DEPARTMENT OF Chemistry News

FALL/WINTER 2013 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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In This Issue Letter from the Head Letter from the Head 1 Constant Through the Change

Department News 2

Two Graduate Students Named HHMI Fellows 6

Oldfield Invested as Harlin Professor of Chemistry 8 A quick glance though the pages of data for research universities in the United States used to Chemistry Convocation 2012 10 this issue of Chemistry News, and benchmark individual departments relative to their peers. Of the four categories that determine Academic Analytics New Faculty Introductions 14 you are likely to see several new “productivity radar” – articles, awards, grant dollars, and faces, as well as several old faces now citations – our department finds itself positioned in the Undergraduate Education: Why Take Organic Chemistry 22 occupying new roles. And if you’ve been on our 98th, 97th, 96th, and 96th percentile, respectively. website lately, you will notice more of the same. Five new Allerton Conference: A History 26 faculty have joined our ranks this fall, while the familiar But the best is never good enough. The faculty and names of Alex Scheeline and Pat Shapley retired this past staff – those who just arrived and those who have been Seemon Pines: A Life Remembered 27 year. Steve Zimmerman’s term as Department Head has around for a while – are dedicated to the professional come to an end, and with it marks the close of a period development of next-generation scientists and educators Alumni Notes 28 in which our department made great strides forward and who will impact the world with their skills and acquired exceptional stability at a time when most of our knowledge. We remain constant through the change. Get Connected: How to Get Involved with Chemistry at Illinois 29 peers suffered through a sour economy that did not spare And for this reason, I am privileged to provide interim its wrath on the chemical industry. And if you follow the leadership to this great department. In Memoriam: Herschel D. Porter 30 goings-on at the University, you’ve undoubtedly heard about our new administrators, new instructional models In Memoriam: Meredith Mallory 30 like the massive open online courses (or MOOCs) and a completely renovated mainstay on the quad – our beloved Obituaries 31 Lincoln Hall. Construction is afoot on our side of the quad as well, with Noyes Lab wrapping up an exterior Newsletter Staff 33 refinishing project as the planning for the update of Chemistry Annex kicks into high gear. With best wishes and Illini pride,

Rest assured that through all the change, the chemistry department at the University of Illinois remains constant at our core. The chemistry department’s foundation is built on the pursuit of mastery in teaching, research and service. For those of you who like to ask, “What’s the evidence for that?” I can confidently back my praises with Jeffrey S. Moore data from Academic Analytics - a provider of high-quality Interim Head and Murchison-Mallory Professor

University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 1 DEPARTMENT NEWS

Department News

Murchison-Mallory Professor of Sweedler supervises the staff who help to Chemistry Jeffrey Moore is serving as run a variety of resources shared between the 2012-13 Interim Department Head. A Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and University of Illinois alumnus and member of the Biomolecular Engineering. Professor Andrew department faculty since 1996, Professor Moore Gewirth served as the previously Director of the will lead the department until August 2013. School, from 2008-2012. During his time in office, he will be overseeing administrative changes within the department (see below) and leading the charge to find a permanent Dr. Christian Ray is serving as Interim replacement for the headship for the 2013-14 Director of General Chemistry. Dr. Ray, academic year. He was preceded in the position by a lecturer and adjunct associate professor in the Roger Adams Professor Steven C. Zimmerman, Department, will lead the general chemistry who served a total of eight years as Head or section, which serves undergraduates across Interim Head. campus for the 2012-13 academic year while it searches for a permanent Director. Dr. Ray is In addition to Professor Moore, leadership a 2005 alumnus of the Department, where he in the Department is now facilitated by two earned his PhD under Professor Jeffrey Moore. Associate Heads—Associate Head of Budget and Operations, Professor Scott Silverman, and Associate Head of Research Faculty, Professor On October 6, 2012, Professor Sharon Martin Gruebele. As Associate Heads, Professors Hammes-Schiffer was inducted into Silverman and Gruebele will assist in the the American Academy of Arts and administration of the Department. Although the Sciences. As a Fellow, she joins one of the position of Associate Head has existed in various nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary forms in the past, these appointments are expected societies. She is the 14th member of Department be an integral part of departmental leaderhip of Chemistry to join the society. going forward. Professor Hammes-Schiffer joined the Department of Chemistry in August 2012 Eiszner Family Chair Jonathan after serving as Professor of Chemistry and the Sweedler has been named Director Eberly Professor of Biotechnology at Penn State of the School of Chemical Sciences University. She is an acknowledged world leader for the 2012-16 term. Professor Sweedler, a in theoretical and computational chemistry with world-renowned analytical chemist, joined the research interests spanning the fields of chemistry, Department of Chemistry in 1991 and previously physics, biology, and computer science. For more served as Director of the Biotechnology Center information on Prof. Hammes-Schiffer and her of Campus. As Director of the School, Professor research, see page 15.

University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 3 DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

Professor Hammes-Schiffer has also Professor Bailey, who joined Chemistry at Illinois covers all aspects of the synthesis and reactivity professional development presentations from a been named the Swanlund Professor in 2006, was recognized for a chip-based test of inorganic, organometallic, and main-group variety of speakers, and informal social functions. of Chemistry. This prestigious campus- for early stage disease detection. Bailey’s research compounds and materials. Finally, the Merit Fellows, with help from their level endowed position is a testament to her interests lie at the interface of bioanalytical and The Larry Faulkner Professorship in Chemistry mentors, will be encouraged to participate in dedication to scholarship and service as well as biomaterials chemistry and he also is affiliated was endowed in 2010 by Dr. Peixin He (Ph.D., undergraduate research opportunities whenever recognition for her outstanding career. with the Department of Bioengineering, 1985) and his wife, Mrs. Xiaoming Chen in possible. In parallel with this endeavor, the Institute for Genomic Biology, and Micro and honor of Professor Larry Faulkner, who was Department of Chemistry debuted a new Nanotechnology Laboratory at the U. of I. Professor of Chemistry and served in a number undergraduate research website and process Professor Prashant Jain has been Jain, who joined Chemistry at Illinois in 2011, of administrative roles including Dean of the this fall in order to better serve the needs of named one of seven researchers investigates interactions between light and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Provost. undergraduates looking for research opportunities, at UIUC to receive an Institute for matter. The magazine recognized Jain for his For more information about the professorship an experience often cited as key in the graduate Advanced Computing Applications work with quantum dots which have tunable and the inaugural investiture, see the next issue of school application process. and Technologies (IACAT) Fellowship. optical properties. He is also affiliated with the Chemistry News. The one-year fellowship will enable Prof. Jain to Department of Physics and the Beckman Institute pursue collaborative projects with the researchers for Advanced Science and Technology. Doctoral candidate and Rienstra and computer technology experts at the National The Department of Chemistry is one group member Kristin Nuzzio was Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). of three groups on campus named named one of nine Eli Lilly Travel Jain will work with NCSA’s Sudhakar Professor Yi Lu was named the 2012 recipients of a National Science Award Recipients. The award, sponsored by Pamidighantam to develop a platform for winner of the Champaign County Foundation grant to support the the Women Chemists Committee (WCC) of the computational characterization and prediction (IL) Innovation Celebration Discovery Merit Fellows Scholarship Program. American Chemical Society, provides funding for of novel nano-optic phenomena. This platform Award, sponsored by the Champaign The program, which debuted this academic female undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral will provide key design guidelines for engineering County Economic Development year, will provide substantial financial support fellows to travel to a national ACS meeting and of optical resonances and electromagnetic fields Corporation. for academically talented but Merit students present their research. The prestigious and highly using metal/semiconductor nanostructures with that demonstrate financial need are majoring in competitive award also includes a luncheon and The award recognizes an individual or group utility in enhanced light harvesting, ultrasensitive mathematics, chemistry, or integrative biology. professional networking opportunities. from the University of Illinois’ Urbana Campus sensing, and induction of non-natural light- who has disclosed to the University’s Office of Along with providing a total of $525,000 in matter interactions in materials and molecules. Technology Management a groundbreaking scholarship funds over 5 years, the project will discovery with potential for significant societal also provide a wide variety of enhanced student impact. Professor Lu is extremely active in the support services. Merit Fellows will be paired Professor Jain and Professor Ryan business side of chemistry, with several patents with with both peer and faculty mentors for at C. Bailey have been named two of and co-ownership of the company ANDalyze. least their first two years at the university. These the world’s top young innovators mentors will provide guidance to help the Merit by Technology Review, the oldest Fellows successfully navigate through these international technology magazine. Professor Thomas Rauchfuss has rigorous STEM majors. They were chosen by magazine editors based out been named to the Larry Faulkner of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from The Merit Fellows will also have the opportunity Professorship in Chemistry. Professor a pool of more than 250 nominees. The award to participate in a wide variety of cohort-building Rauchfuss, previously a William H. and Janet recognizes under-35 innovators for their research activities such as seminars about effective study Lycan Professor of Chemistry and Director of in biomedicine, energy, the Web, computing and strategies in STEM courses, group study sessions, the School of Chemical Sciences, joined the materials, among other emerging fields. Department of Chemistry in 1978. His research

4 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 5 DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

Two Students Win HHMI Predoctoral Fellowships

Two current graduate students, Max Prigozhin of the Gruebele group and • • • • • • Junqi Li (on left) and Junqi Li of the Burke group, were named recipients of a new international Max Prigoshin (on right) student fellowship from the highly prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The fellowship program, which is run via a nomination system, supports top predoctoral students in their third, fourth, and fifth years of their graduate studies.

According to their website, “HHMI chose to start this Prigozhin’s PhD work is centered on “developing a tech- fellowship means that my efforts have been recognized Li echoed Prigozhin’s sentiments, adding, “The award is program—a $2 million commitment in its first year— nology that will allow [scientists] to use a sudden change by some of the most prominent scientists in the world. a tremendous encouragement for me for me as it is a rec- because it recognized a problem: International students in the hydrostatic pressure of a sample as a tool to study Support at this level is very encouraging. It is an incred- ognition that the goals outlined in the research proposal in U.S. graduate schools often have difficulty getting protein folding. In the long run, the goal is to construct ible honor but also a responsibility because I was the only are important. In addition, it frees me from having any funding to support their studies. For example, they are a reliable atomistic model and use it to aid the identifica- Russian scientist to be awarded the fellowship this year. funding concerns for my PhD career.” not eligible for federal education and training grants, state tion of novel drugs that will target protein misfolding and It also reminded me that over the years I have been very Information and quotes from HHMI from: http://www. scholarships, or other stipends that are reserved only for aggregation.” lucky to find great mentors who supported me through- hhmi.org/grants/individuals/intl_fellows.html U.S. citizens. The Institute chose to fund the third to fifth out the application process.” Sean B. Carroll, HHMI’s vice president for science educa- years of graduate school because, by this time, most stu- tion said of the program, “We hope, through these fellow- dents have chosen a graduate advisor, identified a research ships, to identify future scientific leaders.” Recognition project, and demonstrated their potential for success in in the form of fellowships, particularly by organizations as the lab.” well-known and respected as HHMI, can be critical tools The award is a tremendous encouragement for me for me Li’s research focuses around “a building block-based ap- for students as they apply to postdoctoral and faculty “ as it is a recognition that the goals outlined in the research proach as a systematic way of making small molecules. positions, which both Li and Prigozhin plan to pursue The ultimate goal is to develop a platform for mak- post-graduation. proposal are important. In addition, it frees me from having ing small molecules in the same way that peptides and When speaking to Li and Prigozhin about their fellow- oligonucleotides are now made, so that even structurally any funding concerns for my PhD career. ships, their gratitude and the impact of the program was complex chiral small molecules are freely available to the clear. Prigozhin said of winning the award: “Winning this ” ~ Junqi Li non-chemist for functional studies.”

6 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 7 DEPARTMENT NEWS

During his career, Professor Oldfield has been the In addition to the numerous awards for his science, recipient of numerous professional awards including the Professor Oldfield has been recognized for his Royal Society of Chemistry’s Meldola Medal and Prize, contributions to education at the University, being named the Biochemistry Society’s Colworth Medal, ACS’s Award the recipient of the Campus Award for Excellence in Eric Oldfield Invested as in Pure Chemistry, the American Heart Association’s Guiding Undergraduate Research as well as a University Basic Science Research Prize and the Biophysical Society’s Senior Scholar. Harlin Professor of Chemistry Avanti Award in Lipids.

On May 3, 2012, Dr. Eric Oldfield was invested as the Harriet A. Harlin Professor of Chemistry. The Professorship, supported through a bequest by Ms. Harriet A. Harlin, serves to recognize Professor Oldfield’s impact both at Harriet Ann Harlin University of Illinois and in the field of chemistry at large, particularly his Harriet Harlin (1924-2010) was a loyal alumna and She continued her studies at Kansas State University discoveries in the molecular parasitology field. accomplished teacher who wished to support her receiving a MS in chemistry and a second MS, also in alma mater’s endeavors in providing exceptional chemistry, at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The ceremony was held at Alice Campbell Alumni Center, chemistry while working with Dennis Chapman. Next, educational opportunities for students. Her gift, the with Chemistry faculty and University administration Dr. Oldfield worked as an EMBO Fellow at Indiana Harriet A. Harlin Endowment for Chemistry Fund, After working as a chemical analyst in the chemical taking time to honor both Professor Oldfield and Harriet University with Adam Allerhand and later was a visiting not only establishes this Professorship that supports and food industry, Ms. Harlin decided to seek a more Harlin, whose gift made the event and Professorship scientist at MIT with John Waugh. He joined Chemistry academic excellence in teaching and research, but satisfying career, one that would inspire youth. In possible. Speakers including Chemistry Head Steven at Illinois in 1975. also supports scholarships and programs that enrich 1955 she joined the Chicago Board of Education to Zimmerman, SCS Director Andrew Gewirth, and Vice the quality of undergraduate education in general teach high school chemistry. She was an instructor Provost Barbara Wilson reflected on Oldfield and Harlin’s His research interests have covered a broad range of chemistry. at several Chicago public high schools, ending her accomplishments as well as the importance of research topics, including deuterium NMR of lipids and proteins, career at Taft High School. She retired in 1988 after 33 and alumni giving to the success of the Department of carbon-13 NMR of proteins, NMR of non-integral spin Harriet Ann Harlin was born on September 2, 1924 years as a celebrated teacher. Chemistry. After the official investiture concluded, guests quadrupolar nuclei, electrochemical NMR, and quantum in Chicago, IL. Her father—a doctor—and her were treated to a reception where they could network and chemical investigations of NMR, EPR, and Mossbauer mother—a schoolteacher—both inspired her career Harriet Harlin valued her education at Illinois and catch up. spectra of metalloproteins and model systems. choice in science education. remained connected throughout her lifetime. She was a life member of the University of Illinois Eric Oldfield Most recently, Professor Oldfield has developed new After graduating from Alvernia High School in Alumni Association as well as the Bronze Circle and Professor Oldfield began his education at Bec School, approaches to the treatment of infectious diseases Chicago, Ms. Harlin attended the University of Illinois Foundation. London, and then received a BSc in chemistry from targeting bacterial virulence factors. He is known for the at Urbana-Champaign earning a BS in home Bristol University, doing research with Jake Macmillan development of novel anti-parasitics for tropical diseases, as economics from the College of ACES in 1946. Her Oldfield and Harlin biographical information provided by the and Geoffrey Eglinton. He then attended Sheffield well as the development of new lipophilic biophosphonates academic concentration was in hospital dietetics. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. University where he received a PhD in biophysical for use in cancer therapy and immunotherapy.

8 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 9 DEPARTMENTCHEMISTRY NEWSCONNECTIONS DEPARTMENT NEWS

Welcomed into Krannert 2011, she was elected to the Presidential succession of the Chemistry Convocation 2012 Center’s Tryon Festival Theatre American Chemical Society. She will serve as President- by the Aduro Brass quintet, Elect for 2012, President for 2013, and Immediate Past The Chemistry at Illinois family greeted its newest group of alumni the graduates listened to President for 2014. on May 13, 2012 as the Department honored its undergraduate, introductions by then School masters, and doctoral students at the 2012 Convocation Ceremony at of Chemical Sciences Director Additionally, four graduating seniors were specifically and Chemistry Professor honored for their high achievement and dedication to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Andrew Gewirth and College the Department and field. of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dr. Marinda Li Wu Dean Dr. Ruth V. Watkins. Maaz Ahmed was awarded the John C. Bailar The Department was also honored to welcome back to Award for outstanding undergraduate thesis work. campus alumna and current American Chemical Society Maaz played an active role in research for three years, President-elect Marinda Wu as the keynote speaker. most recently with Professor Paul Hergenrother in organic synthesis. In addition to his time in the lab and Dr. Marinda Li Wu received a BS cum laude with serving as a teaching assistant, he worked for a number Distinction in Chemistry from the Ohio State University of pharmaceutical companies. This fall Maaz began and a PhD in Chemistry under Professor Russ Drago attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin- from the University of Illinois in 1979. Her career has Madison, researching catalytic systems. spanned over 30 years with experience in research and development at Dow Chemical and marketing at Dow The John David Barnwell Memorial Award, Plastics. Dr. Wu also founded “Science is Fun!” to engage given to a student who exemplifies high academic young students in the excitement of science and enhance achievement, personal ethics and scholarship, along with public awareness of the importance of supporting and a well-rounded interest in life, friendship, and the arts was improving science education. given to Emre Discekici. Emre was a well-rounded student who had a second major in East Asian Languages An ACS member for over forty years, Dr. Wu has served and culture in addition to his commitment to his research in many leadership roles at both the local and national in Professor Jeff Moore’s group. This year he also helped levels. Dr. Wu has been a Councilor for the California translate a documentary about the devastating March Section for over 15 years and served on the ACS Board 2011 earthquake in Japan. Following graduation, Emre of Directors as Director-at-Large from 2006-2011. In traveled to University of Toyko where he was given a research grant in the Field of Natural Product synthesis.

Christina Barrera, a top student and one of the department’s best teaching assistants during her time on campus, was awarded the Reynold C. Fuson Award for academic excellence in chemistry. As an undergraduate in the Teaching of Chemistry program, she was consistently ranked highly by her students as an excellent instructor and recently received the prestigious campus Teaching Excellence Award. In addition to her

4 | Department of Chemistry News | Spring/Summer 2012 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 11 DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

Graduates work under Gretchen Adams as a teaching * Bronze Tablet recipient Bachelor of Science in Daniel A. Marchwiany + Rebecca Joan Wehrmann + = Christine Toh Herman assistant, Christina was also active in # Chancellor’s Scholar Liberal Arts and Sciences Nicolas E. Martin William Patrick Whalen Jonathan Wayne Kemling Alpha Chi Sigma and the campus Winter + James Scholar recipient Yoonhee Ahn * Bradley James McAllister Dionte Kenard Wiggins Ann M. Knolhoff Flags group. After graduation, Christina & Phi Beta Kappa Corinne L. Aufmann Eric Michael McCurley Jessica Wilson Matthew Kryger = Double Major / Dual Degree Kevin James McDaniel Sydney Yang Timothy John Kucharski moved back to the Chicago suburbs to Alexandra Barabanova • Triple Major Richard D. McGee Jessica Zhang Adam David Langenfeld teach chemistry. Brian James Bergquist Denisa Evangela Bica = Kyle David McQuaid = Wendy Zhang An-Phong Le Bachelor of Science in Jacob S. Bleyer = Vincent Mei Luisel Rodriguez Lemkau C. S. Marvel Award The , given for Chemistry Nicholae B. Brown Phillip Mekeel Bachelor of Science Christopher S. Letko excellence in undergraduate thesis research, Andrew W. Acosta Collin E. Burdick Sabre Y. Mitchell in the Teaching of Seth L. Marquard was presented to Eric Novitsky. Eric was Waseem Ahmad Andrea E. Carmichael Ancy S. Mohan Chemistry Nicholas Marshall one of our most active undergraduates, Maaz S. Ahmed Dana Mast Caton Justin Jiwhan Moon Christina Barrera Andrew Allen Mills and was a well-known face around the Mark Richard Baker Brian Chin = Alyson Joy Moseberry Brendan Thomas Kane Andrew Jon Nieuwkoop Department of Chemistry. In addition to Allen Bark Heyim Cho Amanda E. Mulcrone + Daniel Hyun Kim Trent J. Oman Nathan J. Nard Daniel S. Palacios his research in Prof. Steven Zimmerman’s Muhammad Kumayl Bin Robert A. Craig Katherine Kokosinski Emre H. Discekici + = Alyssa M. Novak Rahul Palchaudhuri group, Eric was also active in outreach, Abdul Wahab James Jin Park Ellen M. Briggs Cynthia Marie Donati = Jung Min Oh Alexander A. Parent participating in the REACT program Brian Rosten John Craffey Jennifer Glenna Donenberg= Michael Ornelas Benjamin S. Torrisi Abraham Jaleel Qavi which provides chemistry demonstrations Joseph H. Cullen James Drake + Karla Padilla Janusz Wieczorek Stacie Lynn Richardson to local schools. Eric is currently attending Aaron Jacob Gore + William Philip Fanning Mack-Anthony P. Parayo Amit Sachdeva the University of California, Irvine for Heather A. Hanson Peter Filip Marissa A. Pasquini + = Master of Science in Lingjuan Shen Dev Rohit Patel + Ting Shi graduate studies. Kevin Richard Hayek Brittney Lee Fiorello Chemistry Julianna F. Gaffney Dhara R. Patel + = Lindsay J. Sperling Kendon Scott Holtz Ian Pearson Blitz Ritesh Gandhi Theresa Phan Erik M. Stang After the ceremony concluded, graduates Joel S. Johnson Darivs Brown Brianna M. Goen Tejas Rawal = Matthew A. Thorseth as well as their family and friends joined Steven Kelder Jenna Audrey Klubnick Joseph E. Kelly Anna Catherine Gormley + Jessica Frank Reynolds Kevin Ryan Tucker department faculty and staff in the Thomas Kirk Mahle Anisha Gupta Oliver Cereno Rivera Juan Esteban Velasquez SooKyum Kim David Frayne Shudy breezeway between Noyes Laboratory and Niloufar Hafezi-Mashhadi = Nicholas Joseph Romito * Nicolaas Vermeulen Steven G. Lu Robert Carl Weintraub the Chemistry Annex Building to enjoy a Paige A. Malec = Michael R. Hardig Zachary Albert Rosenfeldt Adam L.Washburn reception honoring the graduates. Raymond Biondy Henka Patty Ann Rottinghaus Nathan S. Werner Christopher Paul Myers Doctor of Philosophy in Christopher M. Nellessen Sonam Jaglan Michael James Rummans Diana Christine West Chemistry Mark Allen Nesbit Katie Sooyeon Kang Anna Katie Sankovsky * + Tiffany Diane Wilson Eric James Novitsky Christopher Kemna Zachary David Sasnow Cyrus A. Anderson Tyler Winslow Wilson Elizabeth Anne Ott Seon Kyung Kim Kirsten J. Sawyer Joseph S. Bair On Yi Wong Joseph Timothy Puhr Clark C. Kulak William John Schaeffer Audrey M. Bowen Tianjiao Wu Aaron Matthew Raiff + Shivani Kumar + = Tovah M. Schwartz + Brian Elliott Brumfield Hangxun Xu Jacob Ryan Mingshan M. Lai Rutvik Jay Shah Christine Cecala Jieqian Zhang Sarah Marie Savegnago Ian Paul Thomas Lake Jinny Hyunjin Shin Chaenyung Cha Ming Zhong Brittany E. Schnepel Khair Lambaz = Jordan T. Sinnott John Stephen Comninos Andrew Theodore Zill Mohammed Hasan Siddiaui Michelangelo J. Latona Paul Francis Smith Rusty W. Conner This program contains an unofficial list of Kevin J. Sramek Dong-Hoon Lee Ryan I. Solan Dustin Joseph Covell Christopher Dailey candidates for graduation on May 15, 2011 Sara Noelle Streeb Hyunjin Lee Annemarie Spiezia and a list of graduates who received degrees in Chi Pan Ting * Charlie Kyungchan Lee Kamil Stelmach Andrew Clifford Dunbar August 2010, October 2010, and December 2010. Due to printing deadlines, the names of Ross Worobel Benjamin Lew Sean T. Toenjes Nathan Webster Duncan-Gould Jessica F. Frisz some degree recipients may not appear, while Anthony C. Yerkes Kenneth Liu = Selam Totonchi the name of some degree candidates who have Michael Tyler Zoloty Sarah Yu Malina Brian B. Towell Kaitlyn C. Gray not completed their degree requirements may Edmund Charles March Mengyi Wang = Jeremy Jay Hatch be included.

12 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 13 FACULTY

Department of Chemistry: What attracted you to Department of Chemistry: Now that you’ve had a the University of Illinois? few months to settle into the community, what are your favorite things about UIUC and Urbana-Champaign? Alison Fout: The department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois is ranked quite high nationally, Alison Fout: One of my favorite things (outside the meaning I would be able to work with not only the best chemistry department, my group and lab) about UIUC and brightest students, but also with world-renowned is the ability to watch some great sporting events—I have colleagues. Adding that to the exceptional facilities, attended both football and basketball games. My favorite department collegiality and knowledgeable staff makes thing, thus far, about Urbana-Champaign is that it is a Illinois a desirable place. great college town with a variety of things to do. I been able to enjoy quite a few of the restaurants the town has to offer from Asian-fusion, to American, Mexican, Thai Department of Chemistry: Were you always and Italian and have already established some favorites. New Faculty Introductions interested in being a professor? What attracted you to academia over something like industry? Department of Chemistry: One of your main As mentioned in Professor Jeff Moore’s Letter from the Head, the 2011-12 Alison Fout: During the course of my graduate studies roles as professor will be serving as a mentor to student academic year marked a number of significant changes in the Department. it became apparent to me that my favorite time during researchers. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom the day was mentoring the undergraduate students I was to students interested in pursuing studying chemistry? Professors Alex Scheeline and Patricia Shapley retired at the end of the working with. I loved teaching them about research and academic year and Department Head Steven Zimmerman and SCS Director watching them grow into scientists. In industry, I would Alison Fout: My main advice for students interested Andrew Gewirth wrapped up their terms while Jeff Moore and Jonathan not have had the opportunity to work with students and in studying chemistry is to be passionate and work hard. develop the next generation of scientists. During my Also it is important to get involved with a research lab as Sweedler stepped in to begin their new administrative roles. In the midst of postdoctoral work, I realized that the research ideas I was early as possible during your course of study. This will these internal changes, the Department was able to successfully recruit five most passionate about were quite challenging and in order give you a great opportunity to get hands on experience new faculty members. To give readers an introduction to the newest members to pursue these ideas, I needed to work at a PhD granting doing research, which is different from the lab classes that of the Chemistry at Illinois faculty, Chemistry News recently got in touch institution. Over time I developed into wanting to be a you take, and really allow you to explore your interest in professor so that I could investigate ideas I was excited chemistry. with each new faculty member to ask some questions to get acquainted. about, all while mentoring students. Alison Fout my undergraduate studies where I majored in chemistry Department of and ran cross-country and played water polo. After Department of Chemistry: Can you go into a bit Sharon Hammes-Schiffer graduation I moved south to Charlotte, North Carolina Chemistry: Welcome! more detail about your research interests? Department of to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University Can you tell us a bit Chemistry: Welcome! of North Carolina at Charlotte. During my time at about your background? Alison Fout: The Fout research program focuses on Before joining the UNCC, working in Prof. Dan Rabinovich’s lab, I fell in the synthesis of ligand architectures that can support University of Illinois, love with research and mentoring students and it became Alison Fout: I am a transition metal complexes capable of mediating unusual you were a professor evident to me, that I needed to pursue my PhD I then native Midwesterner transformations for biological, environmental and energy at the Pennsylvania moved back to the Midwest and to Big Ten rival Indiana and grew up on the problems. Our main curiosities stem from catalytic, State University. What University, where I obtained my PhD under the guidance shores of Lake Erie synthetic inorganic, and bioinorganic chemistry. The attracted you to the of Prof. Dan Mindiola. Another move, this time to in northern Ohio. I group is interested in using synthesis, reactivity, and Chemistry at Illinois? attended Gannon the Northeast, for my postdoctoral work at Harvard mechanistic studies to understand the activation of small University in Erie, PA for University with Prof. Ted Betley, allowed me to continue molecules by low-coordinate transition metal-ligand to develop as a synthetic inorganic chemist. multiple bonds.

1614 | Department of Chemistry News | Spring/Summer Fall/Winter 2013 2012 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 15 FACULTY FACULTY

Hammes-Schiffer: I was impressed by the outstanding Department of Chemistry: You were recently my undergraduate career I participated in an REU Department of Chemistry: Can you go into a bit faculty, particularly the breadth and depth of the research, inducted into the American Academy of Arts and program at Montana State University over the summer more detail about your research interests? in this department. Sciences, and have received numerous awards and of 2001 where I worked in Prof. Paul Grieco’s laboratory. recognition for your contributions to the field including This was my first exposure to organic chemistry research Kami Hull: Research in the Hull group focuses on being a fellow of the American Chemical Society and and I was hooked. Upon returning to Macalester, I the development of transition metal-catalyzed reactions Department of Chemistry: When did you first the American Physical Society as well as winning the worked with Prof. Ronald Brisbois for the next two years, to access important organic products in a single step become interested in chemistry? You describe your Camille-Dreyfuss Teaching Award. Are any particularly which was my first exposure to organometallic catalysis. from easily accessible functionalities, ideally, without research generally as the development and application meaningful to you? In 2003, after obtaining my BA in chemistry, I chose the generation of any stoichiometric byproducts. We of theoretical and computational methods for to pursue my PhD under the guidance of Prof. Melanie aim to develop novel approaches to tradition bond describing chemical reactions in condensed phases and Hammes-Schiffer: All of these honors are meaningful Sanford, at the University of Michigan. My doctoral disconnections, augmenting existing techniques. at interfaces—what specifically drew you to study the to me because they signify that my research and teaching research focused on the development of palladium- interface of theoretical and physical chemistry? contributions are appreciated by my colleagues. catalyzed oxidative functionalization of C–H bonds for the synthesis of C–O, C–F, and C–C bonds. I received Department of Chemistry: Now that you’ve had a Hammes-Schiffer: I was always interested in math several awards for my graduate work, including the ACS few months to settle into the community, what are your and the physical sciences, and I decided to major in Department of Chemistry: Now that you’ve had a Organic Division fellowship, the Roche Excellence in favorite things about UIUC and Urbana-Champaign? chemistry when I was a sophomore at Princeton. The few months to settle into the community, what are your Chemistry Award, and the Fajans Outstanding Thesis interface of theoretical and physical chemistry allows me favorite things about UIUC and Urbana-Champaign? award. Upon graduation in early 2009, I went on to be Kami Hull: UIUC is a fantastic university. I really like to combine my love of math, computers, chemistry, an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratories of Prof. the supportive and dynamic atmosphere in the chemistry and physics. Hammes-Schiffer: I appreciate the sense of Barry Trost, where I worked on the total synthesis of department and the university as a whole. Urbana- community and the collegiality of the university. We are (–)-lasonolide A and the development of a palladium- Champaign is a great place to live; as the home of a large also enjoying sampling the wide range of restaurants in catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation reaction with university, there are great restaurants, people, and schools. Department of Chemistry: Tell us a little bit about the area. lactam nucleophiles. Also, the sunsets on the prairie are spectacular. your current research interests.

Hammes-Schiffer: My current research group is Department of Chemistry: What attracted you to Department of Chemistry: One of your main divided into three subgroups: proton-coupled electron Kami Hull the University of Illinois? roles as professor will be serving as a mentor to student transfer (PCET), biological systems, and fundamental Department of researchers. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom aspects of electron-proton interactions. Our work Chemistry: Welcome! Kami Hull: I was excited to join the faculty at the to students interested in pursuing studying chemistry? combines the development of new analytical theories Can you tell us a bit University of Illinois due to the quality of the students, and computational methods with applications relevant about your background? colleagues, and facilities – there was no better place for Kami Hull: Follow your passion and be fearless - join to alternative energy sources such as solar cells, as well as me to start my career. the group and work on the chemistry that you are most biochemistry and enzymology. In the PCET subgroup, Kami Hull: I am a excited about; if you do you will be both successful and we study both electrochemical reactions, namely the native Midwesterner happy. Graduate school is hard and requires a lot of work, design of molecular electrocatalysts for hydrogen who grew up in Green Department of Chemistry: Were you always but no matter how hard you try or how smart you are production and oxidation, and photoinduced processes, Bay and later Whitefish interested in being a professor? What attracted you to chemistry will not always work; keep things in perspective specifically the ultrafast nonequilibrium dynamics Bay, Wisconsin. When academia over something like industry? and don’t let minor setbacks in chemistry discourage you following photoexcitation. In the biological subgroup, I went to Macalester from reaching your goals. we investigate enzyme reactions, particularly the role of College, in St. Paul, MN, I wanted to be a chemistry Kami Hull: I have always enjoyed working with conformational motions, electrostatics, and hydrogen teacher and run the technical theater program at a high others and by the end of my undergraduate education bonding, as well as the mechanisms of ribozymes, which school. I really enjoyed both chemistry and designing and I knew that I wanted to be a professor and by my third are RNA enzymes. In the last subgroup, we develop building theatrical sets. However, I quickly realized that year at the University of Michigan I knew I wanted to quantum mechanical methods for studying electron- I could combine the two areas together - as an organic mentor graduate students at an R1 university. Although proton correlation and non-Born-Oppenheimer effects. chemist I could discover new reactions, design elegant I considered working in industry, I was attracted to the syntheses, and synthesize much smaller scaffolds. During freedom in research that an academic career affords.

16 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 17 FACULTY FACULTY

Richard H. Perry me to UIUC, and I look forward to contributing to the area in my laboratory involves creating state-of-the- Joaquín Rodríguez-López Department of continued success of the university. art mass spectrometric tools to intercept the transient Department of Chemistry: Welcome! intermediates of catalytic systems that are important for Chemistry: Welcome! Can you tell us a bit synthetic and energy applications. These capabilities may Can you tell us a bit about your background? Department of Chemistry: Were you always one day inform synthetic chemists about fast on- and about your background? interested in being a professor? What attracted you to off-path reactions, which will facilitate the design of more Richard H. Perry: academia over something like industry? efficient catalysts. Joaquín Rodríguez- I grew up on a tropical López: I was born island in the Caribbean. Richard H. Perry: Becoming a professor has always in central Mexico, in After leaving Jamaica, been my childhood dream. After completing my Ph.D. Department of Chemistry: Now that you’ve had a a town that seen in I attended Florida degree, I explored career opportunities in industry, few months to settle into the community, what are your retrospect, has a similar Atlantic University and I received job offers from various pharmaceutical favorite things about UIUC and Urbana-Champaign? weather to the Urbana- where I completed degrees in Biology (BS) and companies. However, I decided to accept a Champaign area. I was always a good student at school, Chemistry (MS). During my master’s thesis research, postdoctoral position at Stanford University because Richard H. Perry: I truly admire the unwavering obtaining the highest grades and eager to learn things, I became fascinated with analytical chemistry and the I believe that academia provides the greatest potential collegiality at the UIUC. Interacting and collaborating but it was until middle school that I discovered that my ability of mass spectrometry to unravel the chemical for personal and professional growth. The freedom with scientists from many different disciplines is easy real passion was science. My parents managed a restaurant composition of the world. This scientific interest led to explore scientific questions puts great emphasis on because of their openness to new ideas and ways of and we did not eat at home, so soon, I had configured me to pursue a PhD degree with R. Graham Cooks at acquiring new knowledge, and interacting with young, thinking. In addition, I appreciate the immense and our kitchen as my own chemistry laboratory. In high Purdue University, where I participated in inventing vibrant minds that inspire and motivate can only unique commitment of the administration to catapult the school, I received mainly instruction in humanities, but a mass spectrometric instrumentation and in elucidating be found in academe. In addition, being a professor careers of young assistant professors toward success. The large impetus from my middle school experience helped ion dynamics in novel mass analyzers. After learning provides me the unique opportunity to teach students other aspects I appreciate are the university’s exceptional me choose (correctly) chemistry as my path. I attended these fundamentals, I was honored to work for Richard about the wonders of the Universe and to participate in support staff and facilities, especially in the Department Tecnológico de Monterrey in north Mexico. There I had N. Zare as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. their development as independent thinkers, a process of Chemistry, which enable scientists to perform world- even better teachers and soon enough I was breathing I was involved in developing new analytical techniques that is tremendously rewarding. class research. In the Urbana-Champaign area, I have analytical and physical chemistry. I was not exceptional to address complex problems in cancer biology and found small treasures, such as the Arboretum, Japan at synthesis, so when I found I could direct and control organometallic catalysis. House, and Krannert Art Museum, which are truly chemical reactions using a potentiostat, I was sold and Department of Chemistry: Can you go into a bit beautiful and inspiring attractions. decided to become an electrochemist. I worked under the more detail about your research interests? supervision of Prof. Marcelo Videa who gave me great Department of Chemistry: What attracted you to freedom to work in the lab; I attended national meetings the University of Illinois? Richard H. Perry: To be effective, anticancer drugs Department of Chemistry: One of your main and even got a prize for my bachelor’s thesis. Close to must penetrate tumor microenvironments to reach roles as professor will be serving as a mentor to student graduation, he suggested that I applied to Prof. Allen J. Richard H. Perry: I am excited to work for UIUC cells existing hundreds of micrometers distal to blood researchers. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom Bard’s laboratory of electrochemistry at the University of mainly because I admire its commitment to excellence in vessels. One of my research interests involves developing to students interested in pursuing studying chemistry? Texas at Austin. I could not agree better with him and research and teaching, which is exemplified by the many label-free imaging methods that generate detailed eventually moved to Austin, where my PhD years were Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and outstanding maps simultaneously showing drug penetration, cell Richard H. Perry: My advice to students can be fruitful and inspiring. The instruction I received with scientists affiliated with the university. Public universities heterogeneity, and chemical composition in tumor summarized in the words of Ralph Emerson: “Do not go Prof. Bard really shaped me as a scientist, and gave me the such as UIUC help societies to efficiently cope with the microenvironments. These studies will allow the where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path tools to take the next step and move to Cornell University challenges of the 21st century through education, and I prediction of drug efficacy based on tumor morphology, and make a trail.” Making one’s trail will be difficult and will for a post doc in the prestigious laboratory of Prof. Héctor look forward to being a part of this process. In addition, chemical composition, and structure, thereby significantly require discipline, determination, and hard work. Despite Abruña. There, I was exposed to a wider scientific world, the Department of Chemistry at UIUC is ranked among facilitating drug discovery and cancer treatment. This the many obstacles, never lose sight of your goals, always be were I learned much about materials chemistry and even the best in the world, so I am privileged to be afforded the powerful imaging capability can potentially transform true to yourself, and do not be afraid to fail. True success can got the opportunity of changing instrumental scales: from opportunity to work with great leaders in various fields of biomedical research by advancing current understanding only come from your unique perception of the world and working with tiny electrodes to doing measurements in research. These are just a few of the factors that attracted of tumorigenesis and by identifying new avenues to your courage to explore new ideas in the face of adversity. a building-size machine. If we stand on the shoulders of improve cancer therapies. Another area of research

18 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 UniversityUniversity of of Illinois Illinois Department Department of of Chemistry Chemistry | 1921 FACULTY FACULTY

giants, my case is not an exception, and that eventually develops your intellect in unsuspected ways, there is about electrocatalysts, i.e. substances that help us convert interests. Chemistry is a very demanding science and any gave me the push to pursue my independent interests at always the motivation to study and understand things chemical energy into electricity. We like to give practical program, graduate or undergraduate, will test your skills the University of Illinois. better because you want to deliver knowledge in ways that uses to new and exciting materials, such as the thinnest in many levels, but it will also offer many opportunities in escape your own understanding. For example, teaching electrode possible: graphene. We produce reactions that which you can blossom as a scientist or if you want, as an is like writing an interactive article. If you just wrote a give off light, and by doing so, we try to obtain hidden entrepreneur. One of the reasons why I chose Chemistry Department of Chemistry: What attracted you to simple article, there is only so much you can put down information from nanomaterials. We do all of this using as my major is that it allowed me to combine all my the University of Illinois? with your pen. But if you are constantly challenged by very tiny electrodes and a technique called scanning interests in math, physics and biology in one science that questions and requests for new analogies and examples electrochemical microscopy. somehow is radically different than these ingredients. Joaquín Rodríguez-López: There are many reasons you are always perfecting your explanations, you are This is a charm that chemistry has and it allows you to to come to a world-class research university such as the able to engage in writing a never-ending story, one more create very original things. So if you are already a student University of Illinois. One important reason was to notice complete and where you and your students get the benefit Department of Chemistry: Now that you’ve had a thinking in pursuing chemistry, I can only say “Great! the quality and motivation of the students. I could not of knowledge. One hopes that this story at some point few months to settle into the community, what are your You have already taken the first step into a career full of be happier with the group of students that just joined my becomes a “best-seller” amongst the students. Thinking favorite things about UIUC and Urbana-Champaign? opportunities, I am sure there is one passion that you lab, whether graduate or undergraduate. This observation about the many things that I would have liked to do with will find amongst all these fields that Chemistry touches, also seemed to be a recurring topic in the “hiring-period” my life, being a professor maximizes their number. You Joaquín Rodríguez-López: The parks in now it is up to you to study and work hard to find such conversations with my now colleagues, and it has not get to teach, learn, write, create, travel and maybe even Champaign are great. It was also great to discover a a driving force for a successful career. ” and my feedback disappointed me. Additionally, I identified the great generating knowledge that translates into wealth. couple of places with good Mexican food, this always would be that if you like the concepts involved in the instrumental and micro- and nano-fabrication resources appreciated. We like also the warmth and kindliness quotation marks, you are heading the right way. we have on campus as something that would allow me with which we have been welcomed by our peers and to achieve my research goals more readily. I still cannot Department of Chemistry: Can you go into a bit the people we have interacted with in the town. The wait to see how my students grow intellectually using more detail about your research interests? University has been a great place to explore. The gyms these resources. Finally, knowing that the department (both ARC and CRCE) are very fun places to do some was opening its doors to four new faculty, the idea of Joaquín Rodríguez-López: We study how electrons exercise and they are very complete. Food around collaborating with people that were as engaged and and ions interact with different materials, mainly for campus is great, but inside campus is even better, our motivated as I am, really made a great impression on me. the purpose of developing new methods of analysis of favorite place to have quick lunch is Bevier Café. We Then you have the tradition of excellence in the Chemistry samples and for understanding and modifying materials have also enjoyed activities by the many organizations on Department, and all the good things that come with it: for energy conversion (e.g. alternative sources such campus and from the chemistry department; in our first collegiality, experience, learning from great groups and the as fuel cells) and energy storage (e.g. batteries). The departmental picnic I played soccer with the students opportunity to collaborate with researchers throughout branch of chemistry that deals with this is generally and I hope they give me the chance next year as well! We campus, whether in Chemistry or not. termed as Electrochemistry, but at its core, really one is think the Urbana-Champaign area is a very easy place to combining a bit of everything, so in a typical experiment, live in and it is very convenient and peaceful. we transform matter (synthesis), we transport it (mass Department of Chemistry: Were you always transfer, engineering), we analyze the rate at which it interested in being a professor? What attracted you to is transformed (kinetics), we control with enormous Department of Chemistry: One of your main academia over something like industry? precision the energy that we input into the system roles as professor will be serving as a mentor to student (thermodynamics) and we do so by developing new and researchers. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom Joaquín Rodríguez-López: I have always liked exciting instrumentation (analysis). We even analyze light to students interested in pursuing studying chemistry? teaching and the idea of becoming a university professor. emission and absorption in our systems (spectroscopy). I had opportunities that I could have pursued for an We keep our interests broad, and this allows us to think Joaquín Rodríguez-López: In my short experience, industrial position, but I always knew that I wanted the about strategies that make our research special. So we wisdom is a big word but I do know that to be successful opportunity to set up my own research program and are developing platforms in which we can describe and in anything, you have to enjoy what you do and be to pursue my own scientific adventure. Not only that, better the performance of lithium-ion batteries. We serious, might even say passionate, about it. You must I enjoy teaching very much. The teaching interaction develop experiments that will tell us key parameters be courageous to take opportunities and to follow your

20 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 21 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Why Take Organic Chemistry Risk, Failure and Uncertainty – An essay on the habits and attitudes beneficial to solving complex problems By: Professor Jeffrey S. Moore

A Re-evaluation of means to acquire better problem Most enter college trained Instructional Objectives solving skills. A course which to attack problems by For the past 13 years I’ve taught develops the habits and attitudes memorization and “plug- a two-semester sequence of beneficial of solving difficult and-chug” (i.e., algorithmic) introductory organic chemistry problems is likely to produce approaches. A major goal of • • • • • • • • • to students at the University of greater value for the majority college teaching, in my opinion, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. of the students enrolled in the should be to reprogram this Professor Moore The majority of my students course. After all, learning to mindset. Therefore, many of lecturing on are pre-professionals and most solve problems, particularly the problems encountered in organic chemistry during a recent are not chemistry majors. the kind of complex, open- my class are different than trip to Beijing. While the format and means ended problems encountered in what students may be used to. by which I deliver these courses organic chemistry, has relevance Organic chemistry problems has continually evolved, I have and meaning to every future require solutions that multi- – until very recently – held professional. step, multi-faceted and non- steadfast to the idea that the A Framework for Solving algorithmic. Nobody solves organic chemistry content is Complex Problems these problems by memorization the most important objective alone. Nor are solutions found The title change and the of my teaching. I was fully by applying a simple formula. emphasis it implies is likely to aware that the problem solving The pathway to a solution – and significantly alter my approach skills which students acquire the main point to take away to instruction. For example, I are important too, but problem from the graphic – involves will be more deliberate about solving, as an intentional part risk, failure and uncertainty. teaching a framework to help of my instruction, took a Getting used to taking chances, students navigate their way secondary role to rigor in the overcoming setbacks, and through problem solving. The subject matter. For the reasons developing confidence to framework I have in mind is explained below, I’ve flipped move through doubt, are the described in the next section the priorities of these two experiences you’ll encounter in and outlined schematically instructional objectives. In fact, my class. Becoming comfortable in this article’s graphic. The if I were to re-title the course with these experiences will graphic highlights the attitudes today, I might call it, The Skills help to confront the kinds of and habits that students must of Complex Problem Solving problems that are sure to fill develop in order to successfully Learned Through the Study of future professional careers. meet the challenges associated Organic Chemistry. with solving many kinds of The Iterative Process The new title suggests that complex problems, including of Solving Complex problem solving should the ones in organic chemistry, Problems supersede course content as where there are many multi- The process begins by the primary instructional step synthesis or mechanism generating initial-step options objective. In this light, the problems. symbolized by letters A through organic chemistry content is the Z. The options are created by

University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 23 DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

For those who are flexible and “ capable in problem solving, the using various techniques, or When students with poorly possibly by repeated application course can be a turning point in developed memories reach in of just one technique. the information warehouse to Consciously or unconsciously, intellectual development. generate initial-step options, expert solvers do the same when ” they cannot find what the need, they attack such problems. techniques isn’t exhaustive, but initial-step choices, beginning either because it’s not there or For the expert solver, however, the list represents the common the entire process again, possibly because the facts are not well just one initial-step option is approaches to create initial-step by creating an even larger set of organized. These students tend usually all it takes, being crafted options. initial-step choice. Alternatively, to grab and use whatever they the solver may decide to proceed intuitively and accurately from Next, one must choose an find. The result is a poor set of onward through uncertainty years of experience and stored option from those created. It initial-step options and almost by generating another round of information. But even the is very possible that one of the certain failure. These students next-step options and further expert must follow through the initial-step options stands out as are relying on intuition that’s evaluating the result. This iterative process to intuition, the better than the others, but it is biased because their information iterative process continues until initial-step options are almost also possible that none of them warehouse is limited or in a solution is reached. certainly biased by a limited appear more reasonable than the disarray. In contrast, students experience-base, although s/ others. It is also possible that The challenges are obvious: who perform best have practiced he still might intuitively the solver has yet to consider successfully generating a solving complex problems over produce an acceptable choice. the solution. So, a risk must sufficient number of options, and over again. Having an Conversely, a novice solver be taken – a choice must be overcoming narrowness that Graphic created part, because they are new; the learning fails to achieve this. extensive collection of organized by SCS Graphic may need to consider several made – an option must be results from biases, continually solver has never before charted Structured information is what facts, these students are able to initial-step options. If the novice Designer Dorothy a solution to the problem at provides insight and a deeper reach into their memories in the pursued. With the initial choice making choices from a growing Loudermilk uses his or her intuition, the in hand, the solver performs and tangled web of options, hand. Since the problem is level of understanding. So heat of the moment and quickly intial-step options are almost further action on the initial knowing when to cut one’s new, it follows that the solver’s how does one acquire a rich find what they need. You might certainly biased by a limited- choice to advance it toward losses, and knowing when memory provides no record memory that is organized for say they are developing “accurate experience base, although s/he a solution. This “something” to continue to plow through of the complete solution. And solving complex problems? intuition”. might intuitively produce an while memory alone cannot The answer is practice and might be to create another set experiences that produce Educational Significance acceptable choice. If you think possibly provide a complete repetition. By practicing a of options – the secondary-step accurate intuition. This takes In conclusion, my colleague “rule of thumb” sounds like solution to a complex problem, variety of complex problems, options – using the techniques concentration, persistence, Peter Beak makes a valuable an algorithm, you’re correct. a strong and productive memory students are exposed to a wide outlined above possibly with adaptability and regular practice observation: However remember that the the aid of field-specific tools over an extended time. The does help the solver by allowing range of fact-filled experiences. “rule of thumb” only provides (e.g., organic chemists might use successful solvers are probably him/her to quickly generate With repetition, they’ll learn Too many students are unable an initial-step option, rather curved arrow notation). Once comfortable delaying their relevant options at each step to construct associations to make the transition [from than guaranteeing a pathway to the secondary-step options are gratification. of the iterative process. Given and recognize patterns. In algorithmic to non-algorithmic a solution. created, an evaluation in made the benefits of memory, it other words, practice grows approaches], and while not On the Role of Memory – by comparing the developing is important to distinguish the information warehouse literally failing the course, miss Other techniques commonly Practice and Repetition solution to the targeted solution, memorization that is productive while repetition organizes it. the opportunity to develop an used to generate initial-step Throughout high school and to see if there is an obvious from rote learning. Practice and repetition are thus important professional and options are reasoning-by analogy possibly even into the first pathway to completion. If no effective means to a strong and intellectual skill at this point. For whereby a complex problem is year of college, rote learning Rote learning is the act of clear pathway to the targeted productive memory. And unlike those who are flexible and capable seen in relationship to another serves students well. Since past storing information without solution is yet in sight, the solver rote learning, this memorization in problem solving, the course can problem whose solution is success encourage one to stick meaning. To realize fast must contemplate defeat or face technique does help solve be a turning point in intellectual known. If all else fails, a slow, with what worked, it’s not recall and to make proper the uncertainty of continuing complex problems. development. detailed and deliberate analysis surprising that many students connections, it is essential not onward. If the developing is pursued which, for organic will try to rely heavily on only to have a wealth of relevant The role of memory is easily I want to teach in a way that solution shows obvious chemistry, might involve a memorization-only approach. facts in one’s mind, but also seen by comparing students will help more of my students shortcomings, the solver may bonds-made, bonds-broken But they shouldn’t! Complex to have those facts organized with strong memories to those realize this turning point. accept failure and return to the association chart. This list of problems are challenging, in in an orderly manner and rote whose memories are deficient.

24 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 25 FACULTY

The Allerton Conference: A History Seemon Pines: The annual Beak-Pines Organic Area Research Conference is held at A Life Remembered beautiful Allerton Park, an English-style estate located approximately The Department of Chemistry is saddened to 20 miles southwest of Champaign in Monticello, Illinois. At this announce the passing of Dr. Seemon Pines, conference, one student from each organic chemistry research group an alumnus and longtime supporter of the presents his/her work in the old library of the Robert Allerton House. Department and its students. Seemon H. Pines was born in Portland, Maine Students from each group also used. The organic chemistry In honor of Dr. and Mrs. and educated in public schools in Maine, present their work in the form faculty, which included Beak, Beak’s gift, Dr. Beak’s initial New York, and Pennsylvania. He pursued of a poster. Lunch is enjoyed in Broka, Schuster, Coates, idea for the conference, as well undergraduate studies at Lehigh University, the grand dining hall, and after Curtin, Denmark, Rinehart, as Dr. Pines’ critical gift which which were postponed for two years of service lunch there is free time used to Pirkle, Katzenellenbogen, P. created and helped to sustain wander through the manicured Shapley, and Zimmerman, the conference, the organic area in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. In 1948, grounds of the more than 5,000 developed three proposals, faculty decided to rename the Dr. Pines completed his BS degree in chemical acres of forest and prairie along one of which was to provide Allerton Conference the Beak- engineering. He continued his academic career the Sangamon River featuring continuing support for the Pines Organic Area Allerton at the University of Illinois and became a formal English gardens and over Allerton Conference. Pleased Conference. member of Professor Nelson Leonard’s group. 100 outdoor sculptures. by this option, Pines donated He received a Master’s Degree in 1949 and a PhD in 1951 for his thesis titled “The Although the donors and faculty the $50,000 award to create Clemmensen reduction cum rearrangement of α-Aminoketones.” On October 17, 1987, the have helped to facilitate the an endowment to support first Organic Area Allerton conference, its true success has the conference. In subsequent After graduation, Dr. Pines joined Merck and Company as a bench chemist. He Conference was held. The intent been because of the initiative years, the conference has been devoted his entire career to Merck and ultimately achieved the position of Vice of the conference was to provide and leadership of graduate supported by income from President of Process Research and Development before retiring in 1991. In 1987, he students with an opportunity students. They chair and the Pines endowment with received the Director’s Scientific Award, the highest honor Merck bestows upon its to present their work in the organize the conference, give supplements from the organic researchers in recognition of outstanding scientific achievements. lecture and poster formats the presentations, participate area, faculty funds, and the and informal discussions of in the discussions and provide Dr. Pines was honored for his leading role in the commercial development of the Obiter Company. scientific meetings, to facilitate guidance to their successors. broad spectrum antibiotic, Primaxin. This work is considered one of the greatest communication about ongoing In 2010 Peter and Sandra Beak The Allerton conference is one synthetic challenges ever brought to commercialization and thus is a benchmark in work between research began donations, which now of the academic high points of the pharmaceutical industry. As a central figure at Merck, Dr. Pines was involved in a groups and to give students total over $150,000 for support the year and is clearly fulfilling variety of projects, including the manufacturing process of niacin, glutamic acid, and organizational and leadership of the Organic Area Allerton its initial purpose. penicillin, and other work on methyldopa, indomethacin, carbidopa and sulindac. experience. The Organic Area Conference. Dr. Beak said of the At the end of each conference, Dr. Pines guided the Merck Process Group to a preeminent position in synthesis Allerton Conference has been gift, “Sandra and my motivation the Seemon Pines Award is and process chemistry. On October 13, 2000, Dr. Pines was honored with the 2000 held each year. in providing support for the given to the most outstanding conference was to try to assure LAS Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois in recognition of his Peter Beak developed the presentation. This award was that it can become permanent. lifetime of outstanding accomplishments. idea for the conference in created in 1996 from a second The demonstrations of the high 1986 and obtained funding gift from Dr. Seemon Pines As mentioned in the previous article, Dr. Pines chose to allocate the monetary portion level of research in the areas for the first conference from which funds a $500 cash of his 1987 Merck Director’s Scientific Award to the Organic Area of the Chemistry involved the development of the Monsanto Company. On prize for best presentation, as Department at the University of Illinois. This generous gift created an endowment the capacities and independence May 26, 1987, Merck & Co. judged by the organic faculty. which helps to sponsor the annual Organic Area Allerton Conference, held each year of the students and the awarded Seemon H. Pines In addition, the name of each and also supported by Professor Emeritus Peter Beak. opportunities for them to (PhD 1951 with N. J. Leonard) winner is engraved upon a broaden their appreciation the Directors’ Scientific plaque that permanently In addition to his support of the Allerton Conference, Dr. Pines also funded the of research beyond their own Award for his outstanding resides in Roger Adams Lab. Pines Research Fellowship for organic graduate students and the Pines Travel Award. immediate interests should serve contributions. Pines contacted The award allows organic area students to present their Ph.D. research in the form the students and the faculty well the Chemistry Department of a seminar at the institution from which they received their undergraduate degree in the long term.“ to ask how this gift might be in chemistry.

26 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 2927 ALUMNI

Alumni Notes

Dr. David R. Corbin (PhD 1980, Stuckey) has Jessica Frisz (PhD 2012, Kraft) was recently been recognized by the The DuPont Company as a 2012 featured in a Chemical & Engineering News article about Pedersen Medalist. The award is named in honor of early career scientists in medical diagnostics. DuPont chemist and Nobel Laureate, Charles J. Pedersen. James Spudich (BS, 1963)-- currently the Douglass M. Awardees are recognized for significant technological and Nola Leishman Professor of Cardiovascular Disease achievements that reflect scientific excellence and at the Stanford University School of Medicine-- has been outstanding contributions to the company. chosen to receive the 2012 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Dr. Corbin is an internationally recognized authority Research Award. The award is sponsored by the New in the field of inorganic chemistry and an unparalleled York City-based Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation expert in its application within DuPont. He is and carries an honorarium of $250,000, which Spudich widely known for his important contributions to the will share with two other researchers: biologist Michael development, characterization, and applications of novel Sheetz, PhD, of Columbia University, and cellular and zeolitic and mesoporous materials to solve a wide range molecular pharmacologist Ronald Vale, PhD, of the of DuPont process challenges. Corbin’s broad scientific University of California-San Francisco. contributions to this area have significantly impacted the field of inorganic chemistry as illustrated by his 124 heavily cited publications. Get Connected Jinwoo Cheon (PhD 1993, Girolami), Horace G. Underwood Professor of Chemistry at Yonsei Getting Involved with the University in Seoul, Korea and the Director of National Department of Chemistry Center for Evolutionary Nanoparticles (CEN), is the recipient of the 6th POSCO TJ Park Prize (2012), one of Interested in getting involved or finding out more • Network online with other alumni and friends of the South Korea’s most prestigious prizes for achievement in information about Chemistry at Illinois? Here are a department by joining the UIUC School of Chemical science. The Foundation annually awards individuals who few of the options available to alumni and friends to Sciences Alumni Networking Group on LinkedIn: have been recognized for their outstanding contributions engage: www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2177109 to the advancements in science, public service, and • Connect with our current and future students by • Let us and your fellow alums know what you’re up education. connecting with our alumni engagement group. to these days by submitting an alumni update on In addition to his position at Yonsei University, he Contact Kristin Lang at [email protected] for more our website: http://chemistry.illinois.edu/alumni/ is a senior editor of Accounts of Chemical Research details. chem_alum_news.html (American Chemical Society), and an editorial board • Read the latest news and updates by visiting our • Search for historical alumni information by using member of Nano Letters (American Chemical Society). news page: the SCS alumni database: He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry http://chemistry.illinois.edu/news/index.html http://www.scs.illinois.edu/alumnilist/ and a member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology. • Get updates and fun facts by becoming a If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, Facebook “fan” of Chemistry at Illinois by visiting please contact us at [email protected]! http://www.facebook.com/chemistryatillinois

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2830 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 29 OBITUARIES

In Memoriam

Herschel D. Porter Robert E. Allen (MS Research Department and where she studied classical School in New Orleans 1942, PhD 1944, Snyder) ended his career in the piano and minored in in 1954, and performed The Department of Chemistry is saddened to announce the death of alumnus and longtime supporter passed away Aug. 7, 2012. Electronics Department. He piano studies. post-graduate studies at of the department, Dr. Herschel D. Porter who passed away Tuesday, July 31, 2012. He was born in 1919 and retired in 1992. When she concluded Harvard University School He was born in Silverton, Ohio on Aug. 9, 1924 and earned his B.S. from Wilmington College (OH) grew up in Hampton Iowa. Elodie Emelda Diodene school, she went to the West of Medicine. On Christmas in 1944 and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1947 under Professor Reynold C. Fuson. He A graduate of Grinnell Fleming (MS 1948) passed Coast to work as a chemist. Eve 1952, he married the was a research scientist from Eli Lilly & Co. from 1947 to 1990. Additionally, he served as the treasurer College and a PhD in away on September 26, A few months thereafter she former Barbara Baird, of the Indiana chapter of the American Chemical Society (1982-84) as well as chairman in 1985; he organic chemistry from 2012. She was the devoted returned to Louisiana to daughter of Hal and Goldie was awarded its Outstanding Contribution Award in 1991. He also taught chemistry at Indiana Central the University of Illinois, wife of the late Calvin A. marry her husband. After Lou Baird, and they had College in the 1960s. Bob conducted research at Fleming, II, and beloved a honeymoon in Havana, five children, all sons. the William S. Merrill Co Dr. Porter’s experience at University of Illinois stuck with him throughout his career, and upon mother of her only child, the couple established their After serving two years as and Cutter Laboratories retirement he decided to honor his former advisor, Professor Fuson, through a gift in his honor. Along Calvin, 3. home in Lafitte, Louisiana a Senior Assistant Surgeon in pre-clinical drug with his wife, Mrs. Angela Porter, he created a bequest to support the department’s top faculty and on Fleming Plantation. in the United States Coast discovery, which included She was born January students. The R. C. Fuson Fellowship, created in 1997, has supported over thirty graduate fellowships After her son started school Guard, he returned to St. the fertility drug Clomid. 20, 1927 in Gretna, for top predoctoral students. she briefly taught chemistry Francisville in 1957 to He was later a patent agent Louisiana and was the valedictorian at Gretna at Tulane University School practice medicine with his for Bayer HealthCare of Medicine. stepfather, Dr. Niebergall. Pharmaceuticals. High School. She received a full academic scholarship Dr. Alfred Raymond Doc, along with Dr. Meredith Mallory, Jr. Bob was a lifelong student to Newcomb College of Gould (BS 1950) passed Niebergall, worked for of art, music, bridge, and Tulane University, where away on September 08, many years to create a Longtime Chemistry at Illinois supporter Dr. Meredith (Ace) Mallory, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, an avid gardener and world she obtained her Bachelor 2012, in Sugar Land, Texas. hospital for the parish, and June 6, 2012. He was born on November 25, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Dr. and Mrs. Meredith traveler. After retirement of Science degree in Doc, as he was called, was he was instrumental in Mallory of Orlando, Florida. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1941 and received his M.D. he regularly read to a chemistry at the age of known as a gifted healer, raising funds to build West from Tulane University. housebound woman, was 20. She then attended the who practiced medicine Feliciana Parish Hospital a companion to an AIDS which opened in 1970 and He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, serving in the Korean War as Division Surgeon of the 7th University of Illinois where his own way - slowly and patient, landscaped his still serves the parish today. Infantry Division. The 7th fought the well-known battles of Pork Chop Hill and Triangle Hill. While she received her Master’s thoroughly. garden, and was involved For several years, he also stationed at Fort Sam Houston, he met his wife, Patricia Ann Murchison, and they were married in 1949. Degree in Chemistry at Doc was born in New with his church. 22. While at Newcomb served as a staff physician He left the service in 1954, and the family settled in San Antonio. During his lifetime, the family spent Orleans, on May 24, 1928, Jurgen Diekmann (PhD she was a member of the at the Louisiana War Vets many fun-filled summers in Port Aransas where he founded the Gulfside Gas Co. and was known for his the son of Dr. Harley 1960, Fuson) passed away Newcomb dance club and Home in Jackson. He was spectacular annual island fireworks display celebrating the 4th of July. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying Nathan Gould and Dr. August 26, 2012. He was Gamma Delta, a campus coroner for West Feliciana competitive pigeon shooting, hunting, fishing and handball. He supported the YMCA, helping to develop Mary Raymond Gould. He born in Ludwigshafen, organization for Lutheran Parish for many years, and handball as a youth sport. More recently, he helped to fund the outdoor handball courts at the Haven for graduated from Metairie Germany to Heinrich fellowship. In her senior was chosen as Citizen of the Hope Children’s Park. In addition, he was a pilot, and his lifetime passion for flying often took him across Park Country Day School and Paula Diekmann. He year at Newcomb she was Year in 1997 by the West the country on business, as well as to visit family and friends. in Metairie, Louisiana, received his Bachelor’s voted President of the Feliciana Civic Association. in 1946, and attended In 2004, he was given the His career allowed him to fund endowments both at the University of Illinois and Tulane. At the Degree from Kalamazoo Tulane and Newcomb math the University of Illinois, Lifetime Achievement University of Illinois his gift allowed for the founding of a professorship, the Murchison-Mallory chair, College and a Ph.D. in club. While at Newcomb receiving his Bachelor of award by the Louisiana which is currently held by Professor, and Interim Head, Jeffrey S. Moore. organic chemistry from the she simultaneously pursued Science degree in Chemistry State Rural Medical University of Illinois. He her musical interest with a minor in Humanities started work for DuPont by enrolling at Loyola Association and retired in 1950. He graduated in 2006. in 1959 in the Central University of New Orleans from Tulane Medical 3032 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 University of Illinois Department of Chemistry | 31 OBITUARIES

Chemistry News Staff

John D. McCollum (BS Walter Smith, Jr. (BS Dr. Vidican, a Joliet native, Teachers College and Editor 1949), a retired Amoco 1943), known as “Tom,” graduated from Joliet at Drexel University in Kristin N. Lang Oil chemist, died in was born in 1922 in Catholic High School Philadelphia. Assistant Editors September 2012. John was Havana, IL, where he and received a bachelor of Myrle was an active Holly Clingan born in Evanston, IL in enjoyed fishing and boating science degree in chemistry member of the community. Lauren Dodge 1929 and graduated from on the Illinois River. He with the bronze tablet She was a Girl Scout leader, Nicholas Jaeger the University of Illinois attended the University award from the University and vice president of the Stacy Olson with a bachelor’s degree in of Illinois and received a of Illinois, Champaign. Penn’s Woods GS council Scott K. Silverman chemistry in 1949. He then Ph.D. in chemistry from He earned his medical board. She was on the Krista Smith went on to earn A.M and Indiana University in 1945. degree from the University board of the United Way Steven C. Zimmerman Ph.D. degrees in organic In that year he married of Illinois College of and active as a volunteer chemistry under P.D. the love of his life, Miriam Medicine in Chicago. in the Red Cross blood Graphic Design Bartlett at Harvard. “Micki” Nethery Smith. Dr. Vidican received his drives. She belonged to the Nivens Design He was hired by the After teaching at the gastroenterology fellowship Ft. McClure chapter of the Standard Oil Company in University of Iowa, he training at the University of DAR, and the Ivy Club. Photography 1953 as a Project Chemist. escaped the bitter Iowa Texas Southwestern Medical Department of Chemistry He held positions of winters by moving to the School in Dallas. Thompson-McClellan Photography increasing responsibility University of Kentucky, Myrle C. White (MS 1947) University of Illinois Public Affairs as the company evolved where he taught organic passed away August 26, to become the Amoco chemistry for nearly four 2012. She was born April Head of the Department of Chemistry Oil Company, until his decades. A trip to Tangier, 11, 1920, in Superior, Jeff Moore retirement in 1989. John Morocco stimulated Tom’s WI., to the late E. Gilmore was the author of several interest in the Middle and Bertha E. (Swensen) Department of Chemistry Office patents and publications East and he later taught at Wagner. On September 107 Noyes Laboratory over the course of his universities in Tripoli, Libya 11, 1954, she married 505 South Mathews Avenue career. His principal and Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Norman E. White in Urbana, Illinois 61801 areas of research focus Donald E. Vidican M.D., Duluth, Minn. and he included the development preceded her in death in (BS 1973) passed away phone 217.333.5071 of beneficiation and October 2010. Tuesday, July 10, 2012. fax 217.244.5943 liquefaction processes for Born May 4, 1952, in She received her Bachelor’s coal and shale. John held Geneva, N.Y., and the son degree from Duluth State [email protected] memberships in Sigma of Edward and Cecilia Teachers College, now chemistry.illinois.edu Xi, the American Institute (Jiral) Videcan, Don University of Minnesota at of Chemists, the Chicago married Deborah Calabrese Duluth, and her Masters Catalysis Society, the Union on June 20, 1980, in degree in chemistry from of Concerned Scientists, Columbia, Mo. He was an University of Illinois at and he was a 60-year avid University of Illinois Champaign. Myrle taught member of the American sports fan with his loyal chemistry at Duluth State Chemical Society. friend, Jim.

32 | Department of Chemistry News | Fall/Winter 2013 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Champaign, IL Department of Chemistry Permit No. 75 107 Noyes Laboratory 505 South Mathews Avenue Urbana, IL 61801