Chemistry & Biochemistry News
“Auburn University is deeply rooted in its land-grant mission and it is essential that we provide outreach to support the entire community,” said Vince Ortiz, the Ruth W. Molette Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and faculty advisor for the Auburn University NOBCChE, or National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Chapter. “These students are inspiring the next generation of diverse chemists who will conduct research leading to more effective and well-rounded advancements in the field of chemistry.”
Ming Chen, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the sole primary investigator of a highly competitive $1,876,283 award from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences, or NIGMS, part of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2017. Dr. Rashad Karimov, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM), is the recipient of a grant from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help characterize cases related to fentanyl and its analogues which are major contributors to the opioid crisis. Over the next nine months, the Karimov Group which focuses on organic synthesis, will be studying the selective degradation of fentanyl type compounds to improve proper characterization of fentanyl related overdose cases. At the end of these studies his research group, will provide a complex report to the CDC about the specific chemical methodologies. “Fentanyl is an incredibly potent and fast-acting drug” Dr. Karimov explained. “Being able to accurately characterize overdoses from fentanyl and its analogues will help first-responders to be able to save more lives.” The main limitation of current approaches is that they require generation and storage of a large number of antibodies and internal standards for detecting ever changing fentanyl analogues. Working with the CDC’s emergency response branch, Dr. Karimov’s goal is to reduce the overall number of internal standards, which will help researchers classify cases quicker from blood samples and direct resources more efficiently to fight this epidemic.
Since 1986, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has brought together past and future generations of chemistry professionals through an annual lecture series, the Auburn – G.M. Kosolapoff Award Lecture, which is sponsored by the American Chemical Society, Auburn Section. Speakers from prestigious universities including Harvard, Purdue, Stanford, Columbia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have shared their research at Auburn University for this event over the past three decades. The 2019 recipient of this award is Dr. Sharon Hammes-Schiffer from Yale University. Dr. Hammes-Schiffer spoke on February 13 on the topic Enzymes: The Engines of Biology. She shared insight about chemical reactions in condensed phases. The three areas of her research includes proton-coupled electron transfer reactions, enzymatic processes, and non-Born-Oppenheimer electronic structure methods. After her presentation, she was presented with the Kosolapoff medal for her scientific achievement. Dr. Hammes-Schiffer is the John Gamble Kirkwood Professor of Chemistry at Yale University. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science and the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee. She has published more than 240 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has been invited to more than 370 lectures.
A room full of graduate students recently gathered to receive real world advice from a group of professionals during a “Navigating the Real World After Graduate School” panel. The panel, hosted by the Auburn University chapter of the Younger Chemists Committee on Jan. 31, addressed students in a casual setting in the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ Sciences Center Classroom building offering insight and advice on the many career options available to those with a higher degree in Chemistry. This was the second career panel the committee has hosted, the first was in fall of 2017. Host Jessica Krewall, professional development chair for the Younger Chemists Committee (YCC), said the first panel consisted of only Auburn faculty and they were excited to host faculty and staff from additional institutions this year. This year’s panel consisted of Guillermo Sanchez, who is currently conducting a fellowship to become a member of the Epidemic Intelligence Service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Jacque Sanchez, a health communications specialist for CDC; Dr. Jessica Davis, coordinator for General Chemistry Teaching Labs at Auburn University; Dr. Colin Abernethy, chemistry professor at Sarah Lawrence College in New York; and Dr. Brad Merner, assistant professor in the Auburn University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “The idea for our career panel events came from a collaboration of a small group of graduate students from our department discussing the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding possible careers available to chemists after graduate school, searching and applying for jobs, and really anything related to industry jobs,” Krewall said. “We realized that we could help relieve some of this stress if we were to offer some answers from people who have actually experienced these situations first hand.” The event was funded by a grant to the local section of the American Chemical Society to support the initiative to promote and foster mental well-being for graduate students. The panel discussed pathways to finding jobs in Chemistry, the value of web portfolios, interview etiquette and more. Dr. Davis advised the students to make as many connections in their career-fields as possible, and Guillermo Sanchez agreed. “Who you know plays a big role in how you may or may not rank with the other job candidates,” Sanchez said. Dr. Abernethy also agreed, adding that he has been asked to apply for most jobs that he has had. “The way you get into that position is make contacts in your field,” he said. “Always reply positively to emails. Volunteer for things and put yourself out there. Have a presence and get a reputation as someone who’s always willing to do things and is always happy to help.” The panel also advised the students to make and maintain strong relationships with their Auburn University professors and advisors. “It really helps if your advisor has a good opinion of you when you’re applying for jobs, especially if they’re connected and can put in a good word for you,” Dr. Merner said. Dr. Abernethy added that the professors are there to help the students succeed. “This might sound really strange to you now, but your professors are on your side,” he said with a laugh. “Most of us are involved in teaching because we love the subject, but we also like people. One of the ways that we can give back to our discipline is to train the next generation.” Krewall said that she believes the event went well and the YCC plans to continue to host similar events, some focused specifically on the job application process and interviews. “We had a lot of graduate students attend, and even some of our post-doctoral scientists,” she said of the Jan. 31 event. “I have heard very positive feedback from students since the event, which is greatly encouraging!”
Theodor Agapie is the fourth speaker in the Schneller Frontiers Lecture series in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) at Auburn University. Dr. Agapie is a professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Agapie received his bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2001 and his doctorate degree from the California Institute of Technology in 2007. Dr. Agapie’s presentation, Conversion of Oxygenated C1 Feedstocks to C2 Products: Mechanism and Electrochemistry with Molecular and Heterogeneous Systems, highlighted information about small molecule gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and the importance of developing chemical transformations. He discussed binding and manipulating gases for beneficial purposes including creating renewable energy and helping to move away from synthetic fertilizers that are not environmentally-friendly. “I am pleased to see that this lecture series is bringing scholars to campus who enhance the research profile of Auburn University,” explained former COSAM Dean and professor of chemistry and biochemistry Dr. Stewart Schneller. Previous lectures include Melanie Sanford from the University of Michigan, Sarah Reisman from the California Institute of Technology and Shannon Stahl from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This event is made possible through an endowment by Professor and Mrs. Stewart Schneller. The Schneller Frontiers Lecture series is an opportunity for them to personally give back to the university with high-impact speakers in the field of chemistry and biochemistry. Watch the entire lecture online from Dr. Theodor Agapie.
COSAM recently hosted the first event in a series of new lectures to help showcase the work of its faculty. “I want to provide opportunities for faculty and staff to learn more about the outstanding work being carried out in all of our five departments,” explained Dean Nicholas J. Giordano. “By creating this new lecture series, COSAM is promoting an open environment to highlight the excellent research and programs within this college.” Dr. Anne E. V. Gorden and Dr. Paul A. Cobine were the first two speakers. Dr. Anne Gorden is the recipient of the 2018 College Outreach award. During her presentation, she discussed the value of long-running projects impacting students and the entire community. Dr. Gorden shared an array of programs including mentoring through the Association of Women in Science at Auburn University and the LADIES Science Program, which provided after school activities to encourage middle school girls to have an interest in science and STEM careers. She also shared information about engaging activities through the Summer Science Institute, and outreach programs with the American Chemical Society that include hands-on learning experiences with liquid nitrogen, polymers and even young students having fun dressing up as a scientist. Dr. Cobine is the 2018 recipient of the Dean’s Young Faculty Scholar award. He shared insight about his research with copper explaining the transporter process of this metal and current research with yeast models in his lab. He shared information about how copper modulates pathways and the research being conducted by undergraduate students in his lab. He highlighted how this research can help save lives since 1,429,459 people died from heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s just in 2016.
The College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recently hosted a colloquium featuring Michigan State University professor Dr. Angela Wilson, who is also the director of the chemistry division of the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Kenneth M. Halanych of the Department of Biological Sciences and Dr. Stewart W. Schneller of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) at Auburn University are the recipients of the 2018 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. AAAS Fellows are selected by their peers and have made a significant advancement in the field of science. “I am extremely proud that Ken Halanych and Stewart Schneller are being recognized as 2018 AAAS Fellows,” explains Dean Nicholas Giordano. “This prestigious lifetime distinction affirms the level of high-quality research and commitment in Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics.” Dr. Halanych is recognized for his contributions on invertebrate evolution and marine genomics. “I am excited and humbled to be recognized as an AAAS Fellow for my work in the field of science,” says Dr. Halanych. A professor in Biological Sciences since 2013, he is known internationally for his research and has authored almost 80 papers in major publications. Dr. Schneller is recognized for his excellence on research, development of the next generation of scientists, public outreach and innovative educational efforts within in the general community. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as an AAAS Fellow based on my contributions,” shares Dr. Schneller, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and former Dean of COSAM. Regularly since 2012, the Schneller laboratory at Auburn University has reported compounds with broad spectrum effectiveness towards the four hemorrhagic fever viral classes, including Ebola. Dr. Halanych and Dr. Schneller join more than 20 researchers at Auburn University including 10 researchers in COSAM that are AAAS Fellows.
Dr. Wei Zhan, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) at Auburn University, is the recipient of a $471,772 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Janus Liposomes: Formation, Self-Assembly and Controlled Motion.
Faculty and graduate students from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry represented Auburn University at the Graduate School Fair at the recent 2018 Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, held in Augusta, Georgia. More than 75 prospective students visited their booth, where the representatives spoke with them about pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry at Auburn.
Dr. Steven Mansoorabadi, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been recognized as a rising star by the editors of ACS Biochemistry that is supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences within the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. "I am incredibly proud of Steven for being recognized as a rising star for his research, which has been published in ‘Science’," explains Dr. Curtis Shannon, Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. "His work at Auburn University has the potential to reduce negative effects from methane with global impacts."
Students from the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Honor Society at Auburn University, Phi Lambda Upsilon, participated in outreach programs to increase awareness of National Chemistry Week, October 21-27, 2018, whose theme was "Chemistry is Out of this World." The Auburn University participating students (PLU officers: Thomas Minetree, Bryna Martinez and Lily Weeks), shared information about chemiluminescence, the science behind chemical reactions that makes the light for fireflies, glow sticks and deep sea fish with students at Wright's Mill elementary school. During their class demonstrations, the chemistry and chemical engineering students talked about the different attributes that are associated with chemiluminescence, including its presence in outer space science, and demonstrated properties with glow sticks for the elementary classes. The activities are a fun way to incorporate chemistry into the current curriculum for younger students who may not be exposed to the field of chemistry. “National Chemistry Week is important because it gathers scientists and communities around a specific topic each year, and it fosters discussions about chemistry in settings where chemistry might not usually be a focus,” explains Bryna Martinez, a chemistry major at Auburn University. “For example, we get to go do outreach with local students who are young enough that they haven't had a specific chemistry class yet; National Chemistry Week gives them an opportunity to be exposed to chemistry early on, and hopefully they get the message that chemistry is important, interesting, and part of our everyday lives.” Professor Stewart Schneller, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the faculty advisor for Phi Lambda Upsilon.
Dr. Ming Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM), has an obvious passion for research. His main focus is on synthetic organic chemistry, particularly looking at areas of asymmetric catalysis. Dr. Chen works with two graduate students and one post-doctoral fellow to study chiral, non-racemic reagents. His small lab environment creates close relationships and the ability for the students to learn from each other’s experiences and promotes in-lab collaborations. In his lab, Dr. Chen is working on the synthesis of chiral, non-racemic molecules, which are molecules that do not overlap with their mirror images – much like our right and left hands. Despite being composed of the same elements and with the same connection of atoms, in many cases, the different enantiomers (mirror images) often have very different functions, particularly in medicinal applications. For example, while one molecule is a painkiller, the opposite enantiomer (mirror image) could be toxic to the liver. Therefore, production of the correct enantiomer of a chiral molecule is critical in the pharmaceutical industry. Using a chiral catalyst under different conditions, Dr. Chen and his team are able to create either enantiomeric form of many important molecules. Their work helps to develop new tools and provide useful intermediates that will benefit researchers in many other scientific fields. The agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries are two key examples of areas that could potentially utilize the methods developed in the Chen laboratory to develop of new pesticides or medicines. Dr. Chen said that he believes a passion and love for the subject matter is a great benefit for research. He added that it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to be a researcher but it is always worth it. “You learn something new, something surprising and unexpected,” Chen explains. “The research leads to new opportunities and new areas to study.”
Dr. Ming Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, participated in a highly competitive process for the Beckman Young Investigators Award Program. “It was a privilege to present in Irvine, California, to a distinguished committee for this prestigious program,” said Dr. Chen. “The overall experience gave me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and make new connections for future research.” The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation support young researchers, Beckman Fellows, with grants for high-risk, high-reward research. Dr. Ming Chen submitted a proposal on harnessing the noncovalent interaction for asymmetric catalysis. “Being part of the final selection process as a nominee for this award was a very humbling experience,” said Dr. Chen. “Even though Dr. Chen was ultimately not selected for the award, I am extremely proud that he was selected as one of the finalists for this prestigious award program from a large pool of outstanding scientists and researchers,” explained Dr. Curtis Shannon, Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics.
Dr. Carlos Garner graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Auburn University in 1992. He then earned his master and doctorate degrees from Vanderbilt University. In 1997, he joined Eli Lilly and Company as a senior scientist working in a lab setting. Today, Dr. Garner has been with Eli Lilly for more than 20 years and is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for this Fortune 500 Company. In his current role, he oversees a budget of more than $100 million annually.
Katherine Calloway, Matt Montgomery and Paula Norrell are the recipients of the 2018 Lilly-Lovelace Distinguished Service Award by the College of Mathematics and Sciences (COSAM). The award ceremony took place during a luncheon for Leadership Council at the Hotel at Auburn University on September 28. “I am proud to personally recognize these three outstanding staff members who contribute to the success of this college and were nominated by their peers for their all-around excellence,” said Dean Nicholas Giordano.
Dr. Bradley Merner, a 2017 recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, is a James E. Land Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University. On September 20, he spoke to an audience of more than 70 people about New Strategies for Complex Molecule Synthesis Using Macrocyclic 1,4-Diketones as Key Building Blocks. Dr. Merner spoke about the challenge of selective functionalization of a class of benzenoid macrocycles, known as cycloparaphenylenes, and the application of his group’s work to addressing this problem. Prof. Merner also discussed how his group has developed a three-step protocol to create macrocyclic butane-1,4-diones. He then explained the process to streamline synthesis of macrocyclic, 1-4 diketones, their application to complex molecule synthesis, and the development of new strategies for longitudinal pi-extension of strained benzenoid systems, including an investigation of the Scholl Reaction.
The August 30, 2018 Chemistry Colloquium was presented by Dr. Phillip Dawson from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA – his first time in the state of Alabama. Dawson, who has given more than 100 invited lectures at universities, spoke on, Exploiting Organic ‘Name Reactions’ for Chemoselective Protein Engineering, with standing room only at the College of Sciences and Mathematics at Auburn University. In addition to serving as Dean of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies at Scripps, Dr. Dawson is also the President of the American Peptide Society.
In 2017-2018, the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department brought in $2.5 million in new external funding and achieved covers of five international journals. Additionally, the department has grants of $5.9 million totaling more than $8 million in active external funding, and the covers of eight journals. “As the Chair of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, I am proud to see the hard work of these talented faculty and the difference they make not only in the high-quality research they conduct, but being recognized on an international level by their peers,” states Dr. Curtis Shannon. The five grants examine a variety of impressive research from understanding enzymes that maintain environmental sulfur levels to catalyze different reactions to research seeking a new method to detect protein modifications impacting life-threatening diseases.
Before starting her junior year, Kennedye McGhee, a biomedical sciences, pre-med major at Auburn University in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM), spent her summer researching a specific mutation for ovarian cancer at Yale University. Specifically, she was researching the reactivation of mutant p53 in ovarian cancer cells to induce apoptosis. She was one of just four undergraduate students to participate in the Discovery to Cure Undergraduate Internship Program at the Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences along with 32 high school students.
A particular modification in cells can directly lead to diseases such as cancer and diabetes. A researcher at Auburn University is seeking to find a method to detect this modification early on and keep these diseases from progressing. Dr. Monika Raj is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM). She is the recipient of a $650,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Grant: Secondary Amine Selective Petasis. The NSF funding programs include the Chemistry of Life Processes and EPSCoR co-funding.
Dr. Ryan Comes and Dr. Byron Farnum began working at Auburn University in the fall of 2016 as assistant professors in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM). They both gave presentations at an energy research cluster mini-symposium that not only opened doors to future collaboration, but an interdisciplinary partnership uniting their specific areas of expertise.
April 23-27 is National Medical Laboratory Professionals week, and as such, COSAM is offering a summary of our Clinical Laboratory Sciences program, which is second to none. Offering bachelor of science degrees in laboratory science and medical laboratory science, Auburn’s program is exceptional in that, unlike other programs, students gain exposure to numerous courses of study including clinical microbiology, hematology, clinical biochemistry, blood bank and clinical parasitology.
In 2012, a report by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology predicted that the United States would need to produce an additional 1 million new STEM professionals by 2022 if we are to maintain our historic preeminence in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. As a result, the number of students receiving undergraduate STEM degrees must increase between 2012 and 2022 by some 34 percent annually over the 2012 rates. A major stumbling block toward achieving the necessary increase in undergraduates receiving degrees in STEM fields are the introductory courses offered at institutions around the country.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Auburn Section of the American Chemical Society named Marcetta Y. Darensbourg, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, the recipient of the 2018 Kosolapoff Award. Darensbourg's research is in the area of organometallic chemistry, and her lecture was titled, "Old Biology Inspires New Chemistry: The Hydrogen Economy from Pond Silt to Photovoltaic/Fuel Cells." Named in honor of Professor G. M. Kosolapoff, an Auburn Chemistry professor who was renowned for his teaching, the Kosolapoff award lectures bring outstanding chemists to speak each year on topical areas in chemistry that would be of wide interest to the general public. Of the 31 award winners to date, 12 have been Nobel laureates.
Dr. Judi Jehle, chemistry/pre-med '72, played golf for Auburn University before there was a women's golf team. During her undergraduate career at Auburn, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, did not offer women's sports. The governing body had also ruled that women were not allowed to qualify for men's teams. As a result, Dr. Jehle's only option was to qualify as an individual athlete representing Auburn University in tournaments around the country. She also had to shoulder her own expenses. "During my sophomore year, the NCAA tournament was played at Duke," Dr. Jehle said. "I qualified in the top thirty-two players, then I lost in the second round to the eventual winner, Martha Wilkerson from Fullerton State."
College of Sciences and Mathematics alumnus Dr. Paul Glisson is a physician who regularly interacts with large groups of medical professionals and staff, and actively works toward making a difference in the lives of his patients. He does this by ensuring quality metrics in the healthcare system are met and conform to federal regulations. He is the chief medical officer at Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Fla., and as such, Dr. Glisson must exercise exceptional communication and negotiation skills. An essential part of his job requires a high “EQ.” While “IQ” is a measure of intellect, EQ calls for a high degree of “emotional intelligence.” Essentially, Dr. Glisson’s job is to read people.
The American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, or AAAS, announced that both Geoffrey Hill, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and J. V. Ortiz, professor in the Department of Chemistry, have been named Fellows of AAAS. The AAAS was founded in 1848 and aims to advance science and serve society through various initiatives. The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874, and those named a Fellow are continuous members of AAAS for four years prior to their nomination. This year 396 members were awarded the distinction of Fellow because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. Hill was named a Fellow of AAAS for distinguished contributions in the field of behavioral and evolutionary ecology, particularly for advancing understanding of the evolution of ornamental traits. Hill’s research focuses on the function and evolution of ornamental traits in birds and on the co-evolution of hosts and pathogens. His research has garnered $8.8 million in external grant support, including grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, he was appointed director of the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems at the National Science Foundation, which is the largest of the four divisions within the Biological Sciences Directorate at NSF.
Auburn University Assistant Professor of Chemistry Steven Mansoorabadi is the recipient of a highly competitive, Early Career Research Program award from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Department of Energy Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Approximately 700 proposals were submitted for consideration, and Mansoorabadi is one of only 59 researchers nationwide to receive a DOE Early Career Research Program award, and one of only two recipients in his division, physical biosciences.
Edward Thomas, Jr., the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor in the Department of Physics, has been named the next Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. His tenure will begin on August 1, 2017. “I am very pleased to have this opportunity to serve the College of Sciences and Mathematics,” said Thomas. “COSAM has very talented faculty and students who are pursing leading edge research, and I want to play a role in widely promoting our research capabilities and helping faculty and students achieve even greater successes in building their research programs.”
Stewart Schneller, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and former dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics, was selected as a 2017 Fellow of the American Chemical Society. The prestigious honor recognizes outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession, and the American Chemical Society. “Needless to say, I am honored by this recognition that also acknowledges those who have been part of my career: undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, my professional, faculty and administrative colleagues and my family,” said Schneller. Schneller was recognized by the Charlotte, North Carolina, American Chemical Society section in 2002 with the Stone Award, given annually to a chemist in the Southeast who has “excelled in research, development of the next generation of scientists, public outreach, mentoring, innovative educational efforts, and public outreach. He has also held numerous positions in the Division of Medicinal of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society.
The Auburn University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi held the annual initiation and awards ceremony at the end of spring semester. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society that recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engages the community of scholars in service to others. Of the 10 awards bestowed at the 2017 ceremony, COSAM students received five. “As its core mission, Phi Kappa Phi promotes the love of learning and excellence in all elements of academic scholarship,” said Jack Feminella, associate dean for academic affairs. “The three Susan Stacy Entrenkin Yates awardees, the Most Outstanding Senior Scholar, and the Jewel Golden Eubanks Scholarship, all received by COSAM students, beautifully exemplify this description. Not only are the student honorees outstanding performers in the classroom, but they are also budding research scholars and unselfish service providers to others on and beyond campus. We are extremely proud of each of them."
The Comer Medal was established in 1923 by former governor Braxton Bragg Comer to recognize the most outstanding student in the natural sciences. Beginning in 1924, a single medal was given annually until 1970, when it was decided that two medals, one in the physical sciences and one in the biological sciences, would be awarded each year. In 1989, it was decided that a third Comer Medal would be presented each year to a student in the field of agriculture.
The COSAM Honors Convocation recognizes outstanding student and faculty achievement. The 2017 ceremony was dedicated to retired Professor of Biological Sciences Stephen Kempf. During ceremony, more than 250 students and faculty were honored, including all freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior students who have maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Also recognized were the Dean’s Medalists, Outstanding COSAM Graduate Teaching Assistants, the Outstanding COSAM Faculty Advisor, the Outstanding COSAM Teacher, Comer Award recipients, the President’s Award recipient, the Student Government Association Award recipient, and Outstanding Juniors from each of COSAM’s five departments.
For COSAM Graduation Marshal Abigail Gauthier, a double major in biomedical sciences and Spanish, meeting the healthcare needs of the Hispanic population is both a goal and passion. “My mom immigrated to the United States from Columbia when she was a little girl, so a lot of my family is bilingual, so it’s very important to me to be formally trained in the Spanish language and to explore that part of my heritage,” said Gauthier. “My family integrated pretty quickly, but I want to help people who may be struggling more than they did. I think that immigrants face a really big challenge in a monolingual healthcare system, and I think it’s something that a lot of people don’t realize or don’t talk about, and it’s really important. It’s a need that I could help alleviate if I worked really hard. Just being able to communicate with someone in their native language is really important to help them feel more comfortable, and because trust is such a huge part of medicine, it is important to me to make them feel as comfortable as possible.”
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Auburn Section of the American Chemical Society named David W. C. MacMillan, professor of chemistry at Princeton University, the recipient of the 2017 Kosolapoff Award. Named in honor of Professor G. M. Kosolapoff, an Auburn Chemistry professor renowned for his teaching, the Kosolapoff award lectures bring outstanding chemists to speak each year on topical areas in chemistry that would be of wide interest to the general public. Of the 30 award winners to date, 12 have been Nobel laureates. MacMillan is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he has received numerous awards for his work in organic chemistry. He is a co-founder and advisor of Chiromics, a drug-discovery group, and he is on the advisory board of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Materia, Inc., and Merck Research Laboratories. He is editor-in-chief of the global journal Chemical Science, and he serves on the editorial advisory board for several additional scientific publications. MacMillan is also a scientific consultant for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Gilead Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Pharmaceuticals, Merk Research Laboratory, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, and AbbVie.
Auburn University honored its 2016-2017 Faculty Awards recipients Tuesday night at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, recognizing some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to the university’s mission. Presented annually, the Faculty Awards honor individuals and groups of faculty for excellence in teaching, research and outreach. Following a competitive review process, recipients are chosen by selection committees comprised of faculty, staff, students and alumni. The honorees Tuesday night were named in 2016.
Easley to serve as Associate Editor for the RSC journal, Analytical Methods.
Dr. Konrad Patkowski was awarded the competitive professional improvement leave funded by the Provost's Office. Dr. Patkowski will spend Spring 2018 conducting research at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany).
Katherine Seley-Radtke (1996 PhD, Dr. Schneller Group) has been selected as the Maryland Chemist of the Year for 2016. Katherine also received the Presidential Research Faculty Award 2015--2018 at University of Maryland. She is currently Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland – Baltimore County.
Dr. J. Vincent Ortiz was awarded an NSF grant of $420K for his work in "Structure and Bonding in Double Rydberg Anions and Related Species"
The Mansoorabadi laboratory in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University published a Report in the 21 Oct 2016 issue of Science entitled “The biosynthetic pathway of coenzyme F430 in methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea”.
Professor Holly Ellis in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was selected as the William P. Molette Professor in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. The professorship supports superior faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to students and to the provision of high quality instruction, research and teaching. The professorship serves to strengthen and enhance the college, and through the quality of the holder’s work, promotes a positive role model for colleagues and students. The professorship is designed to support superior faculty in the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
Review of applications for our Fall 2017 class will begin December 5, 2016. That’s just two months from today!
Fred McCallum, chemistry ’79, has been named president of the Birmingham Rotary Club. Established in 1913, the Birmingham Rotary Club is the second largest chapter of the international organization, which boasts more than one million members in 164 countries. The Birmingham Rotary Club brings together civic leaders to learn, exchange ideas and take action to solve critical community problems in Birmingham and beyond. “We dream big dreams and make them come true,” said McCallum. “From the gift of the Rotary Trail to the Birmingham community, to improving the educational opportunities for our children across the city, to detecting and curing cancer halfway across the world in Sri Lanka, we are proud to serve as a shining example of ‘Service above Self’ as we look forward to a bright and impactful future serving others in our community and around the world.”
Stewart Schneller, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will give Auburn University's 2016-17 Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lecture on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. in 134 Chemistry Building. The lecture honors a faculty member who has made significant contributions to graduate education at Auburn University. Schneller's address is titled "Antivirals: The Other Sam's Club."
Doug Goodwin, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been awarded an NSF Grant of over $500,000 for his research, "Conduits and Control of KatG Intramolecular Electron Transfer: Formation and Operation of a Novel Cofactor."
Quality faculty and staff allow the college to build upon the already-stellar reputation and strengths of a COSAM education. Our faculty and staff offer the intellectual capital upon which strong programs, innovative research, and student success are built. As we embark on a new academic year, the college would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of the COSAM family.
Auburn University is familiar with battling against a red tide, but this time the foe is coastal red tides that have a significant negative impact on the environment and economy. Steven Mansoorabadi, assistant professor in Auburn’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received a five-year, $703,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to study the problem through his project, “Mechanistic and Biosynthetic Studies of Dinoflagellate Bioluminescence.”
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s graduate school program was listed as the No. 4 program in the country on the 2016 Top Chemistry Graduate Programs rankings that were recently released by GraduatePrograms.com. Each year the website publishes top graduate school rankings, which are compiled based on student and alumni feedback in areas such as quality of instruction, student diversity, campus safety, and earning potential.
Anne Gorden, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received the Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring as part of the university’s 2016 Faculty Awards, recognizing some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to the university’s mission.
Stewart Schneller, former dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics, and professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Leadership Award as part of the university’s 2016 Faculty Awards, recognizing some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to the university’s mission.
Drs. Easley and Shannon were issued a patent for their invention of an “Electrochemical Proximity Assay.”
Jonathan Waldrop has won the 3rd Place Graduate Poster Award at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Theoretical Chemistry Association
Jonathan Musila's (a graduate student in the Ellis lab) poster was awarded first place at the Southeast Enzyme Conference (SEC).
Congratulations to Dr. Eduardus Duin on his recent publication in PNAS
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Auburn Local Section of the American Chemical Society named John E. Bercaw, Centennial Professor of Chemistry at CalTech, the recipient of the 2016 Kosolapoff Award.
On A-Day, the Auburn University Amateur Radio Club, K4RY, hosted a special event in commemoration of the university’s 160th anniversary.
COSAM recognized top students and faculty at the annual Honors Convocation, which took place on April 23 in the Auburn University Student Center Ballroom.
Abby Bartlett has been awarded the Phi Kappa Phi-Susan Stacy Entrenkin Yates Award.
Jessica Brooks has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Frank Sturm Memorial Fellowship.
Taylor Farmer has been awarded the 2016 Comer Award in Physical Sciences
2016-2017 graduate student awardees Congratulations Emily, Manuel, Caroline and Nirmal!
Dr. Peter Livant was chosen as the recipient of the 2015-2016 Student Government Association Faculty Member of the Year Award for the College of Sciences and Mathematics!
COSAM junior Natasha Narayanan has been chosen as a 2016 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, an honor bestowed to only 252 students nationwide this year. The scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the United States for undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Narayanan is an Auburn University Honors College student who is double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish (College of Liberal Arts). She has conducted two undergraduate research projects, both under the direction of Bradley Merner, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. As part of the first project, she worked to incorporate a chemical modification into antisense therapeutics drugs, which may lead to better treatments for genetic diseases. Her second research project relates to medicinal chemistry, which she hopes to apply to the synthesis of a natural product known as haouamine A, a product that has shown selective anticancer activity in human colon carcinoma cells.
Knowles Associate Professor Chris Easley, from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the winner of the 2016 COSAM Young Faculty Scholar Award. This award is in recognition of his outstanding scholarly work to date and his promise for the future.
Dr. Patkowski has been accepted into the Summer 2016 Course (Re)design workshop cohort. http://wp.auburn.edu/biggio/summer-institute/
Hector H. Corzo awarded Harry Merriwether Fellowship for 2016-17 academic year
Boron, The Fifth Element, edited by Drahomir Hnyk and Michael McKee, has been published by Springer.
Holly Ellis received the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, which is awarded to an advisor that has less than 50 percent of their duties as academic advising. She was not only recognized for her advising and teaching skills but for contributing to the awards that several of her undergraduate researchers have received.
Hector Hernandez Corzo won the Best Graduate Student Award at the 56th Sanibel Symposium at Saint Simons GA on Feb. 18, 2016. This Symposium celebrated the centennial of the birth of its founder, the late Prof. Per-Olov Löwdin of Uppsala University in Sweden. The award was presented by the Director of the University of Florida’s Quantum Theory Project, Prof. Rodney Bartlett, at the symposium banquet.
Congratulations to undergraduates Deaniel Seay (Biochemistry, BS) and Natasha Narayanan (Biochemistry, BS) for being a Dean’s Medalist and winning the Outstanding Junior award, respectively.
Dr. Schneller has been named the 2016 COSAM Dean’s Research Award winner. The awards ceremony will be Wednesday, March 30, 3:30 pm in SCC 115. Dr. Schneller will be giving a 30 minute presentation on his current research.
Please join me in congratulating Chris Easley on the renewal of his NIH R01 grant, "Mouse-on-a-chip systems to evaluate pancreas-adipose tissue dynamics in vitro". The grant runs for 4 years with a total budget of $1.5M. Co-PIs are Robert Judd and Doug Goodwin.
Auburn University unveiled a new $1 million supercomputer that will enhance research across campus, from microscopic gene sequencing to huge engineering tasks. The university is also initiating a plan to purchase a new one every few years as research needs evolve and expand. The College of Sciences and Mathematics’ Dean Nicholas Giordano, along with Bliss Bailey, chief information officer in the Office of Information Technology, led the effort to bring the new supercomputer to the university.
Recent alumna Amanda Holland was Auburn’s recipient of the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry’s Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry. http://acsdic.org/wordpress/awards/dic-student-awards/undergraduate/
A rise in global terrorism in past decades has led to increased preparedness by first responders, especially with respect to the threat of radiologic terrorism. A terrorist attack involving radioactive materials, or any radiation accident for that matter, requires first responders to quickly and efficiently detect and identify harmful agents. Experts are consistently inventing new and better methods of detection, and on the front line of this effort is Anne Gorden, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Dr. Kirksey visited Auburn on October 30, 2015. He stopped by the office of Dr. Schneller to reminisce about his time at Auburn with Dr. Kosolapoff.
Auburn University senior Chloe Chaudhury has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
Dr. John Jernigan '75, has been named COSAM's 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Jernigan, a native of Union Springs, Ala., entered Auburn University as its first African American pre-med student.
Daniel Smith, graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received a Chemical Computing Group Excellence Award from the American Chemical Society.
Daniel Smith will be receiving a prestigious graduate student award from the ACS Division of Computers in Chemistry at the meeting in Boston: http://www.acscomp.org/awards/chemical-computing-group-excellence-award Congratulations Daniel!
Andreas Illies, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry from 1984 to 2009, passed away on May 9, 2015 after a long illness. He taught extensively at all levels, including Freshman courses, Concepts of Science, undergraduate-level Physical Chemistry, and graduate-level Physical Chemistry courses.
Gordon Isbell, chemistry '76, received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University anticipates making one Instructor appointment for the 2015-2016 academic year, with a starting date of August 16, 2015.
COSAM awarded top students and faculty at the annual Honors Convocation on April 25. This year, the convocation was held in honor of Howard Hargis, former head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Hargis retired in 2004 after 34 years as a professor at Auburn. During the ceremony, students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Merner group’s first paper selected as ACS Editor’s Choice
Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics is "flipping the classroom" as part of an innovative way to teach Auburn students through a newly constructed Engaged in Active Student Learning, or EASL, classroom. Working with the Office of the Provost, the college is leading Auburn's effort on the unusual design since all Auburn students must take core classes in the college prior to graduating. "In contrast to traditional classrooms where faculty teach 'at' students, often in stadium-style rooms, this room was designed to encourage teacher-student interactions, and student-student collaborations, two aspects which are known to lead to improved learning outcomes," said COSAM Dean Nicholas Giordano. "COSAM faculty spent many months preparing to use the EASL classroom as effectively as possible in their teaching, and the new space was ready to use at the beginning of the fall 2014 semester."
Congratulations to Dr. Douglas Goodwin, who was recently named COSAM's recipient of the 2015 Student Government Association Outstanding Faculty Member Award.
The Stone Award of the Carolina-Piedmont Local Section of the ACS is given every two years to the most outstanding chemist in the southeastern United States. This prestigious award recognizes contributions to the field of chemistry through activities in the scientific community, public outreach, education, and research. Previous winners from Auburn are Stewart Schneller (2001) and Dave Worley (2004).
Professor Doug Goodwin has been awarded the 2015 COSAM Faculty Service/Outreach award based on his leadership role in helping to bring STEM education to prisoners in Alabama under the umbrella of the Auburn Prison Arts + Education Project.
Symon Gathiaka (Acevedo group) was recently chosen by the Graduate School as one of Auburn University’s Outstanding Doctoral students for this year. Congratulations, Symon!
Professor Vincent Ortiz from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been honored with the 2015 COSAM Dean’s Research Award. Ortiz, an internationally respected quantum chemist, has worked at the forefront of internationally regarded research over the entire course of his 30 year career, has given unselfishly to the cause of diversity in STEM, has contributed to student success, and has offered his expertise to professional service. Congratulations Dr. Ortiz!
Rolande Meudom, a second year graduate student in the research group of Dr. Bradley Merner, was recently awarded a Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Summer Research Fellowship. Congratulations Rolande!
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has received a gift in the amount of $147,000 from the estate of Robert Newman ’54.
Taylor Farmer, who is doing undergraduate research with Dr. Peter Livant, and who is supported by an Auburn University Undergraduate Research Fellowship, gave an oral presentation at the 47th Southeastern Undergraduate Research Conference in Tuscaloosa. I am pleased to report that she was awarded the second place prize in the Organic/Inorganic division. Congratulations, Taylor!
Assistant Research Professor Joonyul Kim, working with Associate Professor Christopher Easley, will present his work at the 2015 meeting of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS 2015). Their presentation was selected as a finalist for the SLAS Innovation Award, a $10,000 cash award given to recognize highly innovative techniques developed in academic or industrial laboratories. Dr. Kim's presentation, entitled "Zero Background in Homogeneous Proximity Assays Using Thermofluorimetric Analysis (TFA) for Quantitation of Attomole Protein Levels in Serum," has been highlighted in the SLAS conference program and website. http://slas2015.org/awards/innovationAward.cfm
Assistant Professor Konrad Patkowski has been awarded the "OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award” from the Computers in Chemistry Division (COMP) of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The award will be presented at the Spring 2015 ACS Meeting in Denver, CO and includes a $1,000 prize. The award highlights outstanding tenure-track junior faculty members at the forefront of the computational chemistry field. http://www.acscomp.org/awards/the-comp-acs-outstanding-junior-faculty-award
A Featured Article from Prof. Orlando Acevedo, the S. D. and Karen H. Worley Associate Professor, was featured on the front cover of the Journal of Physical Chemistry A. The article was also selected as an ACS Editors' Choice. This work was supported by a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp507967z
A recent manuscript from Prof. Christopher Easley’s research group (group page)—in collaboration with Prof. Robert Judd’s group at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine—was featured on the front cover (link) in the latest issue of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal, Analyst. The article is entitled “A microfluidic interface for the culture and sampling of adiponectin from primary adipocytes,” and the work was supported by a research grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/an/c4an01725k
A recent manuscript from Prof. Christopher Easley’s research group—in collaboration with Prof. Robert Judd’s group at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine—was selected as a “Hot Article” by the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal, Analyst. The article is entitled “A microfluidic interface for the culture and sampling of adiponectin from primary adipocytes” and is currently featured on the journal’s blog (http://blogs.rsc.org/an/). Free access will be provided to readers for the next several weeks. http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/AN/C4AN01725K
Emeritus Professor S. Davis Worley has been elected to the rank of Fellow by the National Academy of Inventors. According to the NAI Fellows Selection Committee, Professor Worley has "demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.” Professor Worley will be inducted as a Fellow by Andrew Faile, the Deputy U.S. Commissioner for Patent Operations from the U.S Patent and Trademark Office, at a ceremony to be held at the California Institute of Technology in March, 2015. To put the significance of this award in perspective, it is worth noting that other scientists elected as NAI fellows this year include Steven Chu (Stanford), Emily Carter (Princeton), Graham Cooks (Purdue), and Richard Mathies (Berkeley).
A recent article by Dr. Orlando Acevedo, the S. D. and Karen H. Worley Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been selected as an ACS Editor’s Choice. The article ,“Simulating Chemical Reactions in Ionic Liquids Using QM/MM Methodology”, was recently published in J. Phys. Chem. A.
If Natasha Narayanan’s performance at the 2014 Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society is any indication of what lies ahead in her academic and professional career, she is headed toward a consummate future. Narayanan, a COSAM sophomore and Honors College student majoring in biochemistry, gave an oral presentation titled, “Streamlined Chemical Synthesis of Tricyclic Nucleic Acid Analogues for Antisense Technology” during the undergraduate symposium portion of the conference. In recognition of both her research and eloquence, Narayanan’s talk was selected as the best oral presentation in the organic chemistry division out of 60 total presenters.
Watch Stewart Schneller's recent seminar describing his Ebola virus research efforts. Auburn chemistry professor Stewart Schneller's recent lecture "Antiviral Drug Design and Discovery: Ebola" is available for viewing on the following website: http://www.lib.auburn.edu/discoverauburn/
Prof. Vince Ortiz of Auburn University has been selected as the 2014 Stanley C. Israel Award winner for the Southeast Region of the American Chemical Society. The award will be presented at the October 2014 SERMACS meeting in Nashville, TN. In addition to covering his travel expenses and registration for the SERMACS, the award will provide a $1000 honorarium to support Prof. Ortiz’s future outreach efforts. The Stanley C. Israel Regional Award recognizes individuals and/or institutions who have advanced diversity in the chemical sciences and significantly stimulated or fostered activities that promote inclusiveness within the region.
Associate Professor Chris Goldsmith is the co-author of a paper entitled “A Mononuclear Manganese(II) Complex Demonstrates a Strategy to Simultaneously Image and Treat Oxidative Stress.” The paper will appear in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The described work resulted from a collaboration between researchers in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the AU MRI Research Center, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The US Patent Office recently issued US Patent No. 8,821,907, entitled "Biocidal N-Halamine Epoxides to Dr. Worley and co-inventors.
Professor Curtis Shannon, in collaboration with M. Russell, J. Russell, M. Escobar and O. Fasina, has been awarded a 3.5-year grant by the National Science Foundation for a proposal entitled “Collaborative Research: The Tuskegee Alliance to Develop, Implement and Study a Virtual Graduate Education Model for Underrepresented Minorities in STEM”. This research will be performed in collaboration with Tuskegee University and Alabama State University.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY—An Auburn University research team has produced a new drug candidate that could one day slow or even stop the deadly Ebola virus. The discovery will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. The group, led by professor of chemistry and biochemistry Stewart Schneller, has designed a compound aimed at reversing the immune-blocking abilities of certain viruses, including Ebola. “In simple terms, the Ebola virus has the ability to turn off the body’s natural immune response,” Schneller said. “We have made a small tweak in compound structure that will turn that response back on.”
Excerpt from story on Fox News website: The Ebola virus is able to turn off the body's natural immune response. But researchers at Auburn University believe they've developed an "on-switch." Auburn chemistry professor Stewart Schneller is leading the study. The Auburn team is working in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and plans to publish details of its findings later this month in the journal Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. Read the online story.
Ashley Curtiss, Ria Yngard and Lynn Mandeltort have been hired as Lecturers for the 2014-2015 academic year. Dr. Curtiss and Dr. Yngard formerly held the title of Instructor at Auburn University. Dr. Mandeltort is a former postdoctoral fellow who worked with Associate Professor John Gorden.
Associate Professor Eduardus Duin has been awarded a three-year grant by the National Science Foundation for his proposal entitled “Collaborative Research: Understanding Electron Bifurcation in Methanogenic Archaea”. This research will be performed in collaboration with Dr. John Leigh of the University of Washington.
The first place award for posters in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics during Auburn University’s 2014 Research Week was given to Natassia Buckridge, a graduating senior who worked under the supervision of Professor Stewart Schneller.
Dr. Christopher Easley has received a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation for his proposal entitled “Hormone-Responsive Electrodes for Quantitative Discourse with Endocrine Cells”.
Dr. Orlando Acevedo’s proposal entitled “Collaborative Research: Protein Arginine Methylation” has been funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Acevedo will collaborate with Dr. Joan Hevel of Utah State University on this three-year project.
Spencer Kerns, COSAM Dean’s Medalist and Outstanding Senior in Chemistry and Biochemistry in the 2013-2014 academic year, has received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and will enter graduate school in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas, Austin in the fall semester.
Dean Nicholas Giordano announced that Dr. Orlando Acevedo has been selected for the 2014 Young Faculty Scholar Award.
Chemistry Department Announces Graduate Student Awards Chemistry Outstanding International Graduate Student: Catherine Njeri Livant Fellowship: Nick Klann Dow Fellowship: Jessica Brooks,Olive Njumi, and Sanjun Fan Mallone-Zallen Fellowship: Samir Paul
Associate Professor Christian Goldsmith is a co-author of an article entitled “Two-photon imaging of Zn2+ dynamics in mossy fiber boutons of adult hippocampal slices” that will appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The latter journal is among the most selective of general-interest science publications.
Associate Professor Orlando Acevedo has been selected to become the first S. D. and Karen Worley Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The five-year term of this appointment begins on August 16, 2014. Emeritus Professor and Mrs. Worley created this endowed professorship to support superior faculty who teach in the fields of organic, physical or polymer chemistry, to strengthen the research and teaching programs of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and to recognize strong commitment to instruction, research and service of high quality.
Symon Gathiaka, a member of the research group of Associate Professor Orlando Acevedo, has been awarded a Chemical Computing Group Excellence Award for Graduate Students from the Computers in Chemistry Division (COMP) of the American Chemical Society (ACS). A ceremony in honor of Mr. Gathiaka will take place in August during the ACS's national meeting in San Francisco.
Assistant Professor Konrad Patkowski has received a five-year CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation for his proposal, “Towards an accurate and illuminating theory of weak interactions between open-shell systems”. Dr. Patkowski, a theoretical chemist, has been at Auburn University since January 2011 and is an expert on the calculation of intermolecular forces and applications of these computational techniques to a variety of systems of interest in energy research.
Olive Njuma and Samir Paul won first-place and second-place awards in the Chemistry section of the ninety-first meeting of the Alabama Academy of Sciences, held in Auburn on March 12-14, 2014. Ms. Njuma and Mr. Paul are students of Dr. Douglas Goodwin and Dr. Vincenzo Cammarata, respectively.
Branson Maynard will receive an Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Graduate Council at its annual awards ceremony on April 21, 2014.
Ana Dmytrejchuk, a graduate student in the group of Dr. Bradley Merner, will be an AURIC Graduate Fellow in Cancer Research, effective March 1, 2014. This fellowship is awarded by the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer.
Symon Gathiaka, a graduate student working in the research group of Dr. Orlando Acevedo, has been awarded the Merriwether Fellowship for academic excellence by the Graduate School.
President Gogue has approved the promotion of Associate Professor German Mills to the rank of Professor and the promotion of Assistant Professor John Gorden to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure effective in the fall semester of 2014.
Congratulations to Auburn University Associate Professor Dr. Doug Goodwin, recently recognized by the ACS as a 2014 Outreach Volunteer of the Year for his work with the Alabama Department of Corrections. We are very proud of his accomplishments and his service to the Local Section.
Dr. Ashley Curtiss has won COSAM’s Faculty Advising Award for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Branson Maynard was awarded the COSAM Ph.D. Dean's Research Award for the 2013-2014 academic year. His research with Professor Anne Gorden involves the investigation of novel actinide cyanometallate compounds.
Kristin Zuromski, a B.S. Biochemistry major, was awarded the Comer Medal for Excellence in the Physical Sciences for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Ethan McCurdy, a B.A. Chemistry major, was awarded the COSAM Undergraduate Dean's Research Award for the 2013-2014 academic year. Ethan is performing his undergraduate work with Professor Doug Goodwin evaluating the catalytic interplay of catalytic peroxidase.
Outstanding Junior for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: John (Wesley) Nelson
Dean's Medalist for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: Spencer Kerns
Internal Grant Program proposals by Professor David Stanbury (“Oxidation of Sulfinic Acids”), Associate Professor Wei Zhan (“Atomic Force Microscope for Characterization of Nanomaterials and Surfaces”) and Assistant Professor Steven Mansoorabadi (“Macromolecular Crystallography at Auburn University”) have been approved for funding by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.
On January 17, 2014, Dr. Yonnie Wu, Director of the Mass Spectrometry Center, accepted the Center’s three-thousandth sample, which was submitted by a graduate student, Nicholas Klann, a member of Dr. Anne Gorden’s research group.
The National Academic Advising Association has selected Kathryn Milly West for its 2014 Region 4: Excellence in Advising – Faculty Role Award. Ms. West, who has been the Coordinator of the Laboratory Science and Medical Laboratory Science (formerly Laboratory Technology and Medical Technology, respectively) degree programs since 1996, will receive her award at the NACADA regional conference in Savannah GA on April 2, 2014.
The Research Electronics Support Facility (RESF) will report to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry effective January 1, 2014. Larry “Autry” May will be the Director of RESF, which will retain its mission of service to the Auburn University campus.
Dr. Vincent Ortiz, Ruth W. Molette Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, and five Auburn University graduate students attended the 40th Annual National Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) in Indianapolis on October 1-6, 2013. The students, Symon Gathiaka, PaviElle Lockhart, Olive Njuma and Selamawit Ghebreamlak from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Zenda Davis from the Department of Chemical Engineering, participated in technical symposia, professional workshops and recruited prospective graduate and undergraduate students. NOBCChE initiates and supports local, regional, national and global programs that assist people of color in fully realizing their potential in academic, professional and entrepreneurial pursuits in chemistry, chemical engineering and related fields and encourages college students to pursue graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Auburn University and NOBCChE currently have a Technology Education Partnership that promotes access to opportunities in research and education.
Associate Professor Holly Ellis has received a four-year grant from the National Science Foundation for her proposal, “Defining the Mechanistic Strategies of Defulfonation in the Alkanesulfonate Monooxygenase System”.
Two Auburn University professors have developed a disease-detection technology that could be the beginning of handheld, point-of-care devices – a breakthrough that would let health care professionals, first responders and even individuals quickly do blood tests for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Associate Professor Christopher J. Easley and Professor Curtis Shannon, both in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, led the research team that published its results in the March 27 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Associate Professor Christopher Easley and Alumni Professor Alex Simonian of Mechanical Engineering have received funding from the National Science Foundation for their collaborative project entitled “Development of multi-parametric/multimodal spectroscopy apparatus for characterization of functional interfaces.”
Associate Professor Christopher Easley has been selected as the first C. Harry Knowles Professor for Leadership in Research or Outreach to Enhance Science Teaching and Learning in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. The five-year term of this appointment begins on August 16, 2013.
Ryan Hasemeier, recipient of the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Dean’s Medalist for Chemistry and Biochemistry for the 2012-2013 academic year, has won the Undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry Award of the American Chemical Society. He worked with Associate Professor Holly Ellis on the iron coordination center of the enzyme cysteine dioxygenase and was nominated for this ACS award by Professor David Stanbury and Associate Professor Christian Goldsmith. In the fall semester, he will begin graduate study in chemical biology at Johns Hopkins University.
Stephen Swann, Laboratory Manager for General Chemistry, has been selected to receive the 2013 Lilly-Lovelace Distinguished Service Award in recognition of 17 years of exceptional service to Auburn University.
Dr. Elizabeth Ndontsa has received one of the three 2013 Auburn University Graduate School Distinguished Dissertation Awards in Biological/Life Sciences. Dr. Ndontsa was a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Douglas Goodwin.
Research performed in the laboratories of Dr. Christopher Easley and Dr. Curtis Shannon on Innovative techniques for measuring hormones and other proteins in complex fluids such as blood were featured on a web page published by the National Science Foundation.
More than 80 scientists attended the 2013 meeting of the Southeast Theoretical Chemistry Association at Auburn University on May 9-11, 2013. This meeting was organized by faculty and graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and was sponsored by Gaussian, Incorporated, the College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Office of the Vice President for Research. Pictures of the conference will be posted at the conference web site.
The Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics has given its Outstanding Graduate Student Award to Caley Allen, who received her Ph.D. at the May commencement. Dr. Allen was a graduate student in the research group of Associate Professor Orlando Acevedo and will soon begin a postdoctoral fellowship at Georgia Tech.
Assistant Professor John Gorden has been named Honors Professor of the Year by AU’s Honors Congress and will accept this award at the Honors Gala on April 19, 2013.
Charmaine Tutson, a graduate student advised by Dr. Anne Gorden, has been selected for a three-year President’s Graduate Opportunity Program Fellowship, according to an announcement by Dr. Overtoun Jenda, Associate Provost for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
Elizabeth Ndontsa, who recently passed her oral examination for the Ph.D. degree under the supervision of Dr. Douglas Goodwin, has been named International Graduate Student of the Year in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Kathryn Milly West, Coordinator of the Laboratory and Medical Technology in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was recently featured on the web site of the American Society of Clinical Pathology.
Dr. Bradley Merner, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Montreal, will become an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the fall 2013 semester. Dr. Merner, who obtained his doctorate from Memorial University in Saint John’s, Newfoundland, specializes in synthetic organic chemistry, compounds of medicinal importance and carbon nanostructures.
Assistant Professor Steven Mansoorabadi is a co-author of an article entitled “Mechanistic studies of an unprecedented enzyme-catalysed 1,2 phosphono-migration reaction” which will be published in the April 4, 2013 issue of the prestigious journal Nature. Dr. Mansoorabadi joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University in August 2012.
Dana Lashley, a Ph.D. student in the research group of Professor Stewart Schneller, has been named the initial recipient of the Peter Livant Graduate Fellowship, which was made possible by the generosity of one of Professor Livant’s former students. This fellowship will be awarded annually to an organic chemistry graduate student. Ms. Lashley’s research is on the organic synthesis of antiviral therapeutic candidates.
Associate Professor Anne Gorden has received the 2013 Women of Distinction Faculty Leadership Award from the Auburn University Women’s Resource Center and will be honored at their Awards Luncheon on April 5 at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center.
Auburn University President Jay Gogue has approved promotion to Associate Professor and tenure for Assistant Professors Christopher Easley and Christian Goldsmith, effective in the fall semester of 2013.
Professor Eduardus Duin is a co-investigator for a project funded by NASA on “Iron-sulfur clusters in the evolution of the Enzymatic Synthesis of RNA” in collaboration with scientists at the University of Arkansas and Ehime University in Japan.
Professor Douglas Goodwin and Professor Angela Calderon of Pharmacal Sciences have received funding for their Internal Grant Proposal, “Toward new antitubercular drugs: Uncovering mechanistically appropriate inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis shikimate kinase from natural products”.
Professors Christopher Easley and Curtis Shannon of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Aleksandr Simonian of the College of Engineering have received funding for their Internal Grant Program proposal entitled “Surface Dynamics of a Highly Sensitive and Versatile Protein Quantitation Method, the Electrochemical Proximity Assay”.
Dr. Douglas Goodwin and his collaborators Ms. Kyes Stevens and Dr. Alan Wilson have received a Competitive Outreach Scholarship Grant Award for their proposal entitled “Bridging a Curriculum Gap in Prisoner Education: A Collaboration of Colleges Innovating Solutions”.
An article on Hepatitus C Virus by Professor Orlando Acevedo and his former graduate student Sambasivarao Somisetti has been highlighted by the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling in a special issue on HCV therapies.
The Provost’s office has selected Dr. Veselin Ruychev’s General Fee Equipment proposal for funding. To create a more interactive and safer environment for organic chemistry laboratory courses, Dr. Ruychev proposed the installation of a centralized multimedia system. Video monitors in each laboratory will be connected to a computer through which graduate teaching assistants can efficiently interact with many students simultaneously.
President Jay Gogue, Provost Timothy Boosinger and Interim Dean Charles Savrda presided at a ceremony on October 10, 2012 to recognize the award of several endowed professorships to members of the faculty. Among those honored were Professor Curtis Shannon and Professor David Stanbury of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Dr. Shannon now holds the Andrew T. Hunt Professorship and Dr. Stanbury now is the J. Milton Harris Professor.
Dr. Steven Mansoorabadi will join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as Assistant Professor in August 2012. Dr. Mansoorabadi received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he worked with Prof. George H. Reed at the Institute for Enzyme Research.
Vincent Ortiz, Ruth W. Molette Professor and Chairman of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Christopher Roberts, Uthlaut Professor of Chemical Engineering and Dean of Engineering, will receive 2012 President’s Awards from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Dr. Victor McCrary, President of NOBCChE, will present these awards to Ortiz and Roberts at this organization’s Annual Conference in Washington DC on September 28, 2012. Roberts, formerly Chairman of Chemical Engineering, and Ortiz will be recognized for initiating and supporting the Technology Education Partnership between Auburn University and NOBCChE and for providing increased opportunities and a more receptive environment for under-represented students to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and of Chemical Engineering.
Dr. Christopher Easley has received an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health for a project entitled “Interrogating Dynamics of Acute Secretion of Adiponectin Multimers from Adipose Tissue” in collaboration with Dr. Robert Judd, Associate Professor of Pharmacology.
For the second time in three years, a graduate student affiliated with Emeritus Professors S. D. Worley of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Emeritus Professor Royall Broughton of the Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering has won the Graduate School’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. This year’s winner is Idris Cerkez, who obtained his undergraduate degree in Turkey. The previous winner was Hasan Kocer, who now has an academic position in Turkey.
Two former Auburn student athletes are among six finalists for the 2012 Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA's highest academic award: 2010 COSAM honors graduate in chemistry Dan Mazzaferro; and Mary "Katy" Frierson, women's soccer, who graduated in 2011 from the College of Liberal Arts.
Anne Gorden, associate professor of Chemistry, received an intramural grant from Auburn University’s Office of the Vice President for Research for $160,000. The grant was awarded based on her proposal, “Ultraviolet-visible/ Fluorescence Microspectrophotometer.” Collaborators on the grant include assistant professor Christian R. Goldsmith and associate professor German Mills, both of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as Virginia A. Davis, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Funding from the grant will be used money to purchase an ultraviolet-visible/ fluorescence microspectrophotometer for the University to be housed in Chemistry. Gorden notes that not only will this machine be available for use by other departments, many of which have already shown interest, but it will also help attract additional funding to the University.
Diabetes is a disorder of the endocrine system signified by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and results in $174 billion in direct and indirect medical costs per year. Indeed, medical costs are more than two times greater for those with diabetes, due in part to a host of health problems that can result from the disease including: blindness and eye problems, kidney failure, limb amputation, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, pregnancy complications and depression.
Graduate student Jingyuan (Bear) Xiong has been awarded an Alabama-EPSCOR Graduate Research Fellowship. Mr. Xiong's advisor is Dr. Holly Ellis.