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Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
1
Issue 7Fall 2010
N e w s l e t t e r
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
CHEVRON SCIENCE CENTER
In This Issue
1 GreetingsfromtheChair
2 2010DistinguishedAlumni
3 ChemistryDepartment History2
4 Classof1970: Wherearetheynow? AlumniUpdates 5 HonorRoll-Thankyou6 FacultyHighlights: PeterWipf
7 FacultyNuggets8 GraduateHighlights: KathrynDavis PhiLambdaUpsilon (PLU)
9 UndergraduateHighlights: KelleyPeters ACSStudentAffiliateNews
10 NewFacultyandStaff
11 RenovationStatus DepartmentMilestones InMemoriam
Greetings from the Chair
LookingnorthwestfromUniversityDriveand ParkmanAvenue, the Chevron
Annex construction project makes it clearthatmajorexpansionisunderwayintheDe-partmentofChemistry.Whetheryouenterthrough Chevron,Ashe, or Eberly Halls,renovationprojectsthataremodernizingourresearch and instructional laboratories, aswellasthegatheringspacesforstudents,areapparent.NewresearchlabsontheeastwingofEberlyHallandthe14thfloorofChevron,withworkareasthatareopen,flexible,andmodern,provideaglimpseintothefutureforalloftheDepartment’sresearchlabs.Build-ingonthesuccessofthenewinstructionalorganiclaboratoriestwoyearsago,acompre-hensiverenovationofthegeneralchemistrylabswillbeginthissummer.Inadditiontotheseresearchandinstructionalspacerenova-tions,newsocialandstudyspacesarebeingcreatedintheDepartment.Escapingfromitsformerlifeasatransitcorridor,theChevronlobbynowprovidesaplacetopurchasecoffeeorsnacksattheBunsenBrewercoffeeshop,tomeet friendsandcolleagues,or to learnabouttheDepartmentthroughpostersandatouchscreendisplay.
Inadditiontothesestrikingphysicalchanges,thegrowthandqualityoftheDepartment’sresearchprogramsandeducationalcurricu-lumareevident. Over thepastfiveyears,ninenewfacultymembershave joined theDepartment,twoofwhichstartedthisfall—Dr.HaitaoLiu,whosefocusisthephysicaland synthetic chemistry of nanomaterials,andDr.XinyuLiu,whosefocusisthesyn-thesisofnaturalproductsattheinterfaceofchemistry,biology,medicine,andmaterialsscience. The graduate program remainsvibrant,with51studentsmatriculatingthisfallandfourofourexistinggraduatestudentswinning national awards and fellowships.Astheundergraduateprogrammaintainsits
excellenceandcontinuestoattractthebeststudents,weareexpandingourcourseoffer-ings(especiallyintheareasofnanomaterialsandbiologicalchemistry)andouropportuni-tiesforundergraduatestopursueresearchandexperientiallearning.Ourmajors’excellenceisalsorecognizedfromoutsidetheDepart-ment,includingaChancellor’sScholarAwardtoAndrewSavinonandaRhodesScholarshiptoEleanorOtt. TheDepartmentbestowed19 PhDdegrees, sevenMScdegrees, and66BScdegreestoexcellentyoungchemistsduringthepastyear.
This newsletter aims to share some of theDepartment’s accomplishments this yearwithyou.Whilenotwelve-pagenewslettercanproperlydescribeorrecognizealloftheaccomplishmentsduringthepastyear,Ihopethatthearticleswehavechosenprovideyouwithaglimpseintoouractivitiesandmotivateyoutovisitourwebsitewww.chem.pitt.eduto learn more about today’s Department.Lastly,Iwouldliketothankyou,ouralumniandfriends,foryoursupport.Outsideoftheindividualfinancialorvolunteerassistanceyou provide to the Department, your suc-cessesandaccomplishmentshelptofuelourcommitmenttoscienceandtotheeducationofourstudents.Ihopethatyouwilltakethetimethisyeartosharesomeofyouraccom-plishmentswithus.
May the upcoming year be productive, healthy, and satis-fying for you and yours.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
2
2010 Distinguished Alumni Awardees
HELEN M. BERMAN (PhD ’67G) Professor Helen M. BermanreceivedherPhDinChemistryin1967fromtheUniversityofPitts-burghunder thedirectionofGeorgeAlan Jeffrey, and stayedon forpostdoctoral training as a National Institutes of HealthTrainee. ShethenjoinedtheFoxChaseCancerCenterin1969,wheresheinitiatedand led a research program on nucleic acid crystallography and theinteractionsbetweennucleicacidsanddrugs.In1989,shejoinedthefacultyatRutgerswheresheexpandedherresearchprogramtoincludestructural studiesofproteins.Currently she isaBoardofGovernorsProfessorofChemistryandChemicalBiologyandthedirectoroftheProteinDataBank.
EDWARD R. BIEHL (BS ’58, PhD ’61G)ProfessorEdBiehlearnedhisundergraduateandgraduatedegreesinchemistryattheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofArtsandSciences.Sincethattime,hehashadadistinguishedcareerasascientist,educator,andresearcher.Dr.Biehlhasreceivednumerousawardsforexcellenceinteachingandmentor-ing,forwhichheisknowntoput theneedsofhisstudentsandpost-doctoralassociatesfirst.AsdepartmentalchairinchemistryatSouthernMethodistUniversityforthepast28years,hehasledthedevelopmentoftheirchemistryprogramandthecreationoftheirPhDprogram.Pro-fessorBiehl’shighstandardsfor teachingandresearchhaveprovidedsuperiorlearningopportunitiesforhisstudentsandhavesetanexampleformeetingthechallengesoftoday’seducationalenvironment.
BRUCE W. DIXON, MD (BS ’61) Bruce Dixon received a BS inchemistryfromtheUniversityofPittsburghin1961andanMDfromtheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofMedicinein1965.Aftercomplet-inghisresidencyatDukeUniversity,heservedonthefacultyatDukebeforereturningtotheUniversityofPittsburghin1975.Currently,Dr.DixonisanassociateprofessorofmedicineattheUniversityofPitts-burghSchoolofMedicine.HealsoholdsajointappointmentatPitt’sGraduateSchoolofPublicHealth. Inaddition tohis teachingduties,Dr.DixonisthedirectoroftheAlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment,apositionhehasheldsince1992.
H. LEE NOBLE (BS ’62) H.LeeNobleearnedhisbachelor’sdegreeinchemistryfromPitt’sSchoolofArtsandSciencesin1962.Followinga25yearcareerwiththeBayerCorporation,Mr.Nobleretiredasexecu-tivevicepresident.LeeistheCEOofNobleConsulting,whichspecial-izesinstrategicplanning,mergersandacquisitions,andthefinancingofstart-upcompanies.LeealsoservesaschairoftheBoardofDirectorsofFluorousTechnologies,Inc.andontheUniversityofPittsburghBoardofTrustees.
On October 8, 2010 of this year, the Department recognized the outstanding accomplishments of four of its alumni.CALL FORNOMINATIONS
TheDepartmentissolicitingnominationsfortheChemistryDepartmentAlumniAwards.Nomineesshouldhaveabachelor’s,master’sordoctoraldegreefromtheDepartment.Thebasisforthenominationcanbeexcellenceinresearch,teaching,management,orvolunteerefforts.
Nominations should include:
1. Yournominatingletter
2. Atleastonebutnomore thanthreesecondingletters
3. ACVforthenominee
4. Contactinformationforthe nominee
Pleaseseethealumnisection
ofourwebpageat
www.chem.pitt.edu
formoreinformation
Nominationsshouldbeposted
by
December1,2011
to:
UniversityofPittsburgh
DepartmentofChemistry
AssistantChair
234ChevronScienceCenter
219ParkmanPlace
PittsburghPA,15260
Copyright ©, PittsburghPost-Gazette,2010,
All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
3
Chemistry Department History 2: On the Move—Our Commitment to Undergraduate Education
From the beginning, undergraduate educationhas been of paramount importance in the lifeof the Chemistry Department.The first chair,
FrancisCliffordPhillipswashiredtoteachanatomy,allbranchesofchemistry,aswellasmineralogy,ge-ology,botany,physiology,andzoology;literallyAtoZ.The first organic chemistry professor,AlexanderLowy(1918-1941)coauthoredamajor,widelyusedtext, A Textbook of Organic Chemistry, which wentthrough seven editions as late as 1951. There wasalso a companion text, coauthored with fellow fac-ultymemberWilliamBaldwin,A Laboratory Book of Elementary Organic Chemistry,thatwentthroughatleast twoeditionsandwasreprinted inIndiaas lateas 1947. Other important texts to come out of theDepartmentwereConcepts and Models for Inorganic ChemistrybyBodieDouglas(threeeditions),aimedat seniorundergraduates, andSymmetry in Bonding and Spectra,writtenwithC.A.Hollingsworth,whichfocusedonapplicationsofgrouptheoryatthegradu-ate level. Finally, what texts have had more impactthan the universally used and ubiquitous Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of College Chemis-try?Thiswasauthored,fromthethirdeditionin1949througheightheditionin1997,byJeromeRosenberg,co-authorshipoftheseventhandeightheditionswaswith Lawrence Epstein. Recent textbooks authoredbyfacultyareUniversity ChemistrybyPeterSiskain2006andPrinciples of Physical ChemistrybyDavidWaldeckin2009.
AstheDepartmenthasgrownandbecomearesearchpowerhouse,undergraduateeducationhasremainedapivotal focusofdevelopmentand innovation.WhentheUniversitybeganthehonorscollege,honors-levelcourses in general and organic chemistry were cre-ated.Aboutfiveyearsago,DavidWaldeckandLisaBell-Loncella (University ofPittsburgh, Johnstown)spearheaded the Computing Across the ChemistryCurriculum(CACC)effort thathas integratedcom-putationalchemistrytrainingintotheundergraduatecurriculum from the freshmen level through seniorlevel.JoeGrabowskihashelpedtointroducecomput-ermodelingandotherhightechimprovementstoourcoursepresentations.Mostimportantly,thechemistrycourseofferingscontinuetoevolveandexpand,espe-ciallyintheareasofnanoscience(ledbyAlexStar)andbiological chemistry (ledbyLillianChongandMichaelTrakselis).
While course work remains a core element of theundergraduate program, experiential learning isof growing importance. Between 80 and 90 per-cent of chemistry majors perform undergraduateresearch as part of their education.This experienceexposes them to the challenge of defining researchquestions and answering them. Our UTU (Under-graduates Teaching Undergraduates) program in-troduces nearly two-thirds of our majors to the
teachingofchemistry.UndertheleadershipofMi-chaelGolde,thisprogramhasexpandedfromthegeneralchemistryprogramthroughallofourlabo-ratorycourses,andisnowtheparadigmforanalo-gouseffortsthroughouttheUniversity.
Another aspect of our commitment to under-graduate education is the excellence of ourACSundergraduate student affiliates, recognizedas anOutstandingChapterforover20years.UnderthementorshipofGeorgeBandik,studentsparticipateinmanyoutreachactivitiesinsideandoutsidetheDepartment.These includegivingdemonstrationsat local schools and youth groups, the SaturdayScience Program, which provides instruction andlaboratory experiences for disadvantaged highschool students, and many other activities. Thatstudentsparticipateandexcelintheseextraactivi-tieswhilecompletingarigorous62creditsequenceofsciencecoursesistestimonytoourundergradu-ate students’ commitment and the Department’sspiritofexcellenceineducation.
TheimportanceofgoodundergraduateteachingisrecognizedbytheDepartmentandtheUniversity.TheDepartment’steachertraininghasprovidedamodelfortheUniversityasawhole.EachyeartheDepartment holds the Hurd SaffordAwards Cer-emony to recognize outstanding graduate studentinstructors. The University has bestowed numer-ousteachingawardsontheDepartment’sexcellentteachers.GeorgeBandik,JoeGrabowski,andPeterSiska have won both Chancellor’s DistinguishedTeaching Awards and Bellet CAS Teaching Ex-cellenceAwards.ErickaHustonhaswonaBelletAward, andDavidPratthaswon theChancellor’sTeaching Award. This record of excellence is ofgreatpridetotheDepartmentandabenchmarkforallcurrentfacultyandstudents.
AlexanderLowy
For more informationon Professor Lowy, see
www.alexanderlowy.com
George Bandik performs a demonstration for students in the
Saturday Science Program.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
4
Class of 1970: Where are they now?Let’sturnbacktheclocktolookatsomehighlightsof1970.UndertheleadershipofChairWilliamEdwardWallace,theDepartmentofChemistry
awarded45BSand14PhDdegrees.
• TheKansasCityChiefsbeattheMinnesotaVikingsinSuperBowlIV;theBaltimoreOriolesdefeatedtheCincinnatiRedstowintheWorldSeries;ThreeRiversStadiumopenedinPittsburgh.
• BlackSabbathreleaseditsdebutalbum,Black Sabbath;theBeatlesreleasedtheir12thandfinalalbum,Let It Be;thePublicBroadcastingService(PBS)wasinaugurated.
• TheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty,ratifiedby43nations,wasenacted;PresidentRichardNixonsignedameasureloweringthevotingageto18.
• ThefirstEarthDaywascelebratedintheUnitedStates,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)beganoperation.
• TheU.S.SteelTower,thetallestskyscraperinPittsburgh,wascompleted;theNorthToweroftheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkreached1368feet,makingit,atthetime,thetallestbuildingintheworld.
• ThepoliticalclimateatcollegesanduniversitiesacrosstheUnitedStateswasdominatedbyprotestsagainsttheVietnamWar;atKentStateUniversityinOhio,fourstudentswerekilledandninewerewoundedbyNationalGuardsman.
• In1970anewhousecost$23,400,theaverageincomeperyearwas$9,350,agallonofgaswas36cents,theaveragecostofanewcarwas$3,900andafirstclassUSpostagestampwassixcents;theDowJonesIndustrialsAverageclosedtheyearat838.92.
C. William Angus (BS ’70; Advisor: Safford): Dr.AnguswentontoreceivehisPhDfromJohnsHopkinsin1984.In2009heretiredfromtheNIHandhasmovedtoChocowinity,NC.HeiscurrentlyaresearchassociateattheBrodySchoolofMedicine.([email protected])
Gary Cummins (BS ’70; Advisor: Douglas): GarywentontoreceivehisMD.Heworkedinfamilymedicinefor20yearsandwoundcarefor10years.Heiscurrentlyretired,albeitworkingpart-time,andliveswithhiswifeinNewport,RI.([email protected])
Richard C. Diehl (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen):Dr.DiehliscurrentlyretiredandresidesinCapeCoral,FL.
Timothy R. Drury (BS ’70):AftergraduatingfromPitt,TimothywenttoPennStateHersheyMedicalSchoolandgraduatedwithhisMDin1974.HedidhisinternalmedicalresidencyatRhodeIslandHospitalinProvidence.Since1978hehasactedasthedirectoroftheEmergencyDepartmentatSouthcountyHospital.Heismarriedwithonechild.([email protected])
Ivor René Fielding (PhD ’70; Advisor: Hollingsworth): Dr.Fieldinghasworkedasanindustrialresearchchemist.Heretiredin2000fromBP/AmocoandholdsthirteenUSpatents.Heismarried,andhehastwochildrenandfivegrandchildren.([email protected])
Jerry A. Jenkins (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen): Dr.JenkinsisprofessorandchairoftheDepartmentofChemistryandBiochemistryatOtterbeinCollege.Hehas recentlypublishedabookentitled,Workbook for Organic Chemistry – Supplemental Problems and Solutions,W.H.FreemanandCompany,2010(ISBN-13:978-1-4292-4758-0).([email protected])
Fran Rattay (BS ’68, MS ’70; Advisor: Cohen): FranretiredrecentlyfromBayerafter36years.HebeganhiscareeratMobay(nowBayerMaterialScience)asananalytical chemist, andhiswork includedcompetitiveproducts identification,plantprocessanalysis, and thedevelopmentofpolymersequencedistributionanalyticaltechniques.WhileatBayer,heoversawaRegulatoryAffairsDepartmentthatisresponsibleforproductcomplianceandregistrationwithEPAandFDAregulationsforindustrial,specialty,dyes,polymersandrubberchemicals.FranhasparticipatedinseveralTradeAssociationGroupprojectsoftheAmericanChemistryCouncilincludingajointefforttodevelopstandardizednomenclatureguidelinesfortheisocyanateindustry.HeandhiswifeDianeareenjoyingtheirsixgrandchildrenandspendtheirwintersinFlorida.([email protected])
George Rovnyak (BS ’66, PhD ’70): Advisor: Danishefsky):AftergraduationGeorgeworkedatSquibb(nowBristol-MyersSquibb),primarilyincardiovascularandoncologydrugdiscovery.In2003,heretiredfromhispositionasaresearchfellow.Georgewasmarriedin1963andhehasthreedaughtersandfivegrandchildren.HeisenjoyinghisnewsecondhomeinWestCapeMay,NJ.([email protected])
ALUMNI UPDATES:
Paul Rupert (PhD ’69; Advisor: Frank): Paul is aProfessorofChemistryatAdrianCollege.Healsoownsandoperates a commercialwinelaboratoryandhasbeendesignatedaCertifiedWineChemistbytheU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury–TobaccoandAlcoholTaxandTradebureau(TTB).([email protected])
Nancy McKeever Targett (BS ’72): Nancymethergoalandbecameamarinechemicalecologist.Aboutfiveyearsago,shebecameDeanof(andprofessorin)theUniversityofDelaware’sCollegeofMarineandEarthStudies.Withherresearchshehashadtheopportunitytotravelextensively(threeunderwaterhabitatmissions).ShehaspublishedandpresentedpapersatmeetingsaroundtheworldandgraduatedmanyMSandPhDstudents.SheisverygratefultoProfessorDavidPrattfortakingthe“timetotalkwithageekykidintheearly70sandlistentoherdream!”
Robert Joseph Radnoti (MS ’74):Mr.RadnotiisretiredfromtheMarylandStatePoliceCrimeLabafter30yearsinforensicscience-“morethanenoughforanysaneindividual!”Heiscurrentlybuildinganewhouse(doingalotoftheworkhimself)andflyfishinginhissparetime.
Christina Pampena (BS ’75):Christinaisafieldsalesrepresentative(SouthCentralterritory)forPPGIndustries,Inc.intheCalHypobusinessunit.CalHypo,calciumhypochlorite,isawatertreatmentchemicalproducedbyPPG.([email protected])
Jeff Moore (PhD ’85; Advisor: Butera):Jeffhasbeenemployedbyvariouscompaniessincetheearly80s,beginningwithBellLabsMurrayHill(FiberOpticsdesign)in’85.In1995hemovedtoBusinessAnalyticsandthenbecametheDirectorofBusinessintheIntegratedCircuitsOperationsandPlanningdivisionforATT,thenLucent,andmostrecently,Agere.From2000-2004hewasanadjunctprofessoratLehighUniversity.WhiletheBusinessAnalyticsDirectorforAgere,JeffspentalotoftimecommutingtoLondonandlatertoMunich.Hegracefullyescapedfromtrans-AtlanticcommutingbyworkingforUSA-basedFairchildSemiconductorasSeniorDirectorofBusiness.HenowcommutesbetweeneasternPennsylvania,wherehehaslivedsince1991andPortlandMEwhereFairchildCorporateheadquartersislocated.Jeffismarriedandhasa16year-olddaughterwhoisinterestedinattendingPitt.
Anthony Rosati (BS ’82, MS ’87; Advisor: Waldeck): Forthepasttwoyears,TonyhasbeenDirectoroftheDataIntegrationandDisseminationDivisionoftheOfficeofCoal,Nuclear,ElectricandAlternateFuels,oftheU.S.EnergyInformationAdministration,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy.Hisstaffsupportstheenergyanalystsincollecting,analyzing,anddistributingtheresultsoffederalindustrysurveysofvariousbranchesoftheU.S.energymarkets.Tonyhasonechildwithhiswife,Benita,offouryears.
David Muddiman (PhD ’95; Advisor: Hercules): DavidiscurrentlyProfessorofChemistryatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity.HewasawardedtheBiemannMedalbytheAmericanSocietyforMassSpectrometry(ASMS)inMayofthisyearattheannualASMS,whichitrecognizesasignificantachievementinbasicorappliedmassspectrometrymadebyanindividualearlyinhisorhercareer.
Randy R. Micheletti (MS ’01; Advisor: Wipf): RandyisnowworkingasapatentattorneywithK&LGatesLLPinChicago.
Amit Paul (PhD ’08; Advisor: Waldeck):AmitisworkingasapostdocattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillwhereheispartofanEnergyFrontierResearchCenter(EFRC).Heisworkingonhydrocarbonoxidationbyrutheniumandplatinumcatalysts.Amitandhiswifehaveonechild.
Eleanor Ott (BS ’09):Eleanorwasnameda2010RhodesScholar.Eleanor’sinterestsareinhumanrights,refugeeissues,andevidence-basedpolicy.AttheUniversityofOxford,shewillstudyforcedmigrationandevidence-basedsocialintervention,refugeeandmigrationstudies,andsocialscienceresearchmethods.
Faculty 1970
W. Edward Wallace, Chairman
Edward McCollin Arnett, Professor
Richard A. Butera, Assoc. Professor
James Clyde Carter, Assoc. Professor
Toby M. Chapman, Asst. Professor
Johannes Francois Coetzee, Professor
Theodore Cohen, Assoc. Professor
Raymond S. Craig, Professor
Samuel J. Danishefsky, Asst. Professor
Kenneth E. Daugherty, Assoc. Professor
Bodie E. Douglas, Professor
Paul Dowd, Asst. Professor
T.H. Dunkelberger, Professor andAsst. Dean, College of Arts and Sci-ences
Frank Oscar Ellison, Professor
Lawrence M. Epstein, Assoc. Professor
Henry S. Frank, Professor
Klaus H. Hofmann, Professor andDirector of Protein Research Lab
Charles Alvin Hollingsworth, Profes-sor
Kenneth Jeffrey Johnson, Asst. Professor
Frederick Kaufman, Professor
Robert Levine, Professor
Richard Hugh McCoy, ProfessorDean and Director of Graduate Pro-grams, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Foil A. Miller, Professor andDirector, Spectroscopy Laboratory
Alfred Leon Moyé, Asst. Professor
David Wixon Pratt, Asst. Professor
V. Udaya Shankar Rao, Asst. Profes-sor
Jerome L. Rosenberg, Professor
Hurd Winter Safford, Professor
David Philip Schumacher, Asst. Professor
Darel K. Straub, Assoc. Professor
Joseph J. Taber, Assoc. Professor
William Edward Wallace, Professor
Claude Edwin Wilson, Asst. Professor
Robert L. Wolke, Professor
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
5
Honor Roll A warm thank you to those who made donations from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010
AnonymousAbbottLaboratoriesDr.WilliamD.AbrahamMr.andMrs.GaryJ.AdamczykMr.GregoryJ.AdamczykMr.ShigeruAmemiyaMarkR.Ams,PhDMr.andMrs.C.WilliamAngusMr.GiuseppeLuigiArliaandMs.AnneMarieBosynakDr.SanfordA.AsherandDr.NancyL.DayMr.JeffreyPaulBaloghGeorgeC.Bandik,PhDMr.JohnFrancisBargarDr.RobertJeffreyBasemanBASFCorporationBayerUSAFoundationBayshoreEnvironmentalDavidN.Beratan,PhDHollyMaryBevsek,PhDJosephN.Biber,PhDEdwardRobertBiehl,PhDDr.andMrs.IoannisV.BletsosMr.ThomasWarnerBoyerMr.andMrs.PaulBradleyMr.CharlesBrnardicPhilipFrederickBrodeIII,PhDMr.PhilipR.BrooksMr.TerryJosephBrownMr.andMrs.WalterBrutschDr.SeanM.BuchananandDr.KimberlyJeanDurniakDr.EllenLackeyBunyanMr.KennethElliottBurkmanPaulDarwinCarfagna,PhDJ.P.BlakeCasher,D.O.Mrs.AnnaM.CastleMs.KateMarieCerullyMs.SallyChapmanLillianT.Chong,PhDDr.MudanChowandDr.HueimingChowMr.andMrs.RichardClappMarkCampionClawson,MDDr.TheodoreCohenandDr.PearlBerniceCohenMr.JamesJosephConnersN.JohnandKarenCooperDr.F.FlemingCrimJr.Mr.andMrs.GerryDaherDr.andMrs.KennethC.DeNardoDr.andMrs.VincentMichaelDonnellyMr.WalterJamesDressickDr.CarolineM.DriscollandMr.TimGearyMr.MarkDavidEllisonFamilyDentistryDr.EricAnthonyFarabaughMr.JamesM.FarrarJohnJosephFarrell,PhDMartinLouisFeldman,PhDMs.CarolynT.FergusonFidelityCharitableGiftFundMr.RobertW.FieldMr.JamesNormanFosterMs.JanetFrankMr.EdwardCharlesFreseMr.andMrs.DuaneFreyMr.LouisD.FriedmanMichaelBrodieGarver,DMDMr.StevenJ.GeibMr.ThomasJ.GerlowskiJr.Dr.andMrs.DonJosephGermanoMr.NicholasJosephGervaseDr.andMrs.ArunK.GhoshArthurJoelGoldman,MDAndrewJamesGoudy,PhDMr.D.TylerGourleyMr.andMrs.W.RichardGregorMr.andMrs.LeroyS.GressMr.MarkAndrewGriffithAndrewD.Hamilton,PhDMr.MelvinWayneHarshbergerDr.JoyceFehlHaskellandMr.AlexC.HaskellIIIMr.RobertGreenHayesMr.JackL.Hedrick
Ms.LoriJeanHenningerDr.DavidM.HerculesandDr.ShirleyH.HerculesDr.KendallN.HoukandDr.RobinL.GarrellProfessorPaulL.HoustonShan-JenChenHuang,PhDAbulHussam,PhDRobertDouglasHutchens,PhDMrs.PatriciaBrownIsaacsMr.andMrs.JustinDavidJaeckeKevinD.John,PhDMr.RobertAnthonyJohnsMr.andMrs.RichardJohnsonMr.andMrs.CraigR.JonesMr.EdwinL.JonesJr.Mr.JoshuaC.JonesKennethD.JordanDianeElizabethJunker,PhDMr.KevinJamesKapplesDr.CostasG.KarakatsanisandMs.BarbaraAnnBlackmondMr.CharlesA.KarcutskieCharlesAnthonyKarcutskie,DMDDr.ChristopherKaufmanandDr.LisaCambottiKaufmanRobertEugeneKerwin,PhDArshadKhan,MDMr.andMrs.MoufidKhouryDr.Sung-HouKimandDr.RosalindYuanKimMr.LesterDeanKingMs.CynthiaG.KinnanDr.JosephA.GardellaJr.andMs.CarolKizisDr.LeonardS.KogutGaryAllenKoppel,PhDMs.MichelleMarieKotsagrelosMr.ThomasRichardKrughMr.andMrs.BrianKrullJamesM.P.Kyros,DMDYuanTsehLee,PhDMs.MargaretMatuschakLevinMr.RonaldJamesLewarchikDr.CraigRichardBielerandDr.LisaBethLewisDr.andMrs.ChristopherL.LienDr.andMrs.JonathanLipowitzMs.AlvernaBernadetteLoberQuentinL.Looney,PhDMr.SigmundJ.LukasiewiczGeorgeWilliamLutherIII,PhDGeorgeMajetich,PhDMargaretM.LevinCharitableRemainder-AnnuityTrustMr.DavidGirardMartinRonaldJ.Martis,PhDMs.KieraAnnKocibanMatheyMr.PhilipJeffreyMcDermottL.DennisMcKeeverMs.MirnaMemisevicAdrianMichael,PhDMrs.AnneStickleyMichelDr.FoilA.MillerDr.JohnT.MinorMr.&Mrs.EdisonMontgomeryMr.RaymondM.MoranJr.Mr.ChristopherMyronMostowyMr.GarthChristopherMoyleMichaelRayMyers,PhDMs.PatriciaLynnOpreskoOrganicSyntheses,Inc.G.R.Padmanabhan,PhDVasilPajcini,PhDGeorgeRobertPatrick,PhDMr.andMrs.GlenPetersMr.AndrewS.PetitMs.PaulineCarpinelliPiattPittsburghSectionAmericanChemicalSocietyWilliamPlummer,PhDRonaldKurtPoropatich,MDMrs.FrancesS.PozunMr.ZacharyD.PozunDavidW.Pratt,PhDMs.KathleenPrattTheT.RowePriceProgramforCharitableGiving
Mr.JohnF.QuinnMr.MichaelThomasRadvanMs.JudithRamseyerMr.MarkA.RatnerMr.andMrs.FrancisJosephRattayWilsonTerryRawlins,PhDMr.andMrs.TimothyJ.RenschRetroSystems,Inc.KennethE.Rohly,PhDMs.KathleenLehmanRohrSoniaRondon,PhDJeromeM.RosenbergDr.JosephJ.RothermelMr.WesleyPatrickSadlerMr.andMrs.MitchellSasalaJr.Dr.andMrs.CameronSatterthwaiteMr.ThomasHarrySchaefersMr.andMrs.StevenL.SchaferSchwabCharitableFundMr.andMrs.JamesSchwartzPaulScolieri,MDHerbertH.Seltzman,PhDMr.andMrs.LeonSendeckiMr.JitenHarishShahWilliamRaymondSharpe,PhDMr.MichaelGeorgeSheppoMr.andMrs.RobertEmmetteSheridanIIRobertDonaldShoup,PhDMr.AlbertW.SimonJanetDiPasqualeSimon,PhDJ.MatthewSimon,PhDProfessorJohnP.SimonsMr.JosephSmiskoH.KevinSmith,PhDSocietyforAnalyticalChemistsofPittsburghMr.JohnP.SonyeKirkLeonardSorgi,PhDDr.ConstantineN.SpalarisSpectroscopySocietyofPittsburghCharlesHalcombSpringer,PhDJoeCharlesSpurgeon,PhDMr.DonaldC.StevensDr.MichaelAlanStranickandDr.KimberlySelsorStranickMichaelStremFamilyMs.BarbaraA.SvitekMichaelD.Swerdloff,PhDDr.GregoryDavidSysynNancyMcKeeverTargett,PhDDr.CharlesAlbertTarinoandDr.JanetZiskindTarinoEstherF.TeplitzTrustEstherF.Teplitz,MDJosephMichaelThomas,PhDDr.andMrs.DanielWilliamTrainorDr.andMrs.ForrestA.TrumboreDr.andMrs.MichaelP.TurbergMr.JewleeWeahTwehTheValsparFoundationMr.DavidAlanVanzinRobertAlfredVolkmann,PhDDavidH.Waldeck,PhDAndrewBuchananWalker,MDDr.NyalS.WalkerMr.JohnJosephWallLijunWang,PhDStephenG.Weber,PhDIrvingWender,PhDMr.andMrs.RoyWetzelMr.RichardAlbertWinschelDr.andMrs.PeterWipfElizabethThereseWise,PhDGilbertWitschard,PhDMr.andMrs.KirkB.WolffDr.RobertL.WolkeTse-ChongWu,PhDYanXia,PhDJiYang,PhDDr.andMrs.JohnT.Yates,Jr.Dr.andMrs.RalphE.YingstMr.andMrs.Sun-QuanYuanDr.JosephS.YudelsonMarkStuartZahniser,PhDMr.andMrs.AnthonyKeithZiberna
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Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
6
Faculty Highlights: Peter Wipf
Chemistry Professor Peter Wipf and his group developand apply the tool chest of synthetic chemistry to im-portant problems in chemistry, biology, and medicine.Theyare interested innewmethodologies,stereochemi-calanalysisbyspectroscopicandcomputationalmethods,synthetic strategiesandmechanisms,medicinalchemis-tryandchemicalbiology,andtotalsynthesis.Theyselecttargetmoleculesonthebasisoftheiruniquearchitectures,biological activity, as well as for showcasing their syn-theticmethods.Below,afewspecificexampleshighlightthisapproach.
Synthetic Methodologies.Startingwiththetransmetala-tionchemistryoforganozirconocenes,theWipfgrouphasgreatlyexpandedthescopeoforganozirconiumchemis-tryoverthepast20years.Theyreportedthefirstasym-metricprotocolfortheadditionofalkenylzirconocenestoaldehydesaswellasseveralinnovativecascadereactionswith imines. For example, the multicomponent reactionof alkenyl zirconocene, alkynyl imine and zinc carben-oid in thepresenceofdimethylzinc leads tonovelC,C-dicyclopropylmethylamines.Theformationofintermedi-atebicyclo[1.1.0]butanesrepresentsthefirstsyntheticallyusefulexampleofadoubleC,C-s-bondinsertion,andtheincreaseinstructuralcomplexityfromstartingmaterialsishighlightedbytheformationofninenewC,C-bondsinthefinalproduct:
Theseproductscanbefurtherelaboratedintopharmaceuticallysignificant5-,6-,and7-memberedheterocycles:
Natural Product Total Synthesis.Tuberostemonineisamemberof theStemonafamilyofalkaloids thathasat-tractedincreasinginterestfromsyntheticchemistsinthelast10years.TheWipfgrouphaspioneered theoxida-tivecyclizationoftyrosineasaunifiedstrategytowardthemajorStemonaalkaloidringscaffolds:
Their tuberostemonine synthesis highlights a threefolduse of ruthenium catalysts, first in azepine ring-closingmetathesisandtheninalkeneisomerizationandcross-me-tathesispropenyl-vinylexchange,aswellasmethodologydevelopmentsfromtheirlaboratorysuchasthestereose-lectiveattachmentoftheg-butyrolactoneringtothetetra-cyclecorestructurebyuseofalithiatedABO-orthoester.
While tuberostemonine illustrates strategic and tacticalmotivationsfora totalsynthesisprogram,disorazoleC1andbistramideCwereinspiredbythepursuitofinterest-ing biological activities and fundamental computationalstudies,respectively:
Medicinal Chemistry. The application of modern syn-thetic methodology for solving challenging biologicaland medical problems is an extremely fertile field, andtheWipfgroupcontinuestoexploreopportunitiesinthisinterdisciplinaryandcollaborativeresearch.Sinceitsdis-coveryin1942,thecyclodecapeptideantibioticGramici-dinS(GS,cyclo[(Val-Orn-Leu-DPhe-Pro-)2])hasservedasaninspirationforthedesignofantibacterialagentsandantimicrobialpeptides,aswellasthestudyofconforma-tionalmimicry.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
7
Faculty Nuggets
Mitochondria are key organelles that perform essentialcellular functions and play pivotal roles in cell deathand survival signaling.Hence, they represent anattrac-tivetargetfordrugstotreatmetabolic,degenerative,andhyperproliferativediseases.Targetingmitochondriawithorganelle-specificagentsorprodrugshasproventobeaneffectivetherapeuticstrategy.Morespecifically,control-ling the cellular ROS balance via selective delivery ofanantioxidant“payload”intomitochondriaisanelegantemergingtherapeuticconcept.Inexcitingbiomedicalap-plicationsofpeptidomimeticdesignprinciples,theWipfgroupwasabletodesignandsynthesizeamitochondrialmembranetargetingsequencethathasshowninvivoeffi-cacyagainsthemorrhagicshock,age-relatedneurodegen-erativediseases,aswellasutilityasradiationmitigatorsandradiationprotectiveagents.
Insummary,theresearchprogramintheWipfgroupaimstobroadenthearsenalofsyntheticorganicchemistry,show-casenewmethodologyinnaturalproductanddesignedmoleculesynthesis,applythesetoolstocuttingedgebiologicalproblems,andmoveforwardwiththedevelopmentofnewtherapeuticstrategies.
Damodaran Krishnan Achary(NMRDirector)waspromotedtoresearchassociateprofessor.
George BandikwasrecognizedforhisoutstandingworkwithstudentsinthefieldofchemistrybythemembersoftheUniversityofPittsburghGreekLifeandreceivedspecialrecognitionasanoutstandingpro-fessorthisyear.
Kay Brummondwaselectedtothe2010classoffellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.
Toby ChapmanwasinductedasadistinguishedmemberoftheUniversityofPittsburghChapteroftheNationalSocietyofCollegiateScholarsfortheacademicyear2010-2011.HealsowaspresentedanawardforbeingamemberoftheAmericanChemicalSocietyfor50years.
Dennis CurranreceivedaDoctoratHonorisCausa(HonoraryDoctorat)fromtheUniversityofPierreandMarieCurieinParisatanawardsceremonyonMarch26,2010.
Kenneth JordanreceivedtheACSPhysicalChemistryDivisionAwardinTheoreticalChemistry.
Haitau LiureceivedtheNewYorkAcademyofSciences2010BlavatnikAward.
Renã RobinsonisthefacultyadvisorforthenewlyformedchapteroftheNationalOrganizationofBlackChemistsandChemicalEngineers(NOBCChE).ThePittsburghchapterwasofficiallyinductedatthe2010NortheastRegionalMeetingrecentlyheldattheUniversityofPennsylvania.
Nat Rosi wasselectedasa2010‘EmergingInvestigator’byChemicalCommunications.AlsohereceivedaNationalScienceFoundationCAREERawardbasedonhisproposalentitled“DesignedPeptideConjugatesforPreciselyControllingtheFabrication,Structure,andPropertiesofNanoparticleSuperstructures.”
Megan SpencewasfeaturedinthePittsburgh Post-Gazette,forherstudiesofthestructureofproteinsincellmembranes.
Alexander Starwasnamedsectioneditor-in-chiefofthetopicalsectionon“Biosensors”forthejournalSensors.Also,hewasselectedtoreceiveafive-yearNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS)OutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientist(ONES)Awardforhisproject,“InvestigationsandMiti-gationofCarbonNanomaterialToxicity”,andhasbeenselectedtoreceiveaNationalScienceFoundationCAREERawardbasedonhisproposalentitled“SynthesisandExplorationofGraphiticNanocapsules.”
Michael TrakselisreceivedanAmericanCancerSocietyResearchScholarGranttosupportthe“Mecha-nismofDNAPolymeraseSwitchingDuringReplicationtoBypassLesions.”
Peter Wipfwaselectedtothe2010classofFellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.AlsohisresearchwasfeaturedastheNewsoftheWeekinC&E NewsandinChemistry World.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
8
KathrynDavis(2005BS/BAfromHopeCollegeand2010PhDfromtheUniv.Pittsburgh) received her PhD in chemistry this past summer. Her research inbioelectrochemistrywasperformedundertheguidanceofDavidWaldeckand
focusedonthenatureofelectrontransferfrommetalelectrodestoimmobilizedredoxproteinsandtonucleicacids.DuringhertimeatPitt,Kathyreceivednumerousawards,includingaMaryE.WargaFellowship andaGoldblattFellowship.Shealso receivedatravelawardandgaveoralpresentationsofherworkatthenationalACSmeetinginPhiladelphiain2008andatinternationalmeetingsoftheElectrochemicalSociety(ECS)inViennain2009andVancouverin2010.
Kathy’s thesis isentitled“ChargeTransfer in ImmobilizedBiomolecules.”Herexperimental studiesofimmobilizedproteinsexploredhowtheelectrontransferrateconstantchangeswiththechemicalnatureoftheprotein’simmobilizationandwiththepropertiesoftheelectrolytemedium,suchasviscosityandisotope(H
2OversusD
2O).Thesestudiesdemonstratedexperimentalstrategiesforexploringproton-coupledelectron
transferatelectrodesandforexploringchangesintheelectrontransfermechanismthatarisefromchangesinthecouplingstrengthbetweenaredoxproteinandtheelectrode.Kathy’sstudiesofPeptideNucleicAcid(PNA)revealedthenucleobasedependenceforelectrontransferthroughduplexPNAandlaidthefoundationforexploringelectrontransferthroughPNAduplexesthatcontainmetalionsalongthehelix’score.
BecauseofKathy’slong-standinginterestinanacademiccareer,sheperformedanumberofdifferentteachingdutiesintheDepartment.Duringherfirstyearintheprogram,shewasateachingassistantforgeneralchemistryandlaterinhercareersheservedasateachingassistantinthephysicalchemistrylaboratory.Throughouthertimeintheprogram,Kathywasaprivatechemistrytutorforundergraduatestudents,aswellashighschoolstudents.Inthefallof2009,KathywaschosentobealecturerforourCHEM0100course,whichisapreparatorycourseforthesubsetofundergraduatestudentswhomaynothavehadhighschoolchemistryandneedsomebasictrainingbeforetakingthemainstreamgeneralchemistrysequence.UndertheseasonedmentorshipofDr.GeorgeBandik,Kathyperformedexcellentlyinthisnewandchallengingroleasacourselecturer.
ThisfallKathyassumedapositionasanAssistantProfessorofChemistryatManchesterCollegeinIndiana,wheresheteachesphysicalchemistry,aswellasgeneralchemistrylabsandanintroductorychemistrylecture.
Graduate Highlights: Kathryn Davis
Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU)
GraduateAwards
Andrew MellonPredoctoral Fellowship
AdamFleisherAndreySolovyev
Arts and Sciences FellowshipsAnthonyBencivenga
AdamEvansBenjaminEyerGeorgeLengyel
RichardLiberatoreEverettMerlingBrandonMills
MichaelNardoneElizabethPaladinGuangRongPeh
YouweiXieJieXu
YongzhaoYanYingYi
MatthewZwier
Bayer MaterialsScience Fellowship
YifanTangHongZhang
Goldblatt FellowshipJuanfangWu
Warga FellowshipVictoriaChuLauraKocsis
Bayer FellowshipSeanGardner
Kaufmann FellowshipCheukFaiChiu
Provost’s FellowshipHaoLu
MaduMendis
Sunoco FellowshipToddVargson
PhiLambdaUpsilon(PLU)istheNationalHonoraryChemistrySocietyfoundedin1899.Theaimsandpurposesofthesocietyarethepromotionofhighscholarshipandoriginalinvestigationinallbranchesofpureandappliedchemistry.TheUniversityofPittsburghXiChapterhasbeenapartoftheNationalPLUsinceitwasfoundedin1917.
Inthe2009-2010year,PLUorganizedseveralsocialeventssuchas iceskating,bowling,andhappyhours.PLUalsosponsoredtheannualfirst-yearpicnic aswell as theholidayparty,whichwasheldatPeter’sPubthisyearandwasagreatsuccess.
OneofPLU’sbiggesteventsistheannualFrancisCliffordPhillipsLecture,thelongestrunninggraduatechemistrylectureseriesorganizedbygraduatestudents.The55thPhillipsLecturespeaker,Dr.PhilBaranofTheScrippsResearchInstitutewasselectedbytheorganicchemistrydivision.ProfessorBaran’sresearchfocusesonthepracticaltotalsynthesisofcomplexnaturalproducts,suchasalkaloidsandterpenes,byaim-ingtoachievethe“idealsynthesis.”Todate,theBarangrouphasaccomplishedtotalsynthesesofnumeroushighlycomplexandbiologicallyactivenaturalproducts.
PLUendedthe2009-2010yearbyinitiatingsevennewmembersintothesocietyinJune.Inthe2010-2011year,PLUlooksforwardtoseveralmoresocialeventsaswellasthe56thPhillipsLecture,whichforthefirsttimeinPLUhistorywillrepresenttherecentlyintroducedbiologicalchemistrydivision.
MoreinformationaboutPLUandupcomingeventscanbefoundonourwebsite(www.pitt.edu/~plu)orvisitusonFacebook(PluPitt).PLUofficersforthe2010-2011yearareKristyGogickandBrianGraham(Co-Presidents),RobinSloan (Vice-President),AmyHamsher (Secretary), andTimCunningham(Trea-surer).
Dr. Phil Baran with graduate students at the 55th Phillips lecture reception dinner.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
9
Undergraduate In The Spotlight: Kelley Peters
ACS Student Affiliate News
2010 UndergraduateSenior Awards
The American Institute of Chemists Award
MaryLiang
The Mary Louise Theodore Prize
AlexanrdaM.McSorleyMichaelG.OlahMariaT.PantevaKelleyL.PetersRyanA.Wetzel
The Merck AwardSethA.PattonRyanA.Wetzel
The SACP College AwardMichaelS.Freedman
The Silverman PrizeJosephW.Kaus
The Phillips MedalDanielleN.Chirdon
KelleyPeters receivedherBachelorofSciencedegree inchemistrywithabiological sciencesoption inMay,2010.Kelleywasoneofourmanyout-standinggraduatingseniorsthispastacademicyear.ShegraduatedwithbothUniversityandDepartmentalhonors.ShealsowasrecognizedforherstrongperformanceinanalyticalchemistrywiththeACSUndergraduateAnalyticalChemistryAward.
Duringhertimewithus,Kelleywasactivelyinvolvedinourundergraduateprogram.SheservedasalaboratoryinstructorintheOrganicChemistryILabo-ratoryProgramandshewasresponsibleformentoringnumerousundergraduatestudentsastheymasteredthetechniquesoforganicchemistry.
KelleywasalsoanactiveparticipantinourUndergraduateResearchProgram.ShecarriedoutresearchunderthedirectionofProfessorSteveWeberwhereshelookedatcalciumimaginginratbraintissue.Itwasforthiswork,aswellasherstrongacademicperformance,thatKelleyreceivedtheACSAnalyticalChemistryAward.
KelleyalsowasanactivememberofourACSStudentAffiliatesgroupduringhertimeintheDepartment.ShevolunteeredformanyofouroutreacheffortsincludingthecelebrationofNationalChemistryWeekattheCarnegieScienceCenter.Closertohomesheservedasamentortonumerouslocalhighschoolstudentsaspartofourhonor’sorganiclaboratoryprogramandourSaturdayScienceAcademy.Kelley’sabilitytoshareherenthusiasmandloveforscienceandeducationwithouryoungvisitorswastrulyinspiring.Inad-ditiontothis,KelleyalsoservedonourSeniorAffairsCommitteethispastyear.
SinceleavingPittsburgh,KelleyhasbegungraduatestudiesinforensicchemistryatFloridaInternationalUniversity.WewishKelleyandallofthispastyear’sgraduatesgreatsuccessinalltheirfutureendeavors.
HereattheUniversityofPittsburgh–ACS-SAchapter,werecognizetheimportantrolethatweasalargeurbanuniversityplayinoursurroundingcommunity.Webelievethatitisourresponsibilityto
interactwithlocaleducationalgroupsinordertoshareourappreciationofsciencewithothers.Wealsorealizethatthiscanonlybeachievediflocalgroupsarewillingtobeactiveplayersintheseundertakings.
Allofouroutreacheffortsbeganwithsmallgroupdiscussionsbetweenoneortwomembersofourchapterandofthelocalcommunitygroup.Duringthesemeetings,welearnedabouttheindividualgroups’needs,demographics,andultimategoalsforbetteringtheirstudents’appreciationofscience.Becauseourout-reacheffortsfocusontheeducationalmission,wewereabletoexpandoureffortsthroughnetworkingwithalumniwhoarenowinvolvedinthelocalclassrooms.
Wehave found thatourmembersareveryenthusiasticaboutparticipating in theseoutreachprograms.Uponfurtherinquiry,wehavereceivedcommentsfromstudentssayingthatsincethePittsburghcommu-nityhadsuchapositiveimpactontheircollegeexperience,theyhopedtoreturnthisfavorbygivingbackthroughtheseprograms.OthershavetoldusthatsimplyseeingtheenthusiasmonthefacesofouryoungvisitorsmadegettingupearlyonaSaturdaymorningworthwhile.Stillothersaremorepragmaticandreal-izethatbeinginvolvedintheseofferingscanhelpthemachievetheirultimatelongtermgoals.
Weareparticularlyproudofthemakeupofourchapter.Weboastnearly75activememberscomingfromawidevarietyofmajors.Forexample,thisyearourco-presidentsarebothbiologymajorsandourtreasurerisacivilengineer.Weadvertisethisregularlyandbelievethatitencouragesothernon-chemistrymajorstoattendourmeetingsandparticipateinouractivities.Inadditiontoourstrongoutreachprograms,wehaveawidevarietyofotheractivitiesinwhichourmemberscanparticipate.Wehostspeakersthatdiscusstop-icsincludingmakingcareerchoices,contemporaryresearchbeingdoneinbothacademicsandindustry,andthecurrenthotissueofgreenchemistry.Wealsomakeapointofhostingseveralsocialeventseachsemestersuchasbirthdaycelebrations,holidayparties,andseniorrecognitionawardceremonies.Finally,togiveallofourmembersopportunitiestoactivelyparticipateinourgroup,theyareinvitedtotutorwithintheDepartmentandassistinourweeklyfundraising.
Weareveryproudofmembershipandtheirachievements.WehopetocontinueourstronglegacyhereattheUniversityofPittsburgh.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
10
New Faculty and Staff
Haitao Liu, Assistant ProfessorHaitaoLiureceivedhisBSfromtheUniversityofScienceandTech-nologyofChina,hisPhDfromUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,and he completed postdoctoral work at Columbia University. Re-searchintheHaitaoLiulabisfocusedonthechemistryandapplica-tionsofnano-materials.Theyareinterestedinawiderangeoforganicandinorganicmaterials,includingbutnotlimitedtoDNA,graphene,carbon nanotubes, and colloidal nanocrystals. Current projects in-cludetheuseofDNAnanostructurestodolithographyonasiliconwafer,thesynthesisandchemicalmodificationofgrapheneandsin-glewalledcarbonnanotubes,andthemechanisticstudyofcolloidalnanocrystalsynthesis.
Xinyu Liu, Assistant ProfessorXinyu Liu received his PhD in organic chemistry from the SwissFederalInstituteofTechnology(ETH)ZurichinSwitzerlandandhecompleted postdoctoral work in biochemistry at Harvard MedicalSchool,Boston.Research in theXinyuLiu lab residesat the inter-faceofchemistry,biology,andmedicineandconcerns thestudyofbroadlydefinedtemplate–independentbiologicalprocessesinlivingsystems.Thecurrentresearchfocusofthelaboratoryistodevelopanextgeneration(bio)syntheticplatformthatwillserveasthebasistounderstand the biogenesis and signal transduction events related topolysaccharide,polypeptideandpolyprenylatedsmallmoleculenatu-ralproducts.Byunderstandingthesebiologicalprocessesatadetailedmolecular level, theyaim to facilitate thediscoveryofnovel therapeutics for the treatmentofcancer,autoimmune,neurodegenerative,andinfectiousdiseases,aswellasthecreationofnewenvironmentally friendly biomaterials for biomedical applications.While their strength lies insyntheticorganicchemistry,proteinbiochemistryandenzymology,theyalsointegratemicrobiol-ogy,cellbiology,biophysics,andbioengineeringintotheirresearchprogram.
John P. (Jay) Auses, Senior AdministratorJohn P. (Jay) Auses was recently named senior administrator(assistantchair)oftheDepartmentofChemistry.AnativeofWesternPennsylvania,Jaygrewup inJohnstown,earnedaBS inchemistryfromSt.FrancisUniversityinLoretto,andearnedanMSinchemistryfromWestVirginiaUniversity.Duringhisindustrialcareer,Jayheldpositions as research scientist, environmental chemist, technicalsupervisor, and quality manager at theAlcoaTechnical Center. HehasbeenactiveintheSocietyforAnalyticalChemistsofPittsburghand the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, once having served aspresidentofthePittsburghConferenceonAnalyticalChemistryandApplied Spectroscopy (PITTCON).Among his duties as the senior administrative officer, Jayassiststhedepartmentchair,overseesthedaytodayoperationsofthedepartment,andservesasthegraduatestudentliaison.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
11
Renovation Status
Department Milestones
RETIREMENTS:
BOB MUHA (2/1971 – 6/2010) Bob,adegreedelectricalengineer,cametousfromWestinghouse’sformerBettisAtomicPowerLaboratory.Underhissupervision,theDepartment’selectronicsshopgrewfromaone-personunittoawell-respectedandhighlyvaluedfour-personoperation.After39yearsofdedicatedserviceBobretiredtopursuetheartoffreshwaterfishing.
DENNIS SICHER: Machinist (6/1966 – 8/2009)DenniscametoworkfortheUniversityatage17,whenhewashiredtoworkforDr.RaymondCraigandDr.WilliamE.Wallace.AstheDepartmentexpandedanddemandsgrew,DenniseventuallybecamesupervisoroftheMachineShopandretired43yearslater.HenowresidesinFlorida.
NANCY WOODRING: Assistant to the Chair (9/1972 – 8/2010)NancywasapartoftheDepartmentofChemistryfor38years.OriginallyhiredaspartoftheDepartment’ssecretarialstaff,andshebecameassistanttothechairin1989.SheremainedinthatpositionuntilherretirementonAugust31,2010.
IN MEMORIAM:
NANCY SATTLER: Graduate Studies Administrator (11/1970 – 7/2000)Nancybeganherwork in theDepartmentofChemistryworkingaspartof the secretarial staff andeventually moving into the position of graduate studies administrator. Nancy always had a positiveattitudeandasmileonherface.Sadly,NancypassedawayonAugust28,2009.
MARYANN STEVWING: Office Administrator (2/2/1980 – 3/29/1996)MaryannhadmorethanonetitleduringhercareerintheDepartmentofChemistry.Shewaspartofthesecretarialstaff,eventuallybecomingofficemanageroftheadministrativeoffice,andinherlastyearswiththeDepartment,shewasundergraduateofficeadministrator.Afteralongillness,MaryannpassedawayonJuly6,2009.
Updates and expansions to Pitt’s chemistry facilities continue at a brisk pace.
TwofloorsoftheChevronScienceCenterarenowinfulloperationafterthecompletionofmajorupdates.Renovationofthe14thfloorhasresultedinanopen,efficient,flexibleresearchlabora-torysetting that ishometo threeorganicchemistrygroups. Organicchemistry instructionallaboratoriesonthe4thfloornowfeatureacentralcorefordemonstrationsandinstrumentationplusmodern laboratoryamenities thatareenhancingour students’educationalexperience inchemistry.
Thesteel frameworkhasbeenerectedandconstructionof theannex to theChevronScienceCenteriswellunderway.Theresultingstructurewillhousetwoadditionalfloorsdedicatedtograduateresearch.ThelobbyandmezzanineoftheAsheAuditoriumandthelobbyofChevronareundergoingamajorfaceliftthatwillprovidebrightandspaciousareasforstudentstogather,relax,orstudy;itwillincludeanewlydesignedstate-of-the-artcomputerclassroom,anditnowhousestheChemistrylibrary.Constructiononthe5thfloorofChevronandtheformerlibraryareainEberlyarealsounderwayandwillprovidenewresearchspacefortheDepartment.
Renovationstosupportfacilitiesandteachinglabsarecontinuingalso.Renovationoftheun-dergraduatestockroomandtheelectronicsshopwillbecompletedthiswinter.Developmentofmoderndesignsforrenovationoftheundergraduategeneralchemistrylaboratoriesareunder-wayandscheduledtobeginthissummer.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
12
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
Department of Chemistry234 Chevron Science Center217 Parkman PlacePittsburgh, PA 15260
www.chem.pitt.edu
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WeareveryinterestedinhearingabouttheaccomplishmentsofouralumniandformercolleaguesintheDepartmentofChemistry.IfyouhavenewstosharepleasecompletethetopportionoftheenclosedenvelopeorcontactMicheleMonacobytelephone(412-624-8200)ore-mail([email protected])sothatwecanshareyourinformationwiththerestofourreaders.TheinformationthatyouprovidetouswillbeincludedinfuturemailingsoronthedepartmentalWebsite.
Welookforwardtohearingfromyou!