The Hawk Chemist Fall 2013 - Department of Chemistry
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Table of Contents Department News P. 4 - 9 McGroddy Lecture P. 15 New Instrumentation P. 9 Student Profiles P. 16 - 17 Summer Scholars P. 10 - 11 Commencement 2013 P. 18 Alumni Updates P. 12 - 14 Current Faculty and Staff P. 19 From the Chair Dear Saint Joseph’s University The Molloy Chemical Society maintained the momentum Chemistry Alumni/ae, Benefactors and established in the previous academic year, holding Friends, numerous events throughout 2012-2013 that you will read about in this newsletter. The capstone and perhaps Welcome to the Fall 2013 edition of highlight was Molloy’s presentation and demonstration on The Hawk Chemist! As I enter my fourth year as chair, I “How Catalysts Work” at the Philadelphia Science Festival am pleased to share with you some of the developments Science Carnival on the Parkway on April 20, 2013. Rising within the department during the 2012-2013 academic year. seniors Mary Malloy and Elena Montoto led In May, we graduated a strong class of nine American demonstrations and impressed many children and their Chemical Society-certified chemistry majors and four parents. The 2014 Philadelphia Science Festival Science chemical biology majors. Seniors earning Chemistry Carnival on the Parkway moves to May this year, so mark Department awards this year included EuTchen Ang your calendars for Saturday, May 3, and come out and (American Chemical Society Scholastic Achievement support the Molloy Chemical Society as they participate in Award) and Nicholas Murry (American Institute of the carnival. Chemists Award). EuTchen was inducted into the Phi Beta Chemistry faculty and staff also enjoyed a busy and Kappa Honor Society, and he also completed a productive year. Congratulations go to Adjunct Instructor Departmental Honors Thesis working with Dr. Mark Terry Crossan for receiving a Faculty Merit Award for Reynolds studying the oxygen sensing heme protein, FixL. Teaching at the Fall 2012 Awards Ceremony. Special EuTchen is attending graduate school in biochemistry at recognition also goes to Dr. Jean Smolen for her trip to Princeton University this fall. Nick Murry graduated Magna Nicaragua with Peter Clark, S.J., Professor of Theology and Cum Laude, and he has been performing research at the director of the Institute for Catholic Bioethics (ICB) and 14 Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The Chemical Biology students as part of the semester-long course “Just Health senior award recipient was Avery Vilbert. She graduated Care in Developing Nations.” Cum Laude and is attending graduate school in chemistry at Cornell University in the fall. Undergraduate research remains a hallmark of the 2
department, and this past summer we had 20 students of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia participate in the Summer Scholars Program and engage in Institute of Technology. Professor Reichmanis’ lab is faculty-directed independent research projects with exploring active, polymer and hybrid organic/inorganic Chemistry Department faculty. It is only with your generous materials chemistries and processes for plastic electronics, donations that we are able to support such a large group of photovoltaics and photonic technologies. Professor students. During the academic year, most of these students Reichmanis’ many awards include the 2011 ACS Polymer continued their research for course credit, typically devoting Materials Science and Engineering Division Distinguished 10 to 12 hours per week to their research projects. In Service Award, the 2001 Perkin Medal, the 1999 American addition, these students continue to gain valuable Chemical Society Award in Applied Polymer Science, 1998 experience by presenting their work at local, regional and Photopolymer Science and Technology Award, the 1996 national scientific meetings. During the past year, the ASM Engineering Materials Achievement Award. She has venues at which students presented included the ACS been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering National Meeting in New Orleans, the National Organic (1995), and is a Fellow American Association for the Symposium in Seattle, the Philadelphia Organic Chemists Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Club Poster Day and the ACS Philadelphia Section Poster Society. Most recently, Dr. Reichmanis was one of 11 Night. women from around the world named a 2013 Distinguished Woman in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering by the We were pleased to make some significant improvements to International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). our departmental infrastructure this year with the She will be honored for this award during a special renovation of the instrumental analysis teaching laboratory ceremony at the 2013 IUPAC World Chemistry Congress in (SC 434), one organic chemistry research lab (SC 414), and Istanbul in August 2013. three faculty offices. With the renovation of SC 434, all but one of the department’s teaching labs has been renovated Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for your continued since the phased-in Science Center renovations began in support of the Department of Chemistry. We are fortunate 2003. We were also able to add a new Agilent inductively and grateful to have strong support from our alumni. We coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) also greatly appreciate your communication and feedback, to our departmental instrumentation. We are again grateful and we are always pleased and proud to receive news of for your continued support that allows us to keep our your achievements in your respective fields. Please let us instrumentation up-to-date. know how you are doing by using the reply form on our website, email, mail, phone, Facebook or any means you This past November John T. Groves, Professor and Hugh find convenient. Stott Taylor Chair of Chemistry at Princeton University, joined us to give the annual McGroddy Frontiers in Science Best regards, Lecture. During the day and before his lecture, Dr. Groves met with chemistry faculty and students from the Molloy Mark Forman Chemical Society. It was a great opportunity for our students to learn firsthand the role that chemistry can play in probing cutting-edge biological problems. This year’s McGroddy speaker will be Dr. Elsa Reichmanis, Professor 3
Science Center 414: Forman Research Laboratory Department News Major Renovations to Chemistry Laboratories and Offices The ongoing phased renovation of Saint Joseph’s research students will have a new home starting fall 2013. University Science Center began in 2003 with interior After nearly four decades without significant upgrades, renovations of teaching laboratories, research SC 414 was renovated during summer 2013. Along with laboratories, classrooms and offices for the Biology, two new hoods, cabinetry and floors, the renovation will fix Chemistry and Physics Departments. During this 10-year several problems in the lab, including extreme project, all of the chemistry teaching labs have been temperatures, a noisy HVAC system and the lack of ADA renovated except for the Chemistry Instrumentation accessible work areas. Laboratory (SC 411) and the Instrumental Analysis Finally, three faculty offices were renovated, providing Dr. Laboratory (SC 434). We are happy to report that students Smolen and Dr. Zurbach with new, expanded and taking Instrumental Analysis Laboratory will have a new enhanced workspaces. All of the work was performed by home this fall, as during the summer of 2013, SC 434 was Irwin & Leighton, the contractor who started the completely renovated. As the photos show, current space renovations in 2003, with architectural design of the will provide a more engaging and contemporary setting for project provided by Ballinger and engineering design students taking Instrumental Analysis Laboratory as well provided by Bala. as other laboratory courses. Highlights of the renovated lab include all new HVAC, a new 6-foot hood, new Nine SJU Students Present at the cabinetry and new floors. The room has a state-of-the art AV system and is fully ADA compliant. American Chemical Society National In addition to Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (SC 434), organic chemistry professor Mark Forman and his Meeting in New Orleans SJU Chemistry was well represented at the 245th American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting and Exposition this past April 7-11 in New Orleans. Seven chemistry majors and two chemical biology majors accompanied department chair Mark Forman to the conference. The participating undergraduate students were Avery Vilbert ’13, Michelle Piotrowski ’13, Dana Krajcsik ’13, Megan Forman ’14, David Manion ’13, Meg Roeder ’13, Danielle Houchins ’13, Brady Werkheiser ’13, and EuTchen Ang ’13. The SJU contingent gave a total of six presentations at the conference, highlighting collaborations among a combination of members from each group, including other students who could not attend. Science Center 434: Instrumental Analysis Laboratory 4
z “Site-directed mutagensis and spectroscopic studies of Terry Crossan, MA, RD, LDN Named the oxygen sensing heme-PAS FixL protein,” Avery Vilbert, EuTchen Ang, Dr. Mark Reynolds Merit Teaching Award Winner “Saint Joseph's University Molloy Chemical Society”, Mr. Terry Crossan, MA, RD, LDN, Adjunct Instructor in Brady O. Werkheiser, Ms. Avery Vilbert, Mr. EuTchen Chemistry, was awarded a 2012 Merit Award for Ang, Ms. Alaina Stockhausen, Mr. Nick Julian, Faculty Teaching at the Fall Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony. Advisor Dr. Jose Cerda Terry has been teaching courses in food chemistry to “Industrial and agricultural pollutants in the Susquehanna SJU students for five years, and she is well-known watershed of Pennsylvania,” Michelle Piotrowski, Megan throughout the SJU community for her knowledge of food Forman, Catherine Blithe, Amy Dougher, Christopher chemistry as well as her effectiveness and enthusiasm in Millet, Michael Montemarano, Scott Niezgoda, Dr. Usha organizing and presenting this material to students. Rao Before coming to SJU, Terry taught “Reactions leading to pentacyclo[4.3.0.02,4.03,8.05,7]non-4- undergraduate and ene”, David Manion, Dana Krajcsik, Mark A. Forman graduate courses in food “Heme loss in myoglobin and hemoglobin in the presence chemistry and nutrition of fluoride”, Danielle N. Houchins, Brady O. Werkheiser, for seven years at Margaret H. Roeder, Katherine C. McGovern, Victoria C. Immaculata College, and Angelucci, Dr. Jose F. Cerda she served as an Instructor in the Diabetes “Effects of sodium fluoride binding on the electrochemical Out-Patient Education properties of heme protein,” Margaret H. Roeder, Danielle Program and the Cancer N. Houchins, Emily J. Amendola, Jacquelyn D. Castorino, Support Group Program Andrea L. Fritz, Carmen Guzman, Dr. Jose F. Cerda for 15 years at Riddle Memorial Hospital. In There were more than 15,500 attendees at the addition, for the past 16 conference, and the group joined them in attending years, Terry has served numerous enlightening scientific lectures such as a Kavli as a self-employed Father Gillespie presents Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture by Daniel G. nutrition consultant to a Terry Crossan with Nocera on the world’s first artificial leaf. The meeting variety of businesses Teaching Award theme was “Chemistry of Energy and Food,” and the and groups in the students were able to attend talks on the relationship Philadelphia area. Terry brings this wealth of experience between chemistry and food in our society. and comprehensive knowledge of food chemistry to her courses at SJU. Terry is also a registered dietitian with 20 years of experience in nutrition; she specializes in the topics of weight management and disordered eating. She is also very active in the community, as she often gives lectures on dieting and nutrition to local community groups. Congratulations Terry! Left to right: Avery Vilbert ’13, Michelle Piotrowski ’13, Dana Krajcsik ’13, Megan Forman ’14, David Manion ’13, Meg Roeder ’13, Danielle Houchins ’13, Brady Werkheiser ’13, EuTchen Ang ’13, and Dr. Mark Forman 5
Dr. Jean Smolen Accompanies SJU Students on Trip to Nicaragua Jean Smolen, Associate Professor of Chemistry, accompanied Peter Clark, S.J. and 15 Saint Joseph’s University students for an immersion trip to the Central American country of Nicaragua from January 5 through January 12. The immersion trip is the capstone of a semester-long course, “Just Health Care in Developing Nations”, which is offered jointly through Theology and replied that Nicaraguan hospitals do not have as much Religious Studies and Interdisciplinary Health Services. overhead and do not pay hospital administrators million- Most of the students are biology or health service majors dollar salaries like we do in the U.S.” The Vivian Pellas and a number of them are chemistry minors. Hospital also houses a burn clinic for children in Nicaragua, The group spent much of its time in Managua, the capital where patients are treated free of charge. Vivian Pellas and of Nicaragua and a city that was mostly destroyed during her husband Carlos were in a plane crash in which Vivian the Sandinista conflict. During the week, the students suffered life-threatening burns. Since that time, she has learned about the history of Nicaragua and its relationship pledged to assist young burn victims in Nicaragua. with the United States. Since the main objective of the Later in the week, the group took a trip into the country immersion is to experience health care in a developing to Matagalpa and the community of La Reina where they country, most of the time was spent visiting many hospitals visited a coffee plantation. Here they witnessed how the and clinics. The group visited a women’s clinic, Centro beans are harvested and then how they are processed and Acahual, which is nearby the city dump in Managua. Many dried before being sold. The coffee plantation sells fair women and children make a living by sorting through the trade coffee and the coffee is shade-grown. The group material at the dump. As one might imagine, various learned that the coffee is sold for about $1 per pound, illnesses are associated with this life. compared to the $7 or more per pound that we pay for One day, the group visited the Lennin Fonseca Public coffee in the U.S. The group visited many more sites such Hospital in the morning and the private Hospital “For students as maternity clinics and local markets. Metropolitano Vivian Pellas in the afternoon. The students who have never visited a developing country, the were stunned by the conditions of the public hospital that was sorely lacking even basic standards of hygiene. The experience is tremendous. My favorite part is facility is normally overwhelmed by the large number of interacting with the people and learning about individuals seeking care. In contrast, the private facility is more sophisticated than many hospitals in the U.S. The their lives,” Smolen said. She will accompany a new group learned that this facility is commonly used for group of students next year, returning to Nicaragua in order medical tourism. The hospital attracts patients from all over to build upon the relationships started with many of the the world who have an ability to pay for surgeries such as many communities on this trip. hip and knee replacements and bariatric surgery. A procedure that would cost more than $40,000 in the U.S. would cost less than $10,000 at this hospital. Therefore, these procedures become more affordable for individuals without health insurance. “When I asked the hospital representative how they could afford to perform these procedures so inexpensively,” said Jean Smolen, “she 6
SJU Chemistry Majors Design Candy thought they were going to take the candy. They really wanted as similar taste to the [original] Clodhoppers as for NYC Candy Company possible,” said Crossan. Despite the setback, Crossan and her team did not quit. by Anna Kesaris “We knew we had signed up and made a commitment, Dylan's Candy Bar needed to re-engineer Clodhoppers, and we wanted to make sure we did our school proud,” the fudge-covered graham said Crossan. The team went back to the drawing board candy. A group of five SJU and focused on different aspects such as texture, Chemistry majors led by sweetness and balancing all the ingredients. “We walked Terry Crossan spearheaded into this and it sounded like it was going to be very simple, the effort to replicate the but the nuances were the hardest part,” explained treat's taste and texture in Crossan. just six months. Crossan's Food Chemistry classes even got involved, “I Founded in 2001 by Dylan would walk in before starting class and say, ‘We had an Lauren, daughter of famed epic failure in chocolate world.’ My class knew about designer Ralph Lauren, whole project, and my students would send links about Dylan's Candy Bar is a candy supplier with a chain of what we could do to change recipes,” said Crossan. boutique candy shops in New York City, Los Angeles, and Crossan was able to bridge a gap between Food Miami. For years one of Dylan's popular treats, Marketing majors, Chemistry majors, professors and Clodhoppers, had been supplied by a Canadian company. students, and her family, so everyone could participate in However, the supplier recently discontinued supplying such a unique experience. Clodhoppers, leaving Dylan's Candy Bar with the need to When Crossan and her team were finally able to match the develop their own version of the candy. recipe in May, her students and Dr. Forman took their final SJU students took on this project under the direction of batch to New York, presented their work, met the Adjunct Professor and dietician Crossan, who teaches executives of Dylan’s Candy Bar, and took a tour of the Food Chemistry at SJU. She enlisted sophomore facilities. Reflecting on the experience, Crossan said: “It chemistry majors Allyson Langley, April Savarese, Casey was such collaboration. You hear so often about a Adams, Alaina Stockhausen, and senior chemistry major distance between faculty and students, but this project Dana Krajcksik to help with the project. The team set out bridged everything.” to reverse engineer the candy and reproduce as close as possible the original Clodhoppers recipe, a fudge-covered cluster of graham wafers. “We were only provided with free samples and the labels for the three different Clodhoppers varieties: vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and clods,” Crossan said. Crossan and her team began the project in early November 2012 and hoped to present their final product to Dylan’s Candy Bar by February 2013. At first they used a make-shift kitchen in one of the labs and the Biology freezer two floors below to store their products. Realizing the inefficiency of this system, Crossan decided to host her research team at her house to bake the samples and test recipes. Crossan and her dedicated team were getting close to their final recipe, and right before Christmas, believed they had struck gold. “It was unbelievable, a fantastic candy. We thought this was it. And we sent it up to Dylan’s Candy Bar and the response was that it was ‘too good.’ We 7
With Brady Werkheiser (President) and EuTchen Ang (Vice President) providing student leadership and Dr. Cerda providing faculty mentorship, the Molloy Chemical Society had another active and productive academic year in 2012- Admitted Students Days. 2013. Molloy’s activities during the past year included: Holding a senior farewell event at Landmark Presenting a poster and giving a talk at the Spring Americana restaurant in early May. 2013 ACS National Meeting in New Orleans entitled Increasing the Molloy budget through the Student “ACS Student Affiliate Chapter the Molloy Chemical Leadership Office. Society from Saint Joseph's University.” As was the case in 2012, the highlight of the past year was Receiving a Student Travel Grant from the ACS to Molloy’s participation in and exhibition at the Philadelphia attend the National Meeting in New Orleans. Science Festival and Carnival on Saturday, April 20 that Sponsoring a Molloy Chemical Society seminar series Logan Circle on Ben Franklin Parkway. Members of Molloy by hosting a fall lecture by Douglas J. Bucklin, Ph.D., interacted with crowds of onlookers while President-elect J.D. Attorney-at-Law, Volpe and Koenig, P.C. entitled Mary Malloy and Elena Montoto gave a demonstration “Patent Law Applied to Chemical Composition, entitled “How Catalysts Work.” Pictures and video of the Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnology” and a spring demonstration may be viewed by going to Molloy’s seminar by Kadine Mohomed, Ph.D. (Thermal Applications Scientist at TA Instruments) entitled “Applying Thermal Analysis Techniques to Understanding Materials.” Holding a two-day Valentine’s Day Fundraiser by selling colorful M&M-filled test tubes. Left to right: Megan Forman, EuTchen Ang, Dr. Jose Cerda, Mary Malloy, Elena Montoto, Avery Vilbert, Brady Werkheiser Facebook page: facebook.com/MolloyChemicalSociety. Contributing Molloy members included EuTchen Ang, Brady Werkheiser, Megan Forman and Avery Vilbert. Encouraging new members to join early in the Molloy also increased its fundraising activities during the academic year by promoting the Society at the Fall past year, increasing donations by over 300 percent. The SJU Activities Fair. increased funds were used to sponsor the seminar series Finding a sponsor for and creating Molloy Chemical and to support Molloy and research students attending the Society T-Shirts. ACS National Meeting in New Orleans. Special thanks go Celebrating Pi day by holding the monthly meeting and to donors Blue Ash Therapeutics (the parents of Mary election of new officers for 2013-2014 on March 14. Malloy ’14), Locks Law Firm, Mastermelt America LLC and Leading tours of the Science Center during the SJU the parents of Rachel Troxel ’16. 8
Toward the end of the spring semester, the Molloy officers summers as a Summer Scholar doing research with helped oversee the election of new officers for the professor and chair Mark Forman. upcoming academic year. For 2013-2014, in addition to Mary Malloy as President the new officers will be Alaina Brady Werkheiser ’13 Named to Stockhausen (Vice President), Ally Langley (Secretary) and Philadelphia ACS YCC Rachel Troxel (Treasurer). Congratulations to the new The Philadelphia Local Section Younger Chemists officers! Committee (YCC) is starting a council Elena Montoto ’14 Selected to for the 2013-2014 academic year, and Brady Werkheiser (BS Chemistry ’13) Participate in the DOW-MIT ACCESS has been named one of its inaugural Program members. The YCC committee is dedicated to introducing young Rising senior Chemistry major Elena Montoto was selected professionals to the expansive to participate in the DOW-MIT ACCESS Program (http:// chemistry network in the Philadelphia access.mit.edu/). The DOW-MIT area. Their goal is to create ACCESS Program is an all- opportunities for students, graduates expenses paid, weekend-long and young professionals to get involved in their community symposium aimed to expose and network with employers and local organizations. New underrepresented minority students council members will be responsible for spreading to the benefits of a graduate information about YCC events to colleagues, coworkers education in chemistry, chemical and friends. In addition, council members would pair up to engineering and materials science. host one event a year for the YCC community at large. Elena traveled to Cambridge this past October for the event and Hailing from Dublin, PA, Brady was the President of the spent a weekend on MIT’s campus. Molloy Chemical Society in 2012-2013 and was integral in Elena’s selection was based on her outstanding academic Molloy’s involvement in the Philadelphia Science Festival record and accomplishments, as well as her potential to this past April and the Society’s involvement in local ACS contribute to strengthening the vitality of the U.S. science events. Brady also conducted research with Dr. Jose and engineering enterprise. Elena spent the 2012 and 2013 Cerda, investigating spectroscopic properties of myoglobin in the presence of fluoride. New Instrumentation An integral component of the chemistry curriculum at Saint Joseph’s University has been and remains the opportunity for students to have hands-on experience with modern instrumentation and sophisticated equipment within the context of their coursework and independent research projects. Much of the equipment and instrumentation is incorporated into students’ coursework as early as the sophomore year. The Chemistry Department is indebted to its alumni and benefactors for making donations that have helped provide funds for the recent purchase of a new Agilent inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The Agilent 710 ICP-OES will be utilized in the instrumental analysis and inorganic chemistry laboratory courses as well as faculty research and will allow the determination of elemental composition below the parts per million range. With the Agilent 710, ICP-OES many elements can be screened per single sample run of less than three to four minutes, and the samples can be analyzed in a variety of aqueous or organic matrices depending on the operational setup. Senior Chemical Biology major Luke Serensits is shown with the instrument. 9
SUMMER SCHOLARS 2013 Dr. Peter Graham Organometallic Chemistry James Ohane, Chemistry, 2014 Michael Pogash, Chemistry, 2015 Bobby Carden, Chemistry, 2014 Eric Eisenhauer, Chemistry, 2014 Casey Adams, Chemistry, 2015 April Savarese, Chemistry, 2015 Megan Forman, Chemical Biology, 2014 Dr. Mark Forman Dr. Jose Cerda Organic Chemistry Electrochemical Biochemistry Elena Montoto, Chemistry, 2014 Alaina Stockhausen, Chemistry, 2015 Dr. John Berberian Physical Chemistry Harry Eichman, Chemistry, 2016 Victoria Angelucci, Chemical Biology, 2014 Mary Malloy, Chemistry, 2014 10
D -mentored uring the summer of 2013, 20 students were engaged in faculty research projects in the Department of Chemistry. Amanda Stoltzfus, Chemical Biology, 2014 Kelsey Berger, Chemical Biology, 2014 Each summer many Chemistry and Chemical Biology undergraduates as well as students enrolled in the five-year BS/MS science- Dr. Mark Reynolds education program remain on campus and Inorganic Biochemistry Jasmin Martin, Chemical Biology, 2015 participate in research projects supervised by chemistry faculty. In 2013, student projects spanned the areas of synthetic organic and synthetic organometallic chemistry, inorganic and electrochemical biochemistry, environmental, and physical chemistry. Saint Joseph's University Luke Serensits, Chemical Biology, 2014 Mike Desciak, Chemical Biology, 2014 provides the opportunity for low-cost on-campus housing and students receive a stipend ($3,200 for each participant). Funding for many of these stipends is provided by the Saint Joseph’s Dr. Jean Smolen Environmental Chemistry University Summer Scholars program. This Amy Dougher, Chemical Biology, 2015 program is also supported with funds from the Department of Chemistry, grants from local and national funding agencies and societies, as well as gifts from alumni. Zachary Dobson, Chemistry, 2014 Andrew Kusterbeck, Chemistry, 2014 11
Alumni Updates BRUCE ROTH (BS Chemistry ’76) was named the winner of the 2013 Perkin Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). The Perkin Medal is recognized as the highest honor given for outstanding work in applied chemistry in the U.S. and includes among its recipients Irving Langmuir, Glenn Seaborg and 2014 SJU McGroddy Frontiers in Science speaker, Dr. Elsa Reichmanis. Dr. Roth received the medal and presented an address at a Sept. 17 dinner in Philadelphia, after Innovation Day events at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. The medal is named for Sir William Henry Perkin, who developed the first synthetic dye, the so-called Perkin mauve, in 1856. Dr. Bruce Roth has made many significant discoveries in a distinguished research career, but he is best known for his invention of Lipitor®, which has become the largest- selling drug in pharmaceutical history. After earning his B.S. in Chemistry at Saint Joseph’s in 1976, Dr. Roth earned a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Iowa State University in 1981. After a year of postdoctoral research at the University of Rochester, he joined the Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company. While at Warner Lambert, Dr. Roth worked on discovering inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, and as part of this discovery program, he synthesized atorvastatin, the compound that ultimately was marketed as Lipitor®. Dr. Roth served as Vice President for Chemistry at the Pfizer Global Research and Development Laboratories in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 2000-2007, and in 2007, he joined Genentech where he currently serves as Vice President for Discovery Chemistry. For his work on the discovery and development of Lipitor®, Dr. Roth received the 2003 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention. In 2008, the American Chemical Society named him as one of the “Heroes of Chemistry.” Thom Caggiano (BS Chemistry ’76) let us know that he is a volunteer science presenter at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Thom also tells us that he has retired from 1970’s the pharmaceutical industry, but that he is doing some teaching in the area and taught organic chemistry lab at Rider University last year. Michael Harkness (BS Chemistry ’77) writes, “I have been a general pediatrician with a practice called Wade- Townsend Pediatric Associates in Paoli, PA for the last 22 years. I am the Chief of Outpatient Pediatrics for Main Line Health, and active on several of their committees. I have been married for 29 years to my wife, Fran, who is the Associate Registrar at Cabrini College. I stay busy with our parish Knights of Columbus chapter and am an active member of a Valley Forge Running Club, Fast Tracks. We live just outside of Valley Forge Park in Wayne, PA.” J.P. Borneman (BS Chemistry ’80, MS Chemistry ’83, MBA (Finance) ’87) tells us that since 1999, he has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Standard 1980’s Homeopathic Company and Hyland’s Inc. Under his leadership, the company has grown tenfold. Jay’s focus is on leadership of the firm, as well as interaction with outside stakeholders including shareholders, regulators, banking and finance and legislators. He tells us the company’s science focus is on the generation and characterization of nanoparticles from highly agitated solutions in borosilicate glass, development of new bio-assays and development of scalable production equipment. Its clinical focus is on pediatric cough, cold and otic medications. Ebrahim Ghelichkhani (BS Chemistry ’84) tells us that after working for a couple of high tech companies, he intends to do something new in order to make a living in the future. Ebi also reports that he is teaching at UCSC-Extension in the Silicon Valley. Ebi teaches courses in Reaction Kinetics and Statistical Design of Experiment. Ebi and his family live Cupertino, CA. Mark Reichardt (BS Chemistry ’89) writes, “in July 2013 I celebrated my 31st year working as an analytical chemist and process chemist at Carpenter Technology Corporation in Reading, PA. Carpenter is a leading international manufacturer and distributor of specialty alloys, powder alloys and titanium serving the automotive, aerospace, energy, industrial, medical, defense and consumer products industries.” 12
Joseph Rossi (BS Chemistry ’89; MS Chemistry ’92) let us know that he is a patent attorney and partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon LLP in Philadelphia, where his practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property matters that relate to the chemical and pharmaceutical arts. He helps clients manage their U.S. and international patent portfolios and works directly with product development teams to plan patent and business strategies in view of competitor patent rights. Joe was recently included in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. Deirdre Arnold (BS Chemistry ’93) writes that for the past 10 years she has been working at the Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA where she is a 1990’s Technical Information Specialist. Deirdre supports the Patent Examiners by performing online literature searches in her area, which includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides, polymers, proteins, polynucleotides, traditional medicine and combinatorial chemistry. Andrew Harron (BS Chemistry ’99, MS Chemistry ’02) writes that he is finishing his doctoral work in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Andy writes, “I have gotten into tissue imaging and developing new methods of ionization for mass spectrometry”. Since earning his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, Nick Benetatos (BS Chemistry ’00) tells us he has been working at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2000’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). In this position, Nick provides technical expertise to aid the center in regulatory review and decision making for Class II and Class III medical devices (pre-market and post-market). Specialty areas have included: cardiovascular devices, interventional cardiology devices, polymeric drug-delivery systems, orthopedic devices and active implantable electronic devices. Congratulations to Michael McNevin (BS Chemistry ’01) and his wife on the birth of Landon this past February. While Mike is surely busy with fatherhood, he recently presented at the Polymorphism and Crystallization conference in the Netherlands on “Discovery and Selection of an Optimal Crystal Form for the Various Stages of Pharmaceutical Development.” Mike also notes that, “in early 2012 I moved groups to Preformulation in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply organization and I am now an Associate Principal Scientist.” Matt Kieber-Emmons (BS Chemistry ’02) tells us that he has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Utah starting August 1, 2013. Matt is currently an NIH postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University in Ed Solomon’s group. Congratulations to Mike Kerrigan (BS Chemistry, ’03) and his wife Andrea Myers Kerrigan on the birth of their first child, Grady Michael Kerrigan, who joined the Kerrigan family on May 27, 2013. The proud mother and father and Grady live in Potomac, MD. Paul Tarves (BS Chemistry, ’05) informs us that he recently earned his Ph.D. at Boston University. Paul’s thesis was entitled “Coordination Chemistry of Mononuclear Non-Heme Iron Oxygenase Enzymes: Probing Differential of Carboxylate and Phenolate Ligation Through Functional Synthetic Model Systems.” Paul is back in the Philadelphia area at a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of the Sciences. Kerry Salandria (BS Chemistry, ’06) is excited to tell us that she married fellow Hawk-Mate Dan Dykas (Food Marketing, ’06) this past fall. After honeymooning in Hawaii, Kerry started working at Intelligent BioSystems where she is producing Qiagen’s GeneReader for release later his year. The instrument uses Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology for determining DNA sequence composition, and Kerry is making fluorescently-labeled, reversibly terminating nucleotide triphosphates for the instrument. Ian Eisele (BS Chemistry ’06) writes, “After graduating from SJU in 2006 I began work on my Masters in Chemistry at Villanova University and received my degree in 2012. During this time I began working at Agilent Technologies in 2009. I met my wife at Agilent, where we sat right next to each other for 3 years. We married in 2012 and moved to Folsom, California. Currently, I provide service and support for Agilent LCMS instrumentation all around the Pacific Northwest.” Rebecca Mills (BS Chemistry, ’06) reports that she is now Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, MI. Becca tells us, “I've been enjoying my time in Detroit and this year the chief duties have added to the work but they’ve also been really fun. I’m looking into jobs now too, and I’m going to be coming back home to Philly. My only regret is that I can’t stay on at my current hospital while living in Philly again, this hospital is such a gem for EM. But I look forward to paying the department a visit when I’m back home again!” David Bulkley (BS Chemistry, ’07) writes, “I graduated from Yale this August (2013) with a Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry after working in the lab of Thomas Steitz doing X-ray crystallography. I'll be starting a postdoc this fall at UCSF in the lab of Yifan Cheng working on cryo-electron microscopy.” Tony Pozzessere (BS Chemistry ’07) reports that after graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 2011, he moved west for his residency. Tony is finishing up his second year as a resident in general surgery at Santa Barbara Cottage 13
Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. After graduation in 2008, Dan Fabry (BS Chemistry ’08) reports that he was hired by NMS Labs in Willow Grove, PA to do clinical and forensic therapeutic drug testing. In August of 2011, Dan left NMS Labs to join Haverford College’s chemistry department as the Instrument Specialist. Shortly after taking the new job, Dan got married on September 10, 2011 to his wife Danielle. Dan is currently pursuing a M.S. degree in analytical chemistry from Villanova University. Congratulations Dan! Congratulations to Matt Ortlip (BS Chemistry, ’08) who is the proud new father of Matthew David Ortlip. Matt continues to work at Gelest, where he was recently promoted to Associate Chemist and shift supervisor. Matt and family recently purchased a house in Bucks County. Congratulations to Drew Brandt (BS Chemistry, ’10) who married Morgan Matecki (BS Marketing, ’10, MBA Marketing ’11) on April 19th in Malvern, PA. Drew is working for E.I. 2010’s duPont de Nemours and Company in Wilmington, DE as an Associate Investigator focusing on the process development of next generation commercial refrigerants. Val Stephens (BS Chemistry ’10) writes that she is now working as an Associate Chemist at BASF in Iselin, NJ after previously working at Rive Technology. Jackie Castorino (BS Chemistry, ’12) tells us that she started graduate school in June in the Drexel University School of Education M.S. program. Jackie reports that she was also accepted into the Philadelphia Teacher Residency Program through the Philadelphia Education Fund. Through this program, she’ll be working with an educator in an inner city school, starting in September 2013, to get hands-on teaching experience. Jackie is also staying busy coaching juniors out of Undine Barge Club (one of the boathouses on Boathouse Row) every afternoon, after coaching the Shipley novice boys this past spring. Ian McKendry (BS Chemistry, ’12) reports that he has just finished his first year of graduate school at Temple University in the Chemistry Ph.D. program where he has joined the lab of Dr. Michael Zdilla, which is focused on bioinorganic synthesis. Ian is already involved in a few projects including one focused on determining the best manganese oxidation state for water oxidation using birnessite as a photosystem II substitute. Another project involves synthesizing a dialkyl calcium complex with the goal of inserting it into manganese clusters to create structures similar to those in photosystem II. Chrissy Ott (BS Chemistry, ’12) writes, “I just finished up my first year of graduate school at University of Delaware in the Biochemistry Division. I have joined the lab of Dr. Zhihao Zhuang, which focuses on understanding the chemistry and biology of the post-translational modification, ubiquitination. My project largely focuses on studying eukaryotic translesion synthesis and its involvement in tumorigenesis and chemotherapeutic resistance. My current project involves developing an assay using the enzymes native substrate to study the kinetic parameters of the deubiquitinase, USP1/UAF1. Another current project involves evaluating the effectiveness of different deubiquitinase inhibitors as potential chemotherapeutics both in vitro and in an animal model.” We want to hear from you! Really, we do. If you like reading the alumni updates, please consider making a submission yourself so we can brag about you. Please visit the alumni page of our website at www.sju.edu/academics/cas/ chemistry/alumapp.html (navigate there on your smart phone using the 2D bar code to the right) and send us your news and updated information by completing the form. You may also send your replies by mail to: Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph’s University, 5600 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131 or email us at: mforman@sju.edu 14
The McGroddy Frontiers in Science Seminar Series was research investigating the mechanisms launched with a gift from Dr. James C. McGroddy ’58, a of metalloproteins and the design of new, retired vice president from IBM. The series, which focuses biomimetic catalysts and the molecular on interdisciplinary research, brings to campus researchers mechanisms of these processes has who discuss their work at the frontier of the natural attracted international acclaim. Some of sciences. Each year, the Departments of Biology, his many awards include being named A. Chemistry and Physics, and the University’s chapter of C. Cope Scholar (1989), the Alfred Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, host speakers in Bader Award in Bioorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry the series. This past fall, Dr. John T. Groves gave the (1996), National Science Foundation Extension Award for McGroddy Frontiers in Science Seminar entitled Special Creativity, (2008-2011), Frontiers in Biological “Hydroxylations by the Novel Heme-thiolate Peroxygenase Chemistry Award (2009), and ACS Ira Remsen Award APO and Extrapolations to P450 Enzymes and Model (2010). He is a member of the National Academy of Systems.” Dr. Groves is currently the Hugh Scott Taylor Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Chair of Chemistry at Princeton University where his Elsa Reichmanis to Present 2013-2014 McGroddy Frontiers in Science Lecture Elsa Reichmanis is a Professor of Chemical and Council (NRC) activities including Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of service as co-chair of the NRC Technology. Prior to joining Georgia Tech she was Bell Board on Chemical Sciences and Labs Fellow and Director of the Materials Research Technology, she served as a Department at Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent. She has had member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, was a impact on the field of microlithography, which is central to member of the Visiting Committee on Advanced the manufacture of electronic devices. Her work has Technology of the National Institute of Standards and contributed to the development of a molecular level Technology (NIST), and currently serves as a member of the understanding of how chemical structure affects materials NSF Math and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee and function leading to new families of lithographic materials Advisory Committee on Environmental Research and and processes for advanced VLSI manufacturing. She has Education. She is an elected member of the Bureau of the explored the design and characterization of “closed-pore” International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry nanoporous low-dielectric constant (k > 1.4) materials (IUPAC), and she served as 2003 President of the American exhibiting a high degree of mechanical and environmental Chemical Society. Elsa Reichmanis is an Associate Editor of stability. She is currently exploring active, polymer and the ACS Journal, Chemistry of Materials. She has been married hybrid organic/inorganic materials chemistries and to Frank Purcell since 1979 and they have four children; processes for plastic electronics, photovoltaics and photonic Patrick, Elizabeth and twins, Edward and Thomas. She can technologies. She has more than 150 publications, has given be reached at ereichmanis@chbe.gatech.edu and additional more than 150 invited presentations, is the holder of over 20 information is available on her research group website, U.S. patents and is an editor of 5 books. Elsa Reichmanis www.reichmanis.chbe.gatech.edu. received her Ph. D. and BS degrees in chemistry from Syracuse University. After joining Bell Labs, she was Elsa Reichmanis will give the 2013- promoted to Supervisor of the Radiation Sensitive Materials and Application Group in 1984, followed by promotion to 2014 McGroddy Frontiers in Science Head of the Polymer and Organic Materials Research Department in 1994. She is the recipient of several awards Seminar on Wednesday, March 26, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2014 at 4 PM. 1995. She has participated in several National Research15
Student Profile: Bobby Carden Interview by Anna Kesaris Robert Carden, known as Bobby by faculty and students, will “I just love helping students foster graduate in May 2014 from SJU. Bobby has taken full a love for science to carry with advantage of the many opportunities at SJU by balancing his them for their whole lives, even if Chemistry major with a Music minor, extracurriculars, and they don’t stick with their major. I independent research. After graduation, he plans on pursuing love helping people find the a Chemistry Ph.D. in the area of bioinorganic chemistry and beauty in chemistry, when I see would like to become a chemistry professor. the smile on their face when they get something right nothing else Bobby is not only passionate about teaching and chemistry; he can compare to that.” has also become involved in the Music Department at SJU. He first starred in plays at SJU his freshman year when he was Beginning in the summer following his freshman year, Bobby in Phantom of the Opera, and he has since been in Jesus Christ joined Dr. Peter Graham’s lab to learn about inorganic Superstar, Miss Saigon, and Rent. chemistry and get more hands-on experience in a research lab. Bobby now has worked with Dr. Graham for three Bobby also has taken voice lessons and music classes, and consecutive summers and their results were recently published comments, “I was always interested in music, but at Saint Joe’s in the journal Organometallics. Bobby comments on his I found I could do all these things while being a science major. experience, “I love Dr. Graham to death, he has been such a I am in music theory classes, and it connects to the way I learn mentor to me, he was my General Chemistry teacher and he chemistry. The way chord progressions come together to form has been in my chemistry life at Saint Joe’s since the beginning. melodies and harmonies, there are rules you have to follow, I would not be where I am today without him.” and I can easily do that with the way I think as a scientist.” Bobby discusses his relationship with his fellow chemistry Bobby continues, “I just love that the way I learn students and professors, “All of the Chemistry majors in our chemistry connects to the way I learn music. The class are phenomenal. The professors are constantly challenging us to make us do better, and they are a wonderful systematic way chemistry and music work make support system, that is what the Department of Chemistry is.” them beautiful.” “I want to be a mixture of all of the teachers at Saint Joe’s. I want to be as adorable as Dr. Graham, as smart as Dr. Asked about his favorite part of chemistry, Bobby answers, Forman, as funny as Dr. Zurbach, and as old and crazy as Dr. “It’s everything. I love the material, I have loved all of my Berbarian. So I think they all have qualities about them that Chemistry classes and I love working with students, especially make them so unique, and every single one of the teachers in freshman. I was the RA on the freshman LRC [Learning the department has inspired me and my goal is to inspire Residential Community for SJU Science majors] and I just someone the way they inspired me, to do great things and as a loved working with them, helping them out, and listening to all teacher take the ideals they set in me and share them with my of their experiences. I just love the atmosphere of collegiate future students.” learning.” Along with being the RA for the Science LRC, Bobby has Reflecting on his journey into his senior year, Carden says “I worked has a TA for the General Chemistry lab, is a member walked on campus it was May 31st of my of the American Chemical Society, and the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. He also has served as a member of the Peer junior year of high school and no one else made Review Board and worked as a chemistry tutor and SI leader me feel the way Saint Joe’s did. I don’t regret the for General Chemistry. decision ever.” Bobby explains why he loves his role as a tutor and SI leader: 16
Student Profile: Elena Montoto Interview by Anna Kesaris Elena Montoto, ’14 has taken full advantage of the numerous Graduate School. I was in between opportunities that have come her way as a student in the Graduate or Pharmacy, and the Chemistry department. experience really helped me decide “When it came to choosing my major I knew I wanted to what I wanted to do.” major in Chemistry. I loved it from the start, and I always Elena is currently preparing for the knew I had made the right choice. There are so many different GRE’s with plans to attend subdivisions within Chemistry, and you get to learn about so graduate school and pursue a many different things. I think it’s awesome,” said Montoto. Ph.D. in Materials Science after she Elena has worked with Dr. Mark Forman, chair of the graduates from SJU this year. She Chemistry department, in organic chemical research since her contributes her decision to join sophomore year at SJU. The Forman group synthesizes non- graduate school to the support she has gotten from her fellow natural products that possess unique properties and enhanced professors and students in the Chemistry Department. A reactivity as a result of forced deviations from their ideal leader in the Chemistry Department, Elena reflected on the geometries. In particular, they are interested in the effects that support system she had her past three years at SJU: bond angle distortion have on the structure and properties of “The Chemistry Department is like a family. alkenes. Such strained alkenes have only a fleeting existence and special methods are required to synthesize and study It’s great that the Chemistry Department is so them. As a member of Dr. Forman’s research team, Elena has small. In my year I am 1 of 7 students, and it presented her work at a National Meeting of the American Chemical Society and in Seattle for the National Organic is always our little group. We are all so close to Symposium. the professors, and when we study we study In addition, Elena also was recently accepted into the McNulty Fellows Program for outstanding women majoring in science together and help each other out; there is not a or math and is being sponsored to continue her research. As a competitive environment. All of the professors result, she was able to attend a Women’s Leadership Conference in May. know you by your first name. You can talk to Elena also applied for the DOW-MIT ACCESS Program, into any of them about anything, and they are which she was accepted. Elena attended a weekend-long conference at MIT where she was able to attend presentations always there if you need help,” said Elena. by MIT professors, meet current graduate students and hear Elena has proven herself to be adventurous, intelligent, and the inside scoop on applying to graduate school. Finally, she driven as a student at SJU. Her accomplishments in the had the opportunity to attend a lecture by MIT chemistry laboratory and classroom have put her at the top of the class professor and recent Nobel Laureate, Richard R. Schrock. and have set her up for future success after her SJU career. Although she was set on studying Chemistry in high school and was determined to adventure out and study at a school far from her home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Elena probably never imagined that she would have the opportunity to attend lectures at MIT. Elena reflected on her experience at MIT saying, “Dr. Forman showed me I could apply for these programs; he helped me realize I had so many opportunities that SJU allowed for me to be a part of. This program is the reason that I want to go to 17
Commencement 2013 Left to right: Danielle Houchins, Meg Roeder, Chris Millet, Michelle Piotrowski, Mike Montemarano, Dana Krajcsik, Avery Vilbert, Brady Werkheiser, Nicholas Murry, Anthony Salvia, EuTchen Ang 2013 B.S. IN CHEMISTRY 2013 B.S. IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY EuTchen Ang Michelle Piotrowski Drew Kaneps Danielle Houchins Meg Roeder Chris Millet Dana Krajcsik Anthony Salvia Mike Montemarano David Manion Brady Werkheiser Avery Vilbert Nicholas Murry The SJU Chemistry family greeted its newest group of Nick was on the Dean’s list every semester and graduated alumni on May 13 as the Department honored its Magna Cum Laude. Nick is undergraduate students at the 2013 Commencement also an accomplished Weekend. percussionist and an active On the Friday before Commencement, EuTchen Ang was volunteer for a number of awarded the ACS Award for groups. After graduating, Nick Scholastic Excellence at the started as an Associate Undergraduate Awards Researcher at the Mount Sinai Ceremony. Chosen for this School of Medicine where he award based on his high is investigating pancreatic beta academic achievement and -cell regeneration for the treatment of diabetes. outstanding research Also honored at the Awards Ceremony was Avery Vilbert, accomplishments, EuTchen who received the Chemical Biology Award at the was inducted into the Phi Beta ceremony. Avery graduated Cum Kappa Honor Society as a junior. During his time at SJU, Laude and was inducted into Sigma EuTchen was President of the National Society of Xi National Scientific Honor Society Collegiate Scholars and Vice-President of the Molloy and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre- Chemical Society. As a three-year Summer Scholar, medical honor society. Avery is EuTchen investigated the biochemical mechanism of attending graduate school in heme-based oxygen-sensing proteins and presented his Chemistry and Biochemistry at research at the recent ACS National Meeting in New Cornell University. Orleans. EuTchen began graduate studies in chemistry at Prior to the commencement Princeton University in the fall. ceremony, students and their Nicholas (Nick) Murry received the American Institute of families joined department faculty and staff in the Science Chemists Award for Scholastic Achievement at the Awards Center to enjoy a reception honoring the graduates. Ceremony in recognition of his academic ability, leadership and professional promise. A resident of New York, NY, Congratulations Class of 2013! 18
Current Faculty and Staff From left to right: Back row: Jose Cerda, John Longo, John Berberian, Roger Murray, Mark Forman, Peter Zurbach Front row: Barbara Neff, Kathy Gordon, Mark Reynolds, Usha Rao, Jean Smolen Not pictured: Peter Graham Dr. Mark A. Forman, Professor and Chair, Organic Chemistry mforman@sju.edu Dr. John G. Berberian, Professor, Physical Chemistry jberberi@sju.edu Dr. José F. Cerda, Assistant Professor, Physical Chemistry jcerda@sju.edu Mrs. Kathleen Gordon, Administrative Assistant kgordo01@sju.edu Dr. Peter M. Graham, Assistant Professor, Inorganic Chemistry pgraham@sju.edu Mr. John Longo, Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator longo@sju.edu Dr. Roger K. Murray, Professor, Organic Chemistry rmurray@sju.edu Mrs. Barbara B. Neff, Chemistry Resource Coordinator/Purchasing bneff@sju.edu Dr. Usha Rao, Associate Professor, Environmental Chemistry urao@sju.edu Dr. Mark F. Reynolds, Associate Professor, Inorganic Biochemistry mreynolds@sju.edu Dr. Jean M. Smolen, Associate Professor, Environmental Chemistry jsmolen@sju.edu Dr. E. Peter Zurbach, Associate Professor, Analytical Chemistry pzurbach@sju.edu The Hawk Chemist The Hawk Chemist is co-produced by Mark Forman and Peter Graham. To contribute alumni news or to submit feedback, go to our Web page, www.sju.edu/academics/cas/chemistry/alumapp.html, or follow the links from the Chemistry Department homepage, www.sju.edu/academics/cas/chemistry/. You may also email mforman@sju.edu or write to: Mark Forman, Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph’s University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131. 19
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