DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY | FALL 2012
EXPLORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS & ALUMNI
Contents
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Department of Chemistry 8 9 9 Department of Chemistry 55 North Eagleville Road Unit 3060 Message from the Department News
1 7 7 | REU Summer Program Storrs, CT 06269 Department Head 8 | Visit to China Strengthens International Partnerships
P: 860.486.2012 Chemistry News 9 | R.T. Major Symposium F: 860.486.2981 2 2 | Breaking Up Oil Spills With 9 | Winner of the National E: [email protected] Green Chemistry Medal of Science, Jacqueline Barton, www.chemistry.uconn.edu 3 | Bio-Inspired Science 3 | JCTC Cover Features Visits UConn Gascón’s Research 4 | Questions and Answers Student News CONTRIBUTORS with Amy Howell 12 Christian Brückner 5 | Chemist Improves Accuracy Ashley Butler of Oral Cancer Detection In Memoriam Osker Dahabsu 6 | An Academic Minute with 14 Amy Howell Nicholas Leadbeater Challa V. Kumar Alumni News Yao Lin 15
DESIGNER Connect With Us Ashley Butler 17
Message from the Department Head A Year of Growth
Dear Friends of UConn Chemistry,
This past academic year has marked a transformative period within the Department. In August, we welcomed three new faculty members: Jing Zhao (most recently a postdoctoral fellow with Professor Moungi Bawendi at MIT), Alfredo Angeles-Boza (coming from a postdoctoral stint with Professor Justine Roth at Johns Hopkins) and Michael Hren (a joint hire with Integrative Geosciences, Michael was an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee). This influx is coupled with plans to hire three additional faculty members for a Fall ’13 start in conjunction with the start of a new chemistry-based Center for Green Emulsions, Micelles and Surfactants (GEMS). These hires are critical to our goal to build on our growth in scholarly metrics and to our commitment to providing exceptional training for chemistry majors and graduate students.
There are now 180 chemistry majors and over 140 graduate students. Since January of 2012, 41 new graduate students joined the Department, marking the largest incoming class on record. Two more records were broken in May when 24 Ph.D. and 12 M.S. degrees were granted.
To support the new faculty and students, we welcomed a new NMR facility manager, Dr. Carlos Pacheco, and two new undergraduate laboratory technicians, Jonelle Gurley and Eric Sebranek.
Our current faculty and students continue to excel in both the classroom and the laboratory, as is evident from this newsletter. Members of our faculty have been recognized as leaders in their field. We highlight research ranging from the creation of oil spill dispersants to more accurate ways to detect oral cancer. Of particular note are the promotions of Christian Brückner to Professor and Jose Gascón and Rajeswari Kasi to Associate Professor with tenure. Their contributions in scholarship, teaching and service have been exceptional. Also, Professor Yao Lin was a recipient of an NSF CAREER Award, and Professor Mark Peczuh has been awarded a Fulbright fellowship.
On a more somber note, we also mourn the passing of Professor John Tanaka. His courage, humor and determination in the face of the ravages of ALS were an inspiration. Some of his many contributions on so many stages are highlighted on page 14.
On behalf of the Department of Chemistry, I invite you to peruse the contents of this newsletter and to note the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We hope that you will also take the time to share your news with us and stop by to visit if you find yourself in the area.
Sincerely yours,
Amy R. Howell, Ph.D.
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CHEMISTRY News
Breaking Up Oil Spills with Green Chemistry
hat if you could disperse oil spills W in the sea—such as the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico—with air, sunlight, and an environmentally friendly botanical product? Those are the ingredients of experiments published in the journal Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences describing new findings by a UConn chemistry group. The research, led by Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Steven Suib, found that by adding a plant-based surfactant to a sample of synthetic seawater mixed with crude oil, pumping in air, stirring the sample and Researchers who contributed to the paper include Ph.D. candidate Homer exposing it to ultraviolet light, the oil/water Genuino, recent Ph.D. graduate Cecil King'ondu, recent B.S. recipient Dayton mixture quickly broke down into small Horvath, and Professor Steven Suib. particles. Suib says that an important side benefit of the research was finding that small Bay spill in Alaska and the 2010 VeruTEK surfactant. amounts of toxic metals leached out of the Louisiana spill. Synthetic seawater was Co-authors with Suib on the oil in the process. The metals occur used so that the sample did not contain Photochemical & Photobiological naturally in much of the oil found in the biological organisms. In the Sciences paper were two VeruTEK U.S., and they degrade the catalyst that is experiments, one gram of surfactant was contributors along with Ph.D. candidate used to convert oil to gasoline. added to two liters of the oil/water Homer C. Genuino and recent Ph.D. "It's not known where these metals come mixture, and oxygen was blown in. The graduate Cecil K. King'ondu, both from from—they’re very low concentration— samples were stirred and exposed to Suib's research group, and Dayton T. but even a small amount can kill a various wavelengths of light that Horvath, recent B.S. recipient who had catalyst," says Suib, who is a catalysis simulated the components of solar worked in Suib’s lab. The work was expert. radiation. supported by a grant from VeruTEK and In two hours of exposure to light, all of the Within 30 minutes of pumping in the air, funding from the U.S. Department of nickel and 77 percent of the iron in the oil degradation was taking place. After Energy. crude oil samples leached out of the oil. two hours of UV light exposure, the size Future work on the project will be to The intent of the experiments was to find of the oil/water particles was further degrade the crude oil after its out whether crude oil could be dispersed substantially reduced for both the exposure to sunlight and to study by adding the surfactant, a substance that Prudhoe Bay and the Louisiana oil phototoxicity, the effects on the changes surface character, to an oil/ samples. environment of the light-treated water seawater mixture and exposing the mixture "Photodegradation of crude oil and oil. to light and air. components can be an effective process Suib, who specializes in catalysis and The surfactant that was used, a product for mitigating some of the damaging green chemistry research, was recently called VeruSOL Marine 200, is produced impacts resulting from oil spills in the named a fellow of the American in Connecticut by a Bloomfield, CT aquatic environment," the authors wrote. Chemical Society. He is the 2011 winner company, VeruTEK Technologies, Inc. It With the availability of modern, efficient of the Connecticut Medal of Science. is derived from a plant and is patented by UV-visible light sources, the process The full article can be found in: the company, which markets it as nontoxic, "may enable economic application of Photochemical & Photobiological biodegradable, and useful for cleaning oil photodetoxification on a large-scale Sciences, 2012, 11, 692-702. and fuel from a variety of surfaces. basis," they said. -Adapted from UConn Today Crude oil used in the experiments came Suib and VeruTEK have jointly applied from two major spills: the 2006 Prudhoe for a patent on the process using the
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CHEMISTRY News
Bio-Inspired Science
ao Lin, assistant professor of supramolecules, made up of many Y chemistry in the College of Liberal octopus-like polymers that wrap around Arts and Sciences, is inspired by nature. each other into a hollow tube, similarly But despite the joys of walking by a to the natural folding and self- beautiful stream and savoring a golden organization of a class of proteins called sunset, what really drives him is tubulins. The tube then twists again into inspiration from the environment that a double helix, making the new could lead to new technologies. molecules potentially very strong but “I’m interested in bio-inspired science,” lightweight. he says. “I want to use the concepts of Early in 2012, Lin received a five-year, nature to make smarter materials.” half-million dollar CAREER grant from In particular, says Lin, the movements the National Science Foundation to and communication between proteins— Yao Lin, assistant professor of chemistry, continue this work, looking especially at the building blocks of all life—have long is inspired by concepts in nature to create natural self-healing fibers like silk. stumped scientists. Chemists innovative materials. “Silk is both strong and stable,” says approximate their structure using smaller Lin. “How does it do it?” strings of polymers. When asked if this strong, flexible, and “There’s no way synthetic materials can can all communicate naturally, which is a lightweight material could be strong compete with this kind of sophistication big leap ahead of any synthetic material. enough to stop bullets, potentially yet,” says Lin. “In biology it is essential But, says Lin, you’ve got to start paving the way for a superhero suit of that proteins fold together and self- somewhere. the future, Lin laughs. He doesn’t set organize at the right position at the right “When we make polymers, they’re like those kinds of benchmarks, he says. times. We’re trying to incorporate that spaghetti: long and loose,” he says. “If we “If we understand the concept, cooperativity into our synthetic can get them to fold and touch each other, somebody else can take it and make it molecules.” for example, making some helical turns, into something useful,” he explains. This molecular cooperativity is what then the system will become more That’s really the part he loves about makes proteins work together to form, organized. science, he says: discovery. say, fibers on the wall of a cell in your “Instead of making ‘spaghetti’,” he “I really like it when students bring in body, or the right enzymes to digest your continues, “we’ll be making structures that unexpected results,” he says. “When food. In nature, says Lin, there’s not a eventually bring us functions.” you’re always solving puzzles, it’s like big computer telling all the different In 2011, Lin and his colleagues created a being a kid. You stay young.” pieces where to go and what to do; they new family of what’s called giant -Adapted from UConn Today
JCTC Cover Features Gascón’s Research
tark effect spectroscopy has recently been introduced as a tool for directly measuring S electrostatic field changes in a protein environment. The interpretation of such experiments has remained elusive from accurate atomistic computer models. In this work, entitled “QM/MM Prediction of the Stark Shift in the Active Site of a Protein,” a protocol based on a combination of molecular dynamics and moving-domain QM/MM methods is presented, which produces values in excellent agreement with experimental results. The computational method is then used in combination with the spectroscopy results to discern the protonation state of ionizable residues. The images utilized by authors Jose Gascón, Aleksandra Rudnitskaya, and Daniel Sandberg provide a visual representation of these residues through the use of spectroscopy. The imagery employed by the authors has been featured on the cover of the August 2012 edition of the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, Volume 8, Issue 8.
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CHEMISTRY News
Questions and Answers with Amy Howell
hemical & Engineering News each year reports on how graduate students. Unfortunately, there is a drop off in C many women chemists are faculty members in the top 50 percentages when the professoriate is considered. Perhaps we, as most research active chemistry departments in the U.S. While faculty, have not done a good enough job of selling the the number is slowly rising—up about 1% each year for the past advantages of this career pathway. Fear of failure may be a six years—the total of women chemistry faculty still hovers factor, but recent studies show that women are as successful as around 17 percent. Another survey, by Catalyst, a nonprofit men in attaining tenure in the STEM disciplines. Incompatibility dedicated to increasing opportunities for women, found that with raising a family is often cited, but there are few professions women are department heads of only 4 percent of the top 50 that have the flexibility that the tenure track stream does. I do chemistry departments. Yet nearly a third of all doctorates in not want to underplay the challenges, but there are so many chemistry at the top schools were awarded to women between creative ways that women have successfully integrated a 1993 and 2002. rewarding career with having a family. I believe that the vast majority of faculty will attest to the high job satisfaction in Howell served as associate head of chemistry for three years. A academia. The opportunity to combine “doing” science, sharing graduate of Wheaton College (B. Sc. chemistry, highest honors), science, travel, mentoring and teaching is, in my opinion, she worked as a high school teacher at a Navajo Methodist unparalleled. Mission School in New Mexico and at the College of West Africa in Monrovia, Liberia before attending the University of Kentucky, where she earned her Ph.D. in organic chemistry. She The opportunity to combine ‘doing’ was a postdoctoral research fellow at Northwestern University science, sharing science, travel, and Nottingham University, and she came to UConn in 1994 as “ an assistant professor. In 2007, she was named UConn Student mentoring and teaching is… Government Educator of the Year. unparalleled
Why did you become a chemist? I became a chemist because chemistry fascinated me. My father What advice do you give women undergraduate” was a biology professor who was passionate about his subject and graduate students who are thinking about a area. In spite of a demanding teaching load at a small Christian career in chemistry? What would help them liberal arts college, he did research and wrote grants. When schedules permitted, he would take his children (I was the achieve leadership positions in the field? youngest of four) on field trips with his classes, and we would The advice I give female students is much the same as what I be somewhere between amused and embarrassed as he would tell any student. I encourage all of them to embrace every walk right into the middle of streams, cajoling the reluctant learning opportunity that they can. I stress striving for students to follow his example. I am sure his lifelong curiosity excellence so they can succeed in a competitive field, no matter influenced me in ways that I did not realize. Rather than what specific direction they choose. I have more extensive biology, though, it was chemistry that captured my interest in interactions with graduate students. Among them, my general high school. The teacher was sarcastic and jaded, but his observation is that female students can be less confident. This is explanations were clear. I was at least somewhat hooked. I not universal, and it is not exclusively a female issue. However, started college not sure what I wanted to major in (chemistry or I think the percentage of women who underestimate their English?). Again, it was the logic of chemistry that drew me. abilities is higher. Confidence is best increased by enhancing My freshman chemistry professor was a Chinese physical skills and opportunities for growth and success. chemist with a strong accent. This was nothing compared to her passion for chemistry and for recruiting people she thought Several groups have speculated that a "critical should become chemistry majors. It was ultimately organic mass" of about 20 percent women faculty is chemistry that sealed my love for chemistry. needed to create an environment in which
Why is chemistry a career that young women women don't feel marginalized. How does that should consider? help? When there are lower percentages of women or I think many younger women already see chemistry as a strong underrepresented minorities, these individuals can feel that they career possibility. At UConn approximately 50% of our have to be standard bearers. This is an unfair burden. Also, such chemistry majors are female, as are approximately 33% of our individuals can be pressed into greater service loads because an
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CHEMISTRY News CHEMISTRY News
institution sees the importance of broad representation on committees. Such demands Chemist Improves Accuracy of on time can detract from scholarly activities. In addition, a small number of women (or Oral Cancer Detection underrepresented minorities) cannot truly be effective role models. An individual might be ne of the hallmarks of cancer is protein’s signals than has ever been a good role model for certain people. O that it often doesn’t show itself demonstrated. However, the communities we serve are until it’s too late. But now Professor The next hurdle is to transition the diverse, and pathways to success are James Rusling of the chemistry medical field into these multiple numerous. It is much better when there are department has developed a method biomarker measurements. Many many role models to follow. that detects with high accuracy the cancers, such as prostate cancer, are presence of multiple proteins in the detected with some measure of You were instrumental in founding bloodstream indicating that a person accuracy using a single biomarker. the WIMSE group at UConn: has oral cancer. Rusling and his collaborators are not In 2010, Rusling and his colleagues only developing these methods, but are Women in Math, Science, and developed a method to detect a specific helping with the transition from single- Engineering. How does it support protein, called interleukin-6, that could biomarker to multiple-biomarker women in technical and scientific signal that a person had oral cancer. But clinical cancer diagnostics. fields here and what are its goals? this single protein was not enough to “In the future, we hope to develop and make a clear case: when using only one measure panels that not only detect WIMSE supports women in the STEM biomarker, as these proteins are called, certain cancers, but also provide disciplines by being a voice for their concerns Rusling says false positives and specific information to guide and a resource for information. Sometimes negatives are too common. personalized therapy,” Rusling says. larger groups garner more attention than “Single biomarkers do not provide The research was funded by the individuals. Also, the group provides an enough statistical power, and there is National Institutes of Health’s National opportunity for women to meet colleagues too much biological variability in Institute of Biomedical Imaging and outside their department. It can be easy to feel humans for predictions based on them Bioengineering and done in isolated early in an academic career when so to be correct more than three-fourths of collaboration with Dipak Dey of the much attention is focused on being successful. the time at best,” he says. “And often UConn Department of Statistics and Some current issues the WIMSE group has prediction reliability is much worse other researchers from Maryland, brought up recently with deans in the STEM than this.” Rhode Island, and Malaysia. disciplines include: 1) standardization of So being able to test for several -Adapted from UConn Today tenure/promotion procedures related to tenure different biomarkers, all of which could clock delays; 2) the impact of service loads on identify an oral cancer, increases the scholarship; 3) development of university odds that cancer will be detected, and procedures to effectively deal with hiring dual detected early. career couples and 4) salary equity. “For oral cancer, there is no one
biomarker accepted for diagnostic use, What do you hope to accomplish and tumors are diagnosed by visual as department head? inspection of the mouth cavity,” Although the number of tenure track faculty in explains Rusling. “So the validation of our department over the last ten years has not the panel we have developed will increased significantly, the department has provide a new diagnostic tool for oral improved on virtually every metric of success, cancer.” including level of external grant funding, The method Rusling and his colleagues number of scholarly publications, number of developed works by attaching patents, number of graduate students, etc. I antibodies to proteins that are present in would like to engender an atmosphere that high levels when there are cancerous makes continued growth possible. The hires cells in a person’s system. Through a we make over the next five years will be series of steps, these antibodies then critical. In addition, because of the rapid produce an electric current that is read developments in science and the changing by another antibody embedded in a nature of the job market, one goal is for the sensor chip created by the team. The department to evaluate both our undergraduate chip can detect eight different signals. and graduate programs to make sure that we The team tested the device by using it continue to graduate students who are well to detect four different proteins, and the James Rusling, Professor of trained and competitive. result was a higher sensitivity to the Chemistry, improves cancer detection. -Adapted from UConn CLAS FALL 2012 | 5
CHEMISTRY News
An Academic Minute with Nicholas Leadbeater
hemist well into the receptor that it tastes have these double letters, they are not C Nicholas 13,000 times as sweet as sugar. affected as highly. Because Cisplatin has Leadbeater has side effects associated with its use, a a knack for From the Frying Pan to the range of improved platinum-containing explaining Gas Tank drugs has been recently developed and is science clearly In the search for environmentally currently in use or in clinical trials.
and simply. In 90 friendly fuels, chemical reactions can -second spots, convert vegetable oil—including used The Usefulness of Fluorine known as the frying oil—into biodiesel. Through a Because fluorine is very electronegative, Academic Minute, transesterification chemical reaction, this element is arguably the most Professor vegetable oil and methanol are combined reactive chemical element known. When Leadbeater with a catalyst to produce a fuel that can chemists want to make molecules explains the be used in a diesel car or as a heating oil. containing a fluorine atom, they rarely science behind common concepts. The use elemental fluorine, but instead use Academic Minute segments are produced Hybrid Cars and Rare Earth the more stable fluorides. One of the by PBS’s WAMC Radio out of Albany, New biggest areas of interest to chemists York. His spots have become so popular Metals recently is the incorporation of fluorine that they are featured about once a month. In making the electric motors and atoms into pharmaceuticals. This can batteries needed for hybrid vehicles, we make them more readily taken up by the Molecular Gastronomy are rapidly depleting the world's supplies body as well as prolonging their activity. Chemistry plays an integral role in the of rare earth metals; a little-known class But the selective incorporation of modern fine dining experience. In some of of chemical elements found in a wide fluorine atoms into molecules is really today’s restaurants, chemistry is being range of gadgets and consumer goods. challenging. However, with the brought to the forefront of what is now Because of their geochemical properties, development of modern chemistry, called molecular gastronomy. Molecular these metals are widely dispersed and chemists can now use metal catalysts to gastronomy experiments have resulted in not found in concentrated and help replace either hydrogen atoms or innovative dishes like bubbly syrups, faux economically exploitable forms. The other similar atoms by fluorine. In caviar, and air bread Philly cheesecake. process of extraction is potentially addition, it is possible to introduce hazardous: since uranium is commonly groups containing three fluorine atoms The Science of the Crust found in the rock alongside rare earth into molecules. These reactions can elements, the process can create a The brown crust on freshly baked bread is significantly alter the chemical byproduct that is mildly radioactive. the result of a chemical reaction. The properties of molecules and open up Because the high demand for hybrid cars browning occurs as a result of the Maillard avenues for better medicines. and other gadgets is rapidly depleting the Reaction, a reaction between amino acids world’s supplies of rare earth metals, and sugars, fueled by the application of Distinguishing Left from Right manufacturers are beginning to develop heat. products that don’t utilize these scarce — in Molecules
resources. Molecules may have a right and a left The Science Behind Artificial side, each with different properties. Two Sweeteners Chemotherapy Drugs sides of a chiral molecule can have very Why do artificial sweeteners taste so much The objective of a chemotherapeutic different properties: if not properly sweeter than sugar? It actually lies in the drug is to kill the cancer cells understood, these differences can have way taste receptors in your mouth are selectively, leaving healthy cells alone. devastating effects. Therefore, in configured. All sweet-tasting chemicals are Cisplatin, a simple compound containing industries such as the pharmaceutical perceived by a receptor found on the the precious metal platinum, has a high industry, the effects of both “hands” of surfaces of cells all over the tongue and propensity for binding selectively to chiral molecules are carefully studied inside the mouth. Sugar and artificial cancerous cells. Cancerous cells often before a compound reaches the shelves. sweeteners bind to this receptor, creating have a lot of places along the DNA -Adapted from UConn Today & WAMC the sweet sensation that we get when we strand where certain chemical units are eat them. The reason that sucralose, a next to one another, like words with For more Academic Minute segments common component of artificial double letters in them. Cisplatin binds featuring Nicholas Leadbeater, visit: sweeteners, tastes so much sweeter than strongly to these double letters and, by http://www.wamc.org/programs/ sugar is because it binds much more doing this, stops the cancer cells from academic-minute. effectively to the sweet receptor. It fits so reproducing. Since healthy cells do not
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DEPARTMENT News REU Summer Program
Research Opportunities Rookie Talent hen chemistry and English major Jackie Boudle first applied Kaba Tandjigora, a junior at Montclair State University in New W for a spot in the National Science Foundation’s Research Jersey, originally hails from Senegal and is interested in drug Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, she admits she was discovery. Her transition to the U.S. was a tough one when she a little picky about what she wanted to do. moved here four years ago. But it quickly got better, she says, “I wasn’t a huge fan of electrochemistry, to be honest,” she says. But and now she especially appreciates the practice she has had with after spending half of her summer working in the laboratory of explaining science concepts to others. electrochemist James Rusling, she’s come around. “We have weekly group meetings where students have to “I’ve been able to see concepts I’ve learned about in classes working present,” she says of her team in the lab of Mark Peczuh, in an applied way,” she says. “That’s pretty exciting.” associate professor of chemistry. “You do your own research and The Mount Holyoke junior is one of more than fifty undergraduates show everyone what you’ve found, and it’s been a big help with from colleges around the country who traveled to Storrs this summer my communication skills.” to participate in REU programs. The competitive scholarships are At UConn she really appreciates all of the time she gets to spend awarded for research under the supervision of faculty at major in the laboratory with her graduate student mentor. “When you’re universities nationwide. And many of those accepted might not in a laboratory class, your time is always so limited,” she says. otherwise have the chance to do active research. “But in this program you get to work on a question for seven For Boudle, although Mount Holyoke conducts some research, these weeks, so you start to feel like an expert on that topic.” opportunities are far fewer than those Kaba further gained experience offered at a research university like UConn. strengthening her scientific The stipend offered by NSF was more than communication skills while at UConn: enough to cover the two jobs she usually she presented her research results as a works to pay her tuition, so receiving the poster at the REU symposium on the fellowship gave her the best of both worlds. last day of the program. In addition to “The nice thing about this program is that presenting the whole story of her we get to meet students from all over the project—the motivation, background, country and the world,” she says. “And it’s results, and analysis—on the poster, it great that it’s not about who is getting an A is the interactions with interested on the test – we’re not competing for passers-by that created lessons and anything,” she says, “except maybe the friendships. dorm washing machines.”
Close to Home An REU Veteran For Jessamyn Ward, who grew up in In 1999, John D’Angelo, now a Connecticut, the REU experience at UConn professor of chemistry at Alfred didn’t entail a new locale. But it was a University in New York, participated in chance to do something completely new. his first REU. The Stony Brook The biochemistry major at Southern undergraduate was in the first class of Connecticut State University learned about REU students to work in UConn’s the REU program from her college adviser. newly constructed Chemistry Building, “I was always a science person,” she says, and he remembers it vividly. “so I knew I would really like doing “They had all these great new labs that research. And if research wasn’t for me, I’d were really exciting to work in,” he learn that really quickly with this program!” says. “It was like being a grad student Her favorite part of the program has been for the summer, and it made me want learning to think creatively in the lab. “In the beginning, I was just to apply to UConn for graduate school.” reading a laboratory manual and repeating experiments my mentor After earning his undergraduate degree, D’Angelo was accepted had done,” she says. “Then I started to come up with things myself. I into UConn’s chemistry Ph.D. program under the direction of thought, am I going to blow something up? But then, all of a sudden, Professor Michael Smith. Over the years, he mentored new you start to feel a little smarter. You’re more independent. You can generations of REU students, and now, as a professor at Alfred even consider yourself a chemist.” University, he regularly sends undergraduates to REU programs. Ward also oversaw four high school students who visited the This year, one of his students is an REU student at UConn. laboratory for three weeks through UConn’s Mentor Connection “I’ve seen this program from all sides,” he says. “As a mentor, Program, which pairs talented local high-schoolers with UConn I’d help a student get trained on techniques, and I’d stand over faculty for a summer research experience. their shoulder for a week or so. But then I’d let them go ahead “I’ve never had to mentor people before, but I think I’m doing an OK and do their own work. Some like it, and some hate it, but it job,” she says. “They catch on so quickly and they're really always helps them figure things out – not just about their career interested.” Her hope for them is exactly what her advisers think path, but about their own personality.” when they look at her: “I hope they continue to like chemistry!” -Adapted from UConn Today
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DEPARTMENT News
Professors Amy Howell, Wenning Wang, Yi Tang, Yao Lin, Challa V. Kumar, and Zhanting Li held a joint research symposium on the topic of “Chemistry for Emerging Technologies” while visiting Fudan University.
Visit to China Strengthens International Partnerships
n January 2012, Professors Amy Jiangwan campus of Fudan University, a I Howell, Challa Vijaya Kumar, and new interdisciplinary research center Yao Lin visited the chemistry departments focusing on the science of emerging at both Fudan University and Shanghai electronic, optoelectronic, energy and Jiaotong University with a goal of biological materials. Professor Hualong initiating partnerships with these Xu, associate director of LAM, prestigious institutions. Also members of introduced the research programs and the Universitas 21, representatives from Fudan faculty at LAM and discussed potential University and Shanghai Jiaotong approaches to establishing collaborations University met with members of the between the two universities. UConn faculty to establish collaborations The UConn professors then visited amongst both faculty and students. Shanghai Jiaotong University, one of the Universitas 21, the leading global network oldest and most prestigious universities At both Fudan University and Shanghai of research-intensive universities, in China. While there, UConn faculty Jiaotong University, UConn faculty encourages international collaboration by met with the dean and faculty from the presented an overview of the education fostering an exchange of research, School of Chemistry and Chemical and research taking place at UConn. students, and staff. Technology. Discussions detailed the Discussions attended by faculty, Fudan University, established in 1905, is possibility of instituting exchange students, and postdoctoral fellows one of the leading institutions of higher programs involving undergraduate and allowed UConn’s representatives to education in China. While visiting Fudan graduate students. Further conversations detail the many possible opportunities University, Professors Howell, Kumar, and proposed the establishment of faculty available in the fields of research and Lin met with Professor Yi Tang, the visits and the strengthening of educational collaboration. departmental chair, and other faculty to international research networks. With further aims to promote the discuss the sharing of research and Specifically, the faculty discussed exchange of students, UConn faculty educational resources between the two UConn’s many projects that have also conducted interviews with departments. As a result, a summer student potential collaborative opportunities with approximately fifteen prospective exchange program was established, and several faculty at Shanghai Jiaotong graduate students who had applied to the two undergraduate students from Fudan University. UConn graduate program. were sponsored to carry out research in the The visit facilitated cooperation between Chemistry Department at UConn during the three chemistry departments and the summer of 2012. It is expected that the increased the international visibility of exchange program will continue to expand UConn. Through various discussions, a to allow involvement from more students partnership was established that will and faculty from each university. In provide channels for the exchange of addition, an annual research symposia—to students, scholars, and educational be held alternatively at UConn and Fudan resources. Within the upcoming year, University—further aims to promote Fudan and Shanghai University faculty collaborations between the departments. will visit the Storrs campus. All three UConn faculty also visited the Laboratory universities are expected to benefit from of Advanced Materials (LAM) at the new this partnership.
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DEPARTMENT News R.T. Major Symposium
he 2012 Randolph T. Major University examined the process of “Using T Symposium, embodying the theme Chemical Profiling to Enable Biological “Technology Innovations in Charting the Discovery.” Human Proteome,” showcased the The R.T. Major Symposium also allowed innovative research being conducted in researchers the opportunity to showcase the field of chemistry. Speaker Benjamin their work during a poster session: over Cravatt of the Scripps Research Institute fifty posters were featured, with research discussed “Activity-Based Proteomics spanning chemistry’s many disciplines. —Applications for Enzyme and Inhibitor The event concluded with a reception and Discovery,” and “Chemoproteomic and dinner in honor of the memory of the late Metabolic Strategies for Mapping Lipid professor Randolph T. Major. Several Professor Xudong Yao recognizes R.T. Major Signaling Networks in the Nervous graduate students were also recognized for Symposium speakers Benjamin Cravatt and System.” In an additional seminar, outstanding achievements in research, Alan Saghatelian at program reception. speaker Alan Saghatelian of Harvard teaching, and service.
Winner of the National Medal of Science, Professor Jacqueline Barton, Visits UConn
rofessor Jacqueline Barton, the Professor Barton was—when she was at Division Head at CalTech, she is P Arthur and Marian Hanisch Columbia University—the postdoctoral involved in formulating a vision for the Memorial Professor of Chemistry and advisor to our own Professor Kumar. In training of future generations of chair of the Division of Chemistry and fact, he was involved in the early stages of chemists. She described the research Chemical Engineering at CalTech, trying to understand the role of DNA as a training the graduate students receive at visited the department in April and gave mediator of electron transfer. CalTech and detailed measures taken to a seminar on DNA-mediated signaling. Activities during her visit also included break the traditional divisional barriers. Barton is a 2011 recipient of the meeting with graduate students and The exceptional research acumen of National Medal of Science, the highest undergraduates, who celebrated Professor Professor Barton, her high impact honor the United States government Barton’s 60th birthday at a reception in the publications, and the many students she bestows on scientists. She was cited by department after her seminar. Professor has trained who have become faculty the White House for her "discovery of a Barton expressed her enjoyment in members serve to highlight her new property of the DNA helix, interacting with our students and exceptional career. She is an outstanding long-range electron transfer, and for encouraged them to come to CalTech for role model for aspiring chemists, male showing that electron transfer depends graduate or postdoctoral studies. and female. upon stacking of the base pairs and DNA Faculty also enjoyed many interactions dynamics." with Professor Barton. As the current
FALL 2012 | 9 Members of the Kumar Research Group meet with Professor Jacqueline Barton.
DEPARTMENT News
The Department Welcomes...
Alfredo Angeles-Boza, Assistant Professor Dr. Alfredo Angeles-Boza is originally from Chimbote, a city located north of the Peruvian capital, Lima. After finishing high school, he moved to Lima to pursue his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Upon graduation, Dr. Angeles-Boza worked as a lecturer at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and then decided to pursue his graduate studies abroad. After a short research stint at Texas Christian University, he began his doctoral studies at Texas A&M under the supervision of Professor Kim R. Dunbar. During those years, he put a lot of dedication into playing soccer and into research in his spare time (just kidding: of course it was the other way around). After graduation, he moved to Houston to work for Halliburton and then went back to Texas A&M as a postdoctoral researcher in the Biochemistry Department. Angeles-Boza then did a second postdoc at Johns Hopkins University, before finally moving to UConn. These days, besides fulfilling his duties as a faculty member, he is attempting to become a triathlonist.
Michael Hren, Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Hren is originally from Hingham, MA and grew up in New England. Dr. Hren received his B.A. and M.S. in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College where his research was on mining-related metal contamination in an alpine catchment near Yellowstone National Park. Following completion of his Master's, Hren moved to the Bay area to work for an environmental consulting firm monitoring groundwater contamination in Northern California. After a year of drilling wells and sampling water, Hren moved to Stanford, CA to work as a research assistant for the Stanford/USGS SHRIMP-RG facility for the year prior to beginning his Ph.D. Hren completed his Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from Stanford University in 2007. From 2007 to 2009, Dr. Hren was a Bateman Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University, then moved to the University of Michigan as a Turner Postdoctoral fellow from 2009-2011. Hren spent a semester teaching at the University of Tennessee in 2012 prior to moving to the Center for Integrative Geosciences in the Fall of 2012. Dr. Hren’s current research is focused on understanding how the terrestrial environment has changed in response to past perturbations to the global carbon cycle, ocean and atmospheric circulation, and tectonic processes. Over the coming year, he will be building a new stable isotope biogeochemistry laboratory in Beach Hall and is looking forward to working with students in both the lab and the field.
Jing Zhao, Assistant Professor Dr. Jing Zhao is originally from China. She obtained a B. S. degree at the University of Science and Technology in 2003 and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Richard Van Duyne and Professor George Schatz. After graduation, she became a postdoc at MIT in the lab of Professor Moungi Bawendi from Fall 2008 – Spring 2012. She joined our department as an assistant professor in Fall 2012. Her primary research interest is the characterization of optical and structural properties of novel nanomaterials, particularly at the single nanostructure level, and to use the materials for biological sensing and imaging, and energy related applications. She teaches analytical courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Carlos Pacheco, NMR Facility Manager Dr. Carlos Pacheco is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering. His career started as Manager of the Spectroscopy Lab at Petrobras R&D Center, the Brazilian multinational energy corporation. He transitioned to academia by moving to the U.S. to obtain his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1996 at the University of Rhode Island—with comprehensive curriculum at the NMR Concepts School—under the supervision of Professor Daniel Traficante. In 2000, he started his 12-year tenure at Princeton University as Manager of the NMR Facility. Carlos Pacheco brings to the position extensive experience in NMR, having worked in both industrial and academic settings.
Jonelle Gurley, Undergraduate Laboratory Technician Jonelle Gurley is originally from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Jonelle attended American International College in Springfield, MA as an international student where she received a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in International Business in Spring 2011. At American, she worked as a lab aide as well as a Chemistry Department tutor. Jonelle also played DII Volleyball for four years at American International. She also previously worked as a QA/QC Production Supervisor at Country Pure Foods, one of the nation's leading juice processing plants. There, she gained supervisory and QA experience that she finds relevant to her current position at UConn.
Eric Sebranek, Undergraduate Laboratory Technician Eric Sebranek is originally from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. He attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate degree where he majored in Chemistry. While there, he worked part-time as a Stockroom Assistant within the Chemistry Department and as a Lab Assistant for the advanced level labs. He plans to apply this experience toward his new position in the Chemistry Teaching Stockroom here at UConn.
10 | UCONN CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENT News Department News
Faculty Publication Highlights The Department recognizes Drs. Alexandru Asandei, Edward Oyer, A.J.; Carrillo, J.M.Y.; Hire, C.C.; Schniepp, H.C.; Asandei, Neth, Mark W. Peczuh, and Abhay Vaze for their 10 years of A.D.; Dobrynin, A.V.; Adamson, D.H., “Stabilization of Graphene service to the university. Sheets by a Structured Benzene / Hexafluorobenzene Mixed Solvent” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 5018-5021. Dr. Christian Brückner has been promoted to Professor. A structured solvent was used to suspend graphene sheets, single Dr. Jose Gascón and Dr. Rajeswari Kasi have been promoted to atom-thick sheets of carbon of promise as material for electronics Associate Professor with tenure. application but that is generally very hard to handle.
Dr. Yao Lin has been awarded a NSF CAREER award. Samankumara, L.P.; Wells, S.; Zeller, M.; Acuña, A.M.; Röder, B.; Brückner, C. “Expanded Bacteriochlorins” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Dr. Mark Peczuh has been selected as a Fulbright Fellow for 2012, 51, 5757–5760. this academic year. Bacteriochlorins are the tetrapyrrolic photosynthetic pigments of The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering has purple bacteria. The paper describes the first synthetic analogues of elected Drs. Amy Howell and Steven Suib as new bacteriochlorins containing two pyrroles and two morpholine members. moieties.
Dr. Peter Love is retiring from teaching after Ju, S.Y.; Abanulo, D.C.; Badalucco, C.A.; 32 years at the Stamford Campus. Peter Gascón, J.A.; Papadimitrakopoulos, F. recently had a paper entitled “Chemical “Handedness Enantioselection of Car- Bonding and Thermodynamics in bon Nanotubes Using Helical Assem- Superconductivity and Superfluidity” blies of Flavin Mononucleotide” J. published in the International Journal of Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 13196– Thermophysics (2012). He expects to 13199. continue his research in retirement. Carbon nanotubes are Nicole Wagner of Dr. Robert materials of wide Birge’s research group was application in materials recognized with a Collegian and electronics but to Innovation and Leadership award at unlock advanced appli- the 2012 Women of Innovation awards cations, one needs to ceremony. separate them according to both chirality and handedness. Reaching Out This paper shows an approach to The Department of Chemistry’s Relay for achieving this using matching Life team, the Cancer Reducing Agents, organic molecules. raised over $1,000.00 in support of the American Cancer Society. Zhou, Y.; Sharma, N.; Deshmukh, P.; Lakhman, R.K.; Jain, M.; Kasi, R.M. “Hierarchically Ph.D. student Richard Desmond ran in the Structured Free-Standing Hydrogels with Liquid Crystalline Falmouth Road Race in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Domains and Magnetic Nanoparticles as Dual Physical Cross- Institute. Rich surpassed his fundraising goal of $1,500.00. Linkers” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 1630–1641.
Over the past year, the Department of Chemistry has collected Hydrogels are soft polymer-based materials that are mostly water. over 75 pounds of soda can tabs in support of the Ronald This paper describes hydrogels that can be used in the fabrication McDonald House. In gratitude for our efforts, the Ronald of free-standing, tissue-like soft objects that can act as magnetically McDonald has engraved a brick with the Department’s name responsive soft actuators. that will be displayed in their garden. Krishnan, S.; Mani, V.; Wasalathanthri, D.; Kumar, C.V.; Rusling, Alumni Weekend J.F. “Attomolar Detection of a Cancer Biomarker Protein in Serum Alumni Weekend, taking place June 1-2, was a vibrant by Surface Plasmon Resonance Using Superparamagnetic Particle celebration of UConn and featured the Chemistry Department Labels” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 1175–1178. front and center. Dr. Nicholas Leadbeater shared fun examples of how chemistry is used in everyday life in a one-hour Methods to measure protein biomarkers in body fluids with interactive presentation entitled “From the Kitchen to the Lab.” ultralow detection limits promise to provide valuable tools for early Meanwhile, the children had fun participating in hands-on diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. This paper describes the -16 chemistry experiments. lowering of the detection limit to 3 x 10 M using a sensing chip.
FALL 2012 | 11
STUDENT News
BI Partners with Chemistry in New Ph.D. Program
oehringer Ingelheim Pharma- Specifically, the company is providing a "Students who participate in this program B ceuticals, a top 20 pharmaceutical five-year, $260,000 grant to support will graduate with a very special degree," company, is collaborating with the three organic chemistry students during says Nicholas Leadbeater, associate University of Connecticut to enhance the third, fourth, and fifth years of their professor of chemistry who helped develop scientific training, building an Ph.D. programs. During the fourth year, the program. "This internship will give our educational partnership that could serve the students will intern at Boehringer students invaluable real-world experience," as a model for other companies in the Ingelheim, working on challenges and according to Leadbeater. state. solutions facing industrial chemists. "Boehringer Ingelheim deserves great Boehringer Ingelheim will provide During the third and fifth years of their credit for increasing their support for hands-on training in their Ridgefield programs, the students will work on education during tough economic times Chemical Development and Medicinal campus as research assistants. when other companies are pulling back," Chemistry Departments to some of says Amy Howell, head of the Department UConn's most outstanding organic of Chemistry. "The year-long internship is chemistry students. The Boehringer providing the foundation for a new type of Ingelheim scientists will help design Ph.D. experience for UConn graduate and teach a course on research, which students," she says. "UConn students will will be open to all graduate students. see first-hand some of the challenges "We believe collaboration between facing industrial chemists.” industry and academia is extremely For third-year Ph.D. student Chris Lorenc, valuable for training highly skilled the first participant selected for the scientists," says Chris Senanayake, vice program, the grant is a "fantastic president of chemical development for opportunity." He is planning to work in Boehringer Ingelheim. "Our goal is to industry and says the experience at enrich students' education with a Ph.D. candidate Chris Lorenc is the first Boehringer Ingelheim will be essential. "I practical understanding of the work student selected to participate in new can't wait." taking place in our industry." Boehringer Ingelheim program. -Adapted from UConn Foundation
Degree Recipients Bachelor of Science Joseph Seiss Subhadeep Banerjee Tania Aziz Brittnie Sutton Ashley Bartelson Amanda Aing Trevor Trueman Bhaskara Vijaya Chikkaveeraiah Roger Brogis Justin Wilde Pamela Ann Carreon Diego Clay Carrington Mengten Zhang Yujie Ding Cole Cloutier Elisa Farber Stephen Cusumano Master of Science Hugo Martin Galindo Valbuena Stephen Dunn Hui Huang Christopher Andrew Badalucco Gary Conrad Jensen Alexandra Esposito Johanna Marie Bakonyi Patrick Field Shanti Kaligotla Ghosh Christine M. Cardillo Santosh Kumar Keshipeddy Merve Gok Junru Cui Neha Grewal Maryam Khalili Kehley Anne Davies Ruchika Malhotra Dayton Horvath Andrea Dorelle Duke Michael Kalwara Hannah Wanjiku Mbatia Leah Rose Giaccotto Lochana C. Menikarachchilage William Kwok Benjamin Thomas Giorgi Hien Le Aimee Morey-Oppenheim William Peter Kopcha Vamsi K. Mudhivarthi Rohail Majid Jose Luis Robinson Duggon Jenny Marcelus Palamu Arachchige Daminda Sampath Lisa Mae Stafford Navarathne Andrew Meguerdichian Anjali Yadav Peter Moccia Eric Chomba Njagi
Jennifer Paolini Naftali Nandera Opembe Stephanie Papandrea Doctorate of Philosophy Christopher M. Pavlik Daniel Peck Herath Mudiyanselage Dhammika Jaideep Saha Lauren Rafka Bandara Yuxiang Zhou
12 | UCONN CHEMISTRY
STUDENT News
Above | Award recipients gather at Undergraduate Awards Ceremony.
Below | Members of the UConn Chemistry Club
Hach Chemistry Undergraduate Teacher Scholarships Kendrick Henes & Christine Scanlon
Awards Roland Ward Thesis Award American Chemical Society Award Neha Grewal Lauren Rafka William R. Granquist, Jr. American Institute of Chemists Memorial Scholarship Award Robin Cywar Hien Le
ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Award Graduate Gina Guerrera Awards Student Leadership ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Award Student Affiliates of the ACS 2012-2013 Dayton Horvath Connecticut Chemistry Research Award President | Eric Commendatore Catherine DeStefano Rossi Vignesh Mani Vice President | Kevin Sterling
Treasurer | Carmichael Gugliotti Memorial Scholarship Secretary | Nick Penrose Alexandra Longacre Excellence in Service Award Minister of Information | Marisia Fikiet Jill Worlinsky Event Planner | Blaise Arden Continuing Scholars Faith Crittenden, Johnna D’Ambrouso & Masterton Awards The Society Committee on Education has granted SAACS Gina Guerrera Colleen Krause, Christian Malapit, Andre a Commendable Chapter Award for its 2011-2012 Martinez, Nashaat Mazrui, Jennifer activities. Winning chapters will be recognized in the CRC Press Chemistry Satterwhite & Bobbi Stromer November/December issue of “inChemistry” magazine Achievement Award and at the ACS Student Chapter Award Ceremony at the Eugene Kim & Rebecca Wiles Outstanding Service and ACS National Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Research Award Dr. Victor Rizza Scholarship Fund Homer Genuino Phi Lambda Upsilon 2012-2013 Eric Commendatore, Thomas Johnson President | Jill Worlinsky & Anton Gudz Waring Award Vice President | Jordan Greco Nashaat Mazrui Social Chair | Jennifer Satterwhite Graduating Scholars Treasurer | Chris Kelly Dayton Horvath Secretary | Trevor Hamlin FALL 2012 | 13
IN Memoriam
In Memory of Emeritus Professor John Tanaka
ohn Tanaka, emeritus professor of chemistry and former their credit limit, Dr. Tanaka introduced mini courses. An J longtime director of the University’s Honors Programs, interdepartmental experimental one-credit course was also passed away on April 14, 2012 at the age of eighty-seven, due to created to introduce freshman honors students to the services of complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also the University. These courses have become the popular First known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Year Experience courses. In addition to course work, he also John was born in San Diego, Calif., in 1924. He graduated with began a mentoring program within the Honors Program, where a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCLA in 1951, then older students worked with freshmen. He also initiated a “get earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Iowa State University acquainted” picnic in the fall, summer reading lists of classics in 1956. for GRE preparation, and advising and preparation of composite He taught for seven years at South Dakota State University. letters of recommendation for pre-medical and pre-dental While there, he met Patricia Ellwein, and they were married in students. His colleagues say his advice and the composite 1959. They later moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where John pre -med or pre-dental letters he provided helped open the doors completed a two-year post-doctoral study in inorganic chemistry to dental school for hundreds of students. at the University of Pittsburgh. After his retirement from the Chemistry Department in June of He then joined the University of Connecticut in 1965, where he 2005, he continued to advise the Pre-Dental Society, and until made significant impacts in teaching, service, and research over 2010, taught a senior inorganic laboratory class for which he the next 45 years. co-wrote the book, Experimental Methods in Inorganic Among his many research interests were the electrical properties Chemistry, with Steven Suib. of polymers, particularly electrical ageing and the nature and John continued to visit the department regularly until a couple of formation of space charges in polymers filled with inorganic weeks before he passed away; there were so many things he fillers. His studies included polymer blends to determine why wanted to make sure were in order. John was constantly making some blends seemed to exhibit higher dielectric strength, plans for the things that had been so important to him. examining the mechanisms of corona erosion by studying the John received awards including an honorary doctorate from Paul bombardment of polymers with ions of known energy, and Sabatier University in Toulouse France, 1983; Japan Society for determining the role of volatiles in the aging process of the Promotion of Science Fellowship, 1986; DEIS/IEEE polymers. Distinguished Service Award, 1988; EIC Hall of Fame Award, His research included studies for Laboratories of 1991; UConn Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award for Westinghouse Electric Corp. He was Public Service, 1994; Millennium Medal from the IEEE, 2000; also active in the International and Lifetime Achievement Award for research, teaching, and Dielectrics and Electrical service from the chemistry department at UConn in 2011. He Insulation Society (DEIS/ graduated 15 Ph.D. students, published 59 peer reviewed IEEE), eventually serving articles, co-authored 5 books, and received 2 patents. as president, and also the He is survived by his wife of 52 years Patricia; his sons Pete, Insulated Conductors Paul, and their families; his sister Iris Fukutaki of Los Angeles Committee of the Power and his brother Tyler of San Diego, and their families. Engineering Society. In A memorial service took place on Friday, May 4th at the Storrs 1985, he helped found the Congregational Church. Family, friends, colleagues, and Electrical Insulation students of John were in attendance to honor his memory. Magazine, becoming editor For those wishing to make a contribution in commemoration of in 1987, and managing editor John, the Tanaka family has suggested three funds: The Dr. John from 1991 to 2001. The Tanaka Scholarship for Honors, The Tanaka Fund for magazine ran a 12-page Innovative Undergraduate Advising, or The Emeriti Fund for tribute to his work in Undergraduate Chemistry Research. Checks can be made out to vol. 19, no. 4. The UConn Foundation, Inc., and sent to 2390 Alumni Drive, From 1971 to 1993, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269. he was director of John Tanaka gave over 45 years of service to the department and UConn’s Honors the University, and impacted thousands of students through Program. In order to chemistry, the Honors Program, the Pre-Dental Society, and, broaden the educa- occasionally, glass blowing. His positive attitude, inquisitive tion of honors mind, and keen humor will be sorely missed. students, already at -Adapted from IEEE & UConn Today
14 | UCONN CHEMISTRY
ALUMNI News
Alumni News
Kathleen Carrado Gregar, Ph.D. ’86 was elected into the American Chemical Society as an ACS Fellow. The ACS citation recognizes Carrado Gregar’s more than 20 years of experience as a productive research chemist in nanocatalysis and nanocomposites, as well as her effective management of user and outreach programs at a Department of Energy Nanoscale Science Research Center.
Conrad Stanitski, Ph.D. ’71 is the recent recipient of the George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education, sponsored A Salute to by Cengage Learning and friends and colleagues of George and Jeanne Pimental. Captain Richard B. Gaines, Elizabeth Fry, B.S. ’80 swam the two-way, 21-mile crossing of Ph.D. ’98 the English Channel in 24 hours and 41 minutes. At age 52, Fry became the oldest person to have accomplished this round-trip .S. Coast Guard Captain and UConn alumnus Richard B. swim between England and France. U Gaines retired in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Academy June 15th after more than 33 years of service. Dimitri Psaras, Ph.D. ’85 currently holds the position of Vice Gaines taught roughly 6,000 cadets during his career as a President of Technology of Molycorp Chemicals and Oxides rotating military instructor at the academy from 1981 to 1986 business and serves on the Board of Directors of Zibo Jiahua and as a member of the permanent commissioned teaching staff Advanced Materials Resources Co., Ltd.. His responsibilities since 1990. include leading the Molycorp R&D and Technology groups at He was the chemistry section chief and led numerous ZAMR (Zibo, China), JAMR (Jianyin, China), NEO Europe committees, working groups and projects. Gaines, who has been (Abingdon, U.K.), NEO Singapore (Singapore) and SILMET course director for nearly every chemistry course offered at the (Sillamäe, Estonia). The R&D and Technology groups under Dr. academy—including analytical, physical and environmental Psaras’ leadership are involved in the development and chemistry, as well as chemical and hazardous material commercialization of novel, advanced value-add rare earth response—was responsible for the development of the marine based technology products that are used in the electronics, and environmental sciences major’s capstone course on ceramics, catalytic and phosphor markets. hazardous materials. Following his graduation from Wesleyan University Outside the classroom, Gaines was a long-time participant in the (Middletown, CT), Dr. Psaras earned his Ph.D. degree from the Luders Sail Training Program, serving as program coordinator University of Connecticut in 1985. He has gained increasing twice, and was a member of the Admissions Cadet Candidate responsibilities in the R&D sector successively at the Evaluation Board for more than 20 years. He was an assistant laboratories of AIRCO BOC (1985-1989), Degussa (1989-1994) coach for men’s basketball, women’s basketball and offshore and Rhône-Poulenc/Rhodia’s rare earth business group (1994- sailing and for the past three years served as the head coach of 1999). He joined AMR Technologies Inc. in 1999 as Vice women’s basketball. President of Technology where he established the company’s Gaines graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1978 with Research and Development groups at the company’s China- a degree in physical sciences. He earned a master’s degree and based ZAMR and JAMR facilities. He was instrumental in the Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Connecticut. He is an enhancement of AMR’s R&D capabilities by the establishment expert in multidimensional separations of complex mixtures, of the AMR Nanotechnology Centre (U.K.) in 2000 and the including applications to fingerprint spilled oil. Electronics R&D Laboratory in Singapore in 2002. Following Gaines and his wife, Andrea, live in Old Saybrook. Andrea the AMR and Magnequench merger into NEO Material Gaines, a licensed Coast Guard captain, was the associate head Technologies Inc. (2005), he continued to lead the company’s women’s basketball coach at the academy for the past 19 years. rare earth research and development efforts as well as NEO’s customer technical applications groups. With the recent Richard Gambino, B.A. ’57 was awarded the honorary degree acquisition of NEO Material Technologies by Molycorp (2012), Doctor of Science from Stony Brook University, where he Dr. Psaras’ responsibilities expanded to include the leadership of taught for more than fifteen years. the SILMET (Estonia) R&D laboratories.
FALL 2012 | 15
ALUMNI News
Alumni News, Cont.
Thomas J. Haas, Ph.D. ’87, formerly of the Coast Guard working for a private adhesive company in Torrington, CT. Academy, is now the President of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Dr. Haas has also received Nicole Snyder-Lee, Ph.D. ’05 has recently accepted a an Outstanding Alumni award from The University of position as an Assistant Professor at Davidson College. Michigan School of Public Health’s Environmental Health Sciences Department. Paul Sabila, Ph.D. ’06 has been promoted to an Associate Professor at Gallaudet University. Zongchao (Conrad) Zhang, Ph.D. ’88 is the Director of Science and R&D of KiOR Inc, located in Houston, Texas. He Jason Durand, Ph.D. ’07: As a Research Engineer/ is also responsible for external collaborations for KiOR. In the Development Chemist, Jason’s function in the R&D group at last two years, he has been managing two Mississippi Scientific Design Co, Inc. is primarily to interact with the Development Authority funded programs at $1 million each, Sales and Technical Services groups; providing support and one in Mississippi State University and another in Alcorn State guidance for client specific opportunities related to the core University. He has also served as the Secretary of the ACS business in EO technology. He is able to provide this support Catalysis Science and Technology Division for the last three as the supervisor of SD’s pilot plant facility located in Little years. Aside from work, he started duck hunting two years ago. Ferry, NJ. Outside of work, Jason has been enjoying the He occasionally goes to shooting ranges to sharpen his skills. summer months with his wife, Angela, and 4 year old son, Logan. In July, they took a family vacation to Colorado to Young-Chan Son, M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’03 is working as a visit friends they had to leave after relocating from Colorado lecturer at UConn Avery Point, where the campus is located at to New Jersey almost 2 ½ years ago. In his spare time, Jason an oceanfront. As a longtime sea lover, Young-Chan feels like has been training for a physical competition known as the he vacations all year long. Despite the wonderful natural Tough Mudder. The organization raises money for the environment, it is more exciting for him as a teacher to see Wounded Warriors Project. This October, he took part in the students who are working towards their future goals and 12.1 mile obstacle course that challenges physical and interesting to hear their many success stories. As always, mental strength. chemistry is a major topic and concern on the campus, and the numerous students majoring in life science are hard-working Sadagopan Krishnan, Ph.D. ’10, who graduated from and dedicated. The campus is always active and energetic and Professor Rusling's group, has taken a position a Assistant the main focus is always on the future. Teachers who have Professor at Oklahoma State University. diverse experiences as well as researchers in marine science keep him from becoming bored at any moment. Subhadeep Banerjee, Ph.D. ’11 will assume a position as Assistant Professor in Chemistry at the Birla Institute of Skye McClain, Ph.D. ’95: As an analyst at Nerac, Inc., Skye Technology and Science (BITS) in Pilani, Rajasthan, India. works with a team of specialists in chemistry, engineering and medicine to assist clients from around the world in helping to Ruchika Malhotra, Ph.D. ’12, who graduated from solve their technological, patent and business problems. While Professor Rusling's group, has begun a research position at he mainly uses his chemistry expertise, one never knows what Griner Corporation in Massachussetts. type of question is going to come up. This keeps his work extremely interesting since he is always in the process of Future Chemists learning about cutting edge research efforts. Over the past few years Skye has also had the opportunity to travel around the Alex Andrews, B.S. ’99 & Melissa Andrews, B.S. ’98 world to visit with some of Nerac's clients. In addition to welcome baby boy, Axel Erza Andrews, born June 25th at a working at Nerac, he is also an adjunct chemistry professor at healthy 6lbs 11oz. Manchester Community College. Skye believes teaching chemistry and science in general is one of the best ways to help Bernard Castillo, Ph.D. ’08 welcomes baby boy Kaiden improve our society. Reale-Munroe Castillo, born July 29th at 5lbs 14oz.
Gan Wang, M.S. ’97 and Shuhua Jin, Ph.D. ’98: Gan is Cathy Cherenfant, M.S. ’10 welcomes baby Amelia, born currently working at BMS and recently presented a poster July 18th at 8lbs. entitled “A scalable synthesis of (1R,3S,5R)-2-(tert- butoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-3-carboxylic acid” at the Philadelphia ACS Meeting. Shuhua is currently
16 | UCONN CHEMISTRY Visit Our New Website: www.chemistry.uconn.edu
ALUMNI News
Investing in the Future he Chemistry Department has experienced significant growth over the last decade. Currently we have ~140 graduate students T and 180 undergraduates in chemistry programs. While this is exciting for us, it is a challenge to provide essential enrichment opportunities in the face of shrinking budgets. The following UConn Foundation accounts help supplement the activities and opportunities that are a vital part of the UConn chemistry experience. We hope that you will assist us by contributing to the program that best represents your hopes for the future of the department.
An unrestricted Chemistry Department Account (20111) This money is used to assist the Department in everything from maintaining supplies to making it possible for us to invite top-level scientists into the department.
The Chemistry Undergraduate Development Fund (22491) This account will be used to enrich and expand the Department of Chemistry undergraduate program, from equipment and instrumentation, to making it possible for talented students to present their work at meetings, to scholarships.
The Alumni Graduate Student Development Fund (22492) This account will be used to enrich and expand the Department of Chemistry graduate program, from helping us to attract the best quality graduate students, to summer support, to helping expand the research possibilities for talented students.
The Emeriti Fund for Undergraduate Chemistry Research (30496) This account is used to fund internships for freshman and sophomores participating in the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP). This offers a unique research opportunity for students just beginning their scientific career path.
Donations should be mailed to the UConn Foundation:
The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206 Storrs, CT 06269-3206 In the memo line, please note the fund(s) of your choice.
Or, visit our website:
http://clas.uconn.edu/deptgiving/chemistry.html
Alumni, We Want to Hear From You!
Stay Connected What’s New? Ashley Butler Department of Chemistry UConn Chemistry Let your fellow UConn alumni know 55 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3060 about the milestones in your life! Storrs, CT 06269-3060 Send us your news, and we’ll feature P: 860.486.2012 @UConnChem your story in the next publication! F: 860.486.2981 E: [email protected]
Visit Our New Website: FALL 2012 | 17 www.chemistry.uconn.edu University of Connecticut NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Department of Chemistry PERMIT 3 55 North Eagleville Road Unit 3060 STORRS, CT 06269 Storrs, CT 06269-3060