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CSB|SJU CHEMISTRY The Cavendish Chronicle Volume 31, Issue 4 Summer, 2016

Oregon’s REU program. Kersey-Bronec is studying the photodegradation of organic semiconductor materials. Lindquist is Wendy Osei- investigating the surface Bonsu & more -- adsorption of page 4 methylglyoxal at the air- water interface using surface tensiometry and Inside this vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy. Claire issue Nelmark, Chem ‘18 is in the REU program at University of New WCC Award 2 Mexico. She is studying CJ Pettinger in the the neuroprotective effect New GC/MS 2 Boundary Waters of curcumin on the interaction between lipid Grad Camp 2 membranes and amyloid My Summer Vacation beta 42, found in the REAP Award 2 brains of Alzheimer’s Chemistry and Careers: Research Experiences for patients. Janna Quick, biochemistry majors Undergraduates (REU). Chevron Chem ‘19 is at the NSF- reported gaining Stephanie Jean, Chem Phillips 3 supported Materials valuable experiences ‘17 is at the CaSTL Research Science and MSU over the summer. A Center (Chemistry at the range of jobs and Collaboration 7 Space-Time Limit) at the (continued page 4) internships allow University of California, Page Six 8 students to explore Irvine. She is synthesizing what they will do after dithiol-linked gold Alum Notes 10 graduation, or simply nanoparticle dimers to allow them to be study single molecule Hogwarts: productive and help photocatalyzed reactions CSB/SJU -Ardolf pay for college. using Surface Enhanced Campus 10 Raman Spectroscopy. Several students have positions in National Faith Kersey-Bronec, Science Foundation Chem ’17 and Grace (NSF) sponsored Lindquist, Chem ‘18 are programs, such as in the University of Jean All the News from Ardolf Science National Award for Student Jherian Mitchell- Jones, Chem '19 has been selected for the Overcoming Challenges Award from the American Chemical Society’s Women Chemists Committee (ACS WCC). The award includes travel to the Fall Jones & Company Mitchell-Jones 2016 ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia. Inaugural Running of Grad Camp Seven chemistry and Raigoza Funded Rejene Giinther, biochemistry students Chem ’17, Emma Dr. Annette Raigoza participated in CSB/SJU Bonglack, Bchm ’17, has been awarded a chemistry’s first graduate Raymond Twumasi, Research & Engineering school workshop in May. Chem ’17, Alex Apprenticeship Program The workshop was Vanyo, Chem ‘17 and

(REAP) Grant, which developed by Dr. Sam Hassel, Bchm Nicholas Jones and Dr. ‘17. Students places high school students in STEM Kate Graham; Jones practiced for the GRE, was also the moderator. research apprenticeships wrote personal at area colleges and Participants included statements and universities. Mashail Adrian Demeritte, developed graduate Moalim (Apollo HS, '17) Chem ’16, Forrest research fellowship and Audrey Nguyen Hyler, Chem ’16, proposals. (Tech HS, '17) were selected to work with the Raigoza lab. Research in the lab focuses on modulating the properties of surfaces using tailored organic molecules; Maeve Ryan and GC/MS characterization is via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The New GC/MS Acquired in Ardolf project is significant for A new benchtop gas Shimadzu's Academic biological Equipment Support nanotechnology, which chromatograph-mass spectrometer was Program. Dr. Alicia Nguyen (left) & relies on controlling how Peterson and Dr. Md Moalim proteins, cells, and other recently installed in Ardolf Science Center. Fazal contributed biological materials research funds for the interact with a surface. Dr. Christen Strollo coordinated the effort purchase. The with an application to (continued page 6)

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Woodworker. Luthier. Organometallic Chemist.

Steve Bischof Finds Work and Relaxation in Houston

Nationally, about half of new to break bonds in abundant, the Periana lab’s focus on chemistry Ph.D.’s join the labor normally unreactive compounds transition metal catalysis seemed force in industry or government and put them to use. The appealing. labs. Steve Bischof, Chem ’06, conversion of atmospheric was one of them. He decided nitrogen into ammonia, for After Bischof had been working for a year on a C-H early on, while doing a couple of fertilizer, is a well-known summer undergraduate example. Another “holy grail” of activation project, Periana was internships at Guidant (now the field is methane recruited to lead the Scripps Boston Scientific), that a functionalization. Subterranean Energy and Materials Center at doctorate would be a useful tool methane is an explosion hazard in the new, East Coast campus of for career advancement in petroleum drilling, so enormous The Scripps Research Institute in industry. quantities are simply burned as Jupiter, FL. This time, Bischof waste upon emerging from the decided to move along with the group. He finished graduate Bischof was accepted by ground. Intensive studies in C-H several graduate schools, and bond activation have sought work after a total of six years – a decided to explore the West another solution through efficient little longer than average, but Coast for a few years while conversion of methane into moving across the country and studying at the University of methanol and other useful setting up a new laboratory takes Southern California. He did well derivatives. A branch of this time. in his first year, settling into a research has developed into the chemical biology research lab About nine months before controlled C-H activation of other finishing his Ph.D. thesis, under Amy Barrios, where he organic molecules for the hoped to design synthetic Bischof began applying for jobs. synthesis of valuable He eventually got a call for an enzyme mimics. A few months commodities. later, however, Barrios interview with Chevron Phillips announced that she was moving That work may seem a far cry Chemical (CPChem) in Houston, the lab to Utah. Bischof had a from chemical biology, but where he was subsequently choice: leave LA behind only Bischof saw some natural offered a position. He later months after arriving, or quit his connections with what he had found that he had been selected lab and find another. He decided already been working on. from a pool of 150 applicants. to stay, and made the jump to the “I also enjoyed inorganic “CPChem is a downstream group of Roy Periana, a small chemicals company primarily molecule activation lab. chemistry,” said Bischof. “I was continuing to enjoy the inorganic focused on the production of Small molecule activation portion of my work in her (continued page 9) seeks to develop efficient ways (Barrios’) group,” he added, so

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Summer 2016 Student Experiences

(continued from page 1) Engineering Center at serotonin, in mice that O’Toole, Bchm ’17 are University of have been exposed to participating in the SUR Minnesota. She uses food allergens. Fellowship at the Mayo UV-Vis spectroscopy to DuFresne-To is Clinic. Clark is in the study silicon focused on gene Clinical and nanoparticles, used as expression in kidney Translational Sciences luminescent solar cells, with an emphasis Department working on concentrators to produce on the onset of kidney genetic analysis of solar energy. cancer. throat cancer in patients who have Human Augie Witkowski, Taylor Graham, Papillomavirus. Chem '19 is an REU Chem ‘18 is enrolled O’Toole is in the participant at Montana in the Nuclear Department of State University. Chemistry School at Orthopedic Surgery, Witkowski is studying Oregon State looking at how stem Witkowski control of oxidation University, sponsored cells differentiating into states in cysteine by the U.S. osteoblasts respond to residues and the cellular Department of Energy. drugs and transcription pathways that are factors that modify influenced as a result. In Other students are spending the summer chromatin structure. addition, Allie Pybas, Sam Hassel, Bchm ‘17 Chem '18, and Heidi in federal labs. Emma Bonglack, Bchm'17 is is in the regenerative Koenig, Chem '19 are medicine internship working on a at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s program through the collaborative project Stem Cell Institute at involving Dr. Nicholas Department of Pharmaceutical University of Jones and the lab of Dr. Minnesota. Wendy Mary Cloninger at Analysis in St. Louis, Osei-Bonsu, Bchm '19 Quick Montana State MO. She is using MALDI/MS-MS/LIFT is at University of University. techniques for Pennsylvania Perlman Katlin Schmitz, structure determination School of Medicine – Bchm ’17, Serai of steroids. Claire Center for Research on Seymour, Chem ‘18 Buysse, Chem '17 is Reproduction and and Mickayla in the NASA Student Women’s Health. She DuFresne-To, Bchm Airborne Research is working to ‘19 are all in the Program. Participants understand the National Institutes of have the opportunity to mechanisms of fetal Health – funded IDeA work with data growth retardation and Network at Biomedical gathered by high- how that impacts Research Excellence altitude aircraft, such diabetes development program at University of as a modified U-2. and obesity in adults North Dakota. later on. A number of Schmitz is studying students are working in Tom Nilles-Melchert, levels of tryptophan biomedical science. Chem ‘17 is doing hydroxylase 2, the Sarah Clark, Bchm work on fistula repair Buysse enzyme in the brain ‘17 and Thomas and dialysis in South responsible for making

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Team China Team Ardolf

Africa with a physician from Raigoza lab are using tailored activators for the enzyme low Willmar. Bridget Ebert, Chem self-assembled monolayers to molecular weight protein ‘18 is doing research with modify the properties of gold tyrosine phosphatase, with a physicians at Children’s surfaces, monitoring by STM. goal of discovering new anti- Hospitals and Clinics of Alex Charbonneau, Chem ’17 cancer agents. Minnesota. and Alex Vanyo, Chem ‘17 are in the Fazal group, looking at the In the biology department, A few students have interactions of engineered Cody Cohout, Bchm ’17 is internships in industry or non- nanoparticles with proteins working with Dr. Dave Mitchell profit organizations. Matt through a variety of spectroscopic studying antibiotic resistance Lerick, Chem ‘16 has an techniques. Maeve Ryan, Chem (and also volunteering at a internship at Nanocopoeia in St. ’17, Alvin Burrows, Nats ‘17, shelter). Kailey Meyer, Bchm Paul, helping to develop a novel and Hannah Holst, Chem ’18 in ’18 is working with Dr. method of making polymer- the Strollo group are simulating Katherine Furniss. She is pharmaceutical composites. atmospheric reactions in the lab, studying genetic diversity Jenny Paul, Chem ‘17 is collecting ambient samples around among the Eastern White Pine working at the Minnesota Zoo, campus, and analyzing samples trees on campus. Alyson Welle, doing microbiology and water using a variety of techniques. Bchm ‘18 is studying DNA testing in the Life Support Simone Creed, Chem ‘18 and repair enzymes in Archaea – Department. Brandon Josh Gavin, Chem ‘19 of the single-celled microbes -- with Thauwald, Chem ‘18 is a Johnson lab are synthesizing Dr. Mike Reagan. Their Quality Engineer Intern at small molecules to model the approach is to insert a plasmid Boston Scientific; he is assessing triangular copper cluster in the containing an archaea gene and risks of medical device human protein ceruloplasmin, into yeast that have specific malfunction. Megan Barta, with oxygen-binding studies to repair enzymes removed. Chem ‘19 is assisting with a follow. RoseMarina Armstrong, Six CSB/SJU Chemistry and pilot plant run on a new product Chem ’18 and Jordan Danielson, Biochemistry students are doing in the Butter and Spreads Team Chem ’18 of the Adhikary group research at Southwest at Land O’Lakes. are developing new University (SWU) in Beibei, methodologies for making carbon- A number of students are China. The program is fluorine bonds via nickel and getting research experiences in sponsored by the Center for palladium catalysis. Max Olson in CSB/SJU Chemistry. Rejene Global Education at CSB/SJU. the McIntee-Jakubowski group Giinther, Chem ’17 and Dan Participants include Anastacia is developing new inhibitors and Zoltek, Chem ‘17 of the Stubbs, Chem '16, Gao Yang,

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Schmitz (left) & DuFresne-To Lindquist Hassel

Chem '17, Casey ‘19 is at basic training Vigliaturo, Chem ‘19 Palmer, Bchm '18, camp with the U.S. Army. is tutoring math. Griffin Schroeder, Riley Swenson, Bchm Bchm '18, Samantha ‘18 is volunteering in the One student took an Tinucci, Chem '18 and oncology infusion care entrepreneurial Zoua Pa Vang, Chem center at Woodwinds approach this summer. Alex Morrey '18. In exchange, Xin Hospital; she also Guan and Wen Ren, shadowed an ENT Miller, Chem ‘17 is two students from surgeon. Other students working on starting SWU, are doing found important roles to up a telecom research in Ardolf. play on campus. Joe company. Rabaey, Bchm ’17,

Internship Lauren Hennen, Bchm opportunities are not ’18, and Mitchell Thelen, limited to the natural Bchm ‘19 are working in sciences. Nick the Ardolf stockroom. New GC/MS Harbeck, Chem '17 (from page 2) and Ian Durbin, Bchm A few people have '17 are participating in found teaching and Shimadzu GCMS a political science / mentoring jobs. Niesha QP-2010 Plus is chemistry summer Ford, Bchm '17 is equipped with an internship program in spending her summer ultra fast single Clark (left) & Washington, DC. tutoring students in the quadrupole detector O’Toole Upward Bound Program. capable of acquiring Other students gained CJ Pettinger, Bchm ‘17 scan data and single practical experience in is leading canoe trips in ion monitoring different ways. Alex the boundary waters. (SIM) data in a Madsen, Chem ‘17 is Taylor Pickthorn, Bchm single analysis. It a pharmacy tech at ’19, was a camp counselor can also CVS pharmacy. Luke at SJU in June, and also accommodate two Morrey, Bchm ‘17 is found time for a European capillary columns, working as an ECG tour. Caitlin Loeffler, allowing users to tech at the Mayo Chem ‘19 is the summer change the Clinic. Renae Otto, FoCuS mentor at selectivity of Bchm ‘18 is an CSB/SJU. Alex Messner, analyses without EMT/Security Officer Chem ‘19 is teaching Ford (left) & having to modify at Canterbury Park. tennis. Dominic column installation. student Emily Linder, Chem

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Chemistry in Big Sky Country

Jones’ Collaboration Takes St udents to Mont ana

Any CSB/SJU chemistry Jones and Cloninger stemmed out to work more independently,” student has heard the analogy of a friendship of many years. They commented Pybas. Students are comparing the role of catalysts in would often discuss research able to get this experience because chemical reactions to Sacagewea projects they thought would be fun of funding from a range of Pass in the Bridger Mountains of to work on, so they began to sources: the NSF-RUI grant Montana. Now, because of a develop a project. funding the collaboration, the NSF-REU program at MSU, the collaboration between Dr. T. The environment of a large state undergraduate research program Nicholas Jones of CSB/SJU, and school like MSU is very different at CSB/SJU, and the Abbot John Dr. Mary Cloninger of Montana from a small college. Pybas and Klassen Fund. State University (MSU), two Koenig cited the presence of CSB students get to see this graduate students, the separation of Koenig was drawn to the analogy in action. the general science program from program because of the career Allie Pybas, Chem ’18 and the research setting, and the depth insight it presents. Heidi Koenig, Chem ’19 of instruments available. “Working in a lab full time traveled to Bozeman for the “Working at a larger university in either solidifies your current summer to continue research on a graduate school setting allows me career interests, or sparks your the current project of the Jones interest in other career fields,” and Cloninger collaboration. The Koenig explained. By providing group is currently developing this opportunity, the Jones and recoverable catalysts by Cloninger collaboration proves attaching them to spherical invaluable for students looking to polymers called dendrimers. This supplement their education with technique will make the synthesis practical experiences. of complex molecules easier and reactions more sustainable. Under the direction of senior graduate student Jessica Ennist, Pybas and Koenig are working primarily on recovery methods for the catalyst. Previous CSB students’ work demonstrated that Pybas in lab (above); The reactions using the dendrimer- Jones-Cloninger bound catalysts were successful. Collective (Jones, Koenig,Ennist, Pybas, The collaboration between Cloninger)

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Page Six Spotlight on Special Events

Page Maki, Chem ’17 Emma (right) Bonglack, taking Bchm ’17 part in (left) Drag Night emcees at Africa Night ‘16

Sarah Clark, Bchm ’17; Nate Kor, Chem ’16; Samantha Tinucci, Chem ’18 on task at Chem Club’s Demo Day

Adrian Demeritte, Chem ’16 performs at Africa Night ‘16

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Bischof at Chevron Phillips Chemical (continued from page 3)

ethylene and ethylene processing parameters, the system one step further by learning how

derivatives,” explained Bischof. is ready to be translated to a pilot to repair and build his own Although the company scale, where commercial guitars – he has been playing produces specialty products feasibility is evaluated. since the age of twelve. He has such as odorants and finished two guitars so far, each race/testing fuels, most of the Apart from doing chemistry in taking about a year, and has business is based on steam the lab, Bischof is responsible for three more in progress. cracking natural gas to produce overseeing projects at a pilot plant small olefins such as ethylene, facility on a different site. “I found that taking some time propylene, and butene. One Communication with other parts of to zone out and let my mind rest major emphasis is on the company is an essential part of from chemistry really helped converting ethylene to the job; earlier this year, he gave a my productivity in the lab,” he polyethylene or normal alpha presentation to the company CEO said. In addition, the ability to olefins (NAO), such as 1- and the executive board. He also see a table develop in days or hexene or 1-octene; the NAO works with vendors to make sure weeks, or a guitar come together stream actually consists of the lab has adequate over a year, is a contrast to the even-numbered carbon chains instrumentation and supplies, and five or ten year time frame on a all the way up to C30. These attends professional conferences typical project at work. NAO fractions are utilized for a regularly. Since graduating from variety of products such as Given all of that, Bischof’s Scripps, Bischof has been asked lubricants, waxes, detergents, favorite part of the job is still back to share his experience and paper sizing agents. doing the basic science, especially with current students, and he Currently, Bischof’s position “when that homerun or critical has thought a lot about what it is NAO Research Chemist. He experiment goes the way you takes to succeed. The key works in a group of a dozen intended.” Because so much of things, he thinks, all relate to people, a mixture of chemists science is really about observing immersion in the process: trying and engineers with associates, negative results, he focuses on new things, asking questions, bachelors, and Ph.D. learning from what doesn’t work making connections, striving for backgrounds. His team’s so he can design the next excellence, learning something current goal is to develop new experiment; and when the new every day. In a competitive systems to convert ethylene into experiment does “smash the job market, he thinks, an 1-hexene or 1-octene, targets”, he said, it is “such an awareness of one’s own selectively. They need to incredible high”. strengths and weaknesses is also synthesize organometallic crucial, because it leads to an Another bonus of working at complexes, then use those understanding of where you will CPChem is that nine-hour compounds as potential best fit within a company. workdays leave room for a three- catalysts in batch reactions – day weekend every other week, He has one last piece of just like a student would run a giving Bischof plenty of time to advice. “It is on you to make the reaction in a chemistry lab – explore Houston. He also spends decisions that matter in your before moving to continuous time woodworking in his shop, life. No one else can hold you pressure reactors, in which new making tables, lamps, or cutting back from realizing your material constantly flows boards dreams.” through the catalyst system and (www.etsy.com/shop/crookedtreeg is transformed into product. uitars). It’s a passion he inherited After work on determining from his father, but he has taken it reaction mechanisms and

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Check out the archiv e! http://employees.csbsju.edu/cschaller/ cav endish/Cavendish.htm

Matt Stockinger, Chem/Math completing the M.D. part of his ‘01 is a science teacher at program. Apollo High School in St. Mardi Billman, Chem ‘11 has Cloud. accepted a Visiting Assistant Alicia Peterson, Chem ’03 Professor position at Simpson welcomed a baby boy, Ezra, College in Iowa. Billman who was born on May 13th. recently finished graduate school at Colorado State Jeremiah Scepaniak, Chem University. ’05 is doing post-doctoral The Cavendish Chronicle research at Georg-August Redmond Fraser, Chem '12 University –Gottingen, completed the Bike MS Ride Editor: Chris Schaller from Duluth to Minneapolis to [email protected] Germany. raise money for research into Story Credits: Augie Witkowski, Stev e Zach Shaheen, Bchm ’09 has multiple sclerosis. Bischof, Kate Graham, Annette Raigoza, Brian Johnson, completed Ph.D. work at Medical College of Wisconsin; Sean Pickthorn, Chem ’14 is Photo Credits: Annette Raigoza, his research focused on the in medical school at the Stev e Bischof, Kolette Flood, University of South Dakota. CSB/SJU chem & bchm students regulation of beta cell destruction and the induction of

CSB|SJU Chemistry type I diabetes. He will now Ardolf Science Center spend the next two years 37 South College Ave. St. Joseph, MN 56374

The College of Saint Benedict|Saint John’s University Hogwarts School Brings Science Demos to Children Headmistress Annette Raigoza (second from left) with Prefects Hannah Holst, Josh Gavin, and Caitlin Loeffler.

Professors Rebecka Rose, Hordofa Burka, Logan Schmidt, Savanna Nolan, Jocelyn Metz, Autumn Fuchs, Ana Grace Alvarado, Leslie Blanco, Seth Holland, Sam Hendricks, Browerti Koffah, and Nick Seiler ‘20