Department of CChheemmiissttrryy aanndd PPhhyyssiiccss Newsletter Summer 2016

Highlights from the 2015 -2016 Academic Year

 A record number of students  In March the Department Robert Compton Headed graduated with chemistry or underwent an external review by Toward Graduate School physics degrees this year. The the Council on Undergraduate at Purdue University graduates and their parents Research (CUR). The review at Purdue University

were honored at a departmental was conducted by a team of ISU alumnus and chemistry major reception prior to the three CUR members, two from Robert Compton (class of ’12) commencement ceremony on chemistry and one from physics. taught General Chemistry labs May 7th. See page 2 for a list of The final report praised the (CHEM 105L and 106L) and the graduates. collegiality of members of the Foundational Studies Chemistry Department, the strong leader- labs (CHEM 100L) in the  Corridor renovations in the ship of Chairperson Glendening, Department during the 2014-15 and Science Building began this and the commitment of the 2015-16 academic years to help spring. Lighting and flooring will faculty to excellence in cover increased enrollment in our be updated or replaced, and undergraduate education in the 100-level courses. We greatly spaces will be opened up to classroom and research labs. appreciate Robert’s rigorous and accommodate several small The reviewers recommended a conscientious work with students in lounges where students can complete renovation of the these lab courses and will miss him study and socialize. The first chemistry stockroom, and plans next year, but we are very pleased floor (where Physics is located) for this are already underway. that he has been accepted to the will be completed this summer, Purdue University Chemistry with the basement (location of  The Department recently Graduate Program where he will Chemistry) scheduled for the launched a Facebook page in begin his studies in August. He summer of 2017. order to engage current students plans to pursue a Ph.D. in inorganic and connect with alumni. Please follow the ISU chemistry. Robert’s fiancée will be  Brendon Mikula completed his working on a master’s degree in first academic year in the Department of Chemistry and Physics on Facebook!! creative writing at Purdue; their Department as a physics wedding is planned for December. instructor (see page 2 for his https://www.facebook.com/isu profile). chemphys/

 Ryan Van Hoveln completed his  This year’s Summer Under- first academic year in the graduate Research Experience Department as a tenure-track (SURE) attracted 42 students organic chemist (see page 2 for who are currently working with his profile). faculty from Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geoscience, Computer  Kendra Dewese will join the Science, Political Science, and Department this fall as a Applied Medicine and chemistry instructor; she will Rehabilitation. The program will teach organic chemistry lectures conclude with a research and labs (CHEM 351, 352). symposium at the end of July. Kendra will complete her Ph.D. See page 5 for details. in organic chemistry this summer from the Ohio State

University, working under the mentorship of Professor T.V. RajanBabu 2 Chemistry Physics Recent Grants and Faculty Profile: Faculty Profile: Publications by the Ryan Van Hoveln Brendon Mikula Faculty

Ryan Van Hoveln grew up in Brendon Mikula joined the R. Fitch (PI) received a grant for a Watseka, IL, which is about 100 Department in the fall of 2015 as a new orbitrap mass spectrometer miles north of Terre Haute and just physics instructor. He grew up in (NSF Major Research Instrumenta- on the other side of the border. He Holland, MI, and received a degree tion program) along with R. Noll, attended Bradley University as an in physics from Lyman Briggs S. Wolf, W. Flurkey and D. Hews undergraduate and earned a B.S. in College at Michigan State (Biology Dept.). The instrument is a Chemistry and Religious Studies University. Brendon completed his high resolution mass spectrometer (which he knows is an uncommon doctorate in Physics Education that can do tandem mass combination). He then went to the Research at The Ohio State spectrometry and can be used for University of Wisconsin – Madison University in 2015, specializing in structure determination of small for his graduate work. While there, building student fluency with molecules and sequencing of he worked for a relatively new procedural mathematical skills peptides/proteins. It was installed professor, Jennifer Schomaker, and essential for success in introductory in December. under her guidance studied an physics courses. He served as a TA unusual copper-catalyzed reaction. for physics laboratories and R. Fitch also received an NSF Last summer, he defended his recitations at MSU and OSU and grant for a collaborative project with dissertation and received his Ph.D., received an “Outstanding Learning David Cannatella of the University and then promptly moved to Terre Assistant” award from Lyman of Texas at Austin. The funds will Haute to begin life at ISU as a Briggs. be used to examine autoresistance tenure-track chemistry professor. in poisonous frogs. During his first year at ISU, In his first year, Ryan enjoyed Brendon taught foundational Members of the Department teaching Organic I (fall) and studies physics lecture and published in the following journals Organic II (spring). He especially laboratory (PHYS 105/105L and over the past year: enjoyed all of the interaction with PHYS 106) as well as the upper- G. Zhang: EPL; SPIN; Journal of students and getting to know them. division elective astronomy course Physics: Condensed Matter. In the last year, he has set up his (PHYS/ENVI 360). In Spring 2016, E. Seung: Eurasia Journal of research lab and has started doing he began pilot testing Mathematics, Science, and research with students. This workshop/recitation sections in Technology Education; Chapter in summer he is mentoring four PHYS 105, with the goal of giving Elicited Metaphor Analysis in students in the Summer Under- students more time and practice Educational Discourse. graduate Research Experience with problem-solving. program (SURE). His research interest is organometallic chemistry Since joining the faculty at ISU, Twenty Seven Students with a focus on first row transition Brendon has served as advisor for metal catalysis and will continue to the Society of Physics Students Receive Chemistry and develop new copper-catalyzed chapter on campus, helping to Physics Degrees reactions. After a few reactions are direct and organize various public Twenty students graduated with developed, he hopes to study them outreach opportunities. Brendon chemistry majors in August, both experimentally and also volunteers with the Science December, or May of the past computationally. Olympiad team at Terre Haute academic year: Mopelola Akinlaja, North Vigo High School. Daniel Dalton, Lindsie Downing, Patrick Ellis, Kadijah Evans, Justin Forkert, Megan Holton, Kassandra Kersey, Connor Kirtley, Ioanna Koltsidou, Kelsey Krebbs, Gregory Kuhlman, CaSondra Linne, Carly Nash, Erika Nord, Travis Norman, Bryn Schwartz, Austin Skaggs, Samantha Smith, and Jerry Strahle. The seven graduating physics majors this year were Justin Coffelt, Kyle Drake, Gregory Gallagher, Phillip Ingalls, Tanner Latta, Cody McGuire, and Christopher Rodgers. Ryan Van Hoveln Brendon Mikula 3 Senior Chemistry Major Outstanding Faculty Participate in Receives Hines Medal Graduating Senior Semester-Long Growth Connor Kirtley was one of six Physics Major Mindset Workshop graduating seniors recognized Christopher Rodgers is the son of In 2014 ISU was one of 24 during spring commencement as a Pamela Rodgers. He graduated institutions that received grants recipient of the Hines Memorial from Northview High school in from the U.S. Department of Medal. The medal is awarded to 2005. Chris originally came to ISU Education to fund projects to students with the highest in the fall of 2005 as a develop innovative methods to cumulative grade-point average mathematics major. In 2006 he improve student success, make during the pursuit of a bachelor's joined the Air Force where he college more affordable, and degree at ISU. Connor, the son of specialized in Satellite Wideband identify effective practices. The William and Laura Kirtley, and Telemetry Systems. After four-year, $1.6 million grant is for a graduated from Seymour High completing his term of service in project called "Accelerating College School in 2012. In the fall of that 2012, he returned to ISU as a Completion through Academic year he came to ISU as a member physics major in the spring of 2013. Mindset." The project builds on of the Rural Health Program. In During his time at ISU Chris has recent research which has shown addition to the Hines Medal, Connor earned numerous awards. These that students are ultimately has received several other awards include: The Physics Foundation successful when they believe they recognizing his academic Scholarship (2015, 2014, 2013), can be successful. Part of the achievements at Indiana State. John McCarthy Outstanding Junior project involves investigating the These have included the Freshman Award (2015), and Best Student in potential boosting effect of teaching General Chemistry Achievement Modern Physics Award (2014). He faculty how to integrate “growth Award, the Outstanding is also a member of Sigma Pi mindset” elements into their Achievement in Organic Chemistry Sigma (National Physics Honors instruction. Bill Flurkey, Adrienne Award, the Stanley Scholarship, Society). Chris performed research Gilbert, Eric Glendening, Amila and the P.D. Wilkinson Award given for the past two summers in the Jeewandara, Brendon Mikula, John to the outstanding senior chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Moody, and Ryan Van Hoveln major. Connor has been active in Experience program (SURE) and participated in the pilot of this part the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity presented the results of his of the project over the course of the and Student Government Senate. research at the American Physical spring semester. They met weekly Within the chemistry program, he Society March Meeting in 2015. He with the principle investigators of served as a laboratory assistant for is graduating with a major in the grant for round-table both organic and physical physics and plans to work in a field discussions and brainstorming chemistry. He graduated with specializing in computational fin- sessions. Next fall they will honors with a chemistry major and ance or computational engineering. implement some of the growth will be attending the Indiana More information about Chris’s mindset strategies in their chemistry University School of Dentistry SURE research project under the courses and document the results. beginning in July 2016. He intends mentorship of Prof. Guoping Zhang More information about the grant is to pursue his interest in owning a is available on the ISU website: available on ISU’s website: dental practice in a rural area. https://www2.indstate.edu/news/ne https://www2.indstate.edu/news/ne ws.php?newsid=4304 ws.php?newsid=4097

Erik Ingebrigtsen riders get tired. The two marine been a satisfied “customer” and can Adopts Unique Mode batteries for the motor are located confirm that Erik does sometimes of Transportation in one of the boxes at the back and yell “YABBA DABBA DOOOO!” at Erik Ingebrigtsen and his wife, are charged via a solar panel on the passersby. Janice, bought a Rhoades Car roof. A second box on the back (www.rhoadescar.com) a few years serves as a multi-purpose storage ago, and this semester they began compartment. After arriving on using it to commute to work and campus, Erik parks the car in the back when weather permits. Erik bulk storage room in the reports that they get smiles and Department. It fits on the service waves from most people they see elevator, so bringing it down to the on their commute to campus. The basement of the building isn’t a car has pedals for both the driver problem. Erik also has been known and the passenger, but it has as an to provide free shuttle service from electric-assist motor to help out the campus parking lot to the when going uphill or when the Science Building for members of the Department. Patti Archer has 4

Faculty Briefs… Staff Briefs...

Chemistry: Larry Rosenhein is working this Patti Archer took an extended summer with a SURE student on vacation with her sister this Robert Compton completed his metal complexes of inoffensive summer. They traveled to sixth semester of teaching 100-level isocyanide ligands and on metal- Yellowstone and Grand Teton labs in the Department and will thiolate compounds. Eulsun National Parks and Mount begin graduate studies in chemistry Seung visited Vinh University in Rushmore. Mitzi Nichols became at Purdue University in the fall (see Vietnam in early May to learn about a grandma last February when her page 1). Rick Fitch has been the science education systems in son and daughter-in-law had a baby preparing to go on sabbatical during Vietnam. She and her collaborators boy, Benjamin Eli. Her daughter is the 2016-17 academic year. He will will use the information to prepare a on the pharmacy faculty at Butler be working on frog alkaloid projects grant proposal aiming to build a University in Indianapolis, and Mitzi and using the new mass Science Education Center at Vinh is proud to announce that she will spectrometer and developing some University. Ryan Van Hoveln be awarded tenure this year. This LC-NMR methods. Provided that completed his first year in the spring Michelle Baltz-Knorr spent funding permits, he will make a trip Department as a new tenure-track time cleaning out rooms that will be to South America to collect frogs. organic chemist, having taught affected by the hallway renovations, Bill Flurkey is now a grandfather! Organic I and II; he is working with including lab spaces and the He enjoys getting photos and students in the SURE program this Physics Machine Shop. (See page videos of his first granddaughter, summer (see his profile on page 2). 1 for more information about the Eva, who was born last September. corridor renovations that have Adrienne Gilbert participated in Physics: begun in the Science Building.) the growth mindset workshop this Erik Ingebrigtsen enjoys riding his year (see page 3 for details on the Valentina French had a busy environmentally friendly Rhoades workshop) and hopes to implement spring semester, teaching her usual Car to work when the weather some of the strategies in her courses while also acting as permits (see picture and story on classroom next fall. She is chairperson of a search committee page 3). teaching CHEM 100 this summer. to hire a new physics instructor. Eric Glendening traveled with nine Brendon Mikula completed his first ISU students on a medical service year in the Department as a physics Alumni Notes…

trip to Quito, Ecuador, last winter. instructor; he tested the addition of Lauren (Dixon) Walkup Jennifer Inlow is working with a workshop/recitation sessions to (Chemistry BS, ’04) is an ASQ- SURE student this summer, PHYS 105, in order to provide Certified Quality Manager for PPG continuing the kombucha project students more practice with Aerospace in Indianapolis. She is she began during her sabbatical in problem solving (see his profile on also Six Sigma Black Belt certified. 2015. She has been working on page 2). Joe West is working with She says that her fifth-grade son some knitting projects during her two SURE students this summer. loves science and math. free time. Amila Jeewandara One student is investigating rotating completed her MBA and par- reference frames in Special Lauren Kuckewich ticipated in the spring commence- Relativity; the other student is (Chemistry BS, ’06) is the ment ceremony. John Moody working with the new 3D printers Pharmacy Operations Manager at completed his third year at ISU as a purchased by the Department of Saint Louis University Hospital in chemistry instructor. He continues Earth and Environmental Systems. Missouri. After finishing her BS at to teach CHEM 100, 105, and 106 He is also developing an ISU, Lauren worked for Roche during the fall and spring online version of PHYS 105. Diagnostics for 2 years. She then semesters and is teaching CHEM Guo-ping Zhang continues attended Purdue University College 106 this summer. Rob Noll is working on laser-induced ultrafast of Pharmacy, followed by 2 years of conducting research this summer demagnetization, supported by a Health System Pharmacy Admin- with a SURE student on grant from the U. S. Department of istration Residency at the Medical thermoelectric modules. Thermo- Energy. He is also working on the University of South Carolina. electrics are very interesting solid- superatomic molecular orbitals in state electronic devices which fullerenes. He will be on sabbatical Heather Stout develop a voltage when one side is during the 2016017 academic year. (Physics BS, ’10) completed her heated and the other cooled. Run MS in Physics at Purdue University in reverse (a voltage is supplied), in 2012. She is currently a fourth- they will create a hot side and cool year graduate student in chemistry side. They form the basis for Peltier at Carnegie Mellon University. cooling devices but also represent a solid-state electronic version of a classical heat engine.

5 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Students Present their

th Program Continues for 11 Year Research Projects

Chemistry and physics majors The 2016 Summer Undergraduate faculty members in the Department presented posters or gave oral Research Experience, or SURE of Chemistry and Physics. presentations at the following Program, began in mid-May. The Congratulations to all of these meetings during the past year. ongoing program, which is now in students for being selected to its 11th year, provides ISU students participate in the program! an opportunity to participate in an NCUR Meeting intensive research experience 2016 SURE Research Three chemistry students— under the direct supervision of a Fellows in Advisor Patrick Cheek, Allyson Morris, faculty advisor for 10 weeks during Chemistry and and Rebecca Rudisell— presented the summer. Participating SURE Physics posters at the National Council on students receive SURE fellowships Star Leonard Rick Fitch Undergraduate Research Con- and spend their time principally in Derick Minick Rick Fitch ference in Asheville, NC, April 7-9, the laboratory, though considerable Bansari Modhera Eric Glendening 2016. time is also devoted to reading the Juan Nysschen Eric Glendening scientific literature, as well as Rebecca Rudisell Eric Glendening Local & Regional Meetings discussing their progress with their Patrick Cheek Jennifer Inlow ISU Exposium, ISU’s celebration of peers and faculty in a series of Joseph Frey Rob Noll outstanding academic work put on weekly group meetings. This Joshua Coovert Larry Rosenhein by the Center for Student Research summer 42 students are working Wendell Kirkman Ryan Van Hoveln and Creativity (Allyson Morris, under the mentorship of 16 faculty Bethany McCarty Ryan Van Hoveln Zachary Parksey, Richard Wyatt, Brandon Mikesell Ryan Van Hoveln advisors from Chemistry, Physics, with Prof. Fitch). Brogan Thomas Ryan Van Hoveln Biology, Computer Science, Geoscience, Political Science, and Nathaniel Shanklin Joe West Amy Watts Joe West Indiana Section ACS Poster Applied Medicine & Rehabilitation. Session at IUPUI in Indianapolis, Seventeen of these students (listed Arick Gardner Guoping Zhang Michael Giocolo Guoping Zhang Feb. 25, 2016 (Allyson Morris— in the table) are working with eight Tyler Jenkins Guoping Zhang with Prof. Fitch). Allyson received an “honorable mention” for her poster on solid phase extraction of National ACS Meeting National APS Meeting amines for GCMS analysis. Patrick Cheek, Kadijah Evans, Two physics majors, Tanner Latta Destiney Hughes, Allyson Morris, and Shan Antony, presented oral Butler University Undergraduate Zach Parksey, Rebecca Rudisell, presentations of their work done Research Conference in and Richard Wyatt presented with Prof. Zhang at the American Indianapolis, Apr. 8, 2016 posters at the 251st National Physical Society meeting March 14- (Phillip Ingalls—with Prof. West). American Chemical Society 18, 2016, in Baltimore, MD. Meeting in San Diego, CA, March Undergraduate Research in 13-17, 2016. The students’ Chemistry Regional Poster research mentors were Profs. Fitch, Competition at the University of Glendening, and Noll. Kentucky, Apr. 22, 2016 (Allyson Morris—with Prof. Fitch). Allyson won 2nd place for her poster on solid phase extraction of amines for GCMS analysis.

Thanks to the ISU Center for Student Research and Creativity, the ISU College of Arts and Sciences, and the Wabash Valley Section of the ACS for funding the students’ travel to these meetings.

Students at the National ACS Meeting in San Diego last March.

Indiana State University Dept. of Chemistry & Physics Terre Haute, IN 47809

ISU Department of Chemistry and Physics

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