Blue Hen Chemist #37 (August, 2010)
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BLUE HEN CHEMIST University of Delaware, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Annual Alumni Newsletter NUMBER 37 AUGUST 2010 JOHN L. BURMEISTER, EDITOR Page ii August 2010 Blue Hen Chemist Number 37 Department of COVER: This is the 37th issue of the BLUE HEN CHEMIST and, accordingly, the cover picture shows a sample of natural alabaster (gypsum, CaS04 • 2H2O). Why? Because, as discovered by Jen Durkin, the 37th wedding anniversary is the alabaster anniversary! The distorted crys- tal structure of CaSO4 brings to mind the climactic battle scene in Avatar. —Sample courtesy of the University of Delaware Mineralogical Museum —Photo by Jen Durkin —Crystal structure provided by Prof. Svilen Bobev Blue Hen Chemist Number 37 August 2010 Page 1 CONTENTS From the Chair ...2 Professor John Hartwig to be Awarded 6th Annual Richard F. Heck Lectureship Award ...4 From the Associate Chair: ...5 Current Faculty URP Participants ...8 From the Director of Graduate Studies: ...9 Farewell to Joel Schneider ...12 Changes in the Wind for Introductory Chemistry ...13 Additional Faculty/Staff Activities and Awards: ...14 Visit us on Facebook! ...16 Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows, 2009-10: ...17 Visiting Scholars, 2009-10: ...17 Let’s Communicate! ...17 Visiting Faculty, 2009 - 2010: ...18 2009-2010 Colloquia and Symposia: ...18 Graduate School Placements, 1994-2010 ...19 15th CHEM/BIOC Graduation Convocation, May 29, 2010 ...20 2009 - 2010 Undergraduate Awards ...22 2010 BA/BS/MA/MS/Ph.D. Graduates ...24 Fall 2010 Upcoming Seminars and Colloquia ...26 Graduate or Professional School Bound: ...27 Headed for Industry, Teaching, Etc.: ...27 2010 Graduate Student Placements: ...27 Alumni News ...28 Honor Roll of Gifts To The Department ...33 Kudos ...35 Giving To The Department ...36 Personal Information for CHEM/BIOC Records ...38 Page 2 August 2010 Blue Hen Chemist Number 37 FROM THE CHAIR Professor and Chair Klaus Theopold (b. 1954) Vordiplom, 1977, Universität Hamburg; Ph.D., 1982, University of California, Berkeley; Postdoctoral, 1982–1983, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Every four years during year saw the appointment of work with Prof. Dan Nocera at summertime I have ‘Fussball’ on Prof. George Watson, a member MIT in 2007, and since then he my mind. By the time you read of UD’s Department of Physics has been a Ruth L. Kirschstein this, the 2010 Soccer World Cup and Astronomy, as Dean of the NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in the in South Africa will be receding College of Arts and Sciences. laboratory of Steve Lippard, into memory. However, I am Our colleague Prof. Doug Doren also at MIT. Joel will initiate a writing under the immediate continues as Associate Dean for research program in inorganic influence of two very different Research and for the Natural chemistry related to energy matches, which highlight both Sciences. After a three-year and human health. His work how the world is changing, and hiatus from administrative duties, will focus on the development how it stays the same. Yesterday, Prof. Charlie Riordan has been of electrocatalytic systems for two relative newcomers to the tapped as the new Vice Provost the reduction of CO2 as well as ‘beautiful game’ met for the for Graduate and Professional neurochemistry and molecular second time in World Cup Education; his role will be to imaging. Meredith did graduate competition, and once again – support the University’s strategic work at the University of Georgia, as in 2006 - the United States initiative emphasizing research where she combined research team was sent home by Ghana, and graduate study. As the first in bioinorganic chemistry with the sole African team to make it fiscal year under a new budget earning a master’s degree in into the round of 16. Today, in model comes to a close, we are science education in 2000, the continuation of a rivalry of still here and the anxiety about much longer standing, Germany the impending change and the beat England 4:1, including a impact of the recession shows reprise of the infamous ‘Ghost signs of receding. Budgets are Goal’ of 1966 (yes, I was around still tight, but we are hopeful that for that one too). Let’s just call it things will improve in the years even! In other, and possibly more ahead. important news, I am happy to As the saying goes, change is report that our Department is the only constant, and the past weathering the current economic year has been no exception. I am crisis. Indeed, there is much that particularly pleased to announce we are proud of. Herewith, then, the arrival of two new faculty my annual report. members for the next academic The affairs of the University of year. Profs. Joel Rosenthal and Delaware remain in good hands. Meredith Wesolowski begin Following last year’s elevation their respective appointments Joel Rosenthal, Assistant Professor, of Prof. Tom Apple, Ph.D. ’81 as assistant professors on July Inorganic Chemistry, Ph.D. to the position of Provost, this 1. Joel completed his graduate Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007) Blue Hen Chemist Number 37 August 2010 Page 3 followed by a doctorate in long and productive research Baldwin, B.S. ‘56, Dr. Randy educational technology from the career. Prof. Joel Schneider A. Bull, Ph.D. ‘81, Dr. Arthur University of Delaware in 2008. has accepted a position as J. Coury, B.S. ‘62, Dr. Martin She has a wealth of teaching Laboratory Chief of the newly DeBerardinis, B.A. ‘78 and Dr. experiences in chemistry, biology, established Chemical Biology William A. Welsh, Ph.D. ’74. The and physics, and is skilled in a Laboratory at the National Cancer Board will meet twice a year to variety of pedagogical approaches, Institute in Frederick, Maryland. provide perspective and advice including student-centered active After 10 years at the University regarding the operation of the learning methods and innovative of Delaware, Joel moved his Department as well as assisting technology. Her main focus will be laboratory during the fall of 2009. with development initiatives. teaching CHEM-103/104 Honors While we were sorry to see him Coincidentally, board member Art General Chemistry. Meredith is go, we wish him much success in Coury was inducted into UD’s a denizen of the web; check out his new position and look forward Alumni Wall of Fame in 2010, her regular contributions to the to keeping in touch and exploring recognizing his ‘outstanding departmental Facebook page. In potential collaborations. professional and public service another indication of the progress As with the faculty, so it goes achievements’. Congratulations, of time, we congratulate Prof. with the Department’s valued Art! , who has been Svilen Bobev staff. During this past year Members of this Department promoted to Associate Professor administrative coordinator Gus have had some heartening with tenure effective September 1, Mandrachia left the Department successes in improving our 2010. to pursue other opportunities. research infrastructure. Most On the other hand, we were auspicious in this category was glad to welcome senior secretary an award from the NSF to Profs. Debbie Fox, to fill the position Polenova (PI), Rozovsky, and vacated last summer by Tracy Dybowski, totaling $2.2 M for the McQueen. Recent additions to acquisition of a high-field NMR our staff include Meg Frost, who spectrometer. We are looking is serving as assistant to the forward to the arrival of an 850(!) Director of the COBRE grant, MHz spectrometer, which will and Wanda Cibroski, whose be a significant step up for our position as sponsored program excellent NMR facility. Another coordinator will augment our success in this regard was an grants management team. There NIH award to Prof. Joe Fox, of $ have also been some welcome 500,000 for the purchase of a 500 promotions of members of our MHz NMR spectrometer. Another staff. Thus Federico Cruz is now notable achievement was the Meredith Wesolowski, Assistant a laboratory coordinator in charge award of the fifth(!) consecutive Professor, Chemical Education, Ed.D. of our instrumental teaching labs Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of Delaware (2008) and Patrick McMahon has been (HHMI) grant under the direction promoted to CITA IV, the highest of Prof. Hal White. This $1.2M This last year has also brought rank on the career ladder for grant will provide funding in some departures. Roberta campus IT associates. support of innovative programs , the Colman Willis Harrington A new initiative this past to strengthen undergraduate and Professor of Biochemistry year has been the constitution precollege science education. formally retired at the end of of an Advisory Board for the Several of our colleagues have 2009, after 36 years of service as Department of Chemistry and attracted honors and prizes a faculty member. Roberta’s last Biochemistry (affectionately during the past year. Thus Prof. graduate students are defending abbreviated CBAB). The five Svilen Bobev was selected as their dissertations this summer inaugural members of this 2009 recipient of the Young and she is thus concluding a board are alumni Dr. John J. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Page 4 August 2010 Blue Hen Chemist Number 37 FROM THE CHAIR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Scholar Award of UD’s Francis Finally, Prof. Sue Groh was has continued its unrestricted Alison Society. The purpose honored by the University with an support of the Department. We of the award is to recognize Excellence in Teaching Award. have once again used these promising young scholars at the It is always a particular precious funds to appoint six University and encourage their pleasure on this occasion to ‘Lipp Family Foundation Teaching future development of research acknowledge the support that the Fellows’, thereby aiding our at the University. Prof. Cecil Department has received during increasing needs for teaching was the recipient of Dybowski the past year from its alumni assistant positions.