treatment while we can amputate or trans- concerned about the lack of under- courses of depression. standing about the human mind and its plant all manner of other parts of I am also passionate about mental diseases. By my senior year, I decided to health advocacy and scientific commu- our bodies (arms, hearts, livers), pursue a PhD to equip myself to study nication. As Dr. Baldwin says, “It doesn’t we cannot damage or replace the and understand the molecular under- count until someone reads it.” My grad- brain and still be “us.” pinnings of diseases of the brain. I con- uate research article has been viewed tributed to 4 publications, delivered the Growing up in Scottsdale, AZ, I was over 38,000 times and was covered student address at the College of Sci- captivated by the human brain. When by 50+ popular news outlets globally. I ence graduation, and spent one year in it came time to go to college, I wanted have also helped co-found graduate stu- a schizophrenia mouse model research to become a psychiatrist. Dr. William dent groups at UC Berkeley and Johns lab. Then, I was off to California. Grimes easily convinced me to pursue Hopkins School of Public Health, dedi- a double degree in Psychology and Bio- I joined the labs of Dr. Michael Eisen cated to cultivating mental health litera- chemistry & Molecular Biophysics at the and Dr. Ellen Robey at the University cy and discussions on graduate student UA. At the BMB BBQ my first semester, I of California, Berkeley in the Molecular mental health. I regularly correspond fatefully sat across from Dr. Tom Baldwin and Cell Biology Department to pur- with science writers about psychiatric who generously offered to meet with sue a joint project that I had proposed research (Scientific American, XMradio) me and discuss how to “get me into a studying the brain parasite, Toxoplasma and graduate student mental health lab.” I became fascinated by Dr. Matthew gondii, supported by a NSF Graduate (Science Magazine), and will co-host the Cordes’ protein evolution research and Research Fellowship. This fascinating American Medical Informatics Associ- begged to work with him. That year, I be- single-celled organism causes mice to ation’s new “Women in AMIA Podcast” gan learning protein design, expression, lose their innate hard-wired aversion where we discuss inspiring topics in purification, and structural assays in Bio to cat urine as part of its multi-host life informatics and healthcare with medical Sci West. I affectionately remember late cycle, and my work showed that it does informatics leaders. nights napping between protein induc- so permanently. This work gave me In my free time, I love world travel, tions and purifications and cooling off insights into neuroimmunology, behav- meditation and Eastern philosophy, from the summer heat in the cold room ioral genetics, and infectious disease. running marathons, volunteering, and while checking on my proteins in dialysis. Next my interest in brain diseases led playing mandolin. Next on the hori- me to pursue my postdoctoral studies at I spent summers working in the lab, zon for me is a desert wedding where a hospital. I am now a joint psychiatric earning an Honors College grant and I will be marrying another UA alum, epidemiology fellow at Johns Hopkins then the Beckman Scholars Fellow- Christopher Bauer (PhD BMB, 2011), at School of Public Health and Geisinger ship. I loved encouraging others to do a wildlife rehabilitation foundation my Health, training with Dr. Peter Zandi. I research, too, as a College of Science parents founded, Liberty Wildlife. We work with neurosurgeons to study sin- and Biochemistry Department ambas- will both be on the academic job search gle cell transcriptomics of glioblastoma sador. My senior year I became active in this next year, and perhaps we’ll even and with psychiatrists to investigate the advocating for underrepresented people end up back in Wildcat Country! predictors of therapeutic response to 18 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

THE WILD LIFE OF THE MICROBIAL PLANET By Frank Aylward | BS Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, BS Molecular & Cellular Biology, 2008

was raised in a rural area in in the lab of Howard Ochman, focusing southern Arizona, where my on microbial genomics and evolution. I parents ran a small local restau- did not have any background in micro- is extracted and sequenced directly I biology at that point, and I was amazed from seawater in order to reconstruct rant in which I often worked growing up. There were few to learn that the majority of the diver- the genomes and metabolic capabilities schools near where I lived, so I sity of life on earth was microbial. I also of resident microbes. These approaches became fascinated with the amount require the development of sophisticat- was home-schooled for most of of information encoded in microbial ed bioinformatic tools that can handle my childhood. When we weren’t genomes and the sophisticated bioin- large quantities of sequencing data, and working my family and I would formatic methods that could be used to so my work incorporated a large compu- often hike in the Rincon, Catalina, reconstruct the evolution and metabo- tational component. and Santa Rita mountains, where lism of entire organisms. After gradua- In the Fall of 2017 I moved to Blacks- I grew to appreciate the amaz- tion I entered the Microbiology Doctoral burg, Virginia to start as an assistant ing plant and animal life of the Training Program in the University of professor in the department of Biolog- Sonoran desert. I spent a lot of Wisconsin-Madison, where I found a ical Sciences at Virginia Tech. My lab way to combine my interests in micro- time in nature, and when I went group continues to focus on exploring biology, evolution, and genomics by to college my original plan was to the vast diversity of microbes on Earth studying symbiotic bacteria associated become a field biologist and study using metagenomic and bioinformatic with leaf-cutter ants. I am privileged to animal behavior in the wild. approaches, in particular focusing on have had the opportunity to study at cryptic microbial groups that are diffi- When I started at the UA I majored in UW-Madison, where I was able to devel- cult to study using traditional methods. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), op my molecular biology wet-lab skills, We are also employing evolutionary and in my Sophomore year I worked in learn how to code and perform bioinfor- genomic methods to study how micro- Rick Michod’s lab studying the evolution matic analyses, and participate in field bial life has evolved in the ocean, and of multicellularity in Volvocine algae. I work in the tropical forests of Panama. was fascinated by patterns of evolution, how we might expect microbial diver- and I soon became interested in the After I received my PhD I went first to sity to respond to continued distur- molecular mechanisms that gave rise the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- bances driven by climate change. In the to the amazing biodiversity we see in nology and then to the University of Spring of 2018 I was fortunate enough the natural world. I added a Biochem- Hawaii-Manoa to research marine to receive an Alfred P. Sloan Research istry major and began studying protein microbial diversity as a post-doc. Marine Fellowship in Ocean Sciences, which dynamics and metabolism in more detail, microbes drive many biogeochemical will be invaluable in establishing my lab graduating with a BS in Biochemistry and cycles on the Earth and are crucially group. In between a busy schedule of Molecular Biophysics. I was ultimately important for shaping the climate, yet research and teaching I still enjoy many one course short of an EEB double major their diversity and physiological capabil- hobbies I picked up in Arizona like play- when I graduated, but my interest in ities are not well-understood. I analyzed ing tennis and hiking (this time in the questions at the interface of biochem- the composition and activities of mi- Appalachians instead of the Catalinas). I istry, ecology, and evolution continued crobes in the North Pacific Subtropical continue to be grateful for the opportu- to be a strong driver of my research Gyre, the largest biome on the planet, nities that I had as a student at the UA, throughout my subsequent studies. and one that is currently expanding due which provided me with a solid founda- to climate change. My work focused on tion in the Life Sciences that continues In my last two years at the UA I worked metagenomic approaches in which DNA to shape my work today. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 19

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

he Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry sultation services with our CBC scientific staff in the Research is excited to develop closer relationships with Support Services (RSS) unit, which includes expertise in 10 small businesses and large corporations that specialized areas of chemistry and biochemistry including T analytical services and research design. Up to six employees are seeking ways to interface with leading academic researchers and highly trained students in the of an IAP partner company will become University of Arizona fields of nanomaterials, synthetic organic chemistry, Designated Campus Colleague (DCC) associates of CBC, which includes online access to all electronic journal subscriptions polymer chemistry, biochemistry, protein structure and library databases. and function, computational biophysics, and drug design. For more information on our growing list of IAP partner companies and the Industry Associates Program, visit the IAP web These corporate relationships are fostered through our Industry page: Associates Program (IAP), which provides an opportunity for cbc.arizona.edu/industry companies to become partners with a top tier Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at a world class Research I University located in beautiful Tucson, Arizona. A company’s annual gift of $5,000 initiates the IAP partnership. A primary benefit of an IAP partner company is a close relationship with our students for the purpose of workforce development. The CBC Careers in Chemical Sciences (CiCS) program is for graduate students and postdocs, whereas the undergraduate BRIDGES program provides summer internships for students between their junior and senior year who have experience in an academic research lab. In addition, IAP Calley Eads, Chemistry PhD candidate partner companies enjoy preferred technical access and con-

IAP PARTNER COMPANIES 20 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT DRUG-BINDING POCKET

By William Montfort, PhD

y group and I recently uncovered the for explorations into basic science, applied mathematics and binding site for a promising new drug that medicine. We’ve studied how blood-feeding insects acquire lowers blood pressure and shows great a blood-meal (unfortunately at our expense), how nanosec- M ond protein fluctuations modulate NO release, and how this potential for treating cardiovascular disease. Our search for this site began with wondering how a tiny molecule influences blood pressure, memory formation, blood-feeding insect can trap, protect and deliver wound healing and more. a toxic free-radical molecule to potential victims, Nitric oxide is produced in most animals to regulate blood using a simple heme-containing protein. pressure, fight infection and assist in neural function. How it does all of these things is not clear and the subject of I’ve always had broad interests in science. Chemistry, biology extensive investigation. We’ve studied proteins called the and physics were all my friends growing up in rural Michigan. nitrophorins that are used by the kissing bug and the bed- My family subscribed to the Time-Life Science Library when I bug to carry NO from their salivary glands to the tissue of was very young (still available interestingly enough at Ama- a victim, where its release induces local vasodilation and zon for $264.48), and our local library would loan me numer- inhibits inflammation and wound healing. We have focused ous copies of Science Digest even though I was invariably late most recently on the NO receptor, a protein called soluble in returning them. As a youngster, science was very explor- guanylyl cyclase (sGC), and how NO binding to heme leads to atory for me. Could the growth hormone in my chemistry set sGC activation, enhanced catalytic activity and downstream stimulate bean plants to grow faster? The data indicated yes signaling, including smooth muscle relaxation and lowered before the cat ate the experiment. Could pyramid power pre- blood pressure. serve hamburger? Seemingly so (I can’t explain how). Could copper wire, a diode and an earphone lead to a functioning NO signaling fails in many people, leading to cardiovascular radio? Yes, indeed. It’s the open-ended exploration of the disease. A compound that stimulates sGC was discovered natural world that I enjoy the most and remember best. in the early 1990’s by a Japanese group looking to prevent platelet activation in atherosclerosis. Numerous pharma- I came to the University of Arizona because much of science and many of the arts were located together on one compact campus. When I arrived, I hoped I would explore questions spanning biology and chemistry and perhaps spill over into astronomy, medicine, physics and more. This has largely come true. My training is in structural biology—X-ray crystallography in particular—and I love to think about life’s mysteries at atomic resolution. My group and I wandered into the biology and biophysics of nitric oxide (NO) about 20 years ago, and this two-atom molecule has paved the way Montfort Research Group DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 21

MIND IN DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT MOTION

I like to walk. I love being outdoors – sleeping under the stars, ice skating DRUG-BINDING POCKET on fresh-scrapped ice, canoeing, kayaking and more. But mostly I walk. There’s something about a By William Montfort, PhD long walk at a slow pace that opens the mind. Nature all about: how does it work? Walking helps me gain perspective and generate new ideas; my best ideas come while walking (some of the worst too). Seeking survival while walking can also clear ceutical companies have modified this Here, NO binding to sGC appears to be the mind: I’ve met grizzly bears compound in the search for new tools antitumorigenic and tumor suppression above the arctic circle—wolf cubs in the fight against cardiovascular of sGC may lead to poor outcomes. The too. I’ve skied disease. One such compound, riocig- newly discovered sGC stimulators may, too close to Backpacking in Colorado uat, is now approved for treatment of therefore, have a second role in cancer a moose calf pulmonary hypertension and others are treatment. While sGC is downregulated with mama in early-phase clinical trial. Yet where in these tumors, high-level expression nearby. Re- these drugs bind to sGC and how they of tumor promoting genes is induced by cently, I had stimulate the protein remains unknown. excess NO production and understand- a complete We recently discovered the binding site ing why this is provides an exciting new boot blowout is in the heme domain of sGC, using a direction for our studies. This question on a 13,000- combination of photoactive chemical also has us spending much time in the foot pass labeling, tandem mass spectrometry, Cancer Center north of Speedway. (duct tape X-ray crystallography, NMR spectrosco- Our second new question involves saved the py and sGC from the hawkmoth, which cyanobacteria, the organisms that first day). uses NO for odor detection. From these oxygenated our planet. The primordial studies an atomic resolution picture of NO receptor first appeared in cyanobac- binding is coming together, allowing for When teria several billion years ago, in improved compounds to be developed. I’m done the early days of life on earth. The role We don’t yet know, however, how drug walking, for this primordial protein is unknown or NO binding leads to sGC activation, I like to but likely important, and we have be- so important discoveries are yet to be eat. My gun studies in microbiology to unravel made. What seems clear so far is that wife Mar- this mystery. Interestingly, these similar tricks in trapping NO at the tha and ancient proteins also bind the new heme surface appear to be in play for I grow sGC-targeted drugs. This project in par- both sGC and the insect nitrophorins. tomatoes, ticular brings me back to my early love Martha and heirloom tomato basil and But answering how sGC works won’t be of discovery-based science. I’ve had harvest many the end of our NO chase. We have two the great fortune of finding wonderful other vegetables. And we bake new questions underway that are lead- students and colleagues willing to come bread. These slow-paced traditional ing us to new corners of campus. The along for this ride, which makes our activities also free the mind and spir- first is to understand how inappropriate search all the more exciting. I can’t wait it. A little wine and music help too. levels of NO can drive tumor metastasis, to see what comes next. as seems to be the case in breast cancer. 22 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

FACULTY AWARDS FOR 2018 STAFF AWARDS FOR 2018

Roger Miesfeld Distinguished Professor Megan Cunnington McNair Staff Award Jon Njardarson Japan Society for the Tiesha Glover College of Science Star McNair Staff Award Winners Promotion of Science Fellowship Award for August, 2018 L to R: Laura Lustro, Megan Cunnington, and Lan Vu Jeff Pyun Innovator of the Year Laura Lustro McNair Staff Award (with Robert Norwood), Governor’s Lan Vu McNair Staff Award Celebration of Innovation Awards Mark Yanagihashi College of Science Steven Schwartz University of Arizona Classified Staff/AP Excellence Award & Regents Professor Dean’s Best of the Best Award Marc Tischler 2018 Faculty Mentoring Award

NEW FACULTY AND STAFF RETIREES 2018 Bianka Bedoya, Associate Accountant Connor Cerato, Instructional Specialist, Neil Jacobsen Senior Beth Vinson Bianka Bedoya Connor Cerato Colleen Kelley, Manager of Instructional Zhiping Zheng Laboratories Christopher Koch, Laboratory Coordinator Makayla Rascon, Office Specialist Rachel Matsuo Saindon, Administrative Assistant Colleen Kelley Christopher Koch Thomas Tomasiak, Assistant Professor Dale Woolridge, Professor (joint Neil Jacobsen appointment with Emergency Medicine)

Read more online about our new faculty and staff. cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

Makayla Rascon Rachel Saindon

Beth Vinson

Thomas Tomasiak Dale Woolridge

Zhiping Zheng DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 23 Read more online about those we’ve lost. cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

IN MEMORIAM —PEOPLE WE HAVE LOST

Joan Elizabeth Fornara, BS Tiffany Mealman, PhD Chemistry, 1948; d. March Chemistry, 2013; d. January 29, 2016 28, 2018

Edward E. Genser, BS Joseph Motyl, MS Chemistry, Joan Elizabeth Chemistry, 1957; d. June 23, 1967; d. May 24, 2018 Fornara Richard Hartline Tiffany Mealman 2015 Karen Page, BS Chemistry, Patricia Lindberg Gripke, BS 2000; d. July 29, 2018 Chemistry, 1949; d. March 13, Anthony (Tony) Ruggiero, BS 2018 Chemistry, 1979; d. March 1, Richard Hartline, MS 2018 Biochemistry and Organic Alan Russell, BS Chemistry, Chemistry, 1961; d. April 21, 1957; d. August 8, 2018 2018 Joseph Motyl Tony Ruggiero

PRESIDENT HENRY KOFFLER Professor Emeritus October 1, 1922 – November 12, 2016 Former UA President Henry Koffler Dies at 95 In 1991, the Arizona Board of Regents appointed him As the first UA alumnus to serve as president, he oversaw the president emeritus. The University’s ascension to the top ranks of major research uni- Henry Koffler Building was versities. External research funding more than tripled during named for him in 2000. The his tenure. 127,000-square-foot building University of Arizona President Emeritus Henry Koffler, who features 22 chemistry labs, 17 led the UA as president from 1982-1991 and oversaw its as- biology labs and three lecture halls, all for teaching under- cension to the top ranks of major research universities, died graduate chemistry and biology classes. Saturday, March 10. He was 95. Koffler is survived by Phyllis Koffler was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1922. He was 5 when (Pierson) Koffler, his wife of more than 71 years. his father died, and his mother raised him to appreciate Koffler entered the UA to study agricultural chemistry in 1940. Vienna’s music, theater and artistic offerings. He came to the He earned a bachelor’s degree from the UA in 1943, a mas- U.S. from Austria alone at age 17, after the Nazi annexation ter’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1944 and a of Austria in 1939. His mother followed two months later. At doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1947. He joined his suggestion, they settled in Prescott, Arizona, of which the faculty of Purdue University and became a distinguished he knew from German writer Karl May’s Western adventure microbiologist and biochemist who earned a Guggenheim books. Fellowship and the Eli Lilly Award in Bacteriology and Im- Koffler met his wife, Phyllis, at a concert at the UA and they munology. One of the youngest full professors at Purdue, he married in 1946. became the head of the Department of Biological Sciences and is credited with bringing the department to international After his retirement, Koffler conceived of—and created—the renown. Arizona Senior Academy and Academy Village, a retirement community for people interested in lifelong learning and An able academic administrator, he then served as senior vice intellectual and artistic pursuits. It has been described as a president for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota place “for people who wanted to retire from work, not life.” in 1975, chancellor for the University of Massachusetts, Am- herst, in 1979 and president of the UA in 1982. —University Communications, March 12, 2018 24 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2017–18 STUDENT AWARDS UNDERGRADUATE CBC Outstanding Student Peer Dr. Wayne Cody Scholars in H.J. & Signe Bonnevie Scholars Mentors Medicinal Biological Chemistry Helen Rose Barto AWARDS Jessica Diesing Christopher Foley Sadie Keesler CBC Outstanding Freshmen Marisela Rodrigues Rachel Utterback Huynh Jennifer Ngoc Daniel Wieland - Biochemistry Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Hypercube Scholar Paul G. & Elise M. Koch Emma Potter - Chemistry Awardee Calley Eads Memorial Scholar CBC Outstanding Sophomores Steven Le First Year Excellence in Samantha Macklin-Isquierdo Steven Fried - Biochemistry Graduate Research Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Sara Lee Jones - Chemistry GALILEO CIRCLE Nathan Bamberger Foundation, Epsilon Scholar CBC Outstanding Juniors SCHOLARS Second Year Excellence in 2018 Tala B. Shahin - Biochemistry Graduate Research James McNamara Undergraduate Students Carter Bosse - Chemistry Mark Burton Benjamin & Bio De Casseres Adam Kai Aragaki Kayla Clary Scholar 2017-2018 Chemistry and Biochemistry Danielle Marie Barrientes Excellence in Research Outstanding Graduate Students Aaron D. Thomas Dez Coleman Dane Evan D. Zambrano Skyler Cully Outstanding Scholarship Olson, Marion & Hazel Biochemistry Tyler J. Espinoza David Smith Memorial Scholar 2017 - 2018 Aaron D. Thomas CBC Outstanding Senior Makayla Marie Freitas Outstanding Teaching Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa Leo Hamerlynck Christopher Blackstone Family/Community Medical Biochemistry James McNamara Scholar 2017–2018 COS and CBC Outstanding Aaron D. Thomas ACS Hach Scholar 2017-2018 Victor & Patricia Hruby Scholar Service Jessy Forelli Miguel Esteban Pacheco Melissa Fairley F. Ann Walker Scholar CBC Undergraduate Poster Fair ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry 2017 Ramya Ramesh Senior Thesis Leo Hamerlynck Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa SPECIAL 1st: Anthony Schwenker Benjamin J. Rounseville RECOGNITION 2nd: Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa Charles Hoyt Scholar F. Ann Walker Scholar UA ARCS Foundation Scholar Biological Sciences Advanced Hiromi Fukuzaki Tyler Russeth Matthew Humphries 1st: Tyler J. Espinoza AZ Society for Coatings Charis Elyse Springhower 2nd: Stefan Koester Technology Scholars 2018 Guangzhe (Lawrence) Sun Maria Teresa Velez Diversity Lindsey Holmen Dane Evan D. Zambrano Leadership Scholarship Biological Sciences Emerging Lindsay Guzman 1st: Lauren Wilson Sean P. Lansey Graduate Students Royal Society of Chemistry Matthew Humphries 2017 Oustanding UBRP Graduate Physical Sciences Advanced Certificate of Excellence Award Rami Musharrafieh Student Mentor 1st: Katrina Konopka Carter Bosse Jonathan L. Sanchez Lindsay Guzman 2nd: Steven Fried Excellence in Biological Maggie Scavello NIH Initiative for Maximizing Physical Sciences Emerging Sciences Scholars David Smith Student Diversity Fellow 1st: Angelina Condarcure Makayla Marie Freitas Xuemin Wang Lindsay Guzman 2nd: Olivia Herpfer Michael Cusanovich Scholar Steven Fried CBC Graduate Research Biological, Engineering, David Lasansky Kristen Watts Symposium Poster Awards 2017 Chemical Undergraduate Tala B. Shahin Drew Farrell Research Conference Poster Fair Michael A. Wells Research in GRADUATE AWARDS James Siegenthaler Winners Biological Sciences Scholars Jessica Wales Tyler J. Espinoza Carl S. Marvel Scholar Steven Fried Stephen Fried David Smith UA Dean of Students, Robie David Lasansky Gold Medal Award Sameera Khan Andrea Peralta David O’Brien Graduate Fellow Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa Caroline Plecki Matthew Bienick Lela E. Booher Memorial Native American Student Affairs Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa Scholars Victor P. Thalacker Chemistry Outstanding Undergraduate Max Staskauskas David Lasansky Graduate Fellows 2017 -2018 Dane Evan D. Zambrano Tala B. Shahin Alyssa Ellsworth Meucci Watchman Ilunga Matthew Humphries CBC Outstanding Thesis Pillars of Excellence Anne Cambrelin Herbert E. Carter Scholars Katrina Konopka Ramya Ramesh Shannon Collins Charles, Charles Jr., & Anthony Taylor Gee Vomaska Scholar Sadie Keesler DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 |25 25

2017–18 COMMENCEMENT he 2017-2018 CBC Awards and Commencement Department Head Dr. Andrei Sanov then presented the un- Ceremony was held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 dergraduate awards; Distinguished Professor of Physics and at the Student Union Memorial Grand Ballroom College of Science Associate Dean Dr. Elliott Cheu presented T the Galileo Circle Scholars; and Dr. Miesfeld presented the from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Over 400 attendees included 2017-2018 CBC graduating students, student award Graduate Awards. Drs. Miesfeld and Sanov gave the calling recipients, student ambassadors, faculty, staff, family of the CBC Graduates, and closing remarks were given by the members and friends of the department. CBC Outstanding Senior and UA Robie Gold Medal Awardee Jose L. Rios-Monterrosa, who was introduced by his research The program began with Dr. Roger Miesfeld, Distinguished mentor, Dr. Victor J. Hruby. Professor and CBC Department Head, who welcomed ev- The 2018-2019 CBC Awards and Commencement Ceremony will eryone to the event, followed by Keynote Speaker Dr. Chris- be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Student Union Memo- topher Impey, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and rial Grand Ballroom from approximately 9:00 to 10:30 am. Associate Dean of the College of Science. CBC Associate

Hunter Pitts and Jose Rios-Monterrosa Lindsey Holmen

Dane Zambrano, CBC Excellence in Research Recipient, and Jose Rose-Monterrosa, CBC Outstanding Senior

CBC Graduate Student Galileo Circle Scholar Winners

Back row: Grace Benitez, Charis Springhower, Anthony Schwenker. Front row: Dane Evan Zambrano, Aramis Ayála, Meilani Liu Erle Jones, Sara Lee Jones, and Joy Jones 26 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

OUTREACH—USING SCIENCE AS A VERB by Paul Lee, CBC Outreach Co-Chair

’m with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, my favorite line in funding the club. They also collaborate with the ACS Women the movie The Martian is when Matt Damon’s in Chemistry Group (WCG). Other outreach activities include: character says, “I’m going to have to science the participating in the College of Science’s outreach activities, I theater productions such as Calculus the Musical, and Curie sh** out of this.” That movie turned the word science into a verb, and that’s what we do. We science. Me Away, as well as their Fall and Spring Chemistry Science We have a passion for chemistry and biochemistry, Magic Shows. They also visit schools and community organizations to provide chemistry demos and science fair judging, and outreach puts that passion into action. It is the and they participate in the Pima County household chemical tool we have to inspire the next generation of scien- waste program. Altogether they managed to cover an impres- tists and engineers. sive 44 events this past year. Outreach extends the education mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC) beyond our campus. ALPHA CHI SIGMA, BETA TAU CHAPTER With outreach, CBC takes our science to the community with AXS is the Chemistry Professional Fraternity, which includes activities that are entertaining, inspirational, and that create a graduate and undergraduate students. AXS has been involved “teachable moment.” in several outreach events this past year, such as the Tucson The Department hosted a summer science camp in the 1980’s Festival of Books Science City, “Careers in Chemistry” speech- called “Chem Camp” for middle school students. The take es at BASIS Tucson North School, “SciCafe” Adult Seminar away message from the camp was the official motto—“Chem- Series: “Shining a Light on Chemistry” and demos for Flandrau istry Can Be Fun!” When I do a demo show, this is what I Science Center’s Fusion Summer Camp as well as local schools. hope my audience remembers. I hope they walk out thinking “Chemistry is fun.” Unfortunately, Chem Camp didn’t last BIOCHEMISTRY UNDERGRADUATE CLUB as long as had hoped, but that was due to a lack of funding (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND rather than a lack of interest. It was a little ahead of its time. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY STUDENT CHAPTER) These days science camps are a staple of summer break. The Biochemistry Club is made up of students interested in I learned a lot from now-retired CBC staff members Steve outreach and professional development. The club manages Brown and Dr. Wayne Adickes. They had the vision to set up several outreach events such as the Biological, Engineering, a “Demo Lab” to support outreach development. Outreach is and Chemical Undergraduate Conference (BECUR), a research an important aspect of what we do, and I continue to support conference for undergraduates to showcase their research. this as Co-Chair for Outreach for CBC. Our outreach program The club also runs BLASTOFF!, a middle school science day is an ad hoc association of a number of groups that work camp for one week each summer. The club continues these independently to provide activities ranging from science traditions and is developing other outreach projects. demonstrations to professional development to community involvement. I have to give credit to these groups and pro- CBC STUDENT AMBASSADORS grams, because they represent us in the community, and the Chemistry and Biochemistry Ambassadors are a select group department is most appreciative of their efforts. Our outreach CBC Ambassadors are a select group of distinguished under- group and activities include: graduates who participate in CBC events including undergraduate recruiting, convocation, orientation, and outreach CHEMISTRY CLUB/SMACS activities. The Ambassadors are sponsored by the department Chemistry Club is our undergraduate student club organi- and usually are juniors and seniors. They are CBC majors with zation made up of CBC students and is affiliated with the a high level of academic achievement with research experi- American Chemical Society (ACS). Their outreach efforts earn ence. This program is now in its 14th year. them a trip to the annual National ACS Meeting. In addition to the travel, the local chapter of the ACS helps out with DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 27

PROGRAM TO ADVANCE WOMEN SCIENTISTS In addition to those activities we do within CBC, there are (PAWS) also some others worth mentioning that are collaborations within our university community: PAWS is a university-wide club organization with a mission to empower women in the sciences through education, COLLEGE ACADEMY FOR PARENTS leadership, mentoring, and support. The organization was founded by CBC graduate students. Their outreach activities Drs. Vicente Talanque, Brooke Massani, and I work with the include Science City at the Tucson Festival of Books, visits UA Office of Early Academic Outreach, helping them with to Mansfeld Middle School to work with the Girls in Engi- their College Academy for Parents program, which provides neering, Math and Science (GEMS) program, participating in information to parents in the Sunnyside School District to Expanding Your Horizons conferences, as well as visiting local help them prepare their middle school students for college schools with hands-on activities. PAWS also hosts a public while at the same time entertaining them with science. speaking workshop every spring semester and sponsors monthly seminars. ADVANCED PLACEMENT CHEMISTRY KNOWLEDGE BOWL Drs. Amy Graham, Hamish Christie, Brian Zacher, and I, along with the CBC Ambassadors, assisted the Admissions Office with their High School Advanced Placement Chemistry Knowledge Bowl Competition, where high school teams com- peted for scholarship money.

METROPOLITAN EDUCATION COMMISSION’S (MEC) 21ST ANNUAL KEY TO EMPLOYMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY SYMPOSIUM Back row: Alyssa Ellsworth, Meghan Hamilton, AXS, PAWS, Chemistry Club, Ambassadors, and the CBC Kayla Clary, Mark Burton, Fabiola Vazquez. Advising Office participated in this Tucson Community event. Front row: Steven Petritis, Kathryn Kuna, Kristin Watts Over 400 students and educators from high schools throughout Pima County attend this annual event designed to intro- CHEMISTRY DISCOVERY (CHEM396D AND duce students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and CHEM596D) Mathematics (STEAM) career options, and to increase their knowledge of the education, training, and skills required to Chemistry Discovery is a chemistry course and outreach be marketable in these industries. program taught by CBC Prof. Elisa Tomat in collaboration with several CBC faculty members. Students are exposed to the WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? rewarding experience of promoting chemistry among younger students from local middle schools. The main objective of The CBC Department has worked at improving how we the course is the design, development, and presentation of interface with the community. Demonstrations, science fair a series of workshops for schools that visit the UA’s Flandrau judges, and tours of CBC facilities can now be requested on- Science Center and Planetarium. line. We have received more than 50 requests for chemistry science magic shows, facility tours, and science fair judges for VISITNG SCHOLARS (BIOC 396D) the 2018-19 academic year. We are always striving to improve our outreach efforts and to secure funding for these pro- In 2013 the Biochemistry Club established the Visiting Schol- grams. Investment in outreach is an investment in the future. ars program, in which UA students visit Tucson area high schools to talk about the research opportunities available at Support CBC’s Outreach Activities by making your tax- the UA and to answer questions high school students have deductible donation today! www.uafoundation.org/ about the college experience. NetCommunity/donations/CBCOutreach More information about our outreach groups can be found online: cbc.arizona.edu/outreach 28 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

CAREERS IN UNDERGRADUATE PEER MENTOR CHEMICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM BC@UA seeks to be recognized as a top department of Chemistry &

Biochemistry at a research public university. As such, CBC@UA focuses The Undergraduate Peer Mentor Program, on fostering a vibrant community of scholars who conduct cutting-edge C first started in the Department of research to advance knowledge and technologies that benefit society. Moreover, Biochemistry, is now in its 13th year. In this we strive to provide rich and varied learning opportunities that prepare students program, juniors and seniors are selected for careers in academic and non-academic settings. as peer mentors to incoming CBC freshmen and transfer students. These peer mentors serve as role models, guiding and sharing their experiences and wisdom with the students they mentor. In Fall 2018, CBC matched 308 incoming students with 112 peer mentors.

Every year one or more peer mentors are Careers in Chemical Sciences (CiCS) sity setting, access to scientific pro- chosen to receive the CBC Outstanding was conceived to specifically prepare fessionals in non-academic roles for Peer Mentor Award. Nominated by the PhD level students for post-graduate guidance and advice can be extremely peer mentees, this award recognizes the careers. The three CiCS program objec- valuable in identifying relevant oppor- contributions made by peer mentors, as tives are: 1) expand awareness of stu- tunities and positioning themselves well as their academic achievements and dents to post-graduate career options for successful navigation of the hiring professional development. Jessica Diesing and Marisela Rodrigues were selected as in industries and organizations that and onboarding processes. the 2018 Outstanding Peer Mentors. hire PhD-level scientists, 2) prepare stu- The CiCS Mentoring Program serves to dents for successful interactions with provide a framework for these inter- potential employers, and 3) connect “As a mentee, I was able to connect with an actions. In turn, it is expected that industry to the strengths of CBC@UA upperclassman who I could rely on to help CBC graduate students and post-doc- me if I needed it. It was very reassuring to and the readiness of our students. toral fellows participating in the CiCS have that resource available, especially upon The CiCS Program offers two events Mentoring Program will have greater first beginning college. Now that I am a CBC each year: confidence in their career direction, mentor, I hope to provide that same kind of support and help to students who are new to • a Fall career workshop event identify more opportunities of inter- the university or to the department.” • a Spring employer networking est, be better prepared for pursuing —Emma Potter, Chemistry Class of 2021 event available roles, and successfully secure jobs of choice. In addition to these two events, the CiCS Mentoring Program matches ex- We are increasing connections be- perienced mentors from non-academic tween CBC and industry to create a professions (private industry, govern- pipeline of job opportunities for our ment, business, law, etc.) with graduate students and to increase the number student and post-doc mentees in a one- of Industry Associates Program (IAP) partner companies. For more informa- on-one setting for guidance and advice Emma Harrell, sharing her mentor experiences to help navigate career transitions. tion about the CiCS program and how at the CBC Annual Fall Peer Mentor Workshop you might contribute as a company As students approach their final years sponsor mentor, visit the CiCS web of study and prepare for their first page: cbc.arizona.edu/cics For more information, please contact Peer post-graduate role outside the univer- Mentor Coordinator Olivia Mendoza. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 29

See more online for the student stories! STUDENTS’ RESEARCH, cbc.arizona.edu/ alumni_friends INTERNSHIPS, CONFERENCES, STUDY ABROAD, AND MORE

Kathia Antillon – UROC/McNair David Lasansky – UA Jazz & Research Achievement Program Madeline Morrow – Maddie in Paris Tianna Bengtson - UA Global MedCats — Klariza Ochoa – UA Wildcats in Mexico Kathia Antillon Mi Vida Española Leah Ortega – UA Global MedCats Study Carter Bosse – Study Medical Biotechnology Abroad in Spain & Drug Development in Scandinavia Angela Rivera – Going Green at UNC Emma Harrell – UBRP Summer Research Soraya Sandoval – Arizona in Paris Aurora Hurtado Olivas – Research Sujin Seo – Study Abroad in Italy Experience at Notre Dame Tala Shahin – Through the Eyes of Ghana Dylan Hutchison – Fulbright Scholar, Alejandro Villalobos – UROC/WAESO Research in Poland Research Award Tianna Bengtson Nadia Ingabire – Beat the Heat and Hit the Sara Zachritz – My Summer Studying & Bench in the Bay Traveling Europe Kathryn Kuna – Russian Summer Heber Lara – Experience as a SURF at Mayo Clinic

Carter Bosse

Sujin Seo

Leah Ortega

Emma Harrell Nadia Ingabire David Lasansky Tala Shahin

Angela Rivera Aurora Hurtado Olivas Kathryn Kuna Madeline Morrow Alejandro Villalobos

Dylan Hutchison Heber Lara Klariza Ochoa and & Dr. Hu Zeng Maya Rivera Soraya Sandoval Sara Zachritz 30 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE CBC SCRAPBOOK OKTOBERFEST

Nathan Rundhaug, Lindsey Holmen, Kathia Davila and Steven Smith, and family Sara Lee Jones, Leah Ortega and Kathryn Kuna

OUTREACH AND ACTIVITIES

AXE at Chess and Science Fest @Flandrau 2018 Club Fair | Maddie Morrow, VP Science Center | Anthony Baldo, Alicia Swain, Tucson Festival of Books | Steven Le and Biochemistry Club, and Adrian Sacripanti and James Stanfill Kathryn Kuna serving ice cream

Program to Advance Women Scientists (PAWS)

Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) | Beta Tau

BECUR CBC POSTER FAIR

David Lasansky 2018 CBC Poster Fair Winners

CBC AMBASSADORS

Soraya Sandoval Christine Gronowski, presenting CBC Advisor

Katrina Konopka and Christian Steven Fried Boettcher DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 31

ICE CREAM SOCIAL SALSA CHALLENGE

Megan Cunnington, Alexis Montoya and Christine Gronowski 2018 Salsa Challenge winners

2018 BLASTOFF!

RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CHEMISTRY CLUB SCIENCE MAGIC SHOW

Alyssa Ellsworth, Anupama Peiris, Wenmo Sun

Rachel Utterback, Steven Leo Hamerlynck and Petritis, Clayton Curtis, Iva Habensus, Ameen Ghavam Fabiola Vazquez

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS

Lindsay Guzman, Natasha Cornejo, Holly Sofka, Anna Eitel

GRADUATE STUDENT CBC BREAKFAST AWARDEES White Coat Ceremony

Julia Townsend, Lauren Ostopowicz, Rachel Utterback, Victor P. Thalacker Fellow; Arthur Gibson, Rodolpho Souza Amado Tristan Kleine, Carl S. Marvel Memorial Scholar; de Carvalho, Mark Burton, Kellen Kristen Watts, David F. O’Brien Fellow Schneider, Beverly Ru NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID TUCSON AZ PERMIT NO. 190

PO Box 210041 Tucson AZ 85721-0041 CBC@UA!

To view and download the expanded version containing more exciting CBC Alumni News visit cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

Send your news to Olivia Mendoza at [email protected] to be included in next year’s magazine!

SUPPORT AND FUNDING Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to help make a difference: • CBC Department Fund to support student activities, staff awards, and faculty enrichment SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE MONTHLY ISSUES OF THE • CBC Outreach Activities to support UA student CATALYST E-NEWSLETTER outreach to K-12 classes and community events • CBC Graduate Student Scholarships to provide cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends/newsletters enhanced research opportunities for students or text CBCATUA to 22828 • CBC Undergraduate Support to provide funding for the May CBC Commencement Event The CATALYST Find out more about supporting CBC@UA! Editor-in-Chief: Olivia Mendoza cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends/guide-giving Associate Editors: Ellie Warder and Roger L. Miesfeld Design/Production: Lisa Stage Contributors: Frank Aylward, Barbara Golder, Ric Gonzalez, Wendy Ingram, Paul Lee, Robyn McKee, William Montfort, Donna Wiedemann PLANNED GIVING 520.621.6354 | [email protected] Remembering CBC@UA in your will or estate plan is www.cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends an ideal way to plan for your future and realize immediate Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Arizona on Facebook tax benefits. For information on how to make your planned gift, contact Cheryl Tomoeda at [email protected] or (520) 621-1787. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 33

ALUMNI NEWS MORE

Thomas Arana – BS Biochemistry, 1951 I am retired from Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett, MA. I have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Edward Andres – BA Chemistry, 1960 I am a retired general surgeon and a candidate for Congress.

Roger Bate – BS Chemistry, 1960; MS Chemistry, 1962 I am retired from Merichem Company; moved to Florida in 2017.

Kenneth Zahn – BS & MS Chemistry, 1960 For a summary of my past activities, see the 125-year Alumni Reunion special. Cur- rently the 1st Vice President of the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and organization of ~ 82 gem and mineral clubs and 6,000 members in Alaska, Wash- ington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Northern Utah. Still active in mineral collecting Kenneth Zahn and advocacy work for improved access to Federal lands for partially disabled elderly and military retirees.

Eugene Seymour – BS Chemistry, 1961 I’ve had a wonderful career as a practicing physician, medical school professor and public company executive. I’ve been the CEO of two public companies in the anti-viral space. Now retired but still ski and ride my bike in the hills of Colorado. Heading back to UCLA to pick up courses I never took during my college years. Life is great with a wonderful wife, three adult children and six grandchildren.

John Kaczynski – MS Chemistry, 1966 I am retired from Longview Community College. I have 6 grandchildren, all living in Tucson.

Norman Buck – BS Chemistry, 1967 I retired from working full time in 2011 after about 38 years of service in the UA’s De- partment of Entomology, but I still work a few hours a week.

Harry Edwards – PhD Chemistry, 1967 After 41 years at CSU, I retired in 2007. Presently, I have two volunteer jobs. I am a member of the City of Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board, and I am coordinator for Financial Peace University at Timberline Church in Fort Collins. I enjoy attending Eugene Seymour live musical events with my companion Pamela, participating in a regular exercise program at University of Colorado Health, and spending time with friends. I especially enjoy participating in the various alumni events organized by CBC and the UA Foun- dation.

Curtis Schilling, Jr – PhD Chemistry, 1967 My wife Betty passed away in March.

Jim Foster – PhD Chemistry, 1968 I am gliding along in a very pleasant retirement. I cut a few gems from time to time which is a Zen experience, give tours at Lotusland in Montecito, California (home of a horrific debris slide) which is one of the top gardens on Earth, travel, cook, have fun with my friends and especially spend time with my wife Sandy. Life is good and I am very lucky.

Barry Haymore – BS Chemistry, 1968 I went on to earn an M. Sc. from Brigham Young University and a PhD from North- western University, Evanston. Now I am retired from ChemLink International. 34 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

J. Steven Schwarting – BS Chemistry, 1968 Throughout my medical career I have always kept chemistry as an avocation.

Kathryn Tominey – BS Chemistry, 1968 I went on to earn an MBA degree at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. I am retired from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (managed by Battelle Memorial Institute).

Michael Bissell – BS Chemistry, 1969 Retired in 2014 from directing the Toxicology Laboratory at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Matthew Krause, Jr – PhD Chemistry, 1969 My beloved Arizona Bride, Jan Parker Krause UA 1967, Phi Beta Kappa 1966, died while on tour in China Black Friday 2015.

Michael Bissell Armando Angel – MS Chemistry, 1970; PhD Chemistry, 1972; MD 1977 We have two great-grandkids, Harland and Calvin. I established the Estrella Consultant Group for evaluating radioactive issues.

Jerry Crawford – MS Biochemistry, 1970; PhD Biochemistry, 1976 I am retired from the Agricultural Research Service where I was a Technology Transfer Coordinator.

Eugenia Eide Stoker – BS Chemistry, 1970; MD, 1974 Our granddaughter received an award from SARSEF (Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair) for her science project in the physics category for fifth graders. She studied how heat affects the magnetic shield around a mag-lev train. She and her dad built the train and track with ceramic magnets and wood. The sleeve of magnetic shielding material was damaged by heat in the same range as summer heat in the desert, so a practical application there! (The shielding protects passengers who have pacemakers.)

Robert Jones – BS Chemistry, 1971; MA Science Teaching, 1973 I am a hospital chaplain in Los Angeles.

Siegfried Lodwig – PhD Chemistry, 1971 I’m getting to know more surgeons than I want to know. Old age is not for the weak.

Dennis Savage – PhD Chemistry, 1971 I retired from the Eastman Kodak Co. in 2004. Since then I have been at the Universi- ty of Rochester doing organic synthesis in the laboratory of Prof. R.K. Boeckman, Jr.

Larry Schwartz – PhD Chemistry, 1971 Still running my consulting business which includes business and technical analysis based on intellectual property. Additionally use domain expertise in biobased, and biodegradable materials, formulation and radiation crosslinking of polymers to assist product development in companies worldwide. Recently coauthored several articles on business management, particularly focused on new product development. Wife, Leslie, (UA Nursing 1972) is head nurse at a family health clinic. Daughter Rachel completed her residency in radiology at UCSD June, 2018. Younger daughter Randee manages a business in Santa Cruz, CA. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 35

Robert Small – PhD Chemistry, 1971 Since retiring in 2004 I did some consulting work for the semiconductor industry up until 2016. Other activities include traveling around much of the world, doing volunteer work for the HSSA and in my community of Civano, and trying to “tame” my yard with its weeds.

Don Stevenson – PhD Chemistry, 1971 I am retired from Dow Chemical. Robert Small David Bear – BA Chemistry, 1972 46 years after receiving a BS in Chemistry at the UA, and having retired from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine where I served as Chair of Cell Biology and Physiology, Associate Dean of Admissions, and Chair of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, I have joined the faculty of the University of Arizona in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. I am teaching molecular genetics and genomics to medical students and graduate students. My interests focus on RNA metabolism and trafficking in muscle cells and neuromuscular diseases.

Sheldon Clare – PhD Chemistry, 1972 After retiring from the University of Pittsburgh, I have taught part-time at the Univer- sity of Arizona and Pima Community College. I am a widower with 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Daniel Chang

Kenneth Ehler – PhD Chemistry, 1972 Since Sept., 2002, I have been the volunteer manager of “Second Hand Prose”, a used bookstore run entirely by volunteers for the express purpose of raising funds for the Eugene Public Library. As a student at the UA and throughout my life I have always re- lied on public transportation and mostly my bicycle for transportation. I continue this lifestyle into my retirement years; however, in retirement, I have committed to using only walking and my bicycle for transportation.

Daniel Chang – PhD Chemistry, 1974 I am retired and living in San Diego.

Robert Keesee – BS Chemistry, 1975 I have just retired from the University at Albany, State University of New York, Depart- Robert Keesee ment of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences after 27 years. I had also worked at the National Science Foundation, Pennsylvania State University and NASA Ames Research Center since obtaining my PhD in physical chemistry from the Universi- ty of Colorado in 1979. A significant event in shaping my career was when the late Dr. Jarvis Moyers visited our chemical instrumentation class, being taught by Prof. Bonner Denton, to advertise a summer job opening. I was hired and that work got me interested in atmospheric chemistry and it was Jarvis who encouraged me to go on to graduate school. Eventually I had the opportunity to work with Jarvis again in the atmospheric chemistry program at NSF in the late 1980s.

I am also grateful to Prof. Walter Miller for suggesting that I take Russian to fulfill the Robert Keesee foreign language requirement. With my smattering of Russian I had formed some connections with Russian scientists, and that’s how I met my wife. Attached are two photos taken in Ekaterinburg, Russia last month. One is in Andy Campbell the city’s Shartash Forest Park and the other is from the observation deck atop Vysotsky Tower.

Andy Campbell – BA CHEM & Philosophy, 1976; MS CHEM, 1979 (4) Currently I am Deputy Director of Siting, Licensing & Environmental Analysis at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 36 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Michael Routh – PhD Chemistry, 1976 I am currently serving on the Boards of Directors of In-Situ, ANDalyze, Symbios, and Climate Restoration Technologies.

Walter Rudzinski – PhD Chemistry, 1977 Retired in 2017 after 38 years of teaching and research at an institution that grew from a 16,000 student, regional university to a nearly 40,000 student institution designated as one of 8 upcoming research universities in Texas.

Michael Routh Roxane Gardner – BA Chemistry, 1978 Degrees & activities since graduating from University of Arizona: 09/1978 – 06/1982 MD, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) 07/1982 – 06/1986 Internship/Residency, Ob/Gyn, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 09/1990 – 06/1992 MPH, Public health, health policy and management, Harvard University School of Public Health (HSPH) 09/2002 – 06/2010 DSc, Health policy and management; (David Bates, M.D. – advisor), HSPH 09/2014 – 06/2016 MSHPEd, Health Professions Education, Massachusetts General Hospital/Institute for Health Professions (MGHIHP)

Academically, I’m an Assistant Professor of Ob/Gyn at Harvard Medical School, faculty Walter Rudzinski member of the Ob/Gyn Dept at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Division of Pediatric & Adolescent Gyn at Boston Children’s Hospital; and Educator in the Dept of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Most of my time is spent at Center for Medical Simulation where I am the Senior Director of Clinical Programs, Director of the Simulation Fellowship and International Schol- ars Program, and Co-Director of the Labor and Delivery Program. I have 10 years of experience as Assoc. Medical Director-Obstetrics for Patient Safety at the Controlled Risk Insurance Company (CRICO) of Harvard-affiliated institutions, overseeing development, implementation and management of obstetrical patient safety initiatives. Perinatal patient safety, simulation and evaluation of teamwork behaviors and team performance are the focus of my research.

Mark Mittelstaedt – BA Chemistry, 1978 Tucson was good to me, but I couldn’t take the heat anymore; retired to the moun- Roxane Gardner tains east of Albuquerque.

Tim Krupa – MS Chemistry, 1979 After a long career in clinical development, I am enjoying a second career with Cibus US LLC in the AgBio sector.

Nancy Gin – BS Chemistry, 1982; MD 1986 I have been the Medical Director and Chief of Staff since 2011, overseeing nearly 1,000 physicians, two hospitals and 25 medical offices serving 600,000 members.

Mark Mittelstaedt’s NM home Patricia Hill – PhD Chemistry, 1982 I retired in 2014 and moved to Southern Utah. Now I focus on horseback riding and competing in reining and going on bicycling trips around the world with my husband.

Charles Eck – MS Chemistry, 1983; PhD Chemistry, 1991 Just continued the process of retiring by moving back to Tucson. My wife, Alice Whittaker, is a UA alumna (BSN, ‘75, MSN, ‘82) and has just retired from teaching at Creighton University College of Nursing after earning an EdD at the College of St. Mary in 2014.

Tim Krupa ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 37

Carlos Fabara – MS Chemistry, 1983 As of 2018 I am Professor Emeritus from Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecua- dor.

Robin Humphreys – BS Biochemistry, 1983 I am Senior Director of Pharmacology at Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

Meg Collopy LeVier – BS Chemistry, 1983 Retired but still consult for mining companies. Volunteer at the Douglas County Sher- iff Office in the warrants group.

Leslie Clark Romanyshyn – BA Biochemistry, 1983 My career includes 20 years of analytical chemistry supporting drug metabolism drug discovery and 15 years (and going...) supporting clinical trials as a CRA.

William Struthers – BS Biochemistry, 1983; MD, 1987 I am now practicing at United States Anesthesia Partners.

Soonya McDavid – BS Chemistry, 1984 (1) Soonya McDavid I am employed at W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. as a Quality Leader.

Lisa Farrell – BS Chemistry, 1986 (2) Celebrating 23 years with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Quality Division.

Stephen Andruski – PhD Chemistry, 1987 I am employed at US Pharmacopeia.

Ginny Beal – BS Chemistry, 1987 Recently completed 16 years evaluating science education programs funded by the Lisa Farrell NSF focusing on particle physics. This career phase followed work as a chemist at IBM, chemistry instructor at UA, program director for science teacher programs in chemistry at UA, and astronomy at NOAO; also specialize in yoga instruction and yoga therapy.

David Mangelsdorf – PhD Biochemistry, 1987 (3) Since 1993 he has been at UT Southwestern, where he currently is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Med- ical Institute. He holds the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Molecular Neuropharmacology, in Honor of Harold B. Crasilneck, PhD and the Alfred G. Gilman Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology, and he is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Leah Ellingboe O’Brien – PhD Chemistry, 1987 I have been married for 32 years to Jim O’Brien, whom I met and married while a grad student at UA. We have two wonderful daughters, Christine and Emily. In 2012 I was named an ACS Fellow. David Mangelsdorf Anjan Bhattacharyya – PhD Biochemistry, 1988 I work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Public Health/Radiation Control Branch. 38 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Millicent Firestone – MA Chemistry, 1988 After leaving UA I received a doctorate in chemistry (1993) at Northwestern University in Evanston IL under the direction of Professors Tobin J. Marks and Mark A. Ratner. Following Northwestern, I did a 2 year post doc at UIUC. From 1996 until 2013 I was at Argonne National Laboratory where I lead a group in biomolecular materials. I moved to Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2013 where I was made a strategic hire for soft matter. On a personal note, I have a wonderful 16 year old son who loves living in the southwest. Kevin Zavadil Kevin Zavadil – PhD Chemistry, 1989 I am a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories.

Jani Ingram – PhD Chemistry, 1990 I received the American Chemical Society 2018 Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in March.

Alan Smrcka – PhD Biochemistry, 1991 I took a position as Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical Jani Ingram recognized School.

David Arney – PhD Chemistry, 1992 I have held the position of Global Laboratory Manager for the Powertrain Solutions Lab in the 3M Automotive & Aerospace Division since 2016.

Michael Ruane – BS Chemistry, 1994 I have earned tenure in the chemistry department and started my first year as Depart- ment Chair of Chemistry at Texas Lutheran University. Over the summer, I supervised three undergraduate students and made significant progress on a new stereospecific David Arney method to generate pyranones.

Elizabeth Atkinson – PhD Chemistry, 1995 Currently I am Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Linfield College.

Heather Houston Clark – MS Chemistry, 1995 Heather is Director of R&D Program Management at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and has spent the past 19 years working on the Cystic Fibrosis Research portfolio at Vertex, which has resulted in three marketed drugs to date and several more drug candidates in late stage clinical development. Michael Ruane (far right) and students She recently gave birth to her youngest daughter Emily and is enjoying being the mother to three daughters.

Paula Ray – PhD Chemistry, 1996 The years after the UA stretch on, but the memories of the desert are still bright for me. Completing twenty years at P&G is a milestone worth celebrating and made possible by 5 years in Tucson learning with some of the best. Our Midwestern lives continue, with our youngest child entering college this fall. My husband’s drone photography business is ‘taking flight’ successfully. And there is a growing world population that needs shampoo, toilet tissue, and diapers. Heather Houston Clark and family

Paula Ray and family ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 39

Jason Chruma – BS Chemistry, 1997 While at UA, I wrote an honors thesis describing undergraduate research performed Jason Chruma and family in Thailand with Prof. Robin Polt. This began a career in academic research. I earned my PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002 (with Organic Letters Edi- tor-in-Chief, Amos B. Smith, III), followed by an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Colum- bia University from 2003-2005 with the late Ronald C. Breslow.

After seven years as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia, my family and I moved to Chengdu, China in 2012 to take a professorship at Sichuan University. Currently, I am a full Professor and Assistant Dean (International Affairs) in the College of Chemistry at Sichuan University.

My research program is focused on the development of environmentally-benign methods for the generation and use of 2-azaallyl species in natural product total synthesis and medicinal chemistry. See more at my university webpage.

Deepa Wadhwani Whipple – BS Biochemistry, 1997 After graduating, I immediately began working at Accenture, where I got to travel to fun places (Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Bangalore) and moved around quite a bit (Phoenix, New York, Augusta, San Francisco). I eventually left consulting and hired on to my last client, Ross Stores, Inc. where I worked out of our corporate office in CA. A few years ago, I relocated to our Buying Office in NYC.

Going on these fun travels with me are my loving husband, two wonderful daughters, and two playful dogs. While I haven’t done any biochemistry since I graduated, I use what I learned around analysis and problem-solving at my job every day!

Chandra Savage Marsden – BS CHEM, 1998; PhD CHEM, 2004 Deepa Wadhwani I am the Team Leader for Tritium Research, part of the Gas Transfer Systems group Whipple and family at Los Alamos National Laboratory. My team is responsible for conducting tritium function tests of R&D gas transfer systems, including setup, data acquisition, and gas analysis. We also study the interaction of tritium with various materials, analyze gas mixtures via high resolution mass spectrometry, and serve as technical experts for the operation of a DOE Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility. I was recently promoted to Scientist 4, which LANL defines as a “Discipline Authority” and “Laboratory/National Leader”. Don’t believe anyone who says that there are no good jobs in P-Chem!

Brian Schmidt – MS Chemistry, 1998 Currently I am a Professor of Physical Science at the College of Southern Nevada. Charlie Chen Laurie Wood – PhD Chemistry, 1998 I just completed 15 years working at Beckman Coulter.

Charlie Chen – MS Biochemistry, 1999 Currently I am a Senior Research Investigator at Icagen-T Inc.

Jennyfer Faridy Cocco – BA Biochemistry, 1999; MD, 2004 After completing medical school, I moved to Texas for residency in plastic surgery. I Happy to report, my major in Biochemistry was a good foundation for medical school at UA. I then moved to Texas for residency in plastic surgery. I now have my own solo practice in Dallas where I live and enjoy trying to make the world a better place. In 2015 I met the love of my life and I have a son and two step-sons—a family I adore.

Susanne Rafelski – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 1999 I started my independent research lab in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology at UC Irvine in 2012. I then moved to the brand new Allen Institute for Cell Science in Seattle in 2016 - see www.allencell.org. Jennyfer Faridy Cocco 40 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Adrienne Roehrich – BS Chemistry, 1999 I am the Associate Manager of the NMR Facility at the University of Washington.

Allison Shepherd – BS Chemistry, 1999 (6) I recently received the Laboratory Analyst of the Year award for 2018 from the AZ Water Association, the Arizona Section of the American Water Works Association.

Jessica Yingling – BS Biochemistry, 1999 (7) I earned my Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from UC San Diego. My dissertation was focused on using a mouse model to dissect a human neuro-developmental disorder, called lissencephaly. Along the way, I also learned about stem cells in the brain. I enjoyed working at the bench but found that I liked learning and talking about the science more than doing it. (When I miss bench work, I cook!) I also found that I really enjoy figuring out how to translate and explain science.

In my last year of graduate school, I did a lot of exploration and networking. I taught biology at a local community college, but I found it did not keep me engaged. What I Allison Shepherd loved about doing research was being on the front edge of new innovation. So I did a number of informational interviews and networked to find a job that interested me.

I talked with a fellow graduate student who completed her doctorate Jessica Yingling the year before me. She had taken a position at a PR/IR agency that only did public and investor relations for biotech and life science companies. As I was finishing up my doctorate, she reached out because she was going on maternity leave, and the agency was looking for someone to fill in for her.

So I started working as an account executive at Porter Novelli Life Sciences. My Ph.D. gave me the necessary background and education, and the agency provided the training necessary to actually apply all that knowledge towards helping companies translate their science to their different audiences.

I went on to work in the development office at The Scripps Research Institute, and eventually took a position as director of corporate communications at Fate Thera- peutics. The company’s core science revolved around adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Here, I put all my education and training together and, as an early employee in Fate, helped build the brand and communications platform for the company.

Seven years ago, as part of a company layoff, I was rather unexpectedly without a job, but not without options. That is when I started Little Dog Communications. I had the experience both from the agency and working in-house to understand what small biotechs needed from a PR and communications perspective. I also knew that not all companies had the resources to either hire an agency or an internal person. But that didn’t mean that they didn’t need PR help.

I also knew I wanted to work with the “little dogs” in the fight. Little doesn’t nec- essarily mean small. It is more a frame of mind. To me, Little Dogs are companies, both big and small, that are at the front edge of innovation developing tomorrow’s medicines and technologies to improve healthcare. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 41

At Little Dog Communications, we help our clients communicate their story to all their different audiences, whether that be externally to investors, reporters, partners, patients, advocacy groups or, internally to employees, board members, collaborators – it all depends on what are the goals and needs of the company at that time. Then we determine what is the vehicle for those communications – is it a press release, newsletter, social media, video, presentation, interview or meeting – and then we help them strategize, prepare, and execute on those tactics. We also listen to the client’s audiences and communities. Our overall goal is to find the best way to tell a client’s stories either themselves or through a third party or champion.

Tim Sikorski – BS Chemistry, 2001 (8) I moved to Stuttgart, Germany and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army. My new job is working as Deputy Chief of Plans for Information Operations at the United States Africa Command.

Francisco Villa – BS Biochemistry, 2001 I completed my MS and PhD at the University of California, San Diego in chemistry. I next completed a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship in natural product chemistry and immunobiology at the Scripps Institution of Ocean- ography with the NIH/NIGMS IRACDA program. While in this program I co-taught courses at San Diego State University. In 2010 I started a faculty position in chemistry at Arizona Western College and then in 2012 transitioned over to Northern Arizona University - Yuma Branch Campus Tim Sikorski and family as an associate clinical professor of biological and ecological sciences. In 2015 I had an NSF S-STEM proposal funded that provided scholarships and support for students to complete their science degrees at our institution. Currently I am a clinical professor and lead faculty for my program. My wife is also a graduate of UA (BS, Material Science Engineering) and UCSD (MS and PhD, Bioengineering) and is a faculty member in biology at Arizona Western College. We have twin 9 year old daughters and a 7 year old son.

Melanie Boshens – BS Chemistry, 2002 (1) I was promoted to Chemist Supervisor at Tucson Water. I started as a Chemist for Pima County right after graduation from UA. Then I went to work for Tucson Water as a Water Quality Analyst, then Chemist for 10 years. In 2017 I was promoted to Chem- Melanie Boshens ist Supervisor for the Inorganic Unit in the Water Quality and Operations Laboratory.

Jonathan Brekan – BS Chemistry, 2002 (2) After receiving my B.S. in Chemistry from the UA, I went on to graduate school and received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of Buffalo, SUNY. My advisor was Huw M. L. Davies and I studied rhodium catalyzed C-H activation and its application towards the total synthesis of diterpene natural products. I moved to Northwest- ern University and held a postdoctoral position for 3 years. I entered industry with a startup company Elevance Renewable Sciences in Illinois. We utilized cross-metathe- sis to obtain novel specialty chemicals from plant-based oils. My job was to develop laboratory data to justify market needs for these new molecules. The markets we served were engineered polymers, lubricants and additives and specialty care.

After 5 years, I moved to my current job with Daubert Cromwell. We develop corrosion prevention packaging. My job is to identify new chemistries and apply them to rust prevention packaging products. In addition I lead the technical/customer interface. This allows me to visit customer sites, solve problems and present research Jonathan Brekan findings at local and national corrosion conferences. and family

I married Shevawn Leahy (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and we have 2 children, Jack (4) and Josephine (1). 42 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Tara Garrison Bunag – BS Chemistry, 2002 My 2-year-old daughter loves looking through chemistry books and asking what everything means.

Tracey Newlove – BS Biochemistry, 2002; MD, 2008 I currently am in practice at Tucson Dermatology.

Ben Fish – BS Chemistry, 2003 Tara Bunag’s I currently am employed by Bank of America. daughter preps for CBC@UA Dana Gilmore – BS Biochemistry, 2003 I have been working at Arizona Department of Public Safety since 2008 working in serology, DNA and now Toxicology. I have testified over 80 times on blood alcohol analysis for DUI cases. I hope to continue training in Toxicology analyzing blood for the presence of drugs and their metabolites. Ben Fish Cornel Popescu – BS Biochemistry, 2003; MPH 2014 Currently I am a medical student with UA College of Medicine Phoenix.

Stephanie Slater – BS BMB, 2003; MS Biochemistry, 2004 I am engaged to get married in October 2018!

Retsina Meyer – BS BMB, 2004 Retsina Meyer has been working in neuroscience for over a decade producing over 40 articles, abstracts, and lectures. Her recent discoveries have gained international press and earned her a speaking engagement at the local TEDx conference. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Meyer is an alumna of MassBIO’s MassCONNECT program and SpringBoard’s Life Sciences Accelerator. She went on to advance Resilience through the OneStart America’s competition awarded by GSK’s SR One and Oxbridge Bio- tech Roundtable, emerging as the winner of the #1 emerging life science company. Notably, she has been nominated for Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Boston Business Journal Women to Watch in Science and Technology, and 40 under 40.

Dr. Meyer obtained a Neuroscience Ph.D. at MIT where she earned 5 named fellowships and was a Presidential Fellow, Imperial College of London Global Fellow, and a Graduate Woman of Excellence. While in academia, Retsina served as a science Stephanie Slater and fiance advocate with the Science Policy Initiative, attained over a million dollars in grants, fellowships, and awards during her academic career, consulted for local startups, and mentored numerous scientists from undergraduate to post doctoral level.

Prior to her work at MIT, Dr. Meyer was a Fulbright Scholar, serving as a representative of the US State Department to Norway, where she worked in the lab of 2014 Nobel Prize winners Drs. May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser. She holds Bachelors degrees in Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Biopsychology from the University of Arizona and worked in the laboratories of Dr. Matt Finkbeiner and Dr. Janet Nicol, Dr. David Rowe, Dr. Carol Barnes, and Dr. Bruce McNaughton.

Gilmar Salgado – PhD Biochemistry, 2004 Currently I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Bordeaux in France. Retsina Meyer ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 43

Tally Largent-Milnes – BS BMB, 2005 Following my BS, I stayed at the UA to pursue a Ph.D. in Medical Pharmacology. From there, I completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship in Physiology/Pharmacol- ogy at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland OR. I was recruited back to the UA in 2014, where I started my lab in Medical Pharmacology. Scientifically speaking, we are interested in the dynamic regulation of the blood brain barrier as both an obstacle that can be overcome for drug delivery and as an active participant in central nervous system pathologies. Outside of work, my husband and I have an almost 2-yr old and enjoy gardening, hiking, and being back in Tucson in general.

Andrew Lemieux – BS BMB, 2005; MS Biochemistry, 2006 I am living in the Netherlands and work at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement.

Raymond Moellering – BS BMB, BS Chemistry, 2005 In 2017/2018 I was awarded a Research Scholar Award from the American Cancer So- ciety and the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. I currently am an Assistant Profes- sor at the University of Chicago.

Wendy Hyatt – BS Chemistry, 2006 I have been with ALS since I was hired after graduation in 2006. I am celebrating my 12 year anniversary. I have worked my way up in the lab from an Analyst, to Senior Analyst, Scientist, Supervisor, Project Chemist, and now Client Service Manager. I am in charge of the lab and client services. I expect to reach the title of Lab Director within a year. I enjoy the work that I do and hope that I can continue it through my own retirement.

Sarah Statt – BS BMB, 2006 I am a Senior Scientist at Asuragen.

Bryan Thacker – BS Mechanical Eng, BA Biochemistry, 2006 I received an MS in Bioengineering in 2008 and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences in 2014 at the University of California, San Diego. I currently am working as a project scientist at a start-up biotech company in San Diego. My family consists of my wife and three boys.

Dominique Leitner – BS Biochemistry, 2007 Dominique Leitner is a research scientist at New York University (NYU) in the Depart- ment of Neurology where she is evaluating the etiology of epilepsy and its implications in SUDEP and SUDC. Previously, she completed postdoctoral training at Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, where she studied the use of stem cell therapies in Parkin- son’s disease. She received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Penn State University in the Department of Neurosurgery, where she studied the effects of neuroinflammation and iron status in the context of cerebral malaria, iron deficiency, and multiple sclerosis. Prior to graduate school, she studied biochemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona and as a post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow at the National Insti- Dominique Leitner tutes of Health (NIH).

Sukeshi Roberts – BS Chemistry, 2007 My husband and I moved across the country to Atlanta, Georgia in the summer of 2016 after he graduated medical school. In Atlanta, I have been able to further my career in public health, working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an ORISE Fellow, where I help foster public health diplomacy, communicate public health policy, and develop strategies for engaging public health partners at the Center for Global Health. We love Atlanta, and I hope to be able to continue my career at the CDC. 44 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Thomas Schultze – BS Chemistry, 2007 Christina Birch I am working at SPEX Certiprep.

Alan Wang – BS BMB, BS Math, 2007 I graduated from neurology residency in 2017 from Thomas Jefferson and then held a fellowship in epilepsy at the University of Miami. I am a faculty member at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ.

Christina Birch – BS BMB, BS Math, 2008 After completing my PhD in Biological Engineering at MIT, I joined the Bioengineering faculty at the University of California, Riverside for one year before taking a position at Caltech as a STEM Writing Specialist and Lecturer in Engineering.

I am currently training and racing full-time as part of TEAM USA (in the sport of Track Cycling) and recently represented the USA in the World Championships Scratch Race in the Netherlands. My goal is to make the World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Teams. USA Cycling profile.

Michael Ferracane – BS BMB, BS Chemistry, 2008 Currently I am working as an Assistant Professor at University of Redlands, a small liberal arts college located in Southern California.

Shang-U Kim – PhD Chemistry, 2008 I am a principal engineer at Samsung Display, and a general manager of FA lab in quality and reliability organization.

Guy Pilkington – PhD BMCB, 2008 Shang-U Kim Since graduation from UA, I spent a few years at the National Cancer Institute doing a post-doctoral fellowship on post-transcriptional regulation of viral RNA. Subsequent to the post-doc I joined ImQuest BioSciences as the Director of Molecular Virology and Hepatitis Research. ImQuest BioSciences is a preclinical contract research and development organization (CRO) that provides services to evaluate the potential of new and novel pharmaceutical products for the treatment and prevention of viruses, bacteria, cancer and inflammatory diseases. I am responsible for any new molecular assay development for our clients’ needs, particularly with newly emerging viruses and ESKAPE pathogens. As the Director of Hepatitis Research I run a division within ImQuest where we focus on the development and application of novel assays for the Guy Pilkington in vitro evaluation of treatment options for Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus.

Hemant Badgandi – PhD Biochemistry, 2009 I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University.

Brian Bode – BS BMB, BA Linguistics, 2009 Worked as a doctor in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in my FY1 year (in Trauma and Ortho- paedics) and moved to Inverness, Scotland in August to complete my FY2 year.

Joe Farmer – BS BMB, 2010 After graduation I went on to spend four years teaching chemistry at Rincon High School in Tucson, AZ. During this time, I discovered a passion for education and began to explore the neurological and psychological basis of teaching and learning. As a result of this questioning, I enrolled in a master’s degree program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and graduated with an Ed.M. in Mind, Brain, and Edu- cation in the spring of 2018. My studies focused on the intersection of neuroscience (primarily fMRI based), cognitive psychology, education, and data analytics. I hope to use the intersection of these fields to create better educational theories and practic- Joe Farmer es that can trace their origin to rigorous interdisciplinary lab science. I think that the application of neuroscience and cognitive science to education will provide avenues to great advancement in both disciplines! ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 45

Keeper Sharkey – BS Chemistry, 2010; PhD Chemistry, 2015 After completion of postdoc in Physics studying meta-stable and metallic states of hydrogen at Washington State University in Pullman, WA end of 2017, I accepted a position in Spokane, WA at Imprezzio, Inc. working as a Research Analyst on the Data Science Team in the Engineering Dept., January 2018. Utilizing econometrics and matrix mechanics, I turn data into information, information into insight, and insight into business decisions. Responsibilities include lifecycle analysis including gathering of data, algorithm development, monitoring performance, and identifying improve- ments for quality control on sequential marketing programs for enterprise insurance Keeper Sharkey companies. As of July 2018, I am also involved with machine learning, artificial intel- and family ligence, and matrix manipulation projects as Director of Research Innovations with MichaelLogic Administration based in Chicago, IL.

Picture: My family, Erastus 8 months old, Pullman, WA, Halloween 2017.

Triza Brion – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I am an Outcomes Researcher at ICON.

Jessie Brown – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I graduated and received my PhD from the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at NYU Langone Health in January 2018 and took a postdoctoral position at Triza Brion Columbia University Irving Medical Center in July 2018.

Andrea Hartzell – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I finished my PhD in May this year and am now a post doc in neuroscience at The Scripps Research Institute. On June 13th my husband Stefano and I welcomed our son Luca Wrenn into the world. He is a healthy and perfect little guy!

Ashley Head – PhD Chemistry, 2011 I just started a new staff scientist position at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, NY.

Diogenes Placencia – PhD Chemistry, 2011 I assumed a new position as Science Director for the Office of Naval Research Global, stationed in São Paulo, Brazil, My charge is to engage researchers/military personnel across Latin America. I will maintain this role until 2021, when I expect to return to the Naval Research Laboratory.

Amanda Davis Roca – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I just received my PhD in Biological Sciences from Northwestern University. My husband (who also graduated from UA-Philosophy and Economics) and I are moving to Seattle where I will start a post-doc at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute. Jessie Brown Ashley Mason Zappia – BS BMB, 2011 I am employed at the Roche Diagnostics Corporation. Diogenes Placencia Adele Zhou – BS BMB, BS MCB, 2011 I completed my PhD in genetics, genomics, and development from Cornell University in 2018 and moved to the DC area where I am working as a postdoc in medical writing for a large pharmaceutical/drug development company.

Niharika Changavalli – BA Chemistry, 2012; MA Chemistry, 2013 I am employed at Vivacity Engineering in Australia.

Lindsey Leve – BA Chemistry, 2012 I am working at Wintergreen Digital Media. 46 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Laura Stratton – PhD Chemistry, 2012 Married Vinnie Maniola in a SCUBA wedding in Mexico in October 2017.

Dan Whitfield– BS BMB, 2012 Currently I live in Germany, working in the Engineering at a Berlin FinTech startup as a QA analyst and automation engineer. I also work part time in Bioinformatics for the Berlin Center for Genomic Diversity (BeGenDiv), in partnership with the Bundesan- Dan Whitfield stalht für Materialforschung und prüfung. This was after a short stint at the Center for Applied NanoBioscience and Medicine (ANBM). Published in fields Biochemistry, Computer Science, and Nanotechnology.

Garrett Yagade – BS Chemistry, 2012 ( Got married November 4, 2017 and honeymooned to the Bahamas to watch the Wildcats play in the battle for Atlantis. My younger sister also decided to attend the UA.

Benjamin Zarin – BS Chemistry, 2012 I am currently pursuing graduate studies in Polymer Science at the University of Ore- Garrett Yagade gon. In addition, I remain employed full-time with Polymer Chemistry Innovations. and wife Christa Bockisch – BS Chemistry, 2013 After completing my bachelor’s degree, I went on to Arizona State University to pursue a doctorate. There, I studied hydrothermal organic geochemistry – organic reactions that occur in high temperature, high pressure, liquid water. Interesting and unexpected organic chemistry takes place under hydrothermal conditions. I chose to focus on mechanisms of these reactions, and potential applications the reactions may have industrially. Recently, my paper titled “Kinetics and Mechanisms of Dehydration of Secondary Alcohols Under Hydrothermal Conditions” was accepted to ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. I completed my PhD in May of 2018, and have since moved to Benjamin Zarin Oregon, where I will be working as a Process Engineer at Intel Corporation.

Spencer Carey – BS Chemistry, 2013 I just graduated with my PhD from the University of Washington and will start a postdoc at the Fritz-Haber Institute in Berlin this fall.

Daniel Dokuchitz – BS Chemistry, 2013 Recently I began a new job with Linde developing analytical chemistry methods for their Electronic Gases and Specialty Products business. Most of the work is done to support customer requirements for the semiconductor industry as well as Linde’s production processes across North America. Christa Bockisch Nicholas Nelson – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2013 I graduated from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in May 2018 and accepted a position as a pharmacy practice resident.

Carly Schnoebelen – BS Biochemistry, 2013 I graduated from Purdue University with my PhD in Chemical Education in May 2018 and am now a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California San Diego.

Aishan Shi – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, BA English, 2013 I am in my final year of medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medi- cine – Phoenix, and I am applying to Internal Medicine residency programs.

Christa Bockisch in the lab ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 47

Duyen Vo – BS Biochemistry, BS Chemistry, BS MCB, 2013 I completed a 1-year MS degree in Medical Science at the University of Vermont in 2016 before working for a year as a phlebotomist and medical scribe at the University of Vermont Medical Center and applying to medical school. I was accepted to 4 MD schools and chose to attend the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, for which I will begin my medical education fall of 2018.

Matthew Bigler – BS Chemistry, 2014 Got an MS in Material Science Engineering; pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science.

Lauren Dominic – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 Duyen Vo I am currently in my 4th year of medical school and planning on pursuing a residency in combined internal medicine and pediatrics.

Eric Figueroa – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 I am a third-year PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. I am working on developing the molecular pharmacology of volume-regulated anion channels.

Matt Hettinger – BS Chemistry, 2014 I am currently working as a polymer chemist at Kreysler & Associates, a custom fiberglass fabrication shop. UA helped me get into polymer chemistry through the undergrad research lab with Dr. Hall. I have now worked at Hexcel and Kreysler & Associates formulating thermoset resin matrices for a variety of applications within the composites industry.

Lawrence Hill – PhD Chemistry, 2014 Eric Figueroa I am finishing my second year as an assistant professor at Western Kentucky Uni- versity, and my first student graduated with his master’s thesis. I married Estie Lynn Carlson in July 2018!

Meagan Johnson – BA Chemistry, 2014 (1) Currently I am a 4th-year medical student at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. I am traveling between Texas, Arizona and Chicago this year for elective rotations. I am going to specialize in pediatrics and plan to further specialize in neonatology.

Aaron Pejlovas – BS Chem, 2014; MA Chem, 2017; PhD Chem, 2018 I began working at Clariant in Tucson, AZ as a development chemist for the oil and mining services business unit. Rhianna Hastings, (a CBC alumna) and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first child. Meagan Johnson

Kameron Rodrigues – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2014 (2) I was recently awarded the Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation! I am beginning my 2nd year of graduate school at Stanford University, within the Computational and Systems Immunology program. I am excited to begin my research journey within the labs of Stephen Montgomery and Sidd Jaiswal (my co-mentors).

Madison Dawn – BS Chemistry, 2015 (3) Since graduating from the University of Arizona, I have moved to Scottsdale, adopted Kameron Rodrigues three dogs, and began my career. I started out as a server for a portion while I worked on figuring out which of the path I wanted to take (to either start working in a lab, or to further my education). I decided that working in a lab was the right fit.

Madison Dawn 48 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

In April of 2017 I applied and started working for the Phoenix Tribology Division of ALS Laboratory Service USA. It was amazing to put my science skills to use again and really enjoyed every minute of it. Sometime later there was promotion within the company and I was asked to apply for the Supervisor position which I succeeded in getting. For about 4 months now I have been supervising the day to day operation of the lab. I do not get to do as much hands on work, but I have been able to learn how to program and take apart an FTIR and a Varian model ICP. Both fantastic opportunities to expand my knowledge and utilize some pf what I have already learned in school.

On the fun side of things I was also able to travel the world, I have visited Rome, Ire- land, Iceland, several quick trips to Mexico and finally Canada. All worthwhile places to visit but if you only have time for one, Iceland is a must. I will be back visiting Tuc- son very soon as my youngest sister has enrolled for her undergraduate degree.

Summer Gardner – BS Biochemistry, 2015 Currently I am serving two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. I am a part of the Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Program (CHOP), working with a drop-in center for vulnerable children and orphans in the community. I am working under PEPFAR to bring evidence based programs to the community to better the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, caregivers of orphans, and orphans and children (18 years and younger), while also assisting the community in other social drivers of the epidemic and other social issues.

Haley Kent – BS Biochemistry, 2015 I re-located to Kentucky to pursue a career in forensics. I have 3 cats, 2 dogs and 15 chickens on 10 acres.

Estefania Lopez – BS Biochemistry, BA Spanish, 2015 I got hired at Cord Blood Registry as a Clinical Research Assistant, and I’ve learned a lot! 2.5 years later with plenty of support from family and work, I have now moved to Phoenix and am in the Pathway Scholars Program earning a Master’s in Medical Stud- ies with conditional admission to the UACOM-P next year.

Casey Miller – BA Biochemistry, 2015 I am a Data Analyst at the University of Arizona.

Elizabeth Nguyen – BS Chemistry, 2015 In the past year, I’ve moved from Houston, TX to Seattle, WA. I was fortunate enough almost immediately after moving to land my job working as a research technician for the chemistry group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Valeria Valdez Samantha Calle – BS Chemistry, 2016 After graduating, I spent an additional year working for Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman Ph.D. at the USDA Honeybee Research Lab in Tucson. At this lab we investigated the seasonal effects on honeybee nutrition, and I am a co-author of the publications currently being processed on our findings. Recently, I moved to Phoenix and am working as a Chemist in the semiconductor and automotive industry at AnalysisNow!

Valeria Valdez – BS Chemistry, 2016 I am an Auxiliaries Officer in the United States Navy.

Udeep Chawla – PhD Biochemistry, 2017 I have been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky since August 2017.

Iman Daryaei – PhD Chemistry 2017 I am currently employed at NuvOx Pharma.

Iman Daryaei ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 49

Gloria Le – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I accepted a research associate position at Ventana Medical Systems in Systems Integration. Although the research I perform is different from that in academia, the principles remain the same. Thank you to the UA for giving me the training required to succeed in this new, exciting chapter of my life!

Bret Maughan – PhD Chemistry, 2017 Recently hired as a Chemistry and Materials Scientist at Space Dynamics Laboratory.

David Renner – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I recently started at the University of Pennsylvania in their Biomedical Graduate Stud- ies (BGS) PhD program, focusing on Microbiology, Parasitology and Virology (MVP).

Mehrdad Shadmehr – PhD Chemistry, 2017 I started my Ph.D. program at CBC in 2011 as an international graduate student, and I officially joined Dr. John Jewett’s research group in 2012 as one of his first graduate students. My graduate research was mainly about design and synthesis of Triazabu- tadiene-based coumarins and their applications for fluorescent labeling of Tyrosine residue of proteins as well as design and synthesis of bifunctional triazabutadiene including synthesis of cyclooctyne triazabutadiene, triphenylphosphine triazabutadiene, for tyrosine modification of proteins and triazabutadiene-NHS ester for surface modification of glass surface.

After I received my Ph.D. in December 2017, I accepted a postdoctoral position in Dr. Cliff Stains’ group, a CBC alumnus who earned his PhD in Neel Ghosh’s lab, in the chemistry department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a postdoctoral research associate in Stains’ lab, I am working on design and synthesis of photoacti- Mehrdad Shadmehr vable fluorogenic prodrug fluorophores as a novel drug delivery system for antican- cer small molecules as well as design and synthesis of second window near-infrared fluorophores.

I would like to give a huge thank you to the CBC department for giving me an opportunity to pursue my education, and I also want to thank my excellence advisor, Dr. John Jewett, Lori Boyd, Dr. Anne Padias, Dr. Hamish Christie, Dr. Bobbi Anglin, and all of my friends in the Jewett group and CBC for their help and support while I earned my PhD at the UA.

Matthew Stagg – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2017 I am still located in Macon, GA where I work closely with Mercer University School of Medicine to gain entry into medical school. I also am hopeful to obtain a graduate Certificate of Population Health Management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health by medical school matriculation in 2019. I am heavily involved in volunteer work such as with RAM and Mercer University Athletic Department, and I have recently started looking at improving youth literacy in Bibb County, GA through sports associations and with the amazing help of my mentor, Dr. Keisha Callins, MD. I remain active in the Mercer University Athletic Department and First Presbyterian Church as well.

Matthew Varga – PhD Chemistry, 2017 Currently I am a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University.

Kimberly Widrick – BS Biochemistry, BS Math, 2017 Transferred from the Master’s program to the PhD program in Biomedical Engineering at the UA. Recently hired as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Gamma Ray Imaging (CGRI). 50 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Adam Kai Aragaki – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 During my time at the University, I enjoyed extracurricular opportunities such as serving as secretary for the Undergraduate Biology Research Program Ambassadors, being a peer mentor to incoming CBC freshman, and researching heteromultivalent ligands in the lab of Dr. Ronald Lynch. I will attend Johns Hopkins in the fall, where I will enter the pharmacology program. In my spare time, I enjoy creating complicated spreadsheets to help me with trivial decisions and petting cats.

Danielle Barrientes – BS Chemistry, 2018 I graduated in May with my B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Health and Human Values from the Honor’s college. After taking a brief summer break, I joined the staff Adam Kai Aragaki at the ALEC facility on campus as a research technician. My job will primarily be composed of performing the various chemical analyses for the wide range of samples submitted to the facility. This laboratory serves many departments on campus, primarily those of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, Veterinary Science, and Public Health. I am so happy to be back on the UA campus and begin a career doing the things I love!

Brandon Goldenberg – BS Biochemistry, 2018 The Chemistry and Biochemistry department at The University of Arizona provided me the foundation of someday hopefully becoming a leader in the science community. Whether in the classroom, or in a research laboratory, I was given the opportunity to learn the ropes of how to someday make a difference in the various science and Danielle Barrientes medical professions. Getting a Bachelors of Science degree is only a stepping stone in my educational endeavors. After gaining research experience in the biotech industry for a year after graduating, I would like to attend a Ph.D. program in the genetics/ genomic medicine field. There, I would want to tackle prominent research issues with the goal of becoming a trained scientist that think critically and complete novel research projects that translate to the clinical setting.

Sean Lansey – BS Chemistry, 2018 After graduating with my BS in Chemistry and my minor in biochemistry, I became a chemistry technician for Global Solar. This company manufactures CIGS solar cells, Sean Lansey which are thin and flexible solar cells that have additional applications than the traditional solar panels commonly seen on roofs. What I enjoy most about this company is the continuing research and development by the scientists into solar technology. My goal is to contribute to this process in some meaningful way.

Christopher Marshall – BS Chemistry, 2018 Three weeks after graduating with a BS in chemistry, I started my first job as a full- time formulation associate at Accelerate Diagnostics in Tucson, AZ.

Neal Patel – BA Biochemistry, 2018 Working as a clinical research coordinator for Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona. Applying for dental school admission and looking to enroll in Fall 2019.

Ramya Ramesh Ramya Ramesh – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 I plan to attend medical school, but I will be working as a scribe during my year off.

Jose Rios-Monterrosa – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 I started my first year of medical school at the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, where I am a medical student ambassador and a peer mentor to pre-health students. I recently got engaged to my beautiful fiancée Madison.

Jose Rios-Monterrosa and fiancée Madison ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 51

Anthony Schwenker – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 I plan to work in the chemistry field after graduation, I feel confident and prepared for this new step. The friends I made in the last four years have made me more confident, the classes I took gave me the information I need and Dr. William Montfort gave me the training to succeed.

Lawrence Sun – BA Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 My name is Guangzhe Sun, everyone knows me as Lawrence. I graduated this May from the University of Arizona with honors in Molecular Cellular Biology and with a Anthony Schwenker B.A. degree in Biochemistry. During my time at the UA, I have served as a preceptor for Dr. Amy Graham for three years, in which I help engage students with class discussions and tutor after classes. In addition, I have been an ambassador and a peer mentor of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and the Honors College, which I help the incoming students better adapt to their first year in college. In my free time, I like running long-distance, singing, and learning how to cook, “safely”. I am currently studying for my first MCAT, and I am hoping to get admitted into the University of Washington School of Medicine as the class of 2023.

Jason Sweet – BA Biochemistry, 2018 I am the first Sweet in the history of my family to earn a college degree. As if all odds were against me at times, I’ve learned to become comfortable existing and operating under this pressure.

After leaving GCU in 2008 after my 2nd semester on a full-ride baseball scholarship to try out to become a USAF PJ (Pararescue Jumper) in my father’s footsteps, I shipped off to basic military training (BMT) in October of 2008. After graduating BMT, I began the 10 week Pararescue Indoctrination Course, also known as “Superman School” or “INDOC” with 100 other Airmen all telling themselves they’d “Never Quit.” Only three weeks later, there were only 28 Airmen remaining. 72 Airmen of the original 100 had quit and a month hadn’t gone by since we started the journey. 15 of us graduated INDOC and would embark on 2 additional years of PJ school in which one could quit or fail at any time before earning our coveted maroon berets and the title of a USAF PJ. After graduating on April 18th 2011, I was a combat SCUBA diver, an EMT/SOCOM paramedic, skilled in mountaineering/climbing, trained in high altitude parachuting day/night on land/water, and much more. In the spring of 2012, my PJ team and I Lawrence Sun conducted over 60 combat missions in southern Afghanistan as the first-ever GATR (Guardian Angel Tactical Response) team.

After returning from Afghanistan, I tested into the lowest chemistry class Pima Com- munity College would offer. After securing an AA degree from Pima with a 3.7 GPA and transferring to the UA, I successfully made the UA football team. After a historic 2014 season that ended with 10 wins, being ranked in the top 10 in the country, and securing a Fiesta Bowl appearance, I tore my ACL and meniscus and was forced to drop out of school to pay for surgery expenses.

Upon re-enrolling, I changed my major to Biochemistry, as it is a competitive pre-med Lawrence Sun major to have on a resume, but knew little about it. After developing a passion for the biochemical processes that drive the various functions of life at the cellular level, it was certain to me that a major in biochemistry was where I needed to be.

Jason Sweet

Jason Sweet 52 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

I will be using this degree to strengthen this great nation and all you that make it so great. As the owner of SOCOM Athlete LLC, I conduct career events, 1-on-1 and group development, social medial promotions, Q & A, mentoring, etc. for candidates pursuing careers in Special Operations Forces (SOF) (NAVY SEALs, USAF Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), etc. ) By recently taking a part-time position at the University of Arizona DSRI (Defense & Security Research Institute), I will act as the initiative’s Human Performance & SOF representative. It’s an honor to stay close to home and be around the family & support network that has developed over my last four years as a wildcat. BearDown!

Josephine Uong – BA Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 While taking a year off of school, I will be working at a retirement home as a server, then with a pharmacist. I will also be working on my applications for pharmacy schools.

Dane Evan Zambrano – BS Biochemistry, BS MCB, 2018 The Biochemistry program at the University of Arizona through the Honors College has taught me to value all experiences – good and bad. I would not have been able to realize my passion for research, outreach and made lifelong friendships if I dismissed my bad run-ins with another department. In turn, the sum of all my experiences has led me to learn things about myself that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. For example: I love research just as much as I love learning about science. To foster this love, I am pursuing an MD/PhD with a focus on Biochemistry at the University of Washington through their Biological Physics Structure and Design (BPSD) Program. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 53 LOVE, HONOR, LOYALTY TO UA ONLINE VERSION By Ricardo Rene (“Ric”) Gonzalez | PhD Chemistry, 2001

feel honored and privileged to spectrometry expertise I gained at the I was ecstatic to say the least, and get be asked by our alma mater UA. Mike wouldn’t let me graduate until emotional even now when I think about to write about my experience I could teach him; he truly refined me it. I’m thankful to Neal for teaching me I and made me the scientist I am today. advanced quantitative analysis, as well as a student at the University of Arizona, the impact on my life Mike, I love you so deeply, and I miss as CHEM 528 (instrumental analysis because of my experience there, you as I miss my own father. I will be and material characterization). Neal is forever indebted to you. I hope to see an exceptional mentor and teacher. and my subsequent professional you in heaven. and personal life since. I am con- Dr. Quintus Fernando (deceased) – I’ll stantly thinking about all my in- Dr. Neal Armstrong – I left the depart- never forget my rotational interviews in teractions with the faculty at the mental acceptance interview visit on a my very first semester with professors UA who profoundly affected my Sunday, and I didn’t think twice about to find the research group I wanted to life. Therefore, I will share some wearing shorts during the visit (while join. Dr. Fernando started the conversa- thoughts that come to mind: other candidates were wearing long tion during my meeting with him: “You pants and ties). I was so appreciative will not get your doctoral degree here; Dr. Vicki Wysocki and Dr. in fact, you’re probably not Arpad Somogyi (now at Ohio going to be here in a year State University) — I gained from now. This program is invaluable lifelong expertise in the top five on the entire in mass spectrometry from globe in the science of Ana- Vicki in the classroom (e.g., lytical Chemistry. The attri- Quantum electrodynamics, i.e., tion rate is over 80%.” Well, I QED theory, to predict frag- lost a lot of hair due to stress mentation in tandem or MSn in my first year. Approximate- as well as the consequential ly 35 students started in my mass spectral predictive and entering class…by 2004, only interpretive knowledge/skills) 8 in that class earned our and in practice with Arpad in doctoral degrees. I graduat- the laboratory utilizing a variety of in- and inspired by my discussion with ed with my BS Chemistry degree from struments with low and high resolution Neal in the lounge area near his, Jeanne The University of Illinois with highest mass analyzers for qualitative analyses. Pemberton’s and Bonner Denton’s labs honors. Despite leading the graduation (I was a graduate staff member in the in the Gould-Simpson Building. I was procession summa cum laude, I was Mass Spectrometry Facility during my quite candid, and instinctively felt I way over my head when I first attended last 3 years there). had nothing to lose by being complete- the U; however, I was encouraged by ly transparent and honest about my all the faculty and staff to hang in there Dr. Michael Francis Burke (deceased) — aspirations and why I wanted to pursue and try my hardest. My hair finally grew My deepest gratitude belongs to Mike, advancement in my Analytical Chem- back. my Research Advisor and my Great- istry education. I was in bed in Illinois est Mentor. He truly was a genius. He Dr. Jeanne Pemberton – Jeanne gave when Neal called me three days later taught me everything that I know about me a deep understanding of surface on a Wednesday night to tell me that chemical separations, and it’s been in- science and analysis. She taught me The University of Arizona wanted me to valuable to this day along with the mass applications of interfacial chemistry for come there for my graduate education. 54 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

LOVE, HONOR, LOYALTY TO UA CONT. reactive (e.g. controlled electrochem- Bonner gave me more of his time, pos- I am happily married to my beautiful istry) and nonreactive (e.g., adsorption sibly because we thought alike. I used wife, Susan. We have 5 grown children and absorption) applications, including to cherish those times (countless times) and 6 grandchildren (with one on the controlled surface modifications (e.g. that I’d walk by his office, he’d see me way!). We own and live on a horse ranch self-assembled monolayers, Langmuir and yell: “Ric, come here! What do you with 62 animals, and our basement is films, etc.). Importantly, she taught me think of this idea?” For example, back decked out in UA memorabilia. I’m a about organic and inorganic crystal then, he was turned on to inventing proud UA Alumnus, and Susan and I structure. Jeanne gave me a firm under- portable ion mobility instruments for are active in alumni events every year. standing of how electron & scanning explosives detection…I talked him into Above all, my heart and soul after God, probe microscopies as well as asso- lengthening the flight tube design, and my family, and the USA belong to the ciated spectroscopies can be utilized it was awesome he wanted my think- people in my life from the University (e.g., SEM-EDAX, AFM, STM, XRF, XPS, ing and feedback. Holy Moly! I’m truly of Arizona. I would not have the happi- Auger spectroscopy, etc.). I’ve used convinced that Bonner is a genius. I’m ness, security and deep satisfaction in this understanding of surface science proud to have worked alongside him. my career and personal life if it weren’t and analysis to solve many problems for the UA, where I learned to BEAR I graduated in December 2001 with in industry over the years. Because of DOWN, to NEVER QUIT, and to strive for a PhD in Analytical Chemistry. While Jeanne, I readily leverage these types EXCELLENCE with integrity, honor, loyal- writing my dissertation, I received of analytical methodologies confidently ty, grace, generosity and the pursuit to an extremely lucrative job offer from and successfully with scientists at a help others. Altria, a large CPG holding company variety of institutions to quickly get the which owned Philip Morris USA and In- information we need. ternational, Kraft Foods, Nabisco, Oscar Dr. M. Bonner Denton – Bonner taught Meyer and Miller Beer. Altria waited 8 me Advanced Instrumental Analysis. months for me to graduate, at which Spot Ric at the end of this PAC-12 video as He taught me about the fundamentals time I accepted their offer of a scientific he cheers on the Wildcats at the College of electronics, operational amplifiers, leadership role in Analytical Chemistry. World Series in Omaha. exhaustively about diffractive, reflec- I am presently a Research Fellow and tive, transmissive and absorptive spec- the Senior Director of Analytical and troscopies across the electromagnetic Applied Sciences for Conagra Brands, spectrum (e.g. acoustic resonance, IR, Inc. I’ve been here almost 9 years, and NIR, Vis, UV, X-ray), applications of I am very happy and fulfilled in my multivariate statistical tools in spectros- career at this great company that is one copy (“chemometrics”), charge transfer of North America’s leading branded device (CCD and CID) detector technol- food companies dedicated to making ogies and intricacies in design, etc.… nutritious food in a responsible way the list goes on and on, as all I learned that fosters stronger communities and from him seems endless. After I passed a better planet. my oral examination, I recognized that ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 55

NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MORE

Bianka Bedoya, Associate Accountant Christopher Koch, Laboratory Bianka Bedova was born in San Diego, Cal- Coordinator ifornia, but raised in Tucson. She is a proud Chris Koch is originally from Albuquer- UA Alum! After receiving a Bachelor of Sci- que, New Mexico. He moved here about 5 ence in Economics and Management, she years ago with his husband, and since then had the opportunity to travel the world as graduated from the U of A with a BS in Bianka Bedoya Christopher Koch a Delta Flight Attendant. That was reward- Biology Education. He worked for a year as ing, but there truly is no place like home, a High School Science teacher, but decided even if home means 120 degree summers. She loves watching to change career directions and work in higher education. He the rain during monsoon season and long desert hikes. Cur- now supports the General Chemistry labs in the prep room rently, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Accounting and as a Lab Coordinator and couldn’t be happier working for the hopes to use her knowledge to become a strong member of CBC department! the CBC Business Office and Department. Makayla Rascon, Office Specialist Connor Cerato, Instructional Specialist, Makayla Rascon is a Tucson native. After Senior working as a CBC student worker, she Connor Cerato graduated from the Univer- decided to join the Business office team as sity of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in staff. Currently she spends most of her free Makayla Rascon health sciences physiology in the spring of time fixing up her new house and hanging 2018. He currently is involved in the med- out with her cats. Connor Cerato ical school application process for acceptance in the fall of 2019. In his free time he Rachel Matsuo Saindon, Administrative enjoys hiking, cycling, and snowboarding when the weather Assistant permits it. Rachel Matsuo Saindon was born and mostly raised in Japan, but has lived in Colleen Kelley, Manager of Instructional Tucson for the past 3 years. This fall she Laboratories will also start attending the UA for Film Rachel Saindon Colleen Kelley started in June as the new and Television and Gender and Women’s Manager for Instructional Laboratories. Studies. She has one child, a rambunctious Shar-Pei mix She received her Ph.D. in Organometallic named Tomo. Her hobbies include thinking of different ways Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State Colleen Kelley to cook cauliflower and resisting the urge to go to Starbucks University and continued with a postdoc- every day. toral fellowship at the Universite Louis Pas- teur with Professor Jean-Marie Lehn. Colleen was a tenured faculty member at Northern Arizona University with research focusing on metal toxicology and chemical education. Her teaching duties have spanned from graduate level courses all the way to high school courses. Most recently, she taught chemistry in rural Kenya. She is passionate about chemical education and how to create a profound and robust learning environment for all students. Colleen is thrilled to be at The University of Arizona and is excited to use her wealth of experiences towards the enhancement of every aspect of the instructional laboratories. 56 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

NEW FACULTY AND STAFF CONT.

Thomas Tomasiak, Assistant Professor Dale Woolridge, Professor (joint Thomas Tomasiak started his laboratory in appointment with Emergency Medicine) January as an Assistant Professor. Before Dale Woolridge recently joined CBC as a that, he was a postdoctoral researcher at joint faculty member. He currently is a the University of California, San Francisco professor of Emergency Medicine in the doing a combination of X-ray crystallogra- College of Medicine, as well as the medical Dale Woolridge phy and cryo electron microscopy. Prior to Thomas Tomasiak director of the Southern Arizona Children’s that, he earned a PhD in Pharmacology at Advocacy Center in Tucson and the direc- Vanderbilt University. He hopes to combine these two areas tor of the Banner Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN in his faculty career, using high resolution techniques to study program for the western region. He received his PhD in bio- mechanisms of nutrient uptake and drug resistance in diseas- chemistry from the University of Arizona under the auspices es that include fungal infection and cancer. of Eugene Gerner in 1998.

IN MEMORIAM MORE

Joan Elizabeth Fornara, BS Chemistry, She was an enthusiastic ambassador for the school. She loved 1948; d. March 29, 2016 her work there, especially the relationships with and impact she had on the students and the friendships she formed with Joan Elizabeth Fornara, 88, was born in her colleagues. Prescott, Arizona, on Sept. 10, 1927 to Fred and Dulcie Gegg and died on March Joan possessed a deep faith and was a devout, life-long mem- 29, 2016. ber of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. She served as a Eucha- Joan Elizabeth ristic Minister for many years and was often volunteering for Joan grew up in Prescott and attended St. Fornara various ministries as recently as a week before her passing. Joseph’s Academy, graduating in 1944. When asked to help, she never declined to become involved. She attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles for two years and returned to complete her Joan is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charlie; education at the University of Arizona, earning a B.S. in and her sisters, Winifred and Eleanor Gegg. Survivors are her Chemistry in 1948. Upon graduation, Joan moved to the San children, Marilyn Wilcox (Reid), John (Kim), Jim, Chuck (Sarah) Francisco area working for Western Regional Research Lab and Joe (Stacie). Joan adored her 10 grandchildren, Matthew in Emoryville. It was during these years that she rekindled a and Brian Wilcox; Jason, Joel (Kaitey), Kristin, James, Will, friendship with Prescott resident, Charlie Fornara, while he Josie, Ava, and Leo Fornara. Joan is also survived by her sister, was serving in the U.S. Navy. Joan and Charlie were married Marjorie Trengove (Ray) and their five children. on June 25, 1952. They spent 62 years together in the Prescott Donations can be made in her name to the St. Vincent de Paul area where they raised their family. Society, 120 N. Summit Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301 or Sacred Joan served 26 years as the secretary at Sacred Heart School. Heart Catholic School, 131 N. Summit Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 57

IN MEMORIAM CONT.

Edward E. Genser, BS Chemistry, 1957; d. June 23, 2015 ences by participating in a number of medical studies which unexpectedly took him back to his Berkeley roots. Dr. Edward E. Genser, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry, passed away June 23, 2015. He began his career One such instance found him involved in a study at UCB / at Cal State Hayward (East Bay) in September of 1970 as a LBL where he observed with amusement that the facilities lecturer and then continued on the tenure track in the fall of had changed little since his time there. In a different study at 1972. He retired in July of 1998 and participated in the Faculty UCSF he reassured the research scientist that he was quite Early Retirement Program (FERP). familiar with the intense magnetic fields generated by the experimental ¬ research MRI machine. It was at this moment His family has provided the following: that the researcher realized that this was same Dr. Genser Edward Easley Genser, Ph.D. 1962. June 23, 2015 in Oakland, whose published research he had come across in his own CA. The son of Mathias Adelbert Genser and Helen Eliza- work. They both had a good laugh. beth Genser Edward was born in Joplin, MO July 2, 1935, the Of course, no recounting of Edward’s life would be com- youngest of eight siblings. Growing up in Joplin he was a bas- plete without mention of his good nature and especially his ketball star at St. Peter’s High School and went on to Rock- long¬lived love of music, notably jazz, sparked by his early hurst College at Kansas City. After the completion of his fresh- years in Kansas City and its legendary jazz clubs. It was an man year there, Edward, a member of the Chemistry Society interest, appreciation and affection that grew and matured and Phi Lambda Upsilon fraternity, went on to receive his B.S. throughout the years, especially later in life. Edward died on degree in 1957 from the University of Arizona, at Tucson at June 23, 2015 in the hills of Oakland, CA at the age of 79. He is which time he was accorded Phi Beta Kappa honors. survived by his son, Mathias, daughter, Leigh, two grandchil- Recipient of a teaching fellowship at University of Califor- dren, and five siblings. nia at Berkeley, Edward received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley Words from Dr. Ann McPartland, Chair of the Department of January, 1962 with his dissertation on Nuclear Magnetic Chemistry and Biochemistry: Resonance. Dr. Genser went on to conduct research at JPL in Pasadena, CA and Shell Development in Emeryville, CA. He taught large General Chemistry courses to freshman and Dr. Genser is listed as the inventor of record on a number of sophomore students and was very well respected and liked patents stemming from his research. by the students. He also taught upper division courses in Physical Chemistry and developed and taught a very popu- In 1970, Dr. Genser took the position as a Professor of Chem- lar General Education course for non¬science majors called istry at California State University at Hayward, now Cal State Popular Topics in Chemistry. The latter course covered topics East Bay. It was here that Dr. Genser recognized the need relating to chemistry from the news such as nuclear power for different approach to teaching introductory chemistry and other types of alternative energy sources, nutrition and in order to better address the needs of his students. To this drug design. We still teach that course today. end, he developed a curriculum that both more effectively engaged students as well as better conveyed the core princi- Dr. Genser had come to the Chemistry and Biochemistry De- ples of the subject matter. Well received, this course became partment from industry and was able to provide an industrial known as, “Dr. Genser’s Popular Topics in Chemistry.” Dr. perspective for the students he taught. He was dedicated to Genser presented this course not only at CSUH but also at UC teaching the students how to navigate their way through the Berkeley. The course remains part of the offered curriculum Chemistry major. Alumni who visit the campus often mention how much they learned from Dr. Genser and how dedi- Upon his retirement from CSUH in 1998, Edward continued cated he was to helping students. One in particular, Vincent to refine his Popular Topics in Chemistry concepts as well as Alvarez, was a successful scientist at Clorox and later taught explore other areas of interest, notably environmental issues part¬time in our department. as well as the relationship between entropy and economics. Dr. Genser was a very amiable colleague and made lots of In his later years Edward continued to contribute to the sci- 58 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

IN MEMORIAM CONT.

friends in the college. He is remembered for his humor, hon- cosmology, took up drawing and painting, played piano and esty and love of teaching. rekindled his interest in music. He also enjoyed visiting former students, family and friends. Patricia Lindberg Gripke, BS Chemistry, 1949; d. March 13, Richard was truly “a Renaissance man” who “made sense of 2018 the pieces.” He will be forever loved and missed by his wife and pet dog Bailey. Richard Hartline, MS Biochemistry and As the great Carl LaFong once said, “Farewell, fellow mariner Organic Chemistry, 1961; d. April 21, of the Cosmos. Destination unknown.” 2018

Beloved husband and respected mentor Tiffany Mealman, PhD Chemistry, 2013; Richard Arlen Hartline, Ph.D., passed d. January 28, 2018 away on April 21, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz., On Sunday evening January 28th, Tiffany where he spent the last 20 years with his Richard Hartline breathed her last breath on earth and wife, Ellen. her first in heaven. We thank God for the He was born on July 21, 1932, in Reading; he was preceded in gift of life we enjoyed with her, and we death by his parents, Russell Hartline and Mildred Undercuf- remember her for her strength, joy, and Tiffany Mealman fler (Hartline) Rettew. kindness. She faced many challenges, but in each she found God’s peace and After graduating from Reading High School, he played clari- grace and shared those with us. We miss her tremendously, net and saxophone with Al Hudson’s traveling dance band. In but knowing that she is whole and radiant in God’s presence 1952 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and played with the gives us great consolation.Tiffany requested that memorial post band. He graduated from Kutztown University of Penn- gifts be made to her beloved church, Missio Dei (https://mis- sylvania in 1959. His education was supported by the G.I. Bill siotempe.cloverdonations.com/camelback/). Thank you, dear and playing music with a variety of local groups, including friends, for your expressions of love, support, and generosity Ronnie Brown’s, Cool Winds and the Reading Sextet. over these past five plus years. Richard received a Master of Science degree in biochemistry In Christ alone, our hope is found. and organic chemistry in 1961 from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in biochemistry, in the laboratory of Dr. Victor Rodwell, at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1965. Joseph Motyl, MS Chemistry, 1967; d. May 24, 2018 He was a United States Public Health Services (National Institutes of Health) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, working Joseph J. “Joe” Motyl, age 85, passed with the late Dr. I.C. Gunsalus at the University of Illinois, away on Thursday afternoon May 24, Champaign-Urbana. He was appointed a professor at Indiana 2018 at the Vines of Elgin. Joe was born University of Pennsylvania, where he initiated the biochem- in Chicago on January 12, 1933 and was istry program in 1967. He mentored students in research and the son of the late Jozef and Zofia (nee Joseph Motyl published in premier scientific journals. Ozarka) Motyl. From 1953-1955 he served in the United States Army and was sta- Richard was recognized with awards for his excellence in tioned in Trieste, Italy. Joe was a 1958 graduate of Northern scholarship and teaching. He was a Fulbright Teaching Fellow Illinois University where he earned his Bachelor of Science at the University of Malta, teaching biochemistry to health Degree in Biology. In 1959 he earned his Master’s Degree in science students. After an accomplished academic career, Education. Richard retired to Tucson where he enjoyed travel, studied ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 59

IN MEMORIAM CONT.

Joe was a resident of West Dundee for over 57 years and a was preceded by her mother, Sandra. Born in Tucson, Arizona former Biology Teacher at Dundee Community High School on August 10th, 1974, Karen received her bachelor’s degree in Carpentersville from 1959-1967. In 1967, Joe left School in Chemistry from the University of Arizona in December of District 300 and became a faculty member at Highland Park 2000. High School where he taught Biology. In 1980 he was ap- She worked at Ventana Medical Systems from 2001 to 2003, pointed as Assistant Principal and served until his retirement and then Protein Technologies Inc. until 2008. After relocat- in 1992. Between 1967 and 1982, Joe received several Nation- ing to Phoenix, she then worked at the Arizona Department al Science Foundation Grants from several Universities and of Agriculture and Department of Health until she could no earned a second Master’s Degree in the Philosophy of Science longer work in 2013. She was an incredibly talented chemist, from the University of Arizona. unafraid of accepting the many challenges presented to her Following retirement from Highland Park, Joe joined the in the laboratory. Karen lived life to the fullest. faculty of Northern Illinois University and became one of She learned to play violin and piano as a young girl, but also the supervisors of Student Teachers in the area of Biological had a continuous desire to learn new things throughout her Sciences. He was a longtime faithful and active member of St. life. This included learning to ride a motorcycle, taking sharp- Catherine of Siena Church in West Dundee. Joe was a former shooting classes, creating costumes for the Phoenix ComiCon, 12 year West Dundee Village Trustee having served from 1985- and even learning how to completely redo the plumbing and 1997 and also a Dundee Township Cemetery Trustee for 13 electrical in her house and remodel her bathroom. Karen years from 2003-2016. was also as kind as she was curious; everyone who knew her Survivors include his wife of almost 33 years; Gail to whom he appreciated how she shared her love wholly with animals and married on June 21, 1985.His children; Michael Motyl, Susan people alike. Her presence and sharp wit will be missed by all (Randy) Sokol and Jeanine Justis. His stepchildren; Robert those fortunate enough to have known her. (Chie) Petruska and Geri Ann (Mark) Shroyer. Other survi- If you would like to make a donation in Karen’s name, please vors include eleven grandchildren; Brenna (Jeffrey) Martin, donate to the Arizona Animal Welfare League, or your own Dr. Kelsey Sokol, Ashley (Michael) Stanger, Andrew Motyl, local no-kill shelter. Eric Motyl, Cameron Justis, Mackenzie Justis, Thomas Petrus- ka, Christy Petruska, Alexis Shroyer and Nicole Shroyer. In —Published in the Arizona Daily Star on Aug. 19, 2018 addition to his parents, Joe was preceded by his first wife of 24 years; Claire Ann Conlon Motyl on March 6, 1982. Masses Anthony (Tony) Ruggiero, BS would be appreciated or memorials may be made to either Chemistry, 1979; d. March 1, 2018 F.I.S.H. Food Pantry, 150 S. Kennedy Drive, Unit #15A, Car- pentersville, IL 60110 or PADS of Elgin, Inc., 1730 Berkley St., Dr. Anthony (Tony) Ruggiero, 62, died Elgin, IL 60123. unexpectedly in Livermore, CA, on March 1, 2018. Tony is survived by his wife of —Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on May 27, 2018 34 years, Cindi, sons Vincent and Joshua (Natalie), mother, Adeline Ruggiero, sis- Tony Ruggiero Karen Page, BS Chemistry, 2000; d. July 29, 2018 ter, Cindy (Buddy) Rifici, brother Michael Ruggiero, nephews Tony and Matt (Kara) On Sunday, July 29th, 2018, after a five-year battle with can- Rifici as well as a large and loving extended family from Sioux cer, Karen Page passed away at her home in Phoenix, Arizo- Falls, SD. na, in the arms of her loving husband. She was only 43 years old. Karen will be remembered lovingly by those she left Tony was born in Cleveland, OH to Sgt. Anthony Ruggiero, Sr. behind, including her husband, Daniel Valenzuela; her father, and Adeline Ruggiero. He spent the next 20 years of his life C.G. Page; two brothers, John, and Lindsay; four nephews, there with his family until moving to Tucson, AZ where he Alex, Jameson, Roland and Nathan and niece, Cassandra. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. 60 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

IN MEMORIAM CONT.

He went on to earn his doctorate in Physical Chemistry at Throughout his life, Tony passionately pursued his goals. He the University of Oregon. During this time he married Cindi was extremely well-read and informed. His passion for learn- Kokenge, from Sioux Falls, SD, in Eugene, OR. Tony’s graduate ing and continuing to absorb knowledge gave him a quick work pioneered the use of short pulse lasers in time-resolved wit and no-nonsense approach to formalities. He lived his life spectroscopy. His fellow graduate students remember him for based on principles and a strong moral compass, a testament the long hours he spent in the lab pushing his laser system to his early years growing up in Cleveland. Tony was always to its limits and for his attachment to his dog Jason, a white appreciative of his roots in Cleveland and beamed with pride German Shepherd. when speaking of his family’s achievements as educators and mentors in that area. His loving family realized early on After graduate school, Tony became a postdoctoral scholar that his work would take him far from home, but understood with Dr. Graham Fleming at the University of Chicago. His and were his greatest supporters. Tony loved his family and love of lasers and the technical aspects of research in phys- he loved the mountains. He was especially proud of his sons. ical chemistry blossomed during this time. He developed From an early age, Vincent and Joshua accompanied him on two extraordinary laser systems to study some of the most excursions and hikes throughout the country and abroad with fundamental events in chemistry. Together with Dr. Norbert the recent completion of an ascent up Yosemite’s Half Dome. Scherer, his new post-doctoral partner, a new type of laser The Bay Area became Tony’s home, and his love and appreci- system was developed for the study of chemical phenomena ation for its cultural diversity and incredible beauty was the on femtosecond time scales. Their discoveries were the gen- background of his finest work. He was a collector of menus esis behind several successful commercial lasers that more and had a particular fondness for breakfast at Betty’s Diner in broadly embodied “regenerative amplification.” Berkeley and Thai restaurants. He was a true friend to many In 1990 Tony began working at the University of California and a loving companion to his wife, Cindi. He could be seen - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where he on weekends walking his beloved German Shepherd, Sophie, performed research and development in various Director- throughout the Livermore hills. He will be missed by many. ates. He took great pride in his work in the Non-Proliferation, Tony joyfully supported many charities; his favorites were Arms Control and International Assessment (NAI), now called Yosemite Conservancy and Doctors Without Borders Global Security Directorate, where he applied his expertise in laser technologies, photonics and opto-electronics to become an inventor/co-inventor of several patents. He also authored Alan Russell, BS Chemistry, 1957; d. August 8, 2018 a number of papers published in scientific journals. Tony built and inspired a dedicated team of engineers and technicians Alan Russell passed away on August 8, 2018 in San Diego, who went on to develop unique technical solutions for proj- California. He earned his BS degree in Chemistry in 1957 from ects important to U.S. national security. the University of Arizona. In March 2009, Tony left LLNL to launch Sierra Photonics, Inc. which developed novel communication system technologies. Over the next 5-1/2 years, Tony’s vision and leadership resulted in several successful technology demonstrations. In 2014, Alphabet (Google, Inc.) acquired Sierra Photonics where Tony continued his work on the development of high capacity, low-latency optical networks. His contributions to photonics and opto-electronics will continue to supply the science necessary for rapid deployment of technologies that can be used in areas impacted by disasters such as hurricanes, earth- quakes, tornadoes and wildfires. His teammates at Alphabet will continue work to realize his latest dream. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 61

PRESIDENT HENRY KOFFLER Professor Emeritus October 1, 1922 – November 12, 2016 Former UA President Henry Koffler Dies at 95; Served From in our students, 1982-1991 and I can think of no better exam- s the first UA alumnus to serve as president, ple than the way he oversaw the University’s ascension to President Koffler Athe top ranks of major research universities. pursued new ideas External research funding more than tripled during and forms of en- his tenure. gagement through University of Arizona President Emeritus Henry Koffler, who his entire life. His led the UA as president from 1982-1991 and oversaw its as- pilates regimen cension to the top ranks of major research universities, died was impressive Saturday, March 10. He was 95. Koffler is survived by Phyllis and his artwork is (Pierson) Koffler, his wife of more than 71 years. incredible, with an exhibit on display Koffler was the first UA alumnus to serve as president. During right now at the his tenure, the UA grew dramatically, increasing enrollment Tucson Jewish by 16 percent, hiring 700 additional faculty and staff, adding Community Center. 24 new buildings and growing external research funding from He did amazing things for the University, and he’s a great $60 million to $192 million. inspiration for all of us. I know he will be fondly remembered Under Koffler, the UA was elected to membership in the by the Wildcat family for years to come.” Association of American Universities in 1985. The AAU is com- prised of the top 62 research universities in the U.S., Canada and Britain. Koffler also led the Century II Capital Campaign, Academic Career the UA’s first major fundraising activity, with a goal of $100 Koffler entered the UA to study agricultural chemistry in million. The campaign yielded $198 million. 1940. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the UA in 1943, a Koffler also is recognized for his contributions to expanding master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1944 and the general education and honors programs, implementing a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1947. the first online student information system and investing in He joined the faculty of Purdue University and became a central computing capacity, facilitating collaborations with distinguished microbiologist and biochemist who earned a community colleges, and championing efforts to improve the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Eli Lilly Award in Bacteriol- enrollment rates and graduation rates of underserved stu- ogy and Immunology. One of the youngest full professors at dents. Purdue, he became the head of the Department of Biological “I am so grateful that I was able to spend some time with Sciences and is credited with bringing the department to President Koffler and learn from him as I joined the UA international renown. community,” said UA President Robert C. Robbins. “He was a An able academic administrator, he then served as senior vice superior intellect and a very sweet and caring man. We had president for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota the same physician, and I saw him often and greatly enjoyed in 1975, chancellor for the University of Massachusetts, Am- our conversations and his handwritten letters. I tell people herst, in 1979 and president of the UA in 1982. everywhere that we must instill a love of lifelong learning 62 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

IN MEMORIAM CONT.

In 1991, the Arizona Board of Regents appointed him pres- After his retirement, Koffler conceived of — and created — ident emeritus. The Henry Koffler Building was named for the Arizona Senior Academy and Academy Village, a retire- him in 2000. The 127,000-square-foot building features 22 ment community for people interested in lifelong learning chemistry labs, 17 biology labs and three lecture halls, all for and intellectual and artistic pursuits. It has been described as teaching undergraduate chemistry and biology classes. a place “for people who wanted to retire from work, not life.” Former UA Provost George Davis says Koffler’s defining “Henry Koffler believed that a life well lived does not end in characteristic was his ability to spot and identify talent in the retirement,” said Gary Fenstermacher, former UA dean of the people he hired and led. College of Education and president of the services division of the Arizona Senior Academy. “He proudly would describe the “Henry believed that the core mission of a university requires Arizona Senior Academy as one of his greatest accomplish- recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding talent, and, ments. He was instrumental is assembling a community of at the same time, creating a working environment where creative individuals who are committed to continuing growth talented people can be productive,” Davis said. and sharing a productive and challenging life. And it is rewarding to know that this community ultimately served him and Phyllis well.” Personal Life In 2013, at age 90, Koffler became a digital artist, using his Koffler was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1922. He was 5 when iPad to create abstract paintings inspired by biology and his father died, and his mother raised him to appreciate Vien- chemistry. He had five art shows, including two sponsored at na’s music, theater and artistic offerings. the UA Tech Parks. He came to the U.S. from Austria alone at age 17, after the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1939. His mother followed two months later. At his suggestion, they settled in Prescott, —University Communications, March 12, 2018 Arizona, of which he knew from German writer Karl May’s Western adventure books. Koffler met his wife, Phyllis, at a concert at the UA and they married in 1946. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 63

STUDENTS’ RESEARCH, INTERNSHIPS, CONFERENCES, STUDY ABROAD, AND MORE

Kathia Antillon – UROC/McNair Achievement Program In the past year, I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Undergrad- uate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) at the University of Arizona (UA). This program, sponsored by the Graduate College, provides low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students the resources to become a competitive applicant for graduate school. As a consortium, there are many programs that fall under the UROC umbrella, but I was a part of their Ronald E. McNair Achievement program, a nationally recognized research program for undergraduate students funded by the US Department of Education. As a part of the UROC McNair curriculum, I participated in a class that helped me to narrow my research focus and obtain a UA research mentor for both my summer research work and my Honors Thesis. During the summer, I was able to fully engage in the research experience through a 10-week summer program funded by the UROC McNair Program. It was during this time that I more fully outlined my research focus, finding alternative forms of pain treatment, with the graduate students in the lab and was able to actually begin researching. Having the opportunity to create my own project and work towards my goal under the guidance of my mentor and the other graduate students gave me a small taste of what graduate school was going to be like, and I knew that I was on the right path for my future. Every lab experience, whether it be a good synthesis or an accidental failure, enriched my understanding of what research was and made me excited for my future. At the end of the summer, each student participating in the UROC programs pre- Kathia Antillon sented their research and findings in front of their cohort with an oral and poster presentation. Family, friends, and faculty are all invited to learn more about what everyone has done as a part of their summer research. In addition to these presentations, as a part of the McNair program, I and the rest of my cohort, had the opportunity to share our research with other scholars at the National McNair Scholars Conference at UCLA. Being able to share my research with a students from across the country, in addition to exploring a top-tier university and networking with others there, made participating in the conference an unforgettable experience. I had thought my amazing experience with UROC would end after the Fall 2018 semester, where they helped me outline my personal statement and made my application the strongest it could be, but I was mistaken. The UROC program caught the attention of KGUN9, a local Tucson news source, and they wanted to feature some of their students in the research program. As the student chosen to be featured for their news special, I had the chance to share my research interests, as well as my short- and long-term goals with the Tucson community. I know that without the UROC McNair program, I would not have the resources or the knowledge on how 64 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

to apply to graduate school and obtain my PhD in Organic Chemistry. Through their support, as well as the support of my family and friends, I will be able to attend graduate school, obtain my PhD, and hopefully come back to Tucson to teach at the UA and encourage others to pursue their dreams. KGUN9 News Article

Tianna Bengtson - UA Global MedCats — Mi Vida Española “Study abroad is a redefining college experience.” This is a phrase familiar to most of us students in higher education, yet entering this program was even more than Tianna Bengtson that. For this past summer, I was fortunate enough to experience the UA Global Medcats program in Burgos, Spain through the Atlantis shadowing program. It was an enticing five weeks of exploration, learning, and personal and professional development. This program embodied both shadowing of residents and doctors as well as discovering different parts of the country and culture. My fellow students and I were able to develop relationships with the residents at our hospital that developed into lasting friendships. Both during the weeks and on the weekends, we were able to experience concerts, festivals, nature, and even visit hometowns of our friends. Obviously, these were the social highlights of the experience, but I gained so much more insight into my potential career path. Throughout each week at the hospital, I was able to view different specialties in the hospital such as pediatrics, cardiology, or plastic surgery. One of the most special departments to me was otorhinolaryngology, because there was a very diverse group of patients and surgeries. As I was observing the removal of a tumor in Tianna Bengtson someone’s inner ear, I confirmed that this is what I wanted to do. By the end of my five weeks, I had determined that I wanted to continue my education in the medical field in aspirations to becoming a surgeon. I hope to return back to Spain soon to visit my mentors and inform them of my progress in following in their footsteps.

Carter Bosse – Study Medical Biotechnology & Drug Development in Scandinavia This past summer, I spent three weeks abroad studying medical biotechnology and drug development with DIS, the Danish Institute for Study Abroad. I was based in Copenhagen, Denmark, but also had the opportunity to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland with my class. I had a wonderful experience, not only with the class but also living in Copenhagen. Going in, I knew almost nothing about Denmark and I didn’t know anyone else doing the program, but I left with multiple new, very Tianna Bengtson close friends and a firsthand experience of what it is like to live, and go to school in Copenhagen. When I first arrived in Copenhagen, I quickly found out that my suitcase had been left in the United States; a bad start to an otherwise wonderful trip, but that issue was resolved within a few days. As soon as I left the airport, one of the first things I noticed about the city was how easy it was to find your way around. The architecture was so beautiful and unique that it was hard to forget where you were, making it the perfect place to explore with new friends. While there were a multitude of wonderful things to see, my favorite thing about Copenhagen was the network of canals that permeated the entire city. The canals provided beautiful places to go ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 65

grab a bite to eat, do some homework, or just relax and watch the very late summer sunsets. A few friends and I were even able to rent a boat to explore the city by water rather than on the streets. There were so many different things to see within the city, including palaces, castles, parks, and museums. I made sure to squeeze in all of the must-see des- tinations, but I was also very fortunate to be in Copenhagen during a time when there were a few very special events happening. One of the only things that I heard Danes talking about in my first few days was the upcoming World Cup match against Peru. It was such a big deal that they were televising the event at the Carter Bosse at Stirling Castle in Scotland soccer (or should I say football?) stadium in Copenhagen. We decided it would be a once in a lifetime experience to go watch, and we were right. Being able to join in on the excitement as the locals watched their team win their first match was amazing. Not only did we get to experience the football craze, but we were also there during the Midsummer’s eve festival, which happens every year right after the summer solstice. During this event, large bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits. While there weren’t any bonfires allowed this year due to a particularly dry summer, we still got to listen to the beautiful traditional songs that they sang. Most of my time in Copenhagen was spent working on the class that I was enrolled in. One of the careers that I am interested in going into after I graduate is pharmaceutical research, so I thought it would be a great idea to learn about the drug development process. While the course was fairly demanding, I am very glad that I had the opportunity to learn more about the field, including what the entire process is like starting from an idea, all the way to clinical trials. As part of the course, we got to take a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland to visit multiple pharmaceutical companies based there. This allowed us to see not only the companies directly involved in research and development, but also those that help with data analysis Carter Bosse in Nyhavn, Copenhagen and outsourcing of certain tasks. After completing this course, I really felt like I had a better idea of what a career in pharmaceutical research would be like, which is going to be incredibly helpful for me in the future. Overall, my time in Copenhagen was amazing, and I was so fortunate to be able to go. It went by so quickly, but I will always look back on my experience with fondness and remember the fun times that I had in a wonderful new city, learning with wonderful new friends.

Emma Harrell – UBRP Summer Research This past summer, I worked in Dr. Rebecca Mosher’s plant science lab studying the evolution of protein components within the plant silencing pathway of small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. RdDM involves cooperative interactions between plant specific proteins called RNA polymerases IV and V, which evolved early in land plant evolution. Recently published work from Dr. Mosher’s laboratory provides evidence for the evolution of a novel sixth RNA polymerase protein with a distinct function in the grass family, Poaceae. I actively investigated protein-protein interactions between the proteins involved in RdDM to determine the evolutionary significance of the emergence of a sixth distinct polymerase in grasses. This fall, I moved back into Dr. Jacob Schwartz’s biochemistry lab to continue inves- tigating the native role of RNA-binding protein Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) in tran- 66 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

scription and the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the breakdown of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in eventual paralysis and death by re- spiratory failure. Numerous genetic mutations have been closely associated with or linked to the development of ALS; several of these mutations have been discovered in RNA-binding proteins. Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) is a nuclear RNA-binding protein that has been found to associate with the C-terminal domain (CTD) of human RNA polymerase II (RNAP2) and other transcriptional machinery. In the cell nucleus, RNA stimulates FUS to oligomerize with itself to form fibrous assemblies that interact with proteins such as RNAP2 to regulate transcription. In diseased cells, FUS is found in large toxic aggregates that have lost the ability to assemble and disassem- ble rapidly, preventing them from functioning as effective regulators of transcription. To completely understand the role of FUS in the development of ALS, I have been exploring the wildtype function of the protein as a regulator of transcription. Emma Harrell My ability to work in a research lab is made possible by the University of Arizona’s Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP). UBRP enhances undergraduate education by partnering with the research resources of the University of Arizona to provide opportunities for students to participate in mentored, self-directed work which contributes to the fund of new knowledge. Students’ projects involve inqui- ry, design, investigation, research, scholarship, discovery, and the presentation of experimental results. UBRP not only provides me with the opportunity to conduct research, but also fosters an accepting and inclusive environment for students in the program. This summer, I had the opportunity to visit Kartchner Caverns, volunteer at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, and tour the Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Aurora Hurtado Olivas – Research Experience at Notre Dame I am a senior here at the University of Arizona. I am double-majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology as well as Biochemistry. My current ambition is to become a Chemistry teacher at the high school level while I fortify my resume and apply to medical school. Alongside my contribution as an educator, I want to encourage students, especially underrepresented minority students to pursue careers in STEM. The highlight of my summer was being a part of a research group at the University of Notre Dame in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry under the guidance of Dr. Seth N. Brown. The heart of my research was to determine the mechanism to synthesize molecule the Os(ONO’)(ONS) as continuation of the work initial- Aurora Hurtado Olivas ly performed by Jacqueline Gianino, a graduate student that previously worked for Dr. Brown. To understand the mechanism, I synthesized a ligand complex similar to hers, but with a CF3 substituent, which was used as a marker to comprehend the osmium mediated carbon-sulfur bond cleavage in the reaction. My unsymmetri- cal ligand was then taken and reacted under various conditions to understand its chemical compositions, possible intermediates and preferred mechanisms when making the final product. This research opportunity exposed many aspects of chemistry that I never thought possible. In learning new analytical methods and putting them to practice, I was able to better appreciate chemistry and more of its applications. Some examples of this are, growing my own crystals, collecting X-ray crystallography data, interpret- ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 67

ing what seemed to be endless 2-dimensional NMR spectra. This also exposed me to the blind reality of research that is mostly guided by curiosity, faith and perse- verance. The graduate school research program at the University of Notre Dame also provided us with workshops and a GRE preparation course to allow us an opportunity to score more competitively giving us a greater change of acceptance when applying to graduate programs. We also had weekly presentations to enlighten us with various work opportunities and guidance towards a successful future. This summer journey allowed me to solidify my plans after graduation, which is to pursue a career in chemistry education and apply to medical school.

Dylan Hutchison – Fulbright Scholar, Research in Poland Dylan Hutchison presenting at EducationUSA conference I received my BS in Neurobiology in 2016, but completed my honor’s thesis (and a minor) in Chemistry with a strong environmental focus. That thesis and focus paved my way into a Fulbright scholarship research position in Czestochowa, Po- land, where I worked on developing a novel environmental biosensor. This environmental project was an evolution of a project I’d been proposing to conduct at the UA, using skills I developed working within numerous research groups across disciplines as an undergrad. The combustion of coal takes the lion’s share of energy production for the Polish nation and, with irrefragable connections made between this fuel source and risk to the public health, I wanted to redesign some of my UA biosensor proposals to help create a device to measure the bioavailable fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) in Poland’s agricultural soils to aid my lit- eral “motherland” (my mother is a Polish immigrant). A Fulbright grant is awarded holistically; in addition to my research, I wanted to re-immerse myself in Polish cul- Dylan Hutchison in Tatry, ture and with its people, and thus there developed and conducted many academic Poland and outreach programs primarily with local high schools (and many others across the country). Furthermore, the grant allowed me to explore my curiosities outside of Poland—including attending the first annual Global Sustainability Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) in Brussels, becoming a mentor for a very bright, talented local high schooler to attend college in the US through Educatio- nUSA, and travelling across the continent—principally to Italy and Portugal. While the professional awards from my Fulbright grant were immense—they’ve evolved myself so far beyond my post-BS self that the Fulbright alum title itself practically substitutes as a MS complete with 4 more publications to my name, I consider the personal growth from the year abroad to have been the greatest boon. No other experience in my life has allowed me to see so much and reflect upon my place in Dylan Hutchison in Ortigia, the world, as an American, as an Arizonan, and as a Tucsonan. A Fulbright grant Sicily, Italy is a rite of passage. We enter one end, bright, ambitious, confident, and emerge the other wiser, more balanced, worldlier and, though more focused, even more open-minded.

Nadia Ingabire – Beat the Heat and Hit the Bench in the Bay This summer, I had an amazing opportunity to be part of the AMGEN scholars program at the University of California, Berkeley. I worked full time in the lab of Dr. Matthew Welch, which studies host-pathogen interaction. With the help of Patrik Engström, a postdoc in Dr. Welch’s lab, I conducted a 10-week project that entailed 68 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

understanding how a bacterial pathogen Rickettsia avoids host cell recognition. Ba- Nadia Ingabire sically, the innate immune system has a well-established mechanism to recognize intracellular pathogens by labeling them with a protein ubiquitin for degradation, but interestingly Rickettsia has evolved mechanisms to evade host cell recognition. Recent work in the lab has suggested that outer membrane protein B (OmpB) acts on the bacterial surface to block polyubiquitylation of multiple surface proteins including OmpA. To gain insights into the mechanisms of polyubiquitylation of the ompB mutant, I assessed what types of ubiquitin chains formed globally on the whole bacteria, and specifically on OmpA using western blotting and immunofluo- rescence techniques. During my time at Berkeley, I had an incredible research experience, with support and mentorship. I also had a fantastic experience outside the lab. During the first few weekends, we explored San Francisco (Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Wood, etc), Monterey Aquarium and Santa Cruz Beach. The program also offered a variety of resources including GRE prep courses, graduate students who were very helpful in providing direct peer mentorship, and various opportunities to network with other faculty members, industry scientists, and other AMGEN scholars across the nation. Overall, I had a good time at Berkeley and built solid friendships with my fellow scholars. I thank the MARC program and AMGEN scholars program for their support, funding, and making this happen.

Kathryn Kuna – Russian Summer This summer, I had the privilege of studying abroad in Moscow, Russia, on the program Arizona in Russia. While I had already wanted to study abroad, it was amazing to find out it was actually possible. To make this more exciting, my eight weeks in Russia would concede with the FIFA World Cup. While I didn’t end up going to game, I remember the wild reactions of the city as Russia won against Spain. The streets were filled with people cheering and honking. As a Chemistry/Russian major, it can be hard to balance both, so it was exciting to have a summer solely focused on Russian. My classes in Russia were largely focused on improving my Russian, as well as a culture class once a week. Learning Russian in Russia was very helpful, as I learned a lot about which contexts to use certain words and constructions. I also got a Kathryn Kuna chance to practice my Russian every time I went to the grocery store, which forced me to ask for a bag or else try carry all my yogurts in my arms. During the culture class, the professor often stresses how similar Russia and America are. Many Rus- sians are concerned about the growing tensions between the US and Russia, and want Americans to know that they are the stereotypical villains that are common in movies. For the program, breakfast and lunch were provided, so I got to try traditional foods like kasha and borscht. The woman who ran the cafeteria would yell, in Russian, “Eat, eat, why are you not eating?” if you weren’t eating enough. When I wasn’t in the classroom, I was visiting museums and historical locations Kathryn Kuna and friends around Moscow. I was able to see a ballet at both the Kremlin theater and the Bolshoi theater, both of which were amazing. I took a day trip to a Vladimir, a suburb of Moscow, and got to see a 800 year old cathedral. Even though I spent eight weeks in Moscow, I still felt like I still had so much to see. These visits served as complement to my lessons, as I would try to puzzle out the vocabulary from an ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 69

exhibit on 400 year old icons. One of the highlights of my time in Russia was celebrating Russia Day. Russia Day is a relatively new holiday, created in 1992 to commemorate the adoption of a new constitution. We visited Samovarfest, which featured free tea, and traditional Russian dancing. The instructors were very patient as we struggled to learn the group dances. After Samovarfest, we visited another celebration in Sokolniki Park, and by the time it was raining heavily. We ducked under a pavilion to find several babushkas singing classic Russian songs. They kept telling us to join in and sing but we didn’t know the words! After my time in Russia, I was ready to go back to the US and see my family and friends. Plus, I missed chemistry. Visiting Russia was an amazing opportunity, and I feel like I truly understood more about the Russian mindset and culture. I do want to return to Russia someday to visit, but for now, I think I’ll focus on enjoying my senior year at the University of Arizona.

Heber Lara – Experience as a SURF at Mayo Clinic In late May, I packed my bag, got in a plane and landed in the southeast region of Minnesota. I was there to be a summer undergraduate fellow (SURF) for the Mayo Clinic. My task for the next ten weeks was to begin and conclude a research project and follow that with an oral and poster presentation. This journey began last year in November when I got the opportunity to participate in the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)—a national research conference for underrepresented students in science. At the conference, I searched for a summer program that would best build me into a training immunologist. There were hundreds of booths to see, but finally, towards the end of the day, I had developed a list of my favorites. As I took one final pass, walking the outskirts of the hall and seeing if I missed any programs (or sweet swag), I stumbled on the Mayo Clinic booth. To my surprise, they had a Ph.D. and an accom- panying summer research program with an option for researching and learning immunology. The representative graduate student genuinely recommended it. Earlier this year, I applied to the full list of programs and received a handful of rejections and acceptance offers. After looking further into my choices, I considered which program would best aid my development as an immunologist. I ultimately choose Heber Lara the Mayo SURF program offer and soon after began my search for a mentor. & Dr. Hu Zeng During my first week of the program, I was overwhelmed with a steady stream of events including grand rounds (some call them seminars), introductions to the culture of the Mayo Clinic, socials and journal clubs. All of these were on top of a normal lab day. As SURFs we had a choice on how to organize our days: spend more time in lab or explore what else was happening in the clinic. I got into the habit of attending certain events, especially those that were directed to Immunolo- gy SURFs, such as the introductory immunology course and faculty-led discussions. My aim for the summer was to learn the most I could about immunology and then effectively communicate my project at the end. Throughout the process, I honed some lab techniques, like pipetting and QPCR, learned new techniques and engaged with primary literature because of interest as opposed to necessity. My experience at the Mayo Clinic gave me a stronger confidence to learn and ask questions. 70 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

I also learned how to interrogate once intimidating scientific papers and system- atically discover if they contained relevant information for answering my research question. The focus on teaching and genuine care for personal development set a great foundation for me to develop this confidence. In getting to know the culture behind the Mayo Clinic, I found a deep appreciation for their emphasis on work and life balance, ownership to display underrepresented diversity and unifying goal to lead cutting edge scientific research and medical treatment. It was an honor to be mentored by Dr. Hu Zeng and the lab he leads. My research was in the exciting field of immunometabolism where it is believed that the metabolism within an immune cell plays a critical instructive role in cell differentiation. Research in this field is a hot topic right now; defining these moments in differentiation could mean understanding why cancer continues to grow, unopposed by the immune system, or why autoimmune diseases occur. My work centered on the question: “how does an enzyme that is heavily involved in fatty acid synthesis regulate the function of an immune cell called the macrophage?” My pursuit of an answer ended up working towards the balance of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids that Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) mediated—the previously unnamed enzyme—and how that affected the macrophage’s function. This was exciting and unheard of research for me. In fact, at points in the process, I was skeptical it was even an accurate portrayal of what the cells were doing. I thought that the energy pathways I had learned about in Biochemistry had no role outside of energy usage and storage. It turns out the biological set-up is much more complicated. I try to approach science with open hands and a willingness to learn, but this stretched that posture out a little wider. I relished that unsettling yet comforting tremor. The ten weeks flew by, and I am grateful for just about every hour. After lab, I would hang out with friends that I met or have some refreshing introverted time. Rochester, MN as a city doesn’t have many options for the young and adventur- ous adult, but there were plenty of restaurants to visit, hikes to experience, board games to play, coffees to note, and opportunities to get to know new people. My experience there shaped me in beneficial ways and developed my character. I grew in patience while learning better to communicate. I found confidence in approach- ing difficult concepts and communicating my thoughts. I also learned to cherish my friends and work as time would soon move us away. This experience taught and allowed me to practice wisdom that I find high value in to this day.

David Lasansky – UA Jazz & Research Music has been a part of my life since my earliest memories. Both of my parents pursued music professionally - my mom plays flute and my dad plays clarinet and conducts. It was inevitable that I would spend a lot of my early years going to re- hearsals with my parents as well as starting piano lessons at the age of 5. I took up a variety of different instruments as time went on, but eventually found one that really resonated with me which was the saxophone. When it came time for me to start college, I faced a very difficult decision which was whether or not I would pursue music, as well. I saw both of my parents strug- gle over the years with their profession, and knew that if I followed in their steps I would have to be completely committed to my art in order to succeed. Both of David Lasansky them are excellent musicians, and to see people I held in such high esteem suffer ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 71

for their career made me quite apprehensive. I decided that I would go to college to study math and something to do with chemistry (I had no intentions on majoring in Biochemistry at first!). Math has always been my strongest subject throughout school, and I absolutely fell in love with chemistry during high school. However, not being able to play music was simply not an option, and fortunately through my connections I was able to audition for the University of Arizona’s Studio Jazz Ensemble. I have played baritone saxophone for 3 years in that band now and am now in my 4th and final year with the program. Along with my majors and music, I have also been active in undergraduate research since September of my freshman year. Dr. Indraneel Ghosh let me in to his lab with no prior research experience one month into the beginning of my college David Lasansky experience. This has been one of the best parts of my time here at U of A, and I am still so grateful to Dr. Ghosh, Matt Bienick (Graduate student who supervises my work), and the rest of the Ghosh Lab for all the help, support, and training I have received. Juggling my music and my research has definitely been difficult at points, but I could not see my life any other way. I feel incredibly honored to be able to perform a concert in the jazz band one night and then go into my lab the next day and run experiments which are aiming to understand the roles of enzymes in cellular signaling. I really feel like my time at U of A has been a dream come true for the most part.

Madeline Morrow – Maddie in Paris This past summer, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Paris, France with the University of Arizona. I have always dreamed of one day studying abroad, but I never knew when or where I would. For the past few years, I have studied French alongside Biochemistry, and I wanted to really push my understanding of the language and the culture. With some hard work and help from the Department of French and Italian, I was able to obtain the funds and find a program that would suit my goals for French. Soon, I found myself waving good-bye to my parents, traveling out of the country for my first time. It was a whirlwind of emotions: I was over the moon with excitement and happiness, but I was also quite nervous for the journey and change in my lifestyle for the next 6 weeks. Through my program, I was partnered with one of my classmates to live with the Madeline Morrow same host family. Our host parents were absolutely wonderful! They were extremely welcoming and understanding, making us feel right at home in their arrondissement (district). We shared breakfast every day and dinner three times a week with them. Over dinner, they helped us learn common phrases in French and improve our understanding of the language. They showed us some of their favorite French films as well as their favorite places to go eat. One of the best memories I have of my host family was when we all watched the World Cup semi-final match together. When it was announced that France was moving on to the World Cup Final, I remember hearing the world explode with sound as people sang and chanted from their windows down to the people in the streets below as everyone began celebrating. It was so exhilarating, and soon after my host parents, roommate and I joined Madeline Morrow 72 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

the crowds gathering in the street and celebrated the win. Immersing myself in France for six weeks was an eye-opening experience. I learned so much in my time there, whether it be about the language, myself, or about the world outside of the United States. I fell in love with the culture and lifestyle, and while I was able to see so many historic and amazing places within Paris and the countryside, there is still so much that I have yet to experience in France. I really hope to go back in a year or two to spend about 6 months in the country and travel more through the countryside, as well as visit again with my host family.

Klariza Ochoa – UA Wildcats in Mexico Since I was three years old, I have been dancing folklorico. I have been with the same dance academy since I started, but when I got to college I had to retire from that group and find a college-aged group. In the Spring 2018 semester at the U of A, I joined a folklorico here on campus named Groupo Folklorico Miztontli! We practice three days a week and often do performances on the weekends. The most memorable performance by far was in Veracruz, Mexico. We had been invited to a folklorico festival hosted in Huayacocotla in the middle of May. Huayacocotla is a very small town where dancing folklorico is a big deal. The group over there wanted to start a new tradition in their town and host their first-ever festival! By inviting us, we were able to represent the entire southern region of Mexico, and we were able to make their festival International! We were all so excited, but we only had three months to get the money to get us to Mexico. It was a very stressful time trying to raise the money, learn a bunch of new dances, and still do performances on the weekends. Fortunately, we were able to sell tickets to our spring showcase Klariza Ochoa and and use that money to get us to Veracruz! We were all very excited because no one Maya Rivera had been there, and we were all anxious for a new adventure. The day we got to travel was super nerve-wrecking. We took a Tufesa from Tuc- son to Hermosillo, MX, and then flew out of Hermosillo to Mexico City where our hosts picked us up, then drove about 6 hours to Huayacocotla. It was by far the longest day of my life, but the day didn’t stop when we got to Huayacocotla. From the moment we arrived, everyone was beyond nice. The host group had a private dinner party for us at the Professor’s house and fed us amazing food. We all felt so grateful they had done that for us. The entire trip itself felt so surreal. Being able to represent Sonora, Mexico in Veracruz was amazing! I got to do what I love with hundreds of other dancers who share the same passion. There were groups from Chiapas, Coahuila, Mexico City, Oaxaca, and so many other regions. It was so great to see dancers dance from the regions I’ve done dances to. Being there made me more aware of the cultural differences between the parts of Mexico and really helped me get to know my heritage a lot better. We were able to have a “tourist” day and go to Teotihuacan and visit the pyramids there. Because of this trip, I was able to visit one of the top places on my bucket list! I am forever thankful I was even given this opportunity to able to travel to Mexico and do what I love. ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 73

Leah Ortega – UA Global MedCats Study Abroad in Spain For the summer before my senior year began, I had the opportunity to be a fellow in a program known as the Atlantis Fellowship. This program partnered with the University of Arizona Study Abroad Office to create what is known as the Global MedCats. Through the Global MedCats Program, a group of students travel to one of multiple locations around the globe to gain shadowing hours within the hospital Leah Ortega on the beach in Santander at the specified location. I was assigned Burgos, Spain for my program. During my five weeks there, I shad- owed a different department each week. The departments I was able to explore were neurology, ophthalmology, intensive care, internal medicine, and the diges- tive department. Between each one, I learned valuable lessons, such as the types of patient-doctor relationships, the work ethics of the hospital staff, and I had the opportunity to practice my Spanish. Although I was unable to physically participate, each physician made sure that I understood the patient’s situation and welcomed me into their departments warmly. with the doctors of Internal Medicine When I was not shadowing in the hospital, my fellows and I would experience a more cultural activity. We had a site manager who would plan an excursion for us once a week. These excursions were supposed to teach us about other famous parts in Spain, mostly in the north. For instance, we went to Bilboa to visit the Guggenheim Museum. In addition, the weekends were also open for us to plan our own trips. I personally travelled to Seville, Santander, San Sebastian, and Vito- ria-Gasteiz during my free time. Everyone in Spain was extremely kind and welcoming, and I cannot wait to return.

Angela Rivera – Going Green at UNC As an Arizona native, this summer research exchange was my first time living out of state. I flew out to North Carolina with only a carry on and my backpack to tide me through this incredible summer. While at UNC, I was housed in a dorm apart- ment, and was introduced to the infamous humidity for which the south is so well known. The gorgeous scenery was always a sight to behold, and the greenery seemed to find its way into every nook and cranny. It seemed as though every- Angela Rivera where I went, the scenery fit the description of any old fairytale I knew. The houses were charming, and for the first time, I saw what a firefly looked like. I did research in the chemistry department and gave a poster presentation at the end of my time there. I was fortunate in being able to work in the Redinbo lab on a project aimed at reducing the toxicity of cancer drugs. The purpose of the program I was in is to inspire interest in the graduate programs the school has to offer. When I wasn’t in lab, I was able to maintain my hobbies of ballroom dancing and horseback riding. With the close of this whirlwind summer, I am back in Arizona to complete my senior year of undergraduate studies. 74 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Soraya Sandoval – Arizona in Paris This past summer I had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France. My desire to study abroad began my freshman year of high school, after taking a trip to Spain and France with my school’s travel club. As a native Spanish speaker, I had an easy time communicating in Spain, but once I arrived to Paris I was completely lost and didn’t even know how to order a sandwich! This trip made me realize I absolutely had to learn French and return to the beautiful city of Paris one day. I was not sure how high my chances of returning were, but I began by enrolling in French classes. There were so many connections I was able to make between French, Spanish and English that I felt my writing and speaking skills continuously improved through my acquisition of a new language. Once at The University of Arizona I decided to continue my French journey by de- Soraya Sandoval claring a minor. When I began taking my upper division French courses, the French department began promoting a summer abroad program called Arizona In Paris. I Giverny Gardens knew this was my opportunity to return to Paris and practice the language. I decided to apply, and the rest was a dream come true. Arizona In Paris was a 6-week immersion program in which I took classes on French history and French cinema. I lived in the 14th arrondissement (district in Paris) with a host mother who taught my roommate and me several things about French culture. Living with a host mother gave us the opportunity to constantly practice our French and learn different things about French living such as the toilet is in a separate room from the bath and sink. I also learned I couldn’t take a shower between the hours of 10PM-6AM, the reason being that the buildings are very old, and the water would be heard throughout all the apartments. These were considered the quiet times in Paris although the sun didn’t set until about 10:30pm, which took some time to get used to. Every day we went on excursions to accompany the content we learned in class that day. We did excursions to the Louvre museum, the Renaissance museum, Arc Mont St. Michel de Triomphe, palace in Versailles etc. Some of my favorite excursions included some trips outside of Paris such as our day trip to the beautiful gardens of Giverny, and our trip to Brittany and Normandy. We got to stay overnight and enjoy the very cold beaches of Saint Malo in Brittany. We also got to see the beautiful Abbey Mont Saint Michel, in which at low tide we can walk to the abbey, but at high tide it’s an island. In Normandy we got to visit the American cemetery and beach memorials which was very emotional for most of us to remember those times. Overall, I got to learn a lot about the history of France in these 6 weeks. The city was surrounded by amazing architecture, art, music, and nature. I enjoyed taking walks along the Seine River, or just stopping by a patisserie to enjoy a delicious dessert (my favorite!). During my last week, I got to enjoy the World Cup semi-final and Bastille Day. Usually when I walked out to the streets people were non-reactive to events that happened around them, but when France won the semi-final there was non-stop singing everywhere I went. Coincidently, this was also the week of Bastille Day in which they held a beautiful firework show at the Eiffel Tower. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to return to Paris, practice the language, and learn much more about French culture. This experience has made me self- ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 75

aware of the culture here in Arizona and has opened my eyes to things I hadn’t realized before.

Sujin Seo – Study Abroad in Italy This past summer I had the privilege to go on a Study Abroad trip to Orvieto, Italy with the University of Arizona. I had been aware of this opportunity for several years, but the cost and scheduling conflicts had always held me back, so I was extremely fortunate to participate this summer on a full ride. Since the seventh grade, I have studied the seven emperors of Rome and their downfalls, the Punic Wars and the collapse of the Roman Empire; I have conjugated verbs and declined nouns until they were permanently ingrained in my memory, but it has always been out of textbooks and lecture halls. Studying such subjects ignites an incredible desire to visit all of the sites, from the Roman Forum to the religious temples to the war monuments. I had never been to Italy before, so being able to visit all the historical monuments while being immersed in the Italian lifestyle was an unbelievable experience. Sujin Seo Some of my favorite experiences in Italy were the classes I took and the field trips we went on. These offered me a different perspective of Italy I wasn’t expecting, and I am very thankful for them. My classes focused on analyzing Roman love poetry and its effects on modern literature, as well as studying the Aeneid, an epic poem by Vergil on Rome’s origins. I appreciated knowing the history and background of different places, because it made visiting them on our class trips so much more meaningful. I could recognize and appreciate the significance behind certain historical landmarks, since I was able to connect textbook learning with the actual experience. Sujin Seo My favorite trips were to Naples and Pompeii. Although the history behind Pom- peii’s destruction is well-known, seeing the ancient site in person, complete with displays of calcified human bodies, were truly eye opening. On the other hand, Naples, a popular modern city for tourists, had really good pizza. This trip to Italy has truly opened my eyes to all of the beauty the country has to offer in its cities. I am extremely thankful for this amazing experience and I await the opportunity to return once more so that I can continue to learn more about Italy.

Tala Shahin – Through the Eyes of Ghana This past semester, I had the opportunity to travel abroad to Ghana to volunteer with Unite for Sight, a non-profit which partners with local ophthalmologists in un- Sujin Seo derserved countries to identify community-specific barriers that impede effective eye care delivery for patients living in extreme poverty. During my time in Ghana, I worked with local optometrists and ophthalmologists to determine visual acuity, dispense and distribute eyeglasses and medications, and interact with 100-200 patients daily in villages, refugee camps, churches and schools. Twi is the primary dialect spoken in southern and central Ghana. As I traveled to different cities such as Kumasi, Techiman and Tema, I spoke with the locals in my broken Twi and began to slowly learn some of the language. The Akan people of 76 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Ghana frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. These “day names” have further meanings con- cerning the soul and character of the person. While there, I was known as “Yaa,” meaning born on a Thursday. The Ghanaian people are among the kindest and most hospitable people I have ever met. By giving me this name, I was included in their cultural traditions and felt very welcomed. Throughout the trip, we travelled to various historical sites and natural attractions Tala Shahin while sampling local food and munching on tropical fruit (the best mangos and bananas I have ever had in my life!). One of the most memorable experiences was when we attended the Independence Day parade. On March 6th, everyone in the entire country leaves their homes and goes out into the streets to celebrate. Danc- ing with the locals, eating fufu soup with my hands and unsuccessfully trying to play the Kpanlogoon drums made the experience all the more memorable, and the friendly ambiance facilitated the formation of relationships with friends that I am still in regular communication with today. Beyond the obvious cultural and linguistic differences, it was fascinating to learn about the different sociological discrepancies between the society I grew up in and the one I visited. In the US we have a monochronic society, where time is thought of as being linear. People are expected to do one thing at a time, and lateness of interruptions are not tolerated. The people of Ghana live in a polychronic society, where time is cyclical, and punctuality is not as highly stressed. As such, the people living there have more relaxed and laid-back attitudes and outlooks on life. Living in this more fluid lifestyle exposed me to a different perspective from what I was used to and allowed me to adopt parts of their lifestyle to my own to cope with the stresses and pressures of everyday life. My experiences with the Ghanaian people’s humbling realities, vibrant culture and rich communal relationships stripped away all superficial notions of differences and reminded me that through understanding and tolerance, our human oneness becomes blatantly obvious. This trip reinforced my willingness to try new things and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances despite the discomfort and hesitation I had felt. I intend to take my experiences with individuals with differing views and back- grounds than my own to constantly remind me that though there are substantial differences in the way we live our lives and perceive the world, we are all ultimately similar. I will surely remember this trip to Ghana for the rest of my life. See the video that I made of my trip.

Alejandro Villalobos – UROC/WAESO Research Award Alejandro Villalobos’ interest in science sparked in a small border town in Douglas, Arizona. Alejandro was a student athlete highly interested in chemistry, biology and basketball during his four years of high school. As a high school senior, he had to decide between playing basketball at a two-year college or attending the University of Arizona to major in biochemistry. Of course, his passion for science overcame everything else and decided to attend the UofA. As he started off college, his first year involved taking general chemistry with Dr. Amy Graham, which is where his passion for chemistry grew even more. Alejandro explains that Dr. Graham motivated him to do well in his classes and encouraged ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 77

him to help others by teaching the wonderful field of chemistry. Every time he prepared for exams, he would remember Dr. Graham saying that you don’t prepare for a marathon a day before. you start practicing way before the marathon, and that should be the same for school. His sophomore year had the most impact on Alejandro, as he had the opportunity to work as a UA chemistry tutor for think tank. He also had the honor to become a member of Dr. Thomas Gianetti’s research lab, where his project focuses on novel organometallic anodes for direct alcohol fuel cells. His favorite class so far is organic chemistry, and he loves the fact that he can practice the skills gained in his classes, especially organic chemistry skills. In addition, Alejandro had the opportunity to be a part of the UROC-MHD program under Holly Lopez during the summer 2018, where he enhanced his skills as a scientist and prepared himself for graduate school. The UROC-MHD program offered workshops and classes that helped him get a better understanding of what will be involved in graduate school and helped him complete the GRE, one of the requirements for graduate school. Throughout the summer, he had the opportunity to work under Dr. Wolfgang Peti where he conducted research on TEV (tobacco etch virus) proteases. The summer program helped Alejandro understand the role of a scientist much better, and realize that he was more passionate about the chemistry side of his biochemistry project. As the program came to an end, with the support of Dr. Alejandro Villalobos Wolfgang Peti, Dr. Thomas Gianetti, Holly Lopez, and Megan Cunnginton, he decided to change majors from biochemistry to chemistry. As he started his junior year, he learned that WAESO (Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities), one of the groups that funds UROC, would award him a sti- pend for the lab’s research proposal entitled, “Novel Organometallic Anodes for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells”. Alejandro was notified about an award for the fall semester and two upcoming conferences in Washington after his poster presentation at the UROC conference. He said that it is always awesome to be able to be a part of research, and that it is wonderful to be able to put everything we learn in class into practice. Alejandro is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the summer program with UROC-MHD and wants to thank Holly Lopez, Cindy Neal, and Dr. Wolfgang Peti for their extensive support. He also wants to thank his supervisor, Gregory London, as well as Dr. Thomas Gianetti and the entire lab group for their absolute support, advice, and help in and outside of the lab. If there is any advice Alejandro could give to other students right now, it would be to pick a lab in the field you love and find a group that helps you become a better scientist and person. Become involved in your department and clubs, talk to your peers and especially your professors, as they have the best advice and the most amazing stories to share about chemistry and life. Enjoy the life of a scientist! Alejandro is expected to graduate in the spring of 2020 and hopes to enter a graduate program in Chemistry or Biochemistry. Congratulations again, Alejandro, on your success in the UROC-MHD program and on receiving the WAESO award. We look forward to hearing about your future pursuits.

Sara Zachritz – My Summer Studying & Traveling Europe I am a rising fourth-year student in LabMonti where we study the electronic properties of solids at the interface. Because LabMonti has a significant amount of 78 THE CATALYST | CBC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

collaborations in Europe, I spent the first half of my summer studying abroad in Kaiserslautern, Germany. This trip was made possible by the NSF International Collaboration Supplement grant. I worked in the Aeschlimann group using sophisticated instrumentation to observe the lifetimes of electrons on different systems. The overall goal of the project was to understand a mechanism by which the electrons decay by using a pump-probe laser experiment. Because of the ultrafast laser, we are able to observe the lifetimes in the femtosecond regime. By developing an understanding as to how electrons are moving through an interface, it is possible to design devices which can be tailored based on their electronic properties. We are elucidating the fundamental processes that occur at an interface using state-of-the-art instrumentation. As well as studying the dynamics of electrons, I travelled to different parts of Ger- many and Europe during my weekends. I explored Kaiserslautern, Berlin, Heidel- berg, and London. For my first adventure in Europe, I took the Deutschbahn to Ber- lin to visit a childhood friend. We ventured to the Brandenburger Tor, Tiergarten, Checkpoint Charlie, and Berliner Dom as well as watching the Karneval der Kultern Sara Zachritz and Lauren (Carnival of Cultures). Berlin was a beautiful city with a magnificent diversity of Humble cultures and delicious foods such as Curry Wurst. The next weekend I explored Kaiserslautern and hiked to some castle ruins called Hohenecken. The castle was constructed in the 12th century and was last occupied in 1689 when it was destroyed by the French. The following weekend, I took the Deutschbahn to Heidelberg which was about an hour east of Kaiserslautern. Heidelberg is situated along the Neckar river in south-western Germany and is home to several notable universities, i.e. Max Planck Institutes and Heidelberg University. While there, I hiked first to the Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle) and then to the top of Heiligenberg (Saints’ Mountain). The Heidelberg Castle was built in 1398 and sits above the city of Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley. In the 1600s, the castle was attacked by the French. To commemorate this event, the first weekend of every summer there is a huge fireworks display called Heidelberger Schlossbeleuchtung, or lighting of the castle, which was spectacular to see. The following day I hiked to the top of the Saints’ Mountain to visit the monastery which was built in the 900s. The mountain had been occupied by humans as far back as 400 BC by Celtics. This hike brought me through the Sara Zachritz main streets of Heidelberg, to Philosphers’ walk, and finally to the top of Saints’ Mountain which was home to both the monastery as well as an amphitheater called Thingsätte which was constructed by the Nazi Party in 1934. As well as history, I got my first taste of traditional German food! My final adventure brought me the city of London. The first day there it was very beautiful and sunny! I explored Hyde Park and walked through the Wellington Arch to Buckingham Palace. The following day I went to one of London’s outdoor markets, Borough Market and the Tate Modern Art Museum. I walked along the River Thames to the Tower of London and crossed the Tower Bridge.

Heidelberg Castle As travelling and science are both something that I am passionate about, this trip was spectacular and fulfilling. I had the opportunity to perform state-of-the-art science as well as to explore Germany and London, and hopefully I will be returning next summer! ONLINE EXTRAS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | FALL 2018 | 79 CBC SCRAPBOOK MORE

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