Chemical Compositions the Magazine of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry the University of Texas at Austin OH O O O O O O O O H N H O N 1

Fall l 2008 CC Chemical Compositions The Magazine of The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The University of Texas at Austin OH O O O O O O O O H N H O N 1. nBuLi O OTBS O N ∆ Br Br MeO2C N 2. R"X R R" O OH Pd Enolate N 2 CO2H S S N Me R' R" N N H Me Arylation N R R' R' Lewis Acid Mediated Me Me R N S S N Me O Coupling H O O OH 1 3 4 OH NH2 OAc O OH O O OH O H H H O Allylic TMS i. 4Å MS, CH3CN MeO2C (-)-gliotoxin MeO2C MeO2C ii. TFA, -45 °C to rt O O O Alkylation O + O OMe HO N N N OMe N Me Me Me H N NH iii. NaCN aq., CH2Cl2 emestrin 5 6 7 N 1. nBuLi N ∆ 2 N 2. R"X OMe CN 1-pot R R" 89% (88:12) NCbz O R R' R' Cbz R R" e.g. N O BnO N R' NH2 O R1 H HO H Cl R2 1 2 R O + R N N O Ts OH H Br M R Ar R N N Ar O Me OH Cl Me OH Me H Br N Me N N H NH Me p-toluenesulfonic acid H Me O Me HO o O H 0 C O Me (-)-epimyrtine (±)-tashiromine CN Me N 30 min Ts (-)-Caryophyllene Oxide 30% Br

(HO) OP O ∆G ∆H T∆S 2 (HO)2OP O Compounda -1 Ka (M ) (kcal/mol) (kcal/mol) (kcal/mol) 1 [1.0 ± 0.1] x 106 -8.2 ± 0.1 -7.0 ± 0.1 1.2 ± 0.03 2 [4.4 ± 0.4] x 105 -7.7 ± 0.1 -5.3 ± 0.1 2.4 ± 0.06 O Acyclic O 7 O Control O 3 [8.5 ± 0.3] x 105 -8.1 ± 0.1 -6.2 ± 0.02 1.9 ± 0.02 N N Acyclic 2 H H 5 Control R R HN O HN (3) ([5.6 ± 0.2] x 10 ) (-7.9 ± 0.1) (-4.9 ± 0.02) (3.0 ± 0.02) HN R R Macro- 4 [9.9 ± 2.9] x 106 -9.5 ± 0.2 -4.8 ± 0.1 4.7 ± 0.2 HN O cyclization O HN O N N N N NH HN (4) ([6.5 ± 0.9] x 106) (-9.3 ± 0.1) (-6.4 ± 0.04) (2.9 ± 0.1) Macro- cyclization H O N N O a Results in parentheses refer to corresponding acyclic controls. M M M O C ONH2 C ONH 2 (HO)2OP O (HO)2OP O 3 4 N N N N n O O Flexible R R R R Control O O NH O O NH H 2 H 2 N NH N NH N N 2 N N 2 H H H H O O O O 1 2 HO O O Br Rh(COD)2OTf (2 mol%) N - R'' H H A Ph3CCO2H (2 mol%) + H H H R'' A- NH H N R' NH HN N N N N R N N N N R (R)-xylyl-WALPHOS (2 mol%) HO R' N N H H O o N H DCE, H2 (1 atm), 40 C CH3 1 R' = H, Alkyl R'' = Alkyl, Aryl 65-93% Yield H 90 - 99% ee 1 2 1 C A N-Hetereocyclic aromatic aldehydes and ketones, which are structurally similar to vicinal C+ C+ O OR OR dicarbonyl compounds are coupled to conjugated enynes using chirally modified rhodium N OR OR N Julia-Kocienski Me N OR OR Me EtO Olefination Fragment C catalyst in the presence of a bronsted acid co-catalyst with good to excellent yields and S N + I RO H H C+ RO RO OR H H - Me O O RO OR A - O Heck Me enantioselectivities. N N N H H H A Me Coupling OH A- N H N H H Me OTES N N H H N OTES Fragment B Rh(COD)2BARF (5 mol%) N N N I HO2C NHTs +- or N * R = TBDMS 2-Fur P (12 mol%) C - Fragment A NTs 3 C+ OH OH R N R N R' R' Na SO (200 mol%) "Oxidation" Me 2 4 Yamaguchi Me o Me SpnJ, FAD 15 DCM, H2 (1 atm), 25 C Macrolactonization 15 HO HO O HO OH OH O O o 57 - 99% Yield Me 21 11 TrisHCl, pH 8, 29 C Me R = Alkyl, Aryl R''= Alkyl, Aryl O O 3:1-12:1 dr "Cross-bridging Reactions" SpnF, SpnL, SpnM Me O Me N OH 2 O OMe N-Hetereocyclic vinylarenes , which are structurally similar to enones, are coupled to N-tosyl Me Me Me O OMe OMe aldimines using a rhodium catalyst and monodentate phosphine lignad with good to excellent H H Glycosylations O OH O O O O Me yields and acceptable levels of diastereoselectivities. The synthesis of unnatural β-methyl-α- Me O O H H H H aminoacids via this methodology is under investigation. Spinosyn A Spinosyn Aglycone

R' R' R' R' R' R' N H H2N NH2 N N H H N N+ N N+ + H H O O HC l air, TE A C l- C l- MeOH NH HN acetone NH HN NH HN R H R H N R N R R H N R

1•HC l 2•HC l

Allylation with allenes

H OH OH O R2 cat. IrLn cat. IrLn R2 H R R1 R 1 i-PrOH H R1 R 3 H R2 R3 3 R 2 Allylation with 1,3-dienes R 1 = H MeO2C C O O OH MeO2C OH O 2 cat. IrLn or RuLn cat. IrLn or RuLn 2 2 R R R R H R 1 1 1 i-PrOH H R1 1 [R h(C O)2C l]2 MeO2C R = E -c-P r MeO2C H R OLG + R 1 H MeO2C MeO2C Propargylation with Enynes MeO2C C O2Me R 2 R 2 = H, Me, Ph R 1 = Z-E t MeO2C R R2 OH R 2 OH cat. RuLn cat. RuLn O 2 MeO2C H R R1 H 1 i-PrOH H R1 CH2H

Li O O Redox complimentary, byproduct free carbonyl addition from the aldehyde or alcohol oxidation level R Ti(OiPr) [R hC l((R )-Tol-BINAP )] , TMS Cl, 4 2 R O 2-cyclopentenone

R = Alkyl, H, C H2OP G R R N N OMe O O O O Me O O Me Me O MeO Me O

1: R = (E)-CH-CHEt, 3: R = (E)-CH-CHEt, didehydrostemofoline isodidehydrostemofoline (asparagamine A) 2: R = nBu, stemofoline 4: R = nBu, isostemofoline

Me O OTMS Me

N MeO Me O N O O O 5 O 4 O Me O Me MeO Me didehydrostemofoline (1)

R O R Me MeO N N 8 N R 14 H O OMe O OMe Me Me

O 2n+ O O O S S N N N N N N S N N O -2n H S N N O Ru O Ru - O N N -2n e N N N N

2PF6

n thank you to our1 supportersPoly-1 Student abstracts from the Spring Symposium 2008, p.24. For a complete list of donors, see pp. 20-21. CONTENTS

Chemical Compositions l Fall 2008 From the Chair For members of our community who are interested in and 4 Letters from the Chairs support teaching and research in chemistry and biochemistry, Chemical Compositions provides a guide to the past, Research present, and future activities of the Department of Chemistry 6 Got Chemistry? and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. A Profile of Chris Bielawski 7 State-of-the-Heart Chip On the Cover: Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) for clinical 8 CEC: Renewable Energy analysis was largely developed at UT and is now used worldwide. Image shows ECL from the reduction of 9,10-diphenyl anthracene at the lower surface of a rotating ring-disk electrode immersed in acetonitrile (from Faculty J.T. Maloy’s UT dissertation, 1970). In addition to renewable energy 9 Lara Mahal technologies the Center for Electrochemistry (CEC) (article, page 8) also 10 Everybody WINS! carries out research in the fields of bioelectrochemistry and ultrasensitive 11 Honors and Awards biosensor probes where electrochemistry plays a key role in the 12 Welcome New Faculty electroanalytical characterization of living systems. 14 Joseph J. Lagowski Retires

17 In Memoriam

Giving 18 The Faulkner Chair 20 Donors

Students 13 New Graduate Students 14 Scholarships & Fellowships 24 Spring Symposium 25 Undergraduate Research

Department 26 Staff Excellence 27 Staff Profile 28 Calendar

Chemical Compositions 3 FORMER CHAIR’S LETTER

It is truly amazing how quickly time flies when you are busy and hav- Chair ing fun. Indeed, I can scarcely believe that it has been four years since I Richard M. Crooks accepted the position as Chair of the Department, and my “retiring” from this position is bittersweet. I am eager to be able to devote more time to Associate Department teaching and research, but I shall miss the exciting opportunities the Chair Chair has to advance the Department. As I look back over these past four years, Dean R. Appling I believe the Department has made considerable progress toward its goal Associate Director of being amongst the top ten chemistry and biochemistry departments in Dr. Richard B. Quy the country. We weathered the attacks of a number of predatory departments and Administrative Manager retained a large number of vital members of our faculty. We also were John Baxendale fortunate to recruit a number of outstanding new young and mid-career professors, who will keep us on track for achieving excellence in all areas Editors/Writers of chemistry and biochemistry. The Texas Institute of Drug and Diagnostic Development, which was created Claire McCarthy and initiated as a consequence of a number of outside offers, is progressing well and is on track to become M.A. Sims a critical component of our institution, one that enables our department to be a key player in the future of translational biomedicine at The University of Texas. I believe the creation of the Departmental Advisory Contributing Writers Board also marks an important step toward helping us achieve excellence. Individuals serving on this board Lee Clippard Brendan Coffey have sacrificed their time in order to help us, and I believe they will assist us in meeting the difficult challenges Steve Moore of the future. The Department began to be more proactive in its interactions with industry through the Spring Rita Wilkinson Symposium in which students and postdoctoral associates meet and interact with representatives from industry. We also initiated programs to engage our graduates in a variety of ways and held the first graduation reception Art Direction and for our majors. Better interactions with our alumni are central to our recently launched efforts to be more Design aggressive in fundraising to establish endowments that will enhance all of our programs in perpetuity. We have M.A. Sims successfully worked toward improving diversity in our Department and we recently formed a committee on Photography enhancing diversity. Although the Department faces a number of problems with space and resources in the Marv Hackert future, the programmed space in the new Experimental Science Building and the planned renovations in Welch Claire McCarthy Hall will enable us to hire faculty and have teaching and research facilities commensurate with a top ranked Marsha Miller department. Christina Murrey I have many people to thank for their help over the past four years. I am especially indebted to my wife Fay Glennon Simmons and daughter Nicole, who patiently and understandingly endured my increased absences. I thank members of my group, who also paid a price for my departmental activities as they did not always receive the mentoring they deserved. I am most grateful to members of our faculty who were always willing to pitch in and do things that needed to be done to advance the mission of the Department. They were also considerate of my time, and that was critical to maintaining my sanity. Thanks also to the staff, especially M. A. Sims and those in the Chair’s office, for their hard work and help in maintaining the essential infrastructure of the Department. Looking forward, I am excited about getting back to the exciting challenges of science in synthetic and bioorganic chemistry. I ask that you all join me in helping our next Chair, Dick Crooks, as he guides the department into even greater excellence over the course of the next four years.

Cheers,

Stephen Martin M. June and J. Virgil Waggoner Regents Chair in Chemistry

4 Chemical Compositions CHAIR’S LETTER

Greetings and welcome to the latest edition of Chemical Composi- tions. Through the creative efforts of departmental staff members M. A. Sims and Claire McCarthy, the new layout of Compositions provides a more informative and enjoyable reading experience than its predecessor. I hope you will enjoy articles about the research achievements of Profs. Chris Bielawski, Lara Mahal, and Grant Willson; our NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program; and much more. Composi- tions will come to you in this new format twice per year now: once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Before I introduce myself, I want to thank Steve Martin for his outstanding leadership as chair of the Department over the last four years. Steve was instrumental in establishing the Texas Institute for Drug and Diagnostics Development (TI-3D), which is a new interdisciplinary center that has a very strong presence in the chemistry and biochemistry department. He also helped to ensure that the Department will have the space it needs to grow in productive new directions by working with others at UT on the new Experimental Sciences Building (ESB). The old ESB, located just across 24th St. from the Welch Chemistry Building, is gone now, and construction is just starting on the new building. Chemistry stands to gain up to 50,000 sq. ft. of new space for chemistry, most of which will be occupied by organic and inorganic faculty for both research and teaching. Steve also started our new Departmental Advisory Board, which is a group of distinguished scientists from industry and academics that is helping us to focus our energy in productive directions. We owe Steve an enormous debt of gratitude for his selfless contribution of time and energy. Now, let me tell you a little about myself. I first came to the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as a graduate student in 1981. I had been doing undergraduate research in the field of electrochemistry with Larry R. Faulkner (UT President Emeritus) at the University of Illinois before heading to Austin, so it was Address all natural that I would want to spend my graduate career working with Allen J. Bard. I really fell in love with both correspondence to: UT and Austin, and was sorry to leave. Later, I spent about a dozen years on the chemistry faculty of Texas A&M University, before the opportunity arose to move back to UT in 2005. As I’m sure you know, UT is The University of Texas at Austin Department of Chemistry THE place to do electrochemistry, so this was a wonderful opportunity for me. Indeed, the Robert A. Welch and Biochemistry Foundation has just established a new $5 million Center for Electrochemistry at UT. Allen Bard is the director Office of the Chair of this new center, and several other chemists, myself included, are active participants. It seemed that I had 1 University Station A5300 just finished moving my lab to UT and getting my research program (electrocatalysis and biosensing) up and Austin, TX 78712-0165 running, when I was drafted to become chair of the department. I’m still learning the ropes, but one thing that it Phone: 512-471-3949 didn’t take me long to realize is what an amazing group of faculty, staff, and students I have to work with. In the coming issues of Compositions we will be featuring some of these folks, but just to give you a sense of the quality of this fine department I can’t resist pointing out that during just the last year Allen Bard won the prestigious Wolf Prize, Paul Barbara won the ACS E. Bright Wilson Award in Spectroscopy, Alan Cowley won the ACS Distinguished Service Award in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, and last but not least late last month President Bush personally award Grant Willson the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. You can Printed on 30% recycled paper. read about these awards and others collected by faculty and students in this issue of Compositions.

Richard M. Crooks Department Chair

Chemical Compositions 5 RESEARCH Professor Chris Bielawski does. He is very enthusiastic about chemistry – both teaching and research – and strives to get others to share his excitement. His teaching philosophy is “If you can get students got chemistry? excited, it almost doesn’t matter what they’re going to do – they’re going to do something great!” Professor Bielawski’s educational efforts have been recognized in the past year by two awards honoring him for excellence in the classroom: the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, which supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in chemistry, and The University of Texas at Aus- tin College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes him as an outstanding teacher among all faculty in our college. Since his arrival at UT, Reprinted from the cover of The Journal of Organic Chemistry Professor Bielawski has been particularly v.69 (23), November 12, 2004 interested in revitalizing undergraduate interest in chemistry, especially courses that focus on areas complimentary to his own research. These efforts have been met with great encouragement and excitement from the students. For example, enrollment in his undergraduate course on polymer chemistry (CH 367: Macro- molecular Chemistry) has climbed from 26 to nearly 100 over the past three years. In addition, the students regularly inquire about undergraduate research opportunities, keeping Professor Bielawski’s lab flush with personnel. “It’s a problem, but a good problem! I’m beginning to have to turn people away. I especially dislike turning undergraduates away, because they are always extremely excited about getting involved in research,” he says. Professor Bielawski’s dedication to teaching is mirrored in his ambition to drive his research program forward. This past academic year he received multiple awards in recognition of the quality and potential of his research endeavors, including the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, which sup-

6 Chemical Compositions RESEARCH ports and encourages the careers of outstanding new faculty members. When it comes to his research, Professor Bielawski believes in the concept of high-risk / high-reward. “When I think about new directions in chemistry, I try to pick areas that are way out there, totally crazy, totally left field. Something that makes you think, ‘This is never going to work.’ Those kinds of odds get me excited, because yeah, maybe we won’t get there, but maybe along the way we’ll dis- cover something equally if not more interesting.” This approach has worked well for him. When receiving feedback on a proposal for some of his current research in self-healing materials, he had one resolute critic who declared; “Impossible. Will not work.” And to the contrary, Professor Bielawski succeeded in demonstrating that an entirely new class of organometallic polymers developed in his laboratories is capable of healing themselves after they are damaged. These materials can also conduct electricity and therefore hold ex- ceptional promise for use in a variety of electronic devices – for example a computer circuit board that can fix itself after failure! Another area of Professor Bielawski’s research involves developing catalysts that can make new polymers, like high performance plastics and rubbers. “A Holy Grail in the field is an ability to make polymers as well as Nature can. She can exquisitely control the structure of polymers which has resulted in a number of useful things, like life. Synthetic chemists have nowhere near this ability.

“If you can get students excited, it almost doesn’t matter what they’re going to do – Professor John T. McDevitt with his nano-bio-chip sensor that they’re going to do something great!” delivers fast, reliable, and portable results on the state-of-the- heart. So, as a first step, we wondered if we can assemble polymers one Your Heart’s Health piece at a time and in a highly-controlled manner using catalysts Instantly Revealed by Saliva that can change their reactivities at our command. To do this, we developed a catalyst whose selectivity toward polymerizing differ- The EKG has always been the first course of action if ent monomers is dependent on its oxidation state. This means that a heart attack is suspected, but no longer. Professor out of a mixture of A and B, for example, the catalyst can selectively John T. McDevitt has developed a new, quick test that polymerize A or B based on its oxidation state, which is something determines the presence of proteins in your saliva that that we chemists can easily control. Ultimately, using our catalyst, are released in your body in response to a heart attack. we’ve been able to create several new polymers with highly-con- The saliva-based test can sense the presence of these trolled structures, and therefore physical properties. We hope this protein biomarkers in less than fifteen minutes.McDe - constitutes a step in the right direction toward achieving that Holy vitt and colleagues developed a nano-bio-chip sensor Grail, but also realize that we have a long way to go. For example, that is biochemically programmed to detect sets of while we demonstrated that the concept works reasonably well for proteins in saliva capable of determining whether or two different monomers, Nature constructs proteins, which not a person is currently having a heart attack or is at are a type of natural polymer, out of a pool of 20 amino acids!” says high risk of having a heart attack in the near future. A Professor Bielawski. small amount of saliva is placed onto a card which is Another area of research Professor Bielawski is moving towards then inserted into an analyzer. A series of microbeads is also inspired by Nature. He wants to develop new and better ways is exposed to the saliva, detecting certain key salivary to recycle catalysts after they have been used to facilitate chemi- proteins. These proteins are then colored with floures- cal reactions. Because many useful catalysts in modern synthetic cent dyes that are read by the analyzer’s video chip. chemistry are very expensive, great efforts have been spent toward The test has shown to be as accurate as a blood test, reycling them. However, there are many drawbacks with current but the results are known in a fraction of the time— methods and he envisions using some of the unique features of critical in matters of life and death. his self-healing polymers to overcome these problems. “At a group Excerpted from Randy Atkins, 103.5 FM, WTOP Radio, and Megan meeting, we thought, ‘there has got to a better way of doing this!’ Rauscher, Reuters Health.

Continued on page 30 Chemical Compositions 7 RESEARCH

In the Forefront of Renewable Energy

8 Chemical Compositions RESEARCH Enabling Collaborative Research metal oxides used in battery electrodes. Mechanical engineering Electrochemistry is the foundation of sustainable energy professor Arumugam Manthiram studies the design, synthesis, technologies such as photovoltaics, hydrogen fuel cells, and high- properties, and performance of engineering materials for energy batteries, and has long been a core strength of the University lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, and supercapacitors of Texas at Austin. In 2006 the university formally established the including novel chemical synthesis and processing approaches Center for Electrochemistry (CEC) as an Organized Research for nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and organic-inorganic Unit to foster collaborative research programs in electrochemical nanohybrids. Mechanical engineering professor Jeremy P. Meyers science. In September 2008, the Robert A. Welch Foundation researches the design and optimization of electrochemical energy generously awarded a $5 million, 5-year research grant to the systems, focusing primarily on proton-exchange membranes and CEC to establish a Renewable Energy Initiative. The initiative direct methanol fuel cells, and another CEC researcher, Fu-Ren supports sustainable energy development on a number of levels: (Frank) Fan, Senior Research Scientist, has extensive experience the building of a research community centered at the University in characterization of materials for energy conversion and of Texas, improved instrumentation facilities, and funding for electrochemical devices. paradigm shifting research in electrochemical science. UT’s Center for Electrochemistry Awarded $5 Million Grant by Welch Foundation

According to CEC Director Allen Bard, the initiative has Twelve additional faculty members have joined the CEC, each three central thrusts. One is devoted to new kinds of photovoltaic bringing their unique and complementary expertise in various and photoelectrochemical materials that could eventually make fields, each important to the technical challenges of renewable solar power competitive with fossil fuels. Another will deal with energy design: chemical synthesis of new materials, bulk and the challenges of creating batteries that can store enough energy, surface characterizations, electrochemical measurements, fast over long periods of time, to maximize the utility of renewable screening, mechanistic studies of electrocatalysts, and fabrication energy sources, like wind farms and solar panels, that are and testing of prototype electrochemical devices. The breadth of intermittent in their electricity generation. The last project will the CEC’s research reflects the diversity of its talent. explore the fundamental chemistry of electrocatalysts, with an In the Forefront of Renewable Energy eye toward developing better catalysts for fuel cells and for water More Efficient and Affordable Solar Cells electrolysis to produce hydrogen. “These are 3 pivotal problems Recognizing that solar is the most promising renewable energy in electrochemical science and engineering; advances in any one source—one of the “Holy Grails of Chemistry”— it is necessary of these areas could produce significant benefit to society,” says to find a material with the stability, efficiency, and cost to allow Professor Bard. widespread use in photovoltaic or photoelectrochemical devices. While the CEC’s founding faculty were already deeply “Photovoltaic” (PV) refers to the conversion of solar energy involved with pioneering research in electrocatalysis, battery directly to electricity, while “photoelectrochemical” (PEC) materials, and fuel cell modeling, the Center enables a more fully refers to the use of solar energy to directly produce hydrogen integrated approach spanning fundamental electrochemistry and other chemicals. Idealized design concepts envision large- through materials science to engineered devices. Bard is a area solar device architectures synthesized from thin films of leading analytical electrochemist whose research is focused on high-efficiency PV materials fabricated by simple roll-to-roll understanding the basic science of processes associated with processing, but significant breakthroughs are required. Currently charge transfer, surface chemistry, and photoelectrochemical more than 90% of commercial solar cells are based on costly processes in electrochemical and semiconductor systems. He has crystalline silicon. been a UT faculty member for over 50 years, and his renowned Synthetic chemist Alan Cowley is collaborating with the Laboratory for Electrochemistry was a cornerstone of the CEC. CEC on developing more efficient PV materials. Part of his The other founding electrochemists were Chemistry Professor work involves a novel chemical synthesis of an engineered Richard Crooks whose research interests include nanomaterials bandgap semiconductor; a second approach he is pursuing and catalysis. His group has developed a template-based approach involves synthesis of novel ionic liquids that could be used for for preparing multimetallic, dendrimer-encapsulated catalysts in direct electrodeposition of thin film silicon. the 1 - 2 nm size range with a high degree of compositional and The highest electrocatalyst efficiencies for photoelectrolysis structural uniformity. Chemistry Professor Keith J. Stevenson of water have been obtained with PEC systems based on focuses on the development and use of high resolution analytical semiconductor electrodes; photocatalysts are known to be tools for the spatial, temporal, and spectral investigation of particularly sensitive to structural effects since photogenerated materials and interfaces; for example, spectroelectrochemical electron-hole pairs in the bulk material must reach reactive surface imaging to study proton and lithium insertion at inhomogeneous Continued on page 30 Chemical Compositions 9 FACULTY

Professor Lara Mahal is one of 31 researchers nationwide to receive a National Dr. Lara Mahal hopes her work Dr. Lara Mahalrevealing hopes sugar her structures work on revealing cells Institutes of Health New Innovator Award sugar structureswill on help cells doctors will diagnose help doctors the presence and progress of certain this past September. The award is given to UT's diagnose the presencediseases suchand asprogress cancer. of certain diseases such as cancer. researchers in the sciences that are both UT’sXX Factor early in their careers and pursuing inno- vative and novel approaches in research xx factor that promise to substantially impact the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The New Innovator Award is accompanied by a $1.5 million grant spanning 5 years to support Professor Mahal’s work in the study of carbohydrate coatings on cells and how they can be used as diagnostic and prog- nostic tools in medicine. Professor Mahal was also recently profiled in Austin Woman magazine along with five other outstanding female University of Texas faculty members in the magazine’s “Women of UT” article. Professor Mahal was the only assistant professor to make the publication’s list, and she was also the youngest member of the group. In the article, Professor Mahal had the chance to discuss her research that caught the attention of the NIH and share it with a broad audience. Professor Mahal studies Dr. LaraLara Mahal, Mahal, Assistant Associate Professor Professor carbohydrate coatings on cell surfaces and of Chemistry and Biochemistry how they play a role in cell differentiation, of Chemistry and Biology cell recognition and immune response. She A New-Order Scientist Unlocking the Mysteries of Cellular Sugar sees applications for her work in medicine, Coating While Balancing the Demands of A New Family such as creating tools for diagnosing bac- terial infection, predicting the spread of Story by Jennifer Simonson Photo Courtesy of Dr. Lara Mahal cancer, and designing drugs to carefully target only certain cells in the body. Profes- Reprinted by permission of “Austin Woman.” sor Mahal also discussed the role of female mentors in her path to academia. Originally PB austinwoman June 2008 planning to enroll in law school, she credits two female professors for encouraging her to apply to graduate school in chemistry, ultimately guiding her to the University of California at Berkeley for a Ph.D., and then to The University of Texas at Austin as a tenure-track professor. Dr. Lara Mahal is an assistant professor of chemistry. You can learn more about her research and lab by visiting her Web site, http://research.cm.utexas.edu/lmahal/ or contacting her at [email protected]

10 Chemical Compositions FACULTY

The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) Stephen F. Martin, the Chemistry and Bio- The Department employed three new re- has recognized the Department of Chemistry chemistry Department participated in key cruitment strategies to attract women and and Biochemistry with the 2008 Everybody workshops that provided successful strate- underrepresented minorities to the faculty WINS (Women in Natural Sciences) Award. gies for the recruitment of women faculty. When advertising faculty openings, search The WINS Award is granted annually to the Associate Department Chairman Dean Ap- areas were broadened outside of tradition- department in the College that makes the pling participated in the national workshop ally defined research areas. This strategy greatest strides in the area of recruiting on “Building Strong Academic Chemistry De- was important in attracting Professor Lau- and retaining women faculty. In 2005 the Department had two senior women faculty: Professors Karen Browning and Jennifer Brodbelt. Since that time, Professors Lara Everybody Wins! Mahal, Whitney Yin, Katherine “Kallie” Willets, Lauren Webb, and Yan “Jessie” partments through Gender Equity” sponsored ren Webb, who describes her multi-disci- Zhang have joined the faculty. The award by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. plinary research as “beyond boundaries.” recognizes this significant achievement in Department of Energy, and the National Insti- Professor Webb came to the attention of the hiring of women. tutes of Health. Obstacles to the recruitment the Department by way of another recom- and retention of women faculty were iden- mended strategy, the use of “talent scouts” As described by Dr. Lynne McInnerney, Pro- tified, along with strategies for overcoming to identify potential candidates. She was gram Director, the WINS program seeks to them. Many issues were cited as inhibitors identified as the direct result of Professor foster the presence of women in science at to the successful recruitment and retention Paul Barbara’s targeted recruitment effort. all points of entry. The Everybody WINS of women. These included the perception of The Gender Equity Workshop also recom- Award carries with it a $10,000 prize that scarcity of women candidates, accommoda- mended phone contacts. Professor Kather- ine “Kallie” Willets initially did not direct “What’s really helped me in getting to where I am her search for an academic position toward today is the encouragment I have received.” large research universities such as UT, but because of a phone contact made by Pro- -Professor Katherine “Kallie” Willets fessor Allen Bard to her postdoctoral advi- sor, she broadened the scope of her search will be used to further promote and improve tion of family, and the “two-body problem”, and is now at UT. diversity in the department by establishing or spousal recruitment. Carl Lineberger an annual lecture to be given by a prominent of the University of Colorado, chair of the Both Willets and Webb emphasize the im- woman or underrepresented minority sci- NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences portance of mentoring that they received entist, and will be called the WINS Distin- Advisory Committee, highlighted this latter over their careers. The NSF’s National guished Lecture in Chemistry and Biochem- issue by noting that 70% of women in sci- Analysis of Minorities in Science and En- istry. Besides the WINS Award, the College ence are married to men in science. Other gineering Faculties at Research Universi- also sponsors the Freshman WINS Honors barriers to the recruitment and retention of ties (Donna J. Nelson, 2007) reports the Residential Program, which, as described women scientists included the paucity of disparity between the number of women by McInnerney, brings together an extend- senior women faculty to serve as mentors, taking degrees in chemistry and the num- ed living group of up to 40 freshmen women and unintentional bias. Many strategies and ber of women faculty role models. In 2005, majoring in the natural sciences. After the recommendations for improvement came 51.7% of B.S. recipients nationwide were freshman year, the women disperse, with out of the Gender Equity Workshop. These women, while women faculty equaled only some students remaining as student advi- include ensuring transparency in departmen- 13.7%. Willets had women role models sors during their sophomore year. In sup- tal policies and decision-making processes early in her career while in high school and porting women scientists across the career by including women in key decision-making at Dartmouth; Webb did not have women spectrum—from early in their academic ca- processes, especially if they are directly in- mentors but she did have encouraging and reers through the recruitment and retention volved. Examples include teaching assign- accessible male professors who mentored of women faculty—the WINS program ad- ments, the allocation of space or of other her. Webb recognizes the importance of dresses the critical issue of what has been resources, accommodating personal obliga- women role models, “Having mentors that a leaking pipeline of women entering and tions in academic scheduling, and the devel- people are comfortable talking to is absolutely remaining in the natural sciences. opment of policies to ensure gender equity in vital, and that’s maybe one reason why having proposal review. In 2006, under the leadership of then Chair Continued on page 31 Chemical Compositions 11 FACULTY

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) presents C. Grant Willson (L) with a National Medal of Technology and Innovation during an East Room ceremony at the White House on September 29, 2008. See article opposite page. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)

12 Chemical Compositions FACULTY Faculty Awards & Honors Eric Anslyn Journal of Organic Chemistry for Having the Most-Cited Articles of 2007 (2008) Journal of Organic Chemistry for Having the Most-Cited Articles of 2007 (2008) Elias J. Corey Award (2007) Paul F. Barbara Dowpharma Prize (2007) 2009 ACS E. Bright Wilson Award in Spectroscopy (2008) Presidential Green Chemistry Award (2007) H. Willard Davis Lecture, University of South Carolina (2008) Hung-Wen (Ben) Liu Elected Board of Trustees, Gordon Research Conferences (2008) American Chemical Society Division of Biological Chemistry, Repligen Kaufman Lectures, University of Pittsburgh (2007) Award (2008) O’Malley Lecturer, Boston College (2007) Elected to Academician of Academia Sinica (2008) Gomberg Lecture, University of Michigan (2007) American Chemical Society Organic Division Allen J. Bard Nakanishi Prize (2007) Wolf Prize in Chemistry (Wolf Foundation, Israel) (2008) Lara K. Mahal Christopher Bielawski Sloan Research Fellow (2008) College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2008) National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2007) Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (2008) NIH New Innovator Award (2008) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2008) Edward Marcotte 3M Nontenured Faculty Award (2008) Edith & Peter O’Donnell Award in Science, The Academy of Medicine, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2008) Engineering,and Science of Texas (2008) National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2007) Acquisition of “The Protein Homology Graph” for the permanent Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award (2007) collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art (2008) DuPont Young Professor Award (2007) Rick Russell Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award (2007) Promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor Alan H. Cowley and awarded tenure (2007) 2009 Distinguished Service Award in the Advancement of Inorganic Jonathan Sessler Chemistry (2008) Chemistry World Royal Society of Chemistry list of top 500 living Gordon Stone Lecture, University of Bristol, UK (2007) chemists (2007) Richard M. Crooks Grollman Lecturer, Univ. of Maryland School of Pharmacy (2008) ACS Award in Electrochemistry (2008) Jason Shear Marvin L. Hackert Promoted from Associate Professor to Full Professor (2007) President of the American Crystallographic Association (2008) Katherine A. (Kallie) Willets Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, Central College (2007) Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Council Graeme Henkelman Teaching Excellence Award (2008) National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2007) Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award (2008) Kenneth A. Johnson C. Grant Willson American Chemical Society as a Most-Cited Article for the year 2006 (2008) National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2007) Michael Krische SEMI Innovation Award for North America, (Semiconductor Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award 2009 (2008) Equipment Manufacturers International) (2007) Novartis Lectureship Award (2008) Elected Fellow of SPIE (the Society of Photographic and Instrumentation Engineers) (2007)

Willson Presented with National Medal Chemistry Professor C. Grant Willson was awarded a our honorees has extended the frontiers of knowledge, and in so National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President doing they’ve inspired a wave of innovation.” George W. Bush during a ceremony at the White House on The National Medal of Technology and Innovation honors Tuesday, September 29, 2008. The medal is the nation’s highest America’s leading innovators. The award is given to individuals, honor for science and technology. teams, and/or companies/divisions for their outstanding Willson received the honor for the creation of novel contributions to the nation’s economic, environmental and social lithographic imaging materials and techniques that have well-being through the development and commercialization enabled the manufacturing of smaller, faster, and more of technology products, processes and concepts; technological efficient microelectronic components that have improved the innovation; and development of the Nation’s technological competitiveness of U.S. microelectronics industry. manpower. The Department of Commerce administers the “We’re proud to honor a new generation of people who have award, which was established by an act of Congress in 1980. strived for excellence; people whose discoveries have changed — Lee Clippard America and the world,” said Bush at the ceremony. “Each of Chemical Compositions 13 FACULTY

Assistant Professors (left to right) Lauren Webb, Adrian Keatinge-Clay, and Yan “Jes- sie” Zhang joined the faculty this fall.

Welcome New Faculty Adrian T. Keatinge-Clay attempts to determine the mechanisms Lauren Webb PhD, University of California at San and specificities of each enzyme type in PhD, California Institute of Technology, 2005 Francisco, 2004 order to genetically engineer PKSs to make Chemistry AB, Bowdoin College, 2000 BS, Stanford University, 1999 both derivatives of known polyketides and NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University of California at San Francisco, libraries of completely novel polyketides. University, 2005-2008 2004-2008 Biophysics Affiliations: Center for Nano- and Affiliations: Institute for Cellular and The domain boundaries of enzymes Molecular Science and Technology; Molecular Biology within PKSs have recently been identified, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Natural Product Biochemistry enabling structural studies of isolated Biology domains. The atomic resolution structures Many important pharmaceuticals, Physical Chemistry of Biological of PKS enzymes help build a description of including the antibiotic erythromycin Interfaces the overall PKS assembly line architecture. and the immunosuppressant rapamycin, Research in the Webb group seeks They also help elucidate what interactions belong to a diverse class of molecules called to understand and manipulate the between PKS enzymes and their substrates polyketides. These complex molecules mechanisms of interaction, organization, are required for correct polyketide are synthesized by modular polyketide and self-assembly of biological processing. The structures of several key synthases (PKSs)—enormous enzymes macromolecules that lead to the complex PKS enzymes remain to be determined. that are directly analogous to assembly and emergent properties of living systems. Biocatalysis lines. Our group seeks to understand We are interested in these topics for two PKSs are the enzymatic champions of this chemical machinery and engineer principal reasons. First, understanding the organic synthesis, performing complex, it to produce new molecules and new organization of biological systems is of stereocontrolled reactions on diverse medicines. vital biomedical importance. Second, we carbon chains. Our lab is learning how to Biosynthesis seek to exploit the weak but long-range harness the catalytic potential of isolated Each enzyme within these megasynthases interactions involved in noncovalent PKS enzymes and utilize them to perform operates on a polyketide only once during organization of biological macromolecules desirable chemical transformations. As its synthesis. Transformations catalyzed by at prepared surfaces and interfaces PKS biocatalysts are catalytically active PKS enzymes include carbon-carbon bond with the ultimate goal of integrating under ambient conditions in an aqueous formation, cyclizations, and stereospecific biological and inorganic materials in a environment, they can be considered a reductions and eliminations. Our research controlled and robust manner. Research new paradigm in “green chemistry.” 14 Chemical Compositions FACULTY in the Webb group is multidisciplinary structure or complicated molecular of enzymes in oncology pathways, and employs a variety of physical and biology. structure-based drug design. analytical techniques. We study the Dynamic Control of Microtubules on A major focus of Zhang’s research is the physical chemistry of electrostatic fields at Conducting Surfaces elucidation of the fundamental principles of protein-protein interfaces using vibrational As modern electronic devices have become transcriptional regulation and their impact spectroscopy coupled with computational successively smaller, a pressing need has on tumor and stem cell differentiation. methods; we prepare and characterize developed for constructing complex The primary experimental approaches chemically modified surfaces that interact structures from the “bottom up” through used in the laboratory are macromolecular specifically with folded, functional the self-assembly of simple building blocks structure determination and allied proteins using X-ray photoelectron into two-and three-dimensional structures. biophysical techniques. The transcription spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Biology has many examples of intricate of DNA information into mature RNA and surface spectroscopic techniques; structures that are constructed through messages requires a temporally changing and we use biochemical control over the self-assembly of small molecular transcription apparatus, which is assembled the dynamic behavior of cytoskeletal components. The Webb group studies one from RNA polymerase II and various fibers tethered to patterned surfaces and such system, the microtubule, which is an processing factors. The appropriate assembly monitored through optical microscopy. exquisitely ordered, three-dimensional of the transcription apparatus is governed by Electrostatic Fields at the Protein- structure that is self-assembled through information programmed in the C-terminal Protein Interface noncovalent, electrostatic interactions domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. Macromolecular interactions in biological of macromolecules. We exploit the This so-called ‘CTD code’ operates through systems are now a major focus of interest. biochemical mechanisms of dynamic changes in the conformation of CTD, In the post-genomic era, enhanced instability of microtubules that are tethered which are effected largely through alteration understanding of the cooperation between to a patterned, conducting substrate to of the phosphorylation state of this domain. biological molecules such as proteins, generate self-assembled devices that are Zhang’s main research interests focus on DNA, RNA, and lipids is necessary to capable of complex functions such as how phosphorylation of CTD is regulated explore the complexity of living cells. regulation and feedback. and how this phosphorylation affects the Furthermore, molecules that promote Yan “Jessie” Zhang outcome of transcription, and in turn, how or disrupt specific macromolecular PhD, The Scripps Research Institute, these processes are involved in important interactions have vast pharmacological 2004 biological phenomena such as cancer and potential. Macromolecular interactions BS, Tsinghuan University, China, 1997 neurogenesis. Ultimately, Zhang aims to lead to emergent properties necessary MS, University of Oregon, 2000 exploit the results from this research in the for life, but can only be studied or The Salk Institute for Biological Research design of small molecule effectors that can understood if the molecular-level, Affiliations: Institute for Cellular and intervene in the CTD processes and thereby noncovalent, electrostatic forces that Molecular Biology function as regulators of gene expression. drive and control those interactions are themselves understood. The Webb group Structural and biophysical studies measures electrostatic fields at protein- protein interfaces and seeks to develop Assistant Professors Katherine “Kalllie” Willets and Dionicio Siegel joined the faculty last year. Synopses computational models that accurately of their research can be found on page 31. predict these interactions. Electrostatic Control of Protein Binding at Surfaces Incorporation of a protein into a sensing, electronic, or biofuel device often requires that the protein be tethered to an inorganic surface. The Webb group uses surface chemical modification to prepare substrates that present an ideal electrostatic interface for the noncovalent binding of proteins in a controlled and organized manner. We are developing surface chemical functionalization techniques that are completely general to allow controlled binding of any protein of interest, including those of unknown

Chemical Compositions 15 FACULTY Professor Joseph J. Lagowski Retires J. J. Lagowski arrived at UT as an Assis- of the earliest, if not the first, multi-terminal could be conducted. tant Professor in Fall 1959, having earned a systems served by a relatively large central In 1979, Lagowski became the 6th Editor BS at the University of Illinois, an MS at the processor which was used to collect data for of the Journal of Chemical Education, a posi- University of Michigan, a PhD at Michigan their experiments. Lagowski obtained access tion he held for 18 years. On his watch, The State University, and having spent two years to the system to explore its use as a direct edu- Journal expanded its pages by 30%, including in the laboratories of H. J. Emeleus at Cam- cational tool in chemical education. The large articles of interest to high school teachers and bridge University as a Marshall Scholar—an general chemistry courses had insufficient -hu accommodating the growing interest in com- effort that resulted in his being awarded the man resources (TAs or faculty) to conduct puters as aids in chemical education; such ac- PhD (Cantabrigiensis). enough discussion sessions to satisfy the need tivities gave rise to a considerable expansion of Lagowski’s chemical interests can be sum- for interactive activities in such an environ- The Journal services to the education commu- marized as the coordination chemistry of the ment. The experience gained with this- ru nity. In addition, extensive computer-focused borazines, the chemistry of non-aqueous sol- dimentary, lashed-together system was suffi- services were developed, e.g., computer soft- vents with emphasis on liquid ammonia, and cient to convince NSF to fund Project C-BE ware sharing techniques. The current editor the synthesis of organometallic π-complexes, (computer-based education) in the early has continued and extended this computer- especially η 6 arenes. His chemical research 1970s at the $3.5 million level. Project C-BE based focus using internet techniques. group has been responsible in revealing a num- was a joint proposal (with John Allen on the To Lagowski’s credit are 192 published ber of interesting chemistries. Among these is Engineering faculty) designed to introduce scientific papers; 206 Editorials; 283 invited the preparation of the first “π-complex” of bo- computer-based methods into 15 undergrad- lectures and presentations; 185 authored/

L to R: Graduation from Cambridge (1959), Lagowski (1972), Lagowski (1990), upon receiving the ACS Chemical Education Award (1989), with spouse, Professor Jeanne M. Lagowski, Professor of Neurobiology

razine [B3N3H6Cr(CO)3] which turned out uate courses of the (then) College of Arts and co-authored papers presented at professional to be better described as a σ-bonded tiramine Sciences and the College of Engineering. The conferences; and 18 authored or co-authored bonded to a zero valent chromium atom; results of Project C-BE provided the founda- books on chemistry. He has served as Editor bringing some clarification to the major spe- tion upon which the interdisciplinary Project of 8 undergraduate texts; 4 volumes on non- cies often described as the “solvated electron” Quest with IBM evolved. Ultimately, Project aqueous solution chemistry; and editor-in- using low temperature IR spectroscopy on Quest generated sufficient resources to pro- chief of 2 Encyclopedias of Chemistry. He solutions of metals; establishing a quantita- vide about 1,600 early model PCs to UT. The has supervised 54 graduate students. tive scale of acidities in liquid ammonia; the Chemistry Department received a significant Lagowski has received the Chemical characterization of metal anions in liquid am- number of those computers, which became Manufacturing Associate Award in Chemical monia solutions, e.g., Au–, Ag–; as well as the the basis of the first undergraduate depart- Education (1981), the ACS Award in Chem- isolation and characterization of a plethora of mental computer lab at The University. ical Education (1989), the ACS Southwest mixed arene chromium compounds. As a result of the increasing availability Regional Award (1996), and the James Flack Early in his career here, when he was as- of computers for educational processes, an Norris Award in Chemical Education (of the signed to teach in the general chemistry pro- increasing number of graduate students who Eastern ACS Section) (1999). gram, Lagowski became interested in the use were interested in chemistry and in education —Rita Wilkinson of computing to enhance the educational ex- found it possible to express their interests in perience (teaching and learning) in the large terms of PhD dissertations and MS theses in chemistry sections. The educational psychol- this Department, which was one of only three ogists in the College of Education had one or four nationally in which such research 16 Chemical Compositions IN MEMORIAM

Steve Ernst Stephen R. Ernst Stephen Richard Ernst was born in Wichita, Kansas on July 22, 1939 and died in Austin on May 16. 2008 at the(July age 22,of 68. 1939 He -earnedMay his 16, BS 2008) in chemistry from Carnegie Tech. in 1961, worked as an analytical chemist for four years for the Civil Service,Wichita and Highthen Schoolearned North his PhD 1957 in Physical Chemistry from the University ofBS Utah Chemistry, in 1972. Carnegie Following Tech. postdoctoral1961 work in X-ray crystallography at theCivil University Service Analytical of Pittsburgh Chemist (1972-76) 1962-66 and Michigan State (1976-78), he joinedPhD thePhysical protein Chemistry, crystallography Utah 1972 team in the Chemistry Department at ThePostdoc UniversityUniv. of Pittsburgh Texas at 1972 Austin-76 in 1978. He quickly established himself as an expert on both the hardware and software aspects of protein crystallography,Postdoc Michigan serving State as Univ.Systems 1976 Manager-78 for the protein crystallographic computingResearch Staff facility, Scientist and 1978 Manager-2008 for the operation and maintenance of the X-rayChemistry facility. Department Steve was co-author of over two dozen scientific publications,University including of Texas important at Austin contributions in elucidating the structures of aminoSystems acid decarboxylases Manager for the andprotein protein crystallographic toxins such as ricin. computing facility, and Manager for the operation and maintenance of the X-ray—Marv facility. Hackert Co-author of over two dozen scientific publications, including important contributions in elucidating the structures of amino acid decarboxylases and protein toxins toxins such as ricin.

H. David Medley – lettering three years — including the husband Jon of Pearland, Texas; son, 1927-2008 1945-46 Texas Conference basketball James Clinton Arthur and wife Alicia championship team coached by his dad. (Jurisich) of New Orleans, Louisiana; and H. David Medley, retired chemical Medley met Rosemary — Rosie — Morris daughter, Laura Jean Porter and husband industry executive, UT alum, sports at Southwestern. They married in 1949 Albert of Metairie. Many grandsons and fan, and ardent supporter of higher in Longview. Medley graduated, magna granddaughters also survive him. education, constantly wore his orange- cum laude, with a BS in chemistry, and Jett Arthur graduated from Hemphill and-white allegiance on his sleeve — and pursued his doctorate in Austin. After High School as Valedictorian in 1935 head, and on the Longhorn flag that flew graduating from UT in 1952 with a and was the first Eagle Scout in Sabine at his Georgetown home. Until illness doctorate in organic chemistry, he joined County. He graduated from Stephen F. in the past made it impossible to do the Celanese Chemical Co. in Corpus Austin State University in 1939, where he so, he was a fixture in Section 3, Row Christi. received a B.A. degree in chemistry and 54 of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial from the University of Texas at Austin in Stadium, in the Drum at men’s and (Continued on p. 29 ) 1946, where he received the MA degree women’s basketball games and on Flying in physical chemistry and chemical Longhorn trips across the globe. In the Jett Clinton Arthur, Jr. engineering. Shortly after beginning end, however, Medley wanted everyone 1918-2008 his career in chemistry research, Jett to know that he “loved Rosie more than Jett Clinton Arthur, Jr., 90, died on left his position to serve his country in the game.” Medley — who died in Sunday August 31 at his home in World War II. He joined the United Georgetown, Texas, Oct. 21 after a long Metairie, Louisiana. Jett Arthur was Sates Navy as a directly commissioned illness — was born, May 23, 1927, in born in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas line officer in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Abilene. He moved to Georgetown when on May 31, 1918 to Jett Clinton Arthur serving on active duty. He continued his his father, R.M. Medley, took a coaching and Anna Alice Smith Arthur. He had connection with the Navy through the position with Southwestern University. lived about sixty-seven years in Metairie. inactive reserves until retirement. He graduated from Georgetown High Jett was married to La Verne Pitts Arthur Arthur continue from page 17 School, and entered the Navy V-5, V-12 for fifty-six years and she preceded him (Continued on p. 29 ) program at Southwestern in July 1945. in death in 1977. Jett is survived by his He played basketball at the university daughter, Martha Ann Stitsinger and Chemical Compositions 17 GIVING Larry R. Faulkner Departmental Chair for Excellence in Chemistry and Biochemistry

The College of Natural Sciences has research, and public service. Dr. Faulkner ten years is comparable to the number set a goal of $5 million to endow a first came to the UT Austin campus as a granted by the nation’s top 10 depart- chair for excellence to be available to student, after receiving a Bachelor of ments. Nearly all of the department’s the Chair of the Department of Chemis- Science degree from Southern Method- junior faculty are recipients of presti- try and Biochemistry to honor Dr. Larry ist University; he was awarded a Ph.D. gious national awards, including the R. Faulkner, chemist, educator, and in chemistry from UT Austin in 1969. He Alfred P. Sloan Fellows and Camille and president emeritus of The University of served as an assistant professor at Har- Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholars. Senior Texas. The endowment will provide sub- vard University for four years and joined faculty have been recognized by the Na- stantial resources to attract and retain a the faculty of the University of Illinois in tional Academy of Sciences, American proven leader who is a superior scholar 1973. During his 25 years at Illinois he Philosophical Society, Royal Society, and researcher to continually move the served as professor of chemistry, dean and other honorary organizations. The department to first in its class. The of the College of Liberal Arts and Sci- Department engages in cutting edge Larry R. Faulkner Departmental Chair for ences, and provost. He established a interdisciplinary research in sensors Excellence in Chemistry and Biochem- world-class research program at Illinois for medical diagnostics, environmental istry will enable the department chair in analytical and electrochemistry and monitoring, and bioterrorism screening; to respond quickly and decisively to collaborated with his UT Austin doc- drug design and development to accel- opportunities that strengthen the qual- toral adviser and mentor, Allen Bard, on erate the evaluation, manufacturabil- ity of the department’s faculty, student the highly acclaimed textbook Electro- ity, and commercialization of promising and research programs and contribute chemical Methods: Fundamentals and new drugs and diagnotic tools; nanosci- to its international stature. Income from Applications. His many awards include ence and nanotechnology, which devel- the endowment will provide substantial the Edward Goodrich Acheson Award ops microelectronic materials, devices, discretionary funds to the chair for es- from the Electrochemical Society, the and manufacturing technologies on the sential recruitment and retention of key American Chemical Society Award in sub-100 nm length scale, molecular faculty, seed funding for promising re- Analytical Chemistry, and the U.S. De- electronics, and bioelectronic materials; search projects, scholarship and fellow- partment of Energy Award for Outstand- materials science, which is developing ship awards to attract top-ranked stu- ing Scientific Achievement in Materials more efficient hydrogen/oxygen fuel dents, seminars and outreach events, Chemistry. In 2003, he was elected to cells for the “hydrogen economy.” new equipment for core research facili- the American Academy of Arts and Sci- Investing in the Faulkner Chair ties, and more. ences. To achieve excellence, public universities Throughout his tenure as President, Department of Chemistry must increasingly rely on private support Larry Faulkner provided visionary lead- and Biochemistry– to offset declining public funding. State ership that has inspired and enabled Thirty Years of Progress support for UT Austin has dropped from the University to set the ambitious but The department’s national stature has 47 percent of the University’s operating achievable goal of becoming the top risen dramatically over the past thirty budget in 1985 to less than 17 percent public research university in the country. years, moving from 30th in the 1970s to in 2008. While it is true that the Perma- His presidency created a high standard 12th in the 2008 survey by U.S. News & nent University Fund (PUF) is one of the of excellence and put UT on the course World Report. The department currently largest endowments in the country, it is to define what it means to be a univer- ranks 2nd in external research funding, a distributed across 18 institutions and sity of the first class. tenfold increase during this period. The six agencies in the University of Texas Larry Faulkner became the University’s number of American Chemical Society- and Texas A&M Systems. The portion 27th president in 1998, quickly estab- certified bachelor degrees conferred an- of the PUF that UT Austin receives ac- lishing high standards for graduation nually is the largest of any department counts for less than eight percent of our and student retention rates, teaching in the country. The number of master’s total operating budget. quality and effectiveness, world-class and Ph.D. degrees granted over the past Private investment is critical to fuel the 18 Chemical Compositions GIVING

University’s ambition to be the best public research university in the nation. It is this investment that makes a differ- ence when we compete with our peers for faculty, graduate students and major research projects. Our peers include top-tier institutions such as the Univer- sity of California at Berkeley, Michigan, North Carolina and Illinois. Fund raising is now under way for the endowment honoring Dr. Faulkner, to which The Dean of the College of Natural Sci- ences, Mary Ann Rankin, has dedicated $515,000 in unrestricted gifts. When gifts totaling $1 million are received, the endow ment will be formally named the Larry R. Faulkner Departmental Chair for Excellence in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Gifts of any size are welcome, including pledges paid over a three-year period. Every gift will be an important part of this tribute to Dr. Faulkner and will count toward the current- comprehensive capital campaign for the University. The College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas extends sincere appreciation to the volunteer fund raising co-chairs for this initiative: Frederick B. Hegi, Jr., Kenneth M. Jas- trow, II, and Charles W. Tate. To make your gift to the Larry R. Faulkner Departmental Chair for Excellence in Chemistry and Bio- chemistry, please contact: Kay T. Thomas 512.471.3299 [email protected] Tim Aronson 512.475.8875 [email protected] Excerpted from the College of Natural Science’s Larry R. Faulkner Departmental Chair for Excellence in Chemistry and Biochemistry case statement. Chemical Compositions 19 GIVING

IndividualIndividual andand CorporateCorporate DonorsDonors

Diamond ($100,000 +) Gold ($5,000 - $9,999) American Chemical Society Petroleum Abbott Laboratories Research Fund Beacon Sciences, L.L.C. Dorothy B. Banks Charitable Trust Mr. Patton G. Lochridge Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Pfizer Global Biologics The Robert A. Welch Foundation The Winkler Family Foundation Silver ($1,000 - $4,999) Aldrich Chemical Company Platinum ($50,000 - $99,999) American Electric Power Service Corporation The American Heart Association Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Bobby L. Barnett, Ph.D. Estate of Norman Hackerman, Ph.D. Peter M. Blass, Ph.D. MDS Research Foundation, Inc. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Lester J. Reed, Ph.D. Alan Campion, Ph.D. J. Randall Creighton, Ph.D. Palladium ($10,000 - $49,999) John G. Ekerdt, Ph.D. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M) ExxonMobil Foundation American Chemical Society John C. Gilbert, Ph.D. Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation Graeme A. Henkelman, Ph.D. Bracco Research U.S.A., Inc. Ms. Shirley Houston Brent K. Blackburn, Ph.D. Ms. Evelyn L. Hu Mr. Edward J. Burshnick Weixin Huang, Ph.D. Charles T. Campbell, Ph.D. Mrs. Kathryn C. Johnson Communities Foundation of Texas Bruce E. Koel, Ph.D. Mr. Robert W. Duggan The Lockheed Martin Scholarship Foundation Charles M. Maddin, Ph.D. Thomas E. Mallouk, Ph.D. Merck & Company, Inc. Stephen F. Martin, Ph.D. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc. H. David Medley, Ph.D. Pfizer, Inc. Charles A. Mims, Ph.D. Mr. Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. Joel D. Oliver, Ph.D. Sessler Family Charitable Trust Dr. Hiroshi Onishi Mrs. Gwyn W. Shive Henry C. Peebles, Ph.D. University Co-operative Society Ms. Jeri R. Robinson Xidex Corporation J. W. Rogers, Jr., Ph.D.

20 Chemical Compositions GIVING

IndividualIndividual andand CorporateCorporate DonorsDonors

University Books, Inc. Miguel E. Castro, Ph.D. Mr. Mark A. White Center for the Improvement of Human Mr. Zhenrong Zhang Function Ms. Gail B. Clark Copper ($500 - $999) Ms. Pamela J. Cook Lisa S. Baugh, Ph.D. N. Kent Dalley, Ph.D. Dr. Virginia Blalock Jeffrey E. Fieberg, Ph.D. Philip R. DeShong, Ph.D. Ms. Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts Martin A. Hands, M.D. Dr. Qingfeng Ge Dr. Tatsuo Matsushima Mr. Charles E. Grob, Sr. Randall J. Meyer, Ph.D. George R. Haynes, Ph.D. C. Buddie Mullins, Ph.D. Koel Family Trust Donald R. Paul, Ph.D. Bruce A. Kowert, Ph.D. Laura A. Pressley, Ph.D. Brian B. Laird, Ph.D. Neal D. Shinn, Ph.D. Carolyn W. Lara-Braud, Ph.D. Adrienne H. Wootters, Ph.D. Mr. Jack D. Moore Richard A. Palmer, Ph.D. Pewter ($250 - $499) Ms. L. Jane Park James E. Boggs, Ph.D. Mr. Steven L. Peake Richard C. Collins, Ph.D. Pfizer Foundation Terry D. Copeland, Ph.D. Ms. Jo Reichler Cecil R. Dybowski, Ph.D. Peter J. Rossky, Ph.D. Richard T. Eakin, Ph.D. Dr. Shinri Sato Gordon D. Gruetzmacher, Ph.D. Dan K. Seilheimer, M.D. Mr. Thomas E. Grula Stephen H. Tedder, Ph.D. Prasanna R. Kolatkar, Ph.D. Melissa J. Urrea, M.D. McGraw-Hill Companies Royalty Operations Dr. Xianqin Wang Tad L. Patton, Ph.D. Mrs. Mary T. Warnack Anthony L. Stuart, Ph.D. Herbert D. Weiss, Ph.D. Mr. Christopher G. Worley Shelby D. Worley, Ph.D. Silicon (Up to $250) Mr. Yong Yang Mr. Frederick J. Arredondo Francisco Zaera, Ph.D. Dr. Joel Bernstein Xiaoyang Zhu, Ph.D. Mr. E. O. Box, Jr. Mr. Jonathan L. Zilberg Chemical Compositions 21 STUDENTS

Welcome New Graduate Students 2008

Top Row, Left to Right: Jeremy Glass, Jared Shaw, Nicholas Delone, David Walker, Jason Dickman, Chris Fage, Pedro Metola, Ken Clevenger, Chris Bates, Mauro Mugnai, Brett Granger, Andrew Brod. Middle Row, Left to Right: Robert Ono, Changxia Yuan, Xin “Sunny” Gao, Gayle Burstein, Andrea Cheng-Yi Chou, Kate Crawford, Amanda Hughes, Beth Neilson, Elizabeth Nettleton, Scott Grimes, David Del Valle, William Bell. Front Row, Left to Right: Julia Aponte, Amy Stafford, Mengmeng “Chrissie” Zhang, Xiaoyan Chen, Joyce Chi Ching Leung, Crystal Flowers, Chia-I “Julie” Lin, Eta Isiorho, Lauren Avery, Julie Wilkerson, Kelly Wiggins, Amy Rhoden, Eric Silver Class of 2007

Jeffrey Aaronson University of Pennsylvania Steven Kehoe University of Wisconsin Madison Lily Abbott University of Wisconsin - Madison Jeffrey Knight Abilene Christian University Takuji Adachi Osaka University Katherine Koen Wellesley College Michelle Adams Southern Methodist University Christianah Layode Texas Tech University Paul Alvey James Madison University Cheng-Hao Liu National Taiwan University Isaac Arnquist St. Olaf College Reid Long University of Texas at Austin Bram Axelrod Brandeis University Lauren Lytwak Westminster College Thomas Barton University of Michigan - Ann Arbor James Madsen University of Colorado - Boulder Christopher Bejger University of Oregon Alexander Nichols Austin College Nathaniel Bill Central College - Iowa Cynthia Pan Vassar College Amy Bonaparte Allegheny College Jeffrey Potratz Wisconsin Lutheran College Derric Borthwick Virginia Military Institute Zachary Pozun University of Pittsburg Rachel Butorac University of Wisconsin - Madison Jeffrey Pruet Louisiana State University Shelly Casciato University of Texas Pan American James Roberts University of Texas-Arlington Chun Jung Chen University of Texas at Austin Peter Ruymgaart Excelsior College Ryan Cheng Carnegie Mellon University Mei Shen Sichuan University He-Chun Chou National Taiwan University Jaya Srivastava University of Georgia Katie Clark Stephen F. Austin State University Sarah Stranahan Texas A&M University David Cramer North Carolina State University Sarah Swingle Texas A&M University Daniel Dreyer Wheaton College Stephanie Taylor University of Texas-Dallas Michael Elmuccio Penn State University Cassidy Terrell University of Minnesota Joyce Er University of Wisconsin Madison Rye Terrell University of Texas-El Paso Patricia Estep Case Western University David Ulkoski West Chester University Michelle Fox University of Iowa Charles Varnado Stephen F. Austin State University Lauren Gehman Texas A&M University Erin Walker University of Texas-Dallas Caroline Gibbs California Institute of Technology Xiaojie Wang Nanjing University Micah Glaz University of California at Davis Sarah White University of Indianapolis Nicole Harzdorf University of Michigan Ann Arbor Ting Yan University of Science and Technology Leo Joyce University of Wisconsin Madison Jason Zbieg San Diego State University

22 Chemical Compositions STUDENTS

Scholarships and Fellowships Scholarships Divya Danda 2008 Pfizer Summer Matthew Lluis Daniel Kelly Undergraduate Research Angeline Lyon Dorothy B. Banks Charitable Rajesh Peddaiahgari Fellowship Jeffrey Munos Trust Scholarship Zhe Wang Alexandra Ornholt Mireya Rodriguez Caitlin Carroll Shuang Zhao Gwen Stovall Michael Gabay Eva Stevenson Woods Endowed Naeem Husain Dr. Norman Hackerman Endowed Presidential Scholarship Faraday Teaching Excellence Devin Matthews Scholarship Ryan Reyes Award Kathryn Rimmer James Park Kyriacos Agapiou Kemp-Forman Memorial Yuxuan Wang John Sheu Michael Findlater Endowed Presidential Amanda Gerlach Charles Morton Share Trust Dr. Norman Hackerman Endowed Scholarship Travis Hesterberg Presidential Scholarship Michael Gabay Scholarship Vanessa Williams Devin Matthews Nathan Froemming Edward Sibley Lewis, MD Welch Research Fellowship Dow Chemical U.S.A. Centennial Louis Weisberg Memorial Endowed Presidential Pre-Med Xi Chen Endowed Presidential Chemistry Scholarship Scholarship Harshal Gupta Scholarship Andy Hsi Andy Hsi Andrew Hughes Ankit Garg Andy Tang Ralph R. Nelson Presidential Rex Nielson Ian Glenn Joseph Rivers Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholarship Burl Gordon Rogers Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Naeem Husain Welch Service Award Presidential Scholarship in William Brown Presidential Citation Endowed Josh Biberdorf Chemistry Antonio Campos Presidential Scholarship Daniel Coady Vicki Chang Joo Young Kim Sherline David Jonathan DeLorbe Hyunseo Pi Kate Edelman Friends of Chemistry - Regents Cotton Starr Michael Findlater Scholarship Fellowships Lubrizol Scholarship Hsiao-Wei Liu Sherline David University Continuing Fellowship Kenville Hendrickson Pete Webber Eric Estrin Ku-Lung (Ken) Hsu Natalie Ramirez Vanessa Williams Marie Smith Regents Endowed Jennifer Lyon Kallista Stephenson Sloan Foundation Award Scholarship in Chemistry Eduardas Skucas Christopher Grant Kevin Bieri Michael Pirrung Scholarship Wendell Gordon Fellowship Ryan Littich Hae Doh Alexandra Ornholt Ming-Yu Ngai Monica Villa Arnold and Mabel Beckman Dow Chemistry Alumni University Tuition Fellowship Foundation, Beckman Scholar Matsen Presidential Fellowship Centennial Endowed Scholarship Jongrock Kong Jay Sawyer Croley Lei Huang Hong Nguyen Jeffrey Munos Thi Nguyen Nicholas Simmons “Tetrahedron” Editorial Graduate University Bruton Fellowship Fellowship BASF Endowed Scholarship University Co-op Scholarship Jeffrey Wilson Daniel Knueppel Colleen Bertoni Kirill Bersuker James Park Colleen Bertoni Dorothy B. Banks Fellowship NSF Graduate Research Nadeeka Dias Chia-Chun Chou Fellowship Chemistry & Biochemistry Kanvee Dorley Dustin Gross Todd Hoppe Authors’ Scholarship Ian Glenn Lei Huang Daniel Knueppel Donghyun Kim Chaston Miller Ganesh Vijayaraghavan Robbyn Perdue Lisha Sheng Nicole Pulliam Jeffrey Wilson Anna Smith Noel Wat Rachel Shaver Suncerae Smith Chemistry Faculty - Regents Bryan Sundahl Mr. & Mrs. R.B. Lewis Fellowship Scholarship Olivia Weber Randy Drevland Roche Award Yi-Hsuan Chen Ku-Lung (Ken) Hsu Eduardas Skucas

Chemical Compositions 23 STUDENTS

This past April, The University of Texas at Austin Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted a daylong event showcas- ChemistryBiochemistry ing the work of our students and faculty. The 2008 Chemistry and Biochemistry Spring Symposium brought together more than forty students, their faculty mentors, and representatives of major pharmaceutical companies, including Schering-Plough, Roche Pharma- Spring ceuticals, Merck & Company, and Pfizer. In the morning session, the representatives presented aspects of their groundbreaking pharmaceutical research. In the afternoon, undergraduate and Symposium graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows in our department presented posters highlighting their latest research results. Students competed for a cash prize, and the winners were chosen by our industrial guests, who volunteered as our judges. They were uniformly impressed with the quality of the posters and found it difficult to make their final decisions. Our undergraduate student winners were Vinay Mikkilineni, Wenly Ruan, and R. Chad Webb, and our graduate student winners were B. Michael O’Keefe, Joaquin Rodriguez-Lopez, and Jeff Strahan.

A primary goal of the Spring Symposium is to build stronger rela- tionships and foster new connections between various chemical industries and our department. It offered an excellent venue for students and postdoctoral fellows to learn more about research ongoing in the pharmaceutical business as well as new directions on the horizon. They were also able to discuss their professional goals, strengths and interests individually with these industrial scientists. This experience helped guide our students and postdoctoral associates as they begin to consider and decide their professional futures, and our industrial guests were able to identify individuals in our department who might be later recruited for employment opportunities. This event also highlights the many excellent educational and research programs in our department, drawing to them the attention of industry looking to participate. Just as our students and postdoctoral fellows utilize these corporations as sources of employment and research support after they leave the academic realm, the chemical industry relies on strong academic programs such as ours to produce pioneering research and a steady flow of outstanding chemists.

In future years, the department hopes to diversify its panel of guest judges and industrial representatives to include not only those of the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, but also the many other arenas that conduct chemical and biochemical research. Doing so will offer our students and postdoctoral fellows a broader perspective of the opportunities in industry and also help to showcase our excellent students and research projected in which they are engaged.

24 Chemical Compositions STUDENTS NSF and Pfizer’s Research Experience for Undergraduates

A handful of outstanding undergraduates from universities across the country spent their summer break at The University of Texas at Austin participating in a National Science Foundation Research Ex- perience for Undergraduates (REU) program. They received hands- on training in imaging, microscopy, synthetic, and spectroscopic techniques, and explored their research interests under the guidance of and alongside chemistry, biochemistry, and biomedical engineering faculty and graduate students. The program was spearheaded by Professor Jennifer Brodbelt and included the participation of several chemistry faculty members. The students selected for the program were outstanding in their field, and came from universities all over the United States. They received a stipend for their work, worked with a graduate student mentor and were housed in a dormitory on campus. The REU was highly competitive, and with the combined donations from the National Science Foundation and Pfizer, fourteen students were selected from a pool of around 140 applicants. Admission to the REU program was focused on applicants from universities with high percentages of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and required submission of transcripts, letters of rec- ommendation, and an essay detailing research interests and personal goals. In addition to the research projects, other aspects of the program included a weekly seminar, professional development activities, group lunches each Friday, and several social activities to encourage peer interaction. The program stretched out over a ten-week period and culminated with each student giving an oral presentation on his or her work, and then with a poster session to display the students’ research to faculty and graduate students. To learn more about the NSF-REU program above, visit http://www. bme.utexas.edu/reu/.

Chemical Compositions 25 DEPARTMENT Staff Excellence

Awards for Years of Service 30 Years Kevin Connolly (Coordinator, Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory)

Jimmie Wallin (Technical Staff Assistant, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility)

15 Years: Howard Johnson (Technical Staff Assistant, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility)

David Korts (Administrative Associate, Procurement)

10 Years: Sarah Bartlow (Assistant to Professor Anslyn)

Debra Smith (Demonstrations Manager)

Angie Steelman (Supervisor, Physical Storeroom)

Angie Nelson (Assistant to Professors Crooks and Bard) Staff Awards Chemistry and Biochemistry Staff Excellence Charles Cartwright (Research Engineer, Mass Spectometry Laboratory)

Peter Ghobrial (Desktop Support, Information Technology)

Vincent Lynch (Diffraction Manager, X-Ray Laboratory)

Chemistry and Biochemistry Exemplary Service Michael Ronalter (Departmental Glassblower)

Top to Bottom: Charles Cartwright, Peter Ghobrial, Vincent Lynch, and Michael Ronalter

26 Chemical Compositions DEPARTMENT Staff Profile: Steve Moore

We’re happy to say that Steve Moore returned to the Department in May of 2008. He first joined the Department in May of 1989 while attending UT as a student, and has been here since with the exception of a 4-year period with the Department of Electrical Engineering. Steve started working for the Department as a part-time ‘bottle washer’ in the Research Storeroom doing general tasks such as dispensing solvents from 55 gallon drums into individ- ual bottles. After becoming a full-time Storeroom employee and surviving a battle of attrition at the time, he was promoted to the position of Storeroom Manager with help from Ed Bur- shnick, Supervisor of the Chemistry Research Storeroom. During this tenure he helped plan and design a major renovation of the storeroom facility for much needed chemical storage and safety concerns. When the University decided to outsource the storeroom operations to Fisher Scientific, Steve left for a position in the facilities office of the Microelectronics Engineering Research building at the J.J. Pickle Research Cam- pus (PRC). After four relatively quiet years at PRC he jumped at the opportunity to return to the main campus and joined the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (ECE) in the Engineering Science Building as a Senior Procurement Officer. He enjoyed over three years in ECE and planned to remain there, but he then became aware of a newly created position in Chemistry & Biochemistry. We’re fortunate to have him back in Welch Hall serving the department as Project Manager, Facilities and Safety.

Making Way for the New Environmental Sciences Building II

The old Experimental Science Building (ESB), located directly across 24th Street from Welch Hall and adjacent to NST, was demolished during January 2008. A new and somewhat bigger ESB will be built on the same site. It will have 154,000 as- signable square feet of space on six levels, plus a basement, and will house the Institute for Neuroscience, the Center for Learning and Memory, and organic chemistry teaching and research labs. The new “ESB II” is currently scheduled to be occupied by December 2010.

Chemical Compositions 27 DEPARTMENT Calendar

AUGUST Friday , October 10, 3:30 pm Ken Houk Christopher Bowman Tohru Yamada Organic Seminar Series University of California, Los Angeles University of Colorado, Boulder Keio University Friday , November 7, 3:30 pm Friday , January 30, 3:30 pm Kenneth A. Johnson Friday , August 29, 3:30 pm Organic Seminar Series Organic Seminar Series Friday , October 10, 1:30 pm Organic Seminar Series Biochemistry Division Rhett Kovall FEBRUARY SEPTEMBER University of Cincinnati W.E. Moerner Jason Shear Richard Crooks Friday , November 7,1:30 pm Stanford University Tuesday , October 14, 3:30 pm Tuesday , September 09, 3:30 pm Biochemistry Division Seminar Thursday , February 5, 3:30 pm Analytical Division Seminar Series The Analytical Division Seminar Series Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Steve Baldelli John T. Fourkas Richard P. Van Duyne University of Houston Jon Njardarson University of Maryland Thursday , September 11, 3:30 pm Thursday , November 13, 6:00 pm Cornell University Thursday , October 16, 3:30 pm Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Friday , February 6, 3:30 pm Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Organic Seminar Series Jeffrey S. Moore Mike McGehee Charles Reynolds Friday , September 12, 3:30 pm Stanford University Mark Johnson Johnson & Johnson Organic Seminar Series Thursday , November 20, 3:30 pm Yale University Friday , October 17, 3:30 pm Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Thursday , February 12, 3:30 pm Promotion Seminar - David E. Graham Organic Seminar Series Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Friday , September 12,1:30 pm Dale Poulter Xi Chen. Ph.D. Candidate Biochemistry Division Seminar University of Utah Forrest Michael Friday , October 17, 1:30 pm Friday , November 21, 3:30 pm University of Washington Christopher Bielawski Biochemistry Division Seminar Organic Seminar Series Presents Friday , February 13, 3:30 pm Tuesday , September 16,1:00 pm Allen Bard Organic Seminar Series Organic Seminar Series Whitney Yin Tuesday , October 21, 3:30 pm Friday , November 21, 1:30 pm Hongbin Li Lauren Webb Analytical Division Seminar Series Biochemistry Division Seminar University of British Columbia Starts: Tuesday , September 16, 3:30 pm Alexandre Brolo Thursday , February 19, 3:30 pm Analytical Division Seminar Series DECEMBER University of Victoria Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Dave Walba Promotion Seminar - Lara K. Mahal Thursday , October 23, 3:30 pm University of Colorado Darren Johnson Friday , September 19, 1:30 pm Analytical / Physical Seminar Friday , December 5, 3:30 pm University of Oregon Biochemistry Division Seminar James Canary Organic Seminar Series Friday , February 20, 3:30 pm Alex Dieters New York University Organic Seminar Series Tony Michael North Carolina State University Friday , October 24, 3:30 pm Institute of Food Research Biotechnology Paul W. Bohn Friday , September 26, 3:30 pm Organic Seminar Series and Biological Sciences Research Coun- University of Notre Dame Organic Seminar Series Mikhail V. Matz cil United Kingdom of Great Britain and Thursday , February 26, 3:30 pm Keith Stevenson Friday , October 24, 1:30 pm Northern Ireland Analytical / Physical Seminar Tuesday , September 30, 3:30 pm Biochemistry Division Seminar Friday , December 5, 1:30 pm MARCH Analytical Division Seminar Series Biochemistry Division Seminar David Vanden Bout Daniel Buttry OCTOBER Tuesday , October 28, 3:30 pm Thomas Bally Arizona State University Jon Tunge The Analytical Division Seminar University of Fribourg Thursday, March 5, 3:30 pm University of Kansas Monday , December 8, 3:30 pm Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Chris Chang Friday , October 3, 3:30 am Analytical / Physical Seminar Series University of California, Berkeley Joan-Emma Shea Organic Seminar Series Friday , October 31, 3:30 pm JANUARY University of California, Santa Barbara Jim Holcombe Organic Seminar Series Robert Wyatt Symposium Thursday , March 12, 3:30 pm Tuesday , October 7, 3:30 pm January 8-10 Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Yan Bai & Teresa Giles, Ph.D. Candidates Analytical Division Seminar Series The Conference on Computational Molecu- Friday , October 31, 1:30 pm Dennis Dougherty lar Structure and Dynamics Departmental Advisory Board Meeting Biochemistry Division Seminar Caltech Oct. 7,8, and 9 James Morken Friday , March 13, 3:30 pm NOVEMBER Boston College Organic Seminar Series Vijay Nair 2008 CEC Welch Visiting Scholar Friday, January 16, 3:30 pm Cochin University of Science and Technol- Henry S. White Melanie Sanford Organic Seminar Series ogy November 3-7 University of Michigan Wednesday , October 8, 3:30 pm Cynthia Friend Friday , March 27, 3:30 pm John McDevitt Inorganic Seminar Harvard University Organic Seminar Series Tuesday , November 4, 3:30 pm Thursday , January 22, 3:30 pm Katherine Willets Analytical Division Seminar Series Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Thursday , October 9, 3:30 pm Takashi Ito Analytical Division Seminar Series Ken Wagener Kansas State University University of Florida Michael Pirrung Thursday , November 6, 3:30 pm Friday , January 23, 3:30 pm University of California, Riverside Analytical / Physical Seminar Series Organic Seminar Series

28 Chemical Compositions IN MEMORIAM

Medley continued from page 17 A nearly 50-year member of the education and UT. “Dave blessed us for Medley transferred to New York City American Chemical Society, Medley decades with his friendship, kind spirit, in 1959 (the family lived in Weston, served on the boards of various industry guidance, and generosity,” Dean Rankin Connecticut) and later to Louisville, associations. Among his retirement said. “One of the charter members of the Kentucky, until the company brought activities, he traveled the world as College of Natural Sciences Foundation him back to his home state in 1978. He well as volunteered regularly at his Advisory Council, Dave was always lived in Irving until Celanese called him grandchildren’s school cafeteria, where there to help, bringing his wit as well as back to New York to serve as president of he became known at Robert S. Hyer his wisdom to all of our meetings. We Celanese International Marketing Co., the Elementary School in University Park are fortunate to have known him, and company’s new international initiative. as the “granddad in the fish hat.” The future generations are fortunate that he He came home again in 1984, this time Medleys were active members of First carried such zest for U.T. I miss him to North Dallas behind the Cooper Presbyterian Church of Dallas, and he dearly, but I am encouraged by his great Aerobics Center, where the fitness-loving was a Rotary member and multiple Paul legacy that will always be a part of this Medley became a fixture, and later to Harris Fellow recipient. While in Sun university.” Among his contributions The Athena on Northwest Highway. City, Medley regularly attended First to the university, Medley established the In 1987, he retired from Celanese after Presbyterian Church of Georgetown. Rosemary Morris Medley Endowment more than thirty years of leadership Among his many philanthropic for Excellence in Teacher Training in roles. “Dave Medley was one of a kind, contributions, Medley donated honor of his deceased wife. Medley was well-liked as a Celanese representative significant funds to both the University inducted into the College of Natural and by his fellow employees,” said Harry of Texas and Southwestern University, Sciences Hall of Fame in 1996. Bartlett, who was president of Dallas- where both he and his father are Medley is survived by his sister, Nancy based Celanese Chemical Co. at the enshrined in the school’s athletic hall Rowley, of Georgetown; daughter Mary time Medley retired. “We were fortunate of fame. “I feel like my Ph.D. from the Medley, son-in-law Bob Cloud and enough to have worked together in the University of Texas was my union card grandson Kellen Smith of Denver; daughter petrochemical business during what we to the business world,” Medley told the Charlotte Medley of Dallas; daughter always referred to as the golden years of UTexas Press recently. “It’s important for Michelle Medley, son-in-law John Ostdick, our industry, years of great growth and me, and hopefully other people, to give and grandchildren Hunter and Madeline good earnings. As vice president sales back some of the things that they receive Ostdick of Dallas; and son Christopher and marketing, Dave played a key role from the University of Texas.” Mary Ann Medley, daughter-in-law Liz Medley, and in that growth, and was instrumental in Rankin, dean of the College of Natural three grandchildren, Amy, Christopher, and Celanese establishing a name for itself in Sciences at the University of Texas at Weston Medley of San Antonio. the chemical business world.” Austin, fondly recalls Medley’s passion for

Clinton continued from page 17 technical consultant on natural polymers, Institute of Chemical Engineers. He Following the war, Mr. Arthur by maintaining active participation received numerous awards and honors returned to his chemistry career at the in professional organizations, and by throughout his career, including the US Department of Agriculture, Southern serving as a visiting professor at the 1989 Distinguished Alumnus Award Regional Research Center, located in North East Wales Institute, Clwyd, from Stephen F. Austin State University, New Orleans. He organized and headed United Kingdom. During his career, the 1980 Southwest Regional Award biochemical investigations on enzymes Mr. Arthur coauthored some 250 of the American Chemical Society, and food processing and directed cellulose publications, including 37 U.S. patents, the 1984 Anselme Payen Award of the chemistry and products research utilizing and edited or co-edited six books. He Cellulose, Paper and Textile Division of nuclear radiation. He was a registered served on numerous editorial boards. the American Chemical Society, the 1985 professional engineer (chemical) in Mr. Arthur was a member of many Polymer Science Pioneer Award, the 1988 Louisiana and a diplomat of the American professional organizations including Herty Medal from the Georgia Section Academy of Environmental Engineers. Alpha Chi Scholarship Society, Sigma Xi, of the American Chemical Society, and After retirement in 1979, he continued Honor Society of Scientists, American the 1989AICHe Award, New Orleans to be active in chemistry by serving as a Chemical Society, and the American Section, American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Chemical Compositions 29 FACULTY

Bielawski (Continued from page 7) bring world-renowned scholars to campus, organize conferences, and award seed grants to faculty who are doing potentially paradigm-shifting research in electrochemical science, that might otherwise not be funded through traditional funding mechanisms.” Bard emphasizes that the funding “provides an unparalleled opportunity for UT- Austin to take a national and international leadership role in a unique center for electrochemical

And the design we came up with is actual- Figure 1: SEM images of TiO2 RBD films. (A) Side and (B) top renewable energy research, enhancing basic ly based on how our self-healing materials views of a film grown at 300 K with a deposition angle of chemical research, commercial applications work. We can change the structural char- 85°. (C) Side view of a film grown at 100 K and 85° (similar of that research, and related educational acteristics and hence their physical prop- in appearance to the film grown at 300 K). (D) Side view of a opportunities in Texas.” erties of these materials upon stimulation. film grown at 300 K and with a deposition angle of 70°. Texas has long been a leader in the So we were thinking, ‘Can we apply this field of energy and the CEC is aiming to Electrochemistry at Single Nanoparticles unique ability as a new way of recycling become a national model that will drive close Electrocatalysis occurs on the nanoscale catalysts?’” Professor Bielawski will test cooperation among research universities, and new tools are needed to study processes this idea by developing polymers that can national laboratories, and industry to solve on this scale. Electrochemistry is already change their sizes and hence their solubili- complex, interdisciplinary problems. Results the basis for very sensitive analytical ties in response to changes in temperature. from the center’s Renewable Energy Initiative techniques; scanning electrochemical At high temperatures, these materials will be of interest to the Department of Energy microscopy (SECM) a versatile would exist as small catalysts, but at low (DOE), and Bard’s long term vision is for the electrochemical measurement tool with temperatures, they would exist as large, CEC to become more closely associated with high spatial and temporal resolution easy-to-isolate polymers. the DOE. allows in situ studies of interfaces in With this strong foundation in both Other activities in the CEC include solutions, and Bard and Stevenson are teaching and research in place, it is clear development of an Industrial Affiliates now carrying out research to observe that Professor Bielawski will continue to program. Member companies are able to gain single particle events with SECM using provide many significant contributions to direct access to state of the art electrochemical “Electrocatalytic Amplification”. A single our University and beyond. research capabilities as well as access to nanoparticle of an electrocatalyst material Dr. Christopher Bielawski is an as- CEC faculty on technical challenges, and colliding with an inert electrode immersed sistant professor in the Division of Or- collaboration on funded research and many in electrolyte containing a redox indicator ganic Chemistry. To learn more about his other benefits. can amplify the resultant current by research, visit his Web site at http://re- The CEC has also established a fellowship as much as 10 orders of magnitude. search.cm.utexas.edu/cbielawski/ or con- program for graduate students wishing to Even greater sensitivity is possible using tact him at [email protected]. pursue a PhD in chemistry, materials science photon detectors, with reactions that give or engineering with special emphasis in CEC (Continued from page 9) electrogenerated chemiluminescence. electrochemical science and technology. sites before recombination. Chemical The ability to study reaction kinetics The CEC is kicking off its first annual Engineering Professor Buddie Mullins has at single nanoparticles can be used for workshop on Challenges at the Electrode/ proposed a collaboration with the CEC to the development of improved catalysts Electrolyte Interface this February 2009. evaluate thin films of mixed metal oxide for renewable energy technologies, More information on CEC activities semiconductors having a nano-columnar including solar cells, batteries, and fuel and events are available at: http://cec. structure for improved photocurrent and cells. Advances in SECM may lead to cm.utexas.edu. photoconversion efficiency. The Mullins ultrasensitive biosensor probes capable —Brendan Coffey group has successfully grown carefully of detecting even single molecules (e.g. designed nano-structured films of various antigens and DNA) for clinical analyses. materials using reactive ballistic deposition “The Welch funding truly enables the (RBD). RBD is a new physical vapor collaborative, high risk - high reward research deposition technique that can now be used that is needed to catalyze new discoveries to create designed nano-structured films for next-generation renewable energy (Figure 1), with independently tailored technologies,” says Bard. “With the money, material and optical properties. the CEC will be able to fund graduate and post-doctoral fellows, equip new facilities with the latest electrochemical instrumentation, 30 Chemical Compositions FACULTY

Everybody Wins! (Continued from page 11) more women in positions of mentorship represents an important path to increas- Contributions to the annual WINS is the most important thing that can be ing the pipeline for women and underrep- Distinguished Lecture in done to get more women excited about resented minorities in the sciences. Chemistry and Biochemistry careers in science.” To address the above issues at the level may be directed to: Along with encouragement received from of policy, the Department has created a The University of Texas mentors, both Willets and Webb express new committee entitled “Enhancing De- Attn: Administrative Manager how critical early research experience partmental Diversity,” whose purpose is John Baxendale was to their academic careers. The De- to develop detailed plans for improving Department of partment has embarked on an increased representation of women and underrep- Chemistry & Biochemistry effort to introduce women and underrepresented minorities on the faculty and The University of Texas at Austin resented minorities to research during among graduate students. It is develop- 1 University Station A5300 the summer, funded by the National Sci- ing guidelines, practices, and policies Austin, TX 78712-0165 ence Foundation and Pfizer, Inc. Last year to create and maintain an environment five women and seven men participated. that is mentoring and supportive of all The Department hopes to broaden this members of our department. important program in the future as this

2007-2008 New Faculty (from page 15) Dionicio R. Siegel study optimization of the biological (SERS); localized surface plasmon BA, Reed College, 1997 performance and/or investigation into the resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy, and PhD, Harvard University, 2003 mechanism action of the natural products atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well Research Fellow, Memorial Sloan prepared in our laboratory. Information as simple electronic structure calculations. Kettering Cancer Center 2003-2007 gained through these collaborations will In particular, we are interested in determine the future direction of the characterizing and understanding Reaction Development, Natural Product projects undertaken. the interactions between metallic Synthesis, and Medicinal Chemistry nanoparticles and organic molecules. Katherine A. “Kallie” Willets Natural products are the cornerstone of Metallic nanoparticles offer their own our group. Within the broad study of BA, Dartmouth College, 1999 unique spectroscopic signature, the natural products chemistry there are three PhD, Stanford University, 2005 LSPR, but can also enable surface- primary areas of inquiry; total synthesis, Postdoctoral Researcher, Northwestern enhanced spectroscopies such as SERS reaction development, and molecular University 2005-2007 or surface-enhanced fluorescence. This pharmacology. Typical targets selected Spectroscopy/Microscopy of Organic leads to a complex interplay between for total synthesis possess structures that, and Metallic Nanomaterials the nanoparticles and organic molecules from a synthetic chemistry point of view, The Willets lab is focused on using since each can affect the spectroscopic have atom connectively challenges. In properties of the other. As such, we are addressing these challenges within specific ultrasensitive spectroscopic techniques to study molecular photophysics interested both in using organic molecules targets, inspiration may be gained for new with known spectroscopic properties to synthetic methods. Our goal is to develop and environmental interactions at the nanoscale level. The research will understand the LSPR response of single new methods to compliment and improve nanoparticles, as well as using the surface- upon existing reactions. Accordingly, involve characterizing the probes used in ultrasensitive spectroscopy as well enhancing ability of metallic nanoparticles emphasis is placed on the development to characterize organic molecules with of reactions that are generally applicable as studying the photophysics and environmental response of these probes hidden spectral properties. Along the way, to synthesis, as it is most broadly defined. we will develop new forms of microscopy The second area of focus and inquiry in in actual nanoscale systems, especially those of a biological nature. To do this, and work towards the development of our group is the study of natural products new nanoscale probes. that are biologically relevant in selected we use a variety of microscopy techniques fields of biology and medicine. Through including single-molecule fluorescence, interdisciplinary collaborations, we will surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Chemical Compositions 31 Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #391 CC Austin, Texas Chemical Compositions The University of Texas at Austin Chemistry and Biochemistry Department 1 University Station, A5300 Austin, TX 78712

Address Service Requested

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Polo Shirt Available in 10 colors

$22.00

All proceeds go to graduate fellowships and graduate recruiting.

Contact Claire McCarthy [email protected] for ordering or questions.

Or order online at TXShop: http://utdirect.utexas.edu/txshop/ index.WBX Click on Chemistry and Biochemistry.

32 Chemical Compositions