A Periodic Newsletter about the Sciences at Albright College. Winter 2007 | VOL. 5 • nO. 1 ThreeThree generationsgenerations ofof AlbrightAlbright chemistschemists investigateinvestigate aa newnew chemicalchemical reaction...reaction... W h A t ’ s I n s I d e . new chemical Acre on the piranhas, grubs professor q&a with reaction leads road - seven and a simple susan munch chemistry to senior faculty life: Albright publishes Book professor james thesis and members take students learn on pennsylvania scheirer, ph.d. internship acre across lessons in the mosses and the country. amazon Liverworts FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSIO New chemical reaction leads to senior thesis & internship Research project brings three generations of Albright chemists together When Professor Emeritus Robert Rapp, Ph.D., recently discovered leader for organic chemistry, instructing younger students. The soft- a new chemical reaction, he turned to his former student, spoken senior also played varsity tennis for four years, and is now Pamela G. Artz ’87, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and working on applications to study chemistry in graduate school. biochemistry, and asked her to recommend a student to assist him with this new line of research that could simplify the preparation “Sherri has great potential as a scientist,” says Rapp, a full- of some medicinal compounds. time faculty member at Albright from 1967 through 1992, who has continued his research at Albright and Lehigh University since Artz immediately thought of Sherri Young ’07, a chemistry retiring. “She is very intelligent, but her intelligence does not major and recipient of the undergraduate organic and analytical interfere with her learning because she is down to earth and pays chemistry awards. attention. She is excellent.” “Sherri is the ideal Albright student,” says Artz. “Her work Rapp says unexpected discoveries are the rewards of ethic is tremendous. She makes her research a priority, and she chemical research. works well with other people.” “Most of the work I do relates to medicinal agents,” Rapp Young began working with Rapp on the project, “The explains. “In the course of carrying out synthetic reactions, we Rearrangement of Heterocyclic Imines,” during spring 2006. discovered this new reaction. It has the potential to simplify the Rapp encouraged her to apply to the Center of Emeritus Scientists preparation of some classes of medicinal compounds.” in Academic Research (CESAR) program at Lehigh University for a summer internship. When you swallow a prescription drug, you actually ingest a complex molecule that has been carefully designed for its new, She was accepted into the program and received a stipend unique function, he says. Many medicinal agents are designed to for her work with Rapp and Ned D. Heindel, Ph.D., the Howard S. inhibit natural enzymatic processes of the body. Bunn Professor of Chemistry at Lehigh University. CESAR, which fosters research interaction between undergraduates and retired “Most medicinal agents are synthesized by a number of scientists, is the only program of its kind in the nation. steps,” says Rapp, 76, who first discovered his love of chemistry at age 14. “Organic molecules are usually constructed in parts. Young will present the research to the Albright community This research hopefully will provide a better route to prepare one this May as her senior thesis. Artz serves as her thesis adviser. part of a complex molecule.” Rapp, Young and Heindel intend to publish the work in a professional journal. Young is synthesizing a number of compounds to test the extent of the new reaction, says Rapp. Their goal is to be able The project brought three generations of Albright chemists to generalize about the synthetic utility for a certain class of together – Rapp, Artz and Young. compounds using specific conditions. “It was a great hands-on experience,” says Young, 21, of Long Young says it is exciting to work with senior scientists on Valley, N.J. “I am taking advanced organic chemistry, and most of research that has potential for advances in the field of medicinal the things we are learning I have already been exposed to.” chemistry such as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor agents. Young, a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship, serves as a “I have learned so much,” she says. “I was able to apply all teaching assistant in chemistry labs, and as a conference group the techniques I learned during the past three years.” n fusion | A Periodic Newsletter about the Sciences FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSION FUSIO “It has the potential to simplify the preparation of some classes of medicinal compounds.” - Professor Emeritus Robert Rapp, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Robert Rapp, Ph.D., and Sherri Young ’07 in the chemistry lab at Albright College. ACRE on the road... Good ideas can develop Teresa Gilliams, Ph.D., assistant professor of for students to publish and present research, during road trips English, joined the presentation team. and enhanced competitiveness for graduate They shared the ACRE success story school placements and jobs. Many ACRE During one long ride home from the at two national conferences in 2006; the projects, such as environmental monitoring, National Conference for Undergraduate National Conference for Undergraduate also offer direct service to the local community. Research (NCUR) in Lexington, Va., four Research (NCUR) in Asheville, N.C., and the ACRE features a competitive proposal process faculty members dedicated to the Albright Council on Undergraduate Research Biennial open to all students, stipends and free room Creative Research Experience (ACRE) decided Conference in DePauw, Ind. and board during the summer or the January they should share this exciting program with Since the ACRE program was founded in Interim. others across the country. 1997, students have completed 138 projects. Each week during the program, all “We had attended a session on Last summer, 14 students participated, the ACRE students and faculty mentors meet undergraduate research, and we realized largest group in the program’s history. to hear one or two students formally that we do more student research than a “We realized that a lot of people’s present their research. An interdisciplinary lot of other colleges, and we do it better,” ideas of interdisciplinary research are discussion follows. After they complete their recalls Christian S. Hamann, Ph.D., assistant different than ours,” says Osgood, director ACRE projects, students present them to the professor of chemistry and biochemistry. for undergraduate research. “For example, College community in either oral or poster “We decided to create a bold statement interdisciplinarity was contained to a certain format. Students also regularly present that emphasized our interdisciplinary set of related disciplines, such as between ACRE projects at national conferences in approach to student research.” biology and chemistry. Other schools did not their disciplines and at NCUR. Their presentation, “Cultivating a include as great a breadth of interdisciplinary In the future, the faculty plan to seek Multi-Disciplinary Learning Atmosphere connections as we enjoy.” more opportunities to share the ACRE success for Undergraduate Research: The ACRE For example, Darren Stoltzfus ’06 story at national conferences. They also hope Success Story,” was born. brought together physics and education to attract additional funding through gifts The faculty in that car — Hamann, during his ACRE project, “Application and grants, to increase stipends and the Stephen G. Mech, Ph.D., assistant professor of Optical Tweezers to Undergraduate number of students who can participate. of biology, David T. Osgood, Ph.D., associate Education.” And Michael Thompson ’07 “The multi-disciplinary nature of the professor of biology, and Lisa A. Wilder, gained experience in both economics and program allows students and faculty to Ph.D., associate professor of economics political science research by completing his expand their experience beyond their — contacted other faculty in the natural ACRE project, “Smart Growth in Reading, specialization and truly incorporate liberal sciences, the social sciences, and the arts and Pa.: Economic Development in the North arts learning into their research,” Mech the humanities to tell the ACRE story. Andrea Riverside Community.” says. “We strive for, and I think achieve, E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., associate professor Other strengths of the ACRE program a community of scholars which leads to a of psychology and now provost, Wayne E. include close collaboration between students more cohesive campus community.” n Vettleson, assistant professor of theatre, and and faculty mentors, increased opportunities L to R: Karen Campbell, Ph.D. and LaKeisha Hall ’07, Lisa Staub ’07 and L. Susan Seidenstricker, Ed.D., Lisa Wilder, Ph.D. and Michael Thompson ’07, Kristen T. Woodward and Megan Dietz ’07, Shamell Brandon ’05, Joseph Polinski ’09. ...collaboration, increased opportunities to present research, and enhanced competitiveness for graduate school and