2007 - 2008 - The College of Wooster

Transcription

W
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Forty-Sixth Annual Report
2007-08 Academic Year
and
Summer of 2008
Department of Chemistry • 943 College Mall • Wooster, Ohio 44691
Table of Contents
Greetings From the Chairperson…..………………………………………………
Activities of the Faculty ……………..……………………………………………...
Career Choices of Chemistry Major Graduates ………………………………...
Research Leave Program …………..……………………………………………..
Retirement of Paul L. Gaus ……………………………………………………….
Introducing Sibrina Collins …………….…………………………………………..
Activities of the Staff ………………..………………………………………………
Publications …………………………………..…………………………………….
Invited Lectures and Papers/Posters Presented at
Professional Meetings ………………..…………………………………….
Career Choices of Biochemistry and BCMB Major Graduates ………………..
Discoveries by Paul Edmiston Could Have Major Global Implications ……….
235th American Chemical Society National Meeting …………………...……….
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference………
Grants, Awards, and Gifts for 2007-08 ……………………………………………
The College Receives $1M Grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute ….
Chemistry Club ……………………………………………………………………..
Departmental Seminars …………………………………………………………...
Helen Murray Free Endowment Lecture …………………………………………
Class of 1998 ……………………………………………………………………….
Department of Chemistry Summer 2008
Research Program ………………………………………………………….
Other Summer 2008 Research Activities ………………………………………..
Herrick L. Scholarship ……………………………………………………………..
Recognition of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-Year Students in Chemistry
During 2007-08 ……………………………………………………………..
What Can I do with a Chemistry Degree from Wooster? ……….……………..
Class of 2008 ………………………………………………………………………..
Recognition of Seniors in 2007-08 ………………………………………..
Prizes, Awards, and Scholarships Awarded to Seniors ………………..
Senior Independent Study Projects ……………………………………….
James T. McFarland Senior Independent Study
Poster Session ………………………………………………………
Independent Study Exposition …………………………………………….
Neuroscience Added as a Major ……..…………………………………………..
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The photo on the cover was taken by Allyson Buytendyk ('09) featuring Nicholas Amato ('08).
Allyson won First Place with this photo in the Chemistry Club Photo Contest during National Chemistry Week.
www.wooster.edu/chemistry
Editor: Mark J. Snider
Producer: Diane M. Rossey
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Greetings from the Chairperson
W
Dear Friends,
The time has come for me to write my first Chair’s Greetings (especially since it has been
over three months since Diane first asked me to do it). As you will see in this year’s report, the
department continues to change and grow. For many of you, the only familiar faces in the
faculty photo are Paul Gaus and Virginia Pett. As of May 13, 2008, Paul retired, and he called
me within 30 minutes of graduation to confirm that his office was vacant, and I was
“unofficially” Chair. Paul certainly left his mark on the culture of the department and on
numerous students with his steadfast attention to what it truly means to be a Professor. Some
of the “Gaus Alumni” are planning a reunion in March 2009 to visit with Paul and with each
other.
Following Paul’s retirement, Virginia is now the senior faculty member of the
department, and she plans to retire May 2009. As part of her move towards retirement,
Virginia creatively orchestrated an opportunity to bring in Hannah Tims as a
teaching/research postdoctoral fellow. The two have had great fun working with each other
and a group of talented students. Hannah brings an endearing Minnesotan sense of humor
along with her commitment to student learning in the class and lab.
Another of our three Pauls, Paul Edmiston, had his typical full agenda of lots of research
with lots of students, with some exciting cutting edge advances that have opened some very
interesting doors for Wooster. Paul also helped out with the logistics of Melissa Schultz’s
maternity leave. Melissa is pioneering the dual role of Wooster Chemistry Faculty and Mother
of an infant—Lila. Our third Paul, Paul Bonvallet, has been fully engaged with our neverending quest for the ultimate organic chemistry program along with loads of other
opportunities in research and service. Sarah Schmidtke took on the yeomen’s load in our
departmental work of assessment in conjunction with our curricular discussions. All of us,
especially Melissa, gave good attention to revising our introductory chemistry courses and
labs. Our curricular revisions and changes in departmental pedagogy are in part responding
to the feedback we received from the surveys of alumni as well as current juniors and seniors.
Our self evaluation spans nearly 5 years, but we are working collaboratively with new
pedagogical approaches and intend to “unveil” the new curriculum to the Educational Policy
Committee in the fall 2008, with implementation to begin fall 2009. Stay tuned.
Finishing out the faculty, Mark Snider was on research leave at Cornell 2007-2008 with
his family, so we were fortunate to have Jeff Myers join us as our biochemist. In his brief time
here, Jeff made a lasting impression with his contributions to discussions (something about a
“Grecian palace”) and the creation of a departmental brochure illustrating what students can
do with a chemistry degree.
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The department continues to be supported by a group of outstanding staff. Diane Rossey
now holds status as the senior member of the department. Jerry Patterson works to balance
demands of harried faculty and students with the ever-growing tennis competitions of his son
Kyle. Mary Kilpatrick continues coordinating the introductory labs as we prepare for our
upcoming curricular changes. Ron Tebbe and Lee Hothem both work creatively to figure out
how to keep instruments and equipment in good working order despite the many novice users—
faculty and students alike.
Lat but not least, we share lots of news about our current students who have conducted
research on and off campus, presented their work locally and nationally, and continue to
work independently and interdependently. We have an active Chem Club group with students
who are enthusiastic about outreach, hosting seminar speakers, and just having fun.
As you can tell, the Chemistry family is as active as ever! It’s nice to share some of our
excitement in words, but we look forward to a time when you all can visit. Keep in mind that
Alumni weekend happens in early June every year, and we will do our best to warmly welcome
you. The faculty faces may have changed, but we still share a passionate commitment to an
environment where we can all learn and grow professionally and personally. I definitely see
us as “Wooster Connected”, and I am known for saying, “If you’re not having fun, then there’s
probably a better way to do it.” I hope you all can find ways to stay connected to this
marvelous Family.
Sincerely,
Judith C. Amburgey-Peters
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Chair
Department of Chemistry • Wooster, Ohio 44691-2363 • 330/263-2418 • FAX 330/263-2386
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Department of Chemistry Faculty
Spring 2008
Back Row: Paul Bonvallet, Hannah Tims
Middle Row: Sarah Schmidtke, Paul Edmiston, Jeff Myers
Front Row: Virginia Pett, Paul Gaus, Judy Amburgey-Peters, Mary Kilpatrick
Not Pictured: Melissa Schultz (Maternity Leave) and Mark Snider (Research Leave)
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Activities of the Faculty
Judith C. Amburgey-Peters, in collaboration with Paul Bonvallet, made
significant revisions to both semesters of the organic chemistry lab. The organic lab
experiments in the fall were organized in multi-week units to better emulate the scientific
process as practiced by an organic chemist. Special attention was given to the basic
writing skills necessary for experimental plans/designs and notebook keeping. Group
work for gathering and sharing information with regards to safety, lab techniques,
experimental design and implementation was stressed. The outcome was very positive.
The students had a better command of the fundamental techniques and improved their
abilities to plan and design experiments. In the spring, organic "cookbook" experiments
were replaced with research-based projects related to on-going projects in the
Amburgey-Peters and Bonvallet research labs. The students' responses were very
positive with intellectual engagement, creativity, and much enthusiasm. Support was
received from HHMI Curriculum, Equipment, and Laboratory Development for these
research-based projects.
In the fall, Judy also taught a section of First-Year Seminar. In the spring, she taught
a lecture section of Introductory College Chemistry for the first time. During the
academic year she advised three students in Independent Study: Nicholas Amato
(Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major), Benjamin Franks and Paul Hamilton (both
Chemistry majors).
In January 2008, Judy attended the American Chemical Society Leadership Institute
in Dallas, TX. She served as a reviewer for NSF CAREER Awards. On campus, Judy
served on the Pre-Health Advising Committee and the Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology Program Committee. As the Pre-Health Admissions Liaison, she had contact
with prospective students who were interested in pre-health as well as chemistry and
BCMB.
Judy served on two search committees. She was the Chair of the department's
search committee for an inorganic chemist and she served as a member of the
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology committee that hired a biochemist. Judy sent much
time during the fall reading applicant materials and interviewing candidates.
Departmental duties included NMR system co-administrator and department safety
liaison. As in the past, Judy was active in the American Chemical Society Local Section
serving during the 2007-08 academic year as Chair of the section and as a councilor.
The synthesis of biologically interesting molecules continues to be a research focus
for Judy. She is also exploring areas involving molecules of metabolism and other areas
related to food. ✦
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Fall 2007
First-Year Seminar
Organic Chemistry I
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Independent Study Thesis
Spring 2008
Introductory College Chemistry II
(1 lecture)
Organic Chemistry II
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Fall 2007
Organic Chemistry I
(1 lecture; 2 labs)
Spring 2008
Organic Chemistry II
(1 lecture; 2 labs)
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Paul A. Bonvallet was busy redesigning the Advanced Organic Chemistry course
to incorporate topics in modern synthesis, polymer chemistry, and materials science.
Most classes consisted of student teams presenting their findings from the primary
literature. Paul also worked with Judy to shift the focus of the Organic Chemistry
sequence away from the professor transmitting information and towards the acquisition of
problem-solving skills. Three chemistry majors; Paul Evans, Erin Fortin and Joel Keelor;
and one Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, Lauren Rackoff, worked with Paul on
their Independent Study projects.
Paul accompanied three summer research students and four other Wooster
undergraduates to the 235th Meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans in
April 2008 where they presented research results and attended technical talks. He
presented a poster, Synthesis and Supramolecular Activity of a Monomer Containing a
Crown Ether Unit, at the meeting.
In his spare time, Paul reviewed manuscripts for the Journal of Organic Chemistry
and Organic Letters. Proposals were also sent his way; one for Research Corporation
and 14 for the National Science Foundation.
On campus, Paul was the Chair of the Pre-Health Advising Committee managing a
series of internal and external speakers who presented workshops preparing students for
careers in health care. He was also a member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Curriculum Committee. He was active in Admissions-related activities: panels,
breakfasts, and classroom visits by prospective students. Paul was the Secretary of the
Wooster Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Chemistry Club faculty advisor, and active in the
American Chemical Society local section. He participated in a three-day workshop, Great
Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) Academic Leadership and Innovation Institute, in
February 2008. Paul joined a team of high school and college chemistry teachers to
grade 93,000 advance placement exams for The College Board. ✦
INDEPENDENT STUDY
The College of Wooster is nationally recognized for its program of Independent Study, and
for more than fifty years the College has required that every graduate complete a significant
Independent Study project. The capacity for individual inquiry and expression marks the
liberally educated person, and the Independent Study program at Wooster provides an
opportunity through which this capacity may be nurtured. Describing the challenge of the
program, President Lowry, out of whose vision the program was established, said, "…it invites
all students to come to their best in term as of their own talents."
Independent Study provides all students the opportunity to engage in an activity both
personally meaningful and appropriate to their individual fields and interests. It is not
reserved for the few. Independent Study is the culmination of a Wooster education and
provides the basis for a lifetime of independent learning. Students begin in their first year to
develop their abilities in writing, reading, and critical thinking required for the project and
explore various areas of intellectual interest. ideas for Independent Study are stimulated not
only by course work in the major but also by courses in other areas, informal exchanges with
faculty and students, visiting lectures and arts events, off-campus study, volunteer work, and
internship experiences.
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The 2007-08 academic year constituted a slate of courses that Paul L. Edmiston
typically teaches. Instrumental Analysis included a new four-week problem-based
learning section where students played various roles in mock industrial and medical
situations where they developed strategies to solve chemical problems. Analytical
Chemistry continued to feature a forensic science laboratory. This year the students
solved a car bombing case. The title of Paul's First-Year Seminar section was The Edge
of Knowledge.
In addition to his three Independent Study students — Kamesha Barton and Laura
Spring 2008
Underwood,
chemistry majors; and Warren Swegal, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Chemistry and the World in Which We
major — Paul employed eight underclass students on various research projects.
Live: Forensic Science
Analytical Chemistry
Paul attended the Pittsburgh Conference & Exposition on Analytical Chemistry and
(1 lab)
Applied Spectroscopy in New Orleans in February 2008. He gave an oral presentation,
Red-Shirt Freshmen to Senior All-Americans: How Undergraduate Research is like
Coaching. He also presented a poster, Selective Detection of Gas Phase TNT at the
* Team-taught with Dean Fraga
Parts-Per-Trillion Level Using Optical Waveguide Interferometry. In April 2008 he traveled
(Biology) and Jeff Myers
to San Diego, CA where three of his students presented their research (see page 21).
Paul was active in the American Chemical Society. He served on the Analytical
Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Committee and was Chair of the Pfizer Graduate Travel
Awards in Analytical Chemistry. He also reviewed articles for eight journals and one NSF
proposal. On campus, he served on the Educational Policy Committee, the Howard
Hughes Grant Writing/Advisory Committee, the Azimuth Grant (Lilly Project) selections
Committee, and the OICM Advisory Board. He continues as a core member of the BMB
Curriculum Committee. Paul met informally with many visiting students, participated in
Science and Math Day, and was a panelist for both a Fall and Spring Visit Day. He
helped coaches recruit students interested in the physical science through phone calls
and meetings. In the department he was responsible for instrument maintenance and the
Johnston Scholarship.
In April 2008 students from Ashland High School visited the department. During the
visit
students had an opportunity to utilize all of our most advanced instrumentation to
Photo of the Week
solve a chemical problem. The students were guided in the experiments by our chemistry
January 28, 2008
students who along the way answered questions about succeeding in college.
For exciting news about Paul's research, see page 19, Discoveries by Paul Edmiston
Could Have Major Global Implications.
Paul will be on Research Leave at Georgia Tech Research Institute during the 200809 academic year. He and his family headed south at the beginning of the summer. ✦
Fall 2007
First-Year Seminar
Instrumental Analysis
(lecture and lab)
Techniques in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology*
Paul Edmiston and Virginia Kincaid ('10)
in the lab.
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Jeffrey Myers was the Jillian Wilson Thompson Visiting
Assistant Professor of Chemistry during the 2007-08 academic year,
teaching mainly biochemistry courses. During the spring semester, two
sophomore researchers, Seth Maurer and David Flannely, and one firstyear student, Tyler Croxall, worked with Jeff to complete a research
project on peripheral neuropathy. One protein was chosen as the
subject of a biophysical study to investigate the link between amino acid
sequence changes and dysfunction.
Jeff served on the Building Stewards Committee and prepared a
brochure for the Department of Chemistry describing the various career
paths followed by our alumni. He joined Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology majors in an outreach program at Lincoln Way Elementary
School presenting The Edible Cell.
Jeff has accepted a tenure-track position in the Chemistry Department at Davidson
College in North Carolina starting August 2008. We wish him well. ✦
What do
Chemistry Majors
do after Wooster?
Number of Graduates
(Male/Female)
Year
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
19
16
17
13
17
16
11
18
13
16
12
(10/9)
(8/8)
(7/10)
(5/8)
(7/10)
(11/5)
(10/1)
(9/9)
(2/11)
(6/10)
(8/4)
TOTALS
168
(83/85)
Career Choices of
Chemistry Major
Graduates from
the Past Eleven
Years
66 graduates (39%) attended
graduate schools.
They entered:
professional schools.
They entered:
Boston University
Bowling Green State University
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
Cornell University
Duke University
Duquesne University
Emory University
Florida State University
Indiana University
Kent State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michigan State University
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Ohio University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
Slippery Rock University
State University of New York, Syracuse
University of Akron
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, San Diego
University of Colorado
University of Delaware
University of Illinois
University of Kentucky
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee, Memphis
University of Toledo
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Vanderbilt University
Medical School
Medical College of Ohio at Toledo
Northeast Ohio Universities College
of Medicine
Ohio University College of Medicine
University of Connecticut
Dental School
The Ohio State University
Law School
M.D./Ph.D. Program
University of Cincinnati
Veterinary Medicine
Fall 2007
Introductory College Chemistry I
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Techniques in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology*
Biochemistry I
Spring 2008
Chemistry and the World in Which
We Live: Ten Wonderful Things
Biochemistry II
Introduction to Independent Study
(BCMB)**
* Team-taught with Dean Fraga
(Biology) and Paul Edmiston
** Team-taught with Bill Morgan
(Biology)
50 graduates (30%) entered the
workforce.
They are employed in chemistry
related positions at:
Abbott Laboratories
Ashland Chemical
Battelle Memorial Institute
Bayer Corporation
Chemical Abstracts Service
Cleveland Clinic
Columbia University Medical Center
Flow Polymers
Fluorolast
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
J. M. Smucker Co.
Lucent Technologies
Luna Innovations, Inc.
Martel Laboratories
Merck & Co., Inc.
Metal Coatings International
Nanofilm Ltd.
PPG
Pharmacia Corp.
Procter & Gamble
Promerus Electronic Materials
Research Triangle
Ross Labs
Sherwin Williams
Soprema
WIL Research, Inc.
Several graduates are teaching
K-12.
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Virginia B. Pett taught half time during the 2007-08 academic year. To replace
the other half of her teaching load, Hannah Tims was hired as a Visiting Assistant
Professor and Postdoctoral Researcher.
Virginia's First-Year Seminar students investigated the harmful effects of global
warming and researched options for the College to decrease its carbon footprint. They
took field trips to OARDC and to the College power plant. Invited guests described the
costs/benefits of solar panels and obtaining fuel from municipal waste. Virginia also
taught Physical Chemistry I laboratory, and Topics in Physical Chemistry.
Elise Meyers, Christopher Nau, and Virginia Kincaid worked with Virginia funded by
the Sophomore Research Program. Elise attempted to crystallize a large heat shock
protein from maize (corn); Chris tested methods to purify small heat shock proteins
(sHsps) from maize; Virginia Kincaid developed methods for using waste cooking oil
from Lowry Center to produce biodiesel. Virginia had three Independent Study students:
Tamu Chidawanyika (Chemistry), Sarah Haserodt
and Julie Williamson (Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology). Small heat shock proteins assemble into
larger particles, and Tamu measured the size of the
assembly using native PAGE. Julie developed
methods to measure the ability of these proteins to
protect other cellular proteins from heat denaturation.
Sarah studied the effect of glutamine on up
regulation of a large heat shock protein. Chris, Tamu,
and Sarah presented posters at national meetings
describing the research carried out at Wooster.
Virginia and LeRoy Haynes (Professor Emeritus
of Chemistry) continued their collaboration on a ring
opening/ring closing reaction and published a paper.
They also published a paper on the conformation and
hydrogen bonding of a bicyclic compound as revealed by X-ray diffraction. Research
efforts with Hannah Tims focused on cross-linking experiments with small heat shock
proteins. Virginia analyzed the possible interactions depending upon distance in a
crystal structure of a similar protein; Hannah performed laboratory experiments. Their
work was reported at the 40th Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical
Society in Columbus, OH in June 2008.
During the academic year, Virginia was chairperson on the Grievance Committee,
served on the Upper-class Programs Committee, and was a representative for the Oak
Ridge Science Semester. Departmental duties included organizing the Helen Murray
Free Endowment Lectures and departmental awards. Virginia's admissions efforts
involved meeting individually with prospective students throughout the year. ✦
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Fall 2007
First-Year Seminar
Physical Chemistry I
(1 lab)
Spring 2008
Topics in Physical Chemistry
Introduction to Independent Study *
* Team-taught with Sarah Schmidtke
Fall 2007
Introductory College
Chemistry I
(1 lecture)
Physical Chemistry I
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Sarah J. Schmidtke taught a lecture section of Introductory College Chemistry I in the
fall for the first time. In the spring, she also had a new experience of teaching Introduction to
Independent Study with Virginia Pett. In addition, she taught the Physical Chemistry sequence
and advised two students in Independent Study: Neal Kline and Marnie Novak. Time was also
spent advising Elana Stennett, a Sophomore Research Assistant, in both the fall and spring
semesters.
Sarah was able to attend three professional meetings: the Gordon Research Conference on
Photochemistry,
the Inter-American Photochemistry Society Winter Conference, and the 235th
Spring 2008
American Chemical Society National Meeting. She presented her research at all three meetings
Physical Chemistry II
(see page 17). At the ACS meeting, two of her students presented posters of their projects.
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Introduction to Independent
Sarah continued to serve as the secretary of the Wooster Local Section of the American
Study*
Chemical Society. She also reviewed articles for Analytical Chemistry, an American Chemical
Society journal, and participated in the review of the ACS Physical Chemistry standardized
* Team-taught with Virginia exam.
On campus she served on the Copeland Funds Committee, Faculty Scholarships, Graduate
Pett
Fellowship Committee (NSF Graduate Fellowship representative), and was an organizer for
Science Round Table during Fall 2007. In the department she was our Admissions Liaison,
Computer/IT liaison, and student seminar coordinator. As an assessment coordinator, Sarah
participated in meetings with the Higher Learning Commission during their focus visit in October
2007. She was involved in curriculum development for the introductory chemistry and
biophysical courses.
Throughout the year, Sarah served as the department's liaison with Admissions and
coordinated the faculty's meetings with prospective students. At times the students were visitors
to her class, at other times she had breakfast with them and their parents on visit days.
Sarah was a presenter for the Expanding Your Horizons workshop in April 2008 and was
the faculty coordinator for the State Science Fair judging team in May 2008.
In the summer of 2008, Sarah continued her involvement in B-Wiser, the summer science
camp for middle-school girls. She also attended a Council on Undergraduate Research grant
writing workshop as part of a team from the College. She learned about grant writing and took
advantage of this opportunity to polish a grant in progress. ✦
Dr. Schmidtke (center) teaching
Chemistry 112, Spring 2007.
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Fall 2007
Chemistry and the World in Which We
Live: Ten Wonderful Things
(1 lecture; 1 lab)
Spring 2008
Analytical Chemistry
(1 lecture; 2 labs)
Reduced load Spring 2008 due to
Maternity Leave.
Melissa M. Schultz taught the non-science majors course 10 Wonderful Things
About Chemistry. The ten "wonderful" things included air/ozone, global warming, energy
use, water, acid rain, smoke detectors, hybrid vehicles, Teflon®, birth control pill, and
DNA. In Analytical Chemistry, Melissa introduced three new labs. She advised two
chemistry majors in Independent Study: David Hopps (first semester only) and Andrew
Storey. Two sophomore research students, Chantal Koechli and Dustin Klein, worked in
Melissa's lab.
In August 2007 Melissa traveled to Portland, ME to attended the Northeast Science
Forum, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: State of the Science. She was
also able to attend the 28th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North
American Meeting in November 2007 in Milwaukee, WI and the 55th American Society of
Mass Spectrometry's Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN in June 2007. While at these
meeting, she presented papers on her research. Melissa was a panelist on two forums on
campus: the forum to discuss Riverkeepers and the forum to discuss the proposed Coca
Cola Boycott. She found time to continue as the treasurer for the Wooster Local Section
of the American Chemical Society and to review manuscripts for Environmental Science
& Technology as well as attend a workshop in Colorado Springs, CO on chemistry and
art in July 2007.
On campus, Melissa was a council member of the Center for Creativity and
Innovation; a member of the College Scholar Committee, the Campus Council
Committee, and the Environmental Task Force Recycling Committee. She was a member
of the group that worked to develop the Environmental Studies minor. Department duties
included coordinator of the Departmental Seminars, the Summer Research Program, the
McFarland Senior I.S. Poster Session, and Building Monitors. She met with prospective
students and their parents throughout the academic year and participated on the College
Scholars Committee. Melissa was a presenter at Expand Your Horizons in April 2008, a
workshop designed to excite 6th grade girls about science, and B-Wiser, the summer
science camp for middle-school girls held at Wooster in June 2008.
On Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, Lila Rosemary was born. Melissa was on
maternity leave from Spring Break through the summer.
Melissa and Lila both traveled to Sydney, Australia in August 2008 so that Melissa
could present her research at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
World Congress. ✦
Lila Rosemary Wright
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Hannah S. Tims completed the first year of her two-year teaching/research
postdoctoral position. She taught in the introductory sequence and was introduced to
Independent Study by Virginia Pett and her two seniors. Hannah participated in the summer
research program, advising Katherine Stencel ('11).
Hannah organized the students who participated in the inorganic faculty search
conducted by the department. She attended Family Weekend events including the Summer
Research Symposium. In the fall she guided a tour of Severance Hall during a campus visit
weekend and throughout the academic year hosted class visits for prospective students.
Hannah was the Library and Communication liaisons for the department.
Hannah is working to finish and submit two papers from her graduate research at
Northwestern University on exchange of eukaryotic histones within nucleosomes and the rate
of unwrapping nucleosomal DNA to reveal buried protein binding sites. ✦
Fall 2007
(1 lecture)
Spring 2008
(1 lecture; 2 labs)
Research Leave Program
Mark Snider took a research leave during the 2007-2008 academic year
and moved his family to Ithaca, NY. He joined the laboratory of Professor Tadhg
Begley in the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology at Cornell University and
developed three new projects.
One project involved stopped-flow kinetics to determine the kinetic
mechanism and HPLC analyses to determine the potential physiological substrates
of uncharacterized thiaminase I homologues. Thiaminase I is known to degrade
thiamin (a B vitamin) but the observation that its gene is clustered with thiamin
biosynthesis genes in the genomes of Clostridium and Burkholderia species
suggested that it may be involved in a novel thiamin salvage pathway in those
organisms.
A second project enabled Snider to learn some high-field NMR experiments
in attempt to determine the chemical identity of ligands observed to be bound by
proteins of unknown function. As structural genomics efforts become more
successful, databases of structures of proteins of unknown function are becoming
The Sniders at Buttermilk Falls.
more significant; the goal of this project was to make better predictions of the
protein’s function by determining the identity of the small molecule it binds. Snider will advise a senior Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology (BCMB) major in Independent Study this next year on this project.
Third, Snider learned modern bioinformatics techniques to predict the identity of genes involved in the catabolism of
NAD (a B vitamin). He cloned one of the genes and intends to engage Wooster
undergraduates in these investigations to identify the genes and probe the mechanisms
of the resulting enzymes involved in this oxidative pathway.
Overall, Snider thoroughly enjoyed the ability to focus on chemical biology
research during the year.
In addition to the exciting new research, the Sniders welcomed a new addition to
their family in January, Katherine Grace – pictured with sister Ellie (Elizabeth) and
brother Eric. The Snider family thoroughly enjoyed the Finger Lakes region of New York,
with its many gorges, lakes, waterfalls and vineyards, but were happy to return to their
home in Wooster this summer. ✦
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Research Leave Program
Paul L. Edmiston will be on leave during the 2008-09 academic year. He will be working at Georgia Tech Research
Institute in the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory developing optical sensors for gas-phase explosives (i.e. bomb
detectors). The approach combines waveguide interferometry with a sampling system based on acoustic agitation. He is
also going to be working on developing applications for swellable organically modified silica that was discovered in 2004.
This material absorbs organics from the air and water and appears to be an ideal material for remediation of water. ✦
Retirement of Paul L. Gaus
Paul L. Gaus retired at the end of the 2007-08 academic year after 31 years at Wooster. Fall 2007
He began his career in the summer of 1977 by advising a student in summer research. He taught a
(1 lecture)
wide array of courses: First-Year Seminar, the non-science majors course Chemistry and the
Inorganic
Chemistry
World in Which We Live: Ten Wonderful Things, Introductory College Chemistry, Inorganic
(1 lecture; 2 labs)
Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (developed, first offered Spring 1991), Introduction to
Independent Study, and lastly, Independent Study.
Paul introduced the department and independent study students to the use of Lockheed
Spring 2008
DIALOG system to search Chemical Abstracts in 1978. He later introduced the CAS ONLINE
Introductory College Chemistry II
capabilities as a compliment to DIALOG. Because of his expertise in this area, he was a consultant
(1 lecture)
to several area businesses.
Paul was the Chemistry Library supervisor/coordinator for many years and formulated a plan
in 1979 to modernize the departmental library in conjunction with the creation of the W. F. Kieffer Room (honoring Dr. Kieffer after his
retirement). He was Chairperson of the department during four academic years. He was Editor of eight Annual Reports. He served on
many campus committees during his years at Wooster. Paul was instrumental in bringing to the department five nationally recognized
scientists to speak in the Premier Lecture Series from 2002-05.
He was awarded a total of three Research Leaves at Texas A&M University in College Station, the University of Wisconsin at
Madison, and The Ohio State University. In addition, he received one Study Leave. Grant support for his research came from the
National Science Foundation, DuPont Company, Research Corporation, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, and the Petroleum
Research Fund. On campus he received Faculty Development Funds and William H. Wilson Funds. Paul worked with 91 senior
Independent Study students.
Paul was active in the American Chemical Society. In 1978-79, he chaired a session of the Regional Meeting in Columbus, OH. He
served on various committees at the national level. He helped to define the ACS-approved undergraduate inorganic curriculum. He
held offices in the Wooster Section. He attended national meetings and presented his research at
many of these meetings.
Paul reviewed articles for publication in professional journals and reviewed proposals for the
National Science Foundation, Research Corporation, Petroleum Research Fund, and various others.
He reviewed a general chemistry text for John Wiley and Sons.
If you pick up a copy of the text Basic Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition (1987) and Third
Edition (1995), you will find P. L. Gaus as a co-author with F. A. Cotton and G. Wilkinson. Paul is the
author of the solutions manual to accompany both editions the book. In 1997 the book was translated
into its fifth language, Korean.
Paul has a special interest in the Amish. He first introduced the culture to his First-Year Seminar
students in 1995. He is the proud author of An Ohio Amish Mystery series. To date, the series consists
of six books: Blood of the Prodigal (1999), Broken English (2000), Clouds Without Rain (2001), Cast a
Blue Shadow (2003), A Prayer for the Night (2006), and Separate from the World (2008).
We wish Paul the very best in his retirement. ✦
Sam Gerritz ('88) is coordinating an alumni organized event in the Spring of 2009 to celebrate Paul's 31 years at Wooster. For
more information contact Sam at [email protected]. As plans are confirmed, information will be posted on the department's web
site: www.wooster.edu/chemistry.
14
Introducing Sibrina N. Collins
Activities of the Staff
Rebecca Davis, part-time secretary in the department,
has been in the department for four years assisting faculty,
students, and other staff as needed. She is responsible for
processing student employee time cards and solving any
problems students may encounter relating to their
employment.
Rebecca processed the materials of the applicants for
the inorganic chemist position putting to good use her
organizational skills. She also participated in the interview
process. ♦
Mary Kilpatrick completed her 16th year with the
Sibrina N. Collins joins the department as a
tenure-track assistant professor of inorganic chemistry
beginning in the fall of 2008. Sibrina received her B.A. in
chemistry from Wayne State University in 1994. She
went on to The Ohio State University and received a
M.S. in 1996 and a Ph.D. in 2000, both in inorganic
chemistry.
Her professional experiences include a postdoctoral
research position in the Department of Chemistry at
Louisiana State University; editor of the Minority
Scientists Network (MiSciNet), a publication of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science
in Washington, DC; NSF ROA Fellow at Furman
University; visiting researcher in the Department of
Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati; Assistant
Professor at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC;
visiting assistant professor in the Department of
Chemistry at The Ohio State University in Columbus,
Ohio and most recently, Director of Graduate Diversity
Recruiting (STEM) at the University of Washington in
Seattle. In her free time, Sibrina enjoys watching Law
and Order: SVU and cheering on the Detroit Pistons.
Sibrina's research interests include crystal
engineering of metal-organic frameworks, nanoporous
materials;
inorganic
photochemistry;
inorganic
synthesis; and the history of chemical sciences. ✦
chemistry department. As the General Chemistry Laboratory
Coordinator, she prepared the equipment and reagents for
the general chemistry laboratories, taught two sessions of lab
and assisted in the rest of them, and also organized and
supervised lab report grading.
In her spare time she volunteered over 100 hours with
the Greater Wayne County Hospice and Palliative Care and
delivered Meals on Wheels. She was project director of the
B-Wiser camp, a summer science camp for middle-school
girls sponsored by The College of Wooster. ♦
Gerald (Jerry) Patterson, has completed nine years
as the Chemistry Stockroom Manager. This year we
reorganized the layout of the stockroom to provide a more
efficient arrangement for the student workers. A complete
updating of the chemical inventory system was also finished.
Jerry attended his fifth National Association of Scientific
Material Mangers Conference. This year the conference was
held in “hot” San Antonio, Texas. Jerry has completed his
second year as chairman of the Membership Data Base and
Dues Committee. The committee has grown to five members
as additional responsibilities have been added, especially
corporate members/vendors. Another summer activity was
assisting with the summer research projects under the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) program.
Tennis still keeps the Pattersons fit and trim. Kyle has
been playing in tennis tournaments for several years. He had
a great tennis season as a high school freshman. Kyle almost
made it to the State tournament. He also played in a
tournament in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The temperature was
about 102-104°, but he didn’t seem to mind the heat.
15
Activities of the Staff
The family trip in the summer of 2008 was the third of
a series with Jerry’s family and his sister and brother-inlaw. They visited colonial Virginia (Williamsburg,
Jamestown, and Yorktown). Then they toured Jefferson’s
Monticello (Charlottesville) and finally they had a four-day
visit to Washington, D.C. ♦
Diane Rossey had an uneventful year. With the
retirement of Dr. Gaus, Diane moves to the position of
most senior member in the Department.
Diane assisted Chemistry Club in their celebration of
National Chemistry Week with the suggestion of a photo
contest. The theme, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of
the program, was The Many Faces of Chemistry.
Diane spent a great amount of time in the spring
working on the Helen Murray Free Lecture series and the
McFarland Poster Session, both held during the same
week in April.
For the third time, Diane presented a holiday
workshop for the Student Affairs Staff. She informed them
that this was the last workshop she would present.
Diane entered two items in the Wayne County Fair in
September 2007. She received a First Place on a counted
cross-stitch picture and a Second Place on a counted crossstitch Christmas stocking she made for one of her
grandchildren. For the first time, Diane entered two floral
arrangements in the 18th Annual Wayne County Home and
Garden Show Flower Arranging Competition in April 2008.
She placed second with both of them. ✦
Publications
Bonvallet, P. A.; Breitkreuz, C. J.; Kim, Y. S.; Todd, E. M.;
Traynor, K.; Fry, C. G.; Ediger, M. D.; McMahon, R. J. Organic
Glass-Forming Materials: 1,3,5-Tris(naphthyl)benzene Derivatives. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 10051-10075.
Pett, Virginia B. and Haynes, LeRoy W.** Conformation and
Hydrogen Bonding for the Bicyclic Compound 3-Thiabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-6,7-dicarboxylic Acid, 3,3-Dioxide. Acta Cryst.
2008, C64, o485-o488.
Colleen M. Burkett*, Laura A. Underwood*, Rebecca S. Volzer*,
Jessi A. Baughman*, Paul L. Edmiston. Organic-Inorganic Hybrid
Materials that Rapidly Swell in Non-Polar Liquids: Nanoscale
Morphology and Swelling Mechanism. Chemistry of Materials
2008, 20, 1312-1321.
Schultz, Melissa M. and Furlong, Edward T. Trace Analysis of
Antidepressant Pharmaceuticals and Their Select Degradates in
Environmental Aquatic Matrices by LC/ESI/MS/MS; Analytical
Chemistry 2008, 80, 1756-1762.
Natalie R. Walker*, Matthew J. Linman*, Margaret M. Timmers*,
Stacey L. Dean*, Colleen M. Burkett*, Julie A. Lloyd*, Joel D.
Keelor*, Brandi M. Baughman*, Paul L. Edmiston. Selective
Detection of Gas-Phase TNT by Integrated Optical Waveguide
Spectrometry Using Molecularly Imprinted Sol-Gel Sensing Films.
Analytica Chimica. Acta 2007, 593, 82-91.
Charles K. Mobley, Jeffrey K. Myers, Arina Hadziselimovic,
Charles D. Ellis, and Charles R. Saunders; Purification and
Initiation of Structural characterization of Human Peripheral Myelin
Protein 22, an Integral Membrane Protein Linked to Peripheral
Neuropathies; Biochemistry 2007, 46, 11185.
Zeller, Matthias; Pett, Virginia B.; Haynes, LeRoy W.** Ring
Opening of Pyridines: The Pseudo-cis and Pseudo-trans isomers
of tetra-n-butylammonium 4-nitor-5-oxo-2-pentenenitrilate. Acta
Crystallographica 2007, C63, 0343-0346.
16
L. D. Andrews*, J. Graham*, M. J. Snider, D. Fraga. Characterization of a novel bacterial arginine kinase from Desulfotelea
psychrophilia – Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry; Part
B: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 150 2008: 312-319.
Michael J. Jourden*, Callisia N. Clarke*, Allyson K. Palmer*, Emily
J. Barth*, Rebecca C. Prada*, Robyn N. Hale*, Dean Fraga, Mark
J. Snider, Paul L. Edmiston. Changing the Substrate Specificity
of Creatine Kinase from Creatine to Glycocyamine: Evidence for a
Highly Evolved Active Site. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2007, 1774,
1519-1527.
* Wooster undergraduate.
** Professor of Chemistry Emeritus.
Invited Lectures and Papers/Posters Presented
at Professional Meetings
P. A. Bonvallet; A Bit of "Light" Entertainment: Design and
Applications of Luminescent Polymers; Alumni Weekend,
The College of Wooster, June 2007.
S. J. Schmidtke; Spectral and Structural Properties of a
Class of UV-Absorbers; Gordon Research Conference on
Photochemistry, Smithfield, RI, July 2007.
P. A. Bonvallet; How Many Chemists Does it Take to
Change a Light Bulb? Design and Applications of Organic
Light Emitting Diodes; Family Weekend, The College of
Wooster, October 2007.
S. J. Schmidtke; Solvent Impact on the Photophysical
Properties of Benzophenone Derivatives; Kimberly Clark
Corporation, Neenah, WI, August 2007.
P. A. Bonvallet; A Supramolecular Approach to LightEmitting Polymers; Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN,
October 2007.
S. J. Schmidtke; Sunscreen: It's All About Chemistry;
Science Round Table, The College of Wooster, September
2007.
P. A. Bonvallet; A "Light" Lunch: Design and Applications of Properties of Benzophenone Derivatives; Inter-American
Luminescent Polymers; Faculty Research Luncheon, The
Photochemistry Society Winter Conference, St. Petersburg,
College of Wooster, April 2008.
FL, January 2008.
P. A. Bonvallet, E. Fortin*, and R. Giles*; Synthesis and
Supramolecular Activity of a Monomer Containing a Crown
Ether Unit; 235th Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
New Orleans, LA, April 2008.
Properties of Benzophenone Derivatives; Department of
Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, February
2008.
P. L. Edmiston; Red-Shirt Freshmen to Senior AllAmericans: How Undergraduate Research is Like Coaching;
Pittsburgh Conference & Exposition on Analytical Chemistry
and Applied Spectroscopy, New Orleans, LA, February
2008.
Properties of Benzophenone Derivatives; Department of
Chemistry, University of Akron, Akron, OH, February 2008.
S. J. Schmidtke; Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation
of the Photophysical Properties of Benzophenone
Derivatives; 235th American Chemical Society National
Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 2008.
P. L. Edmiston; Selective Detection of Gas Phase TNT at
the Parts-Per-Trillion Level Using Optical Waveguide
Interferometry; poster presentation, Pittsburgh Conference &
Exposition on Analytical Chemistry and Applied
S. J. Schmidtke; Impact of Solvent-Solute Interactions upon
Spectroscopy, New Orleans, LA, February 2008.
the Photophysical Properties of Sunscreen Active
Ingredients; 40th Central Regional Meeting of the American
S. K. Haserodt*, V. B. Pett, N. E. Zachara; Dynamic
Chemical Society, Columbus, OH, June 2008.
Intracellular Glycosylation: O-GlcNAc is a Key Modulator of
Glutamine-Mediated Cellular Protection and Heat Shock
M. M. Schultz; Trace Analysis of Antidepressant
Protein 72 Induction, FASEBJ. 2008, 22, 648.3.
Pharmaceuticals and Selected Degradates in Environmental
Matrices by LC/ESI/MS/MS; 55th American Society of Mass
H. S. Tims, V. B. Pett, T. C. Chidawanyika*, R. A.
Spectrometry Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, June 2007.
Bouchard; Behavior of a Class II Small Heat Shock
* Wooster undergraduate.
Oligomeric Complex from Maize, 40th Central Regional
Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Columbus, OH,
Hannah S. Tims and Jeffrey K. Myers also gave
June 2008.
Departmental Seminars (see page 24).
17
Invited Lectures and Papers/Posters Presented
at Professional Meetings
M. M. Schultz; Transport and Fate of Antidepressant
Pharmaceuticals in Municipal Wastewater and Receiving
Waters including the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Science forum, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products: State of the Science, Portland, ME, August 2007.
M. M. Schultz, S. E. Schostarez*, S. P. Gollwitzer*, D. R.
Klein*, C. N. Koechli*, K. L. Long*; Plant Uptake of
Antimicrobials Triclosan and Triclocarban by Food Crops;
28th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
North American Meeting, Milwaukkee, WI, November 2007.
M. M. Schultz, E. T. Furlong, D. W. Kolpin, H. L.
Schoenfuss, L. B. Barber; Occurrence of Antidepressant
Pharmaceuticals in Two U.S. Streams and in Fish Brain
Tissue Exposed to Wastewater Effluent; 28th Society of
What do Biochemistry and
Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology (BCMB) Majors
do after Wooster?
Year
Biochemistry
Majors
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
8
12
8
9
12
10
10
2
TOTALS
71
BCMB
Majors
16
12
15
15
11
69
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North American
Meeting, Milwaukkee, WI, November 2007.
M. J. Snider; Thermodynamics of enzyme action;
Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Wells
College, Aurora, NY; February 2008.
M. J. Snider; Thermodynamics and cooperativity of
transition state binding by creatine kinase; Department of
Chemistry; Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; March 2008.
M. J. Snider, Negative cooperativity in transition state
binding enhances rate of product release in phosphagen
kinases; 40th Central Regional Meeting of the American
Chemical Society – Symposium in Honor of Professor MingDaw Tsai; Columbus, OH; June 2008.
graduate schools.
They entered:
professional schools.
They entered:
Brandeis University
George Washington University
Johns Hopkins School of Public
Health
Stanford University
Texas A&M University
University of Akron
University of Arizona
University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill
University of Pittsburgh
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yale University
Medical School
Medical College of Ohio at Toledo
Northeastern Ohio Universities
Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy
Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
Ohio University College of
Osteopathic Medicine
Pennsylvania State University
Rush Medical College
University of Iowa
Ohio University College of
Osteopathic Medicine
Career Choices of Biochemistry
and BCMB Major Graduates
from the Past Twelve Years
Dental School
University of Iowa
Veterinary Medicine
35 graduates (25%) entered the
workforce in positions related
to their major.
They are employed at:
ArQuel, Inc.
Astra Pharmaceuticals
Bath and Body Works
Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Chiron, Inc.
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Kimball Genetics
Merck & Co., Inc.
Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland,
OH
Myogen Inc.
National Institutes of Health
The Ohio State University, OARDC
Promerus
Roche Pharmaceuticals
Smuckers
University of Chicago
University of Maryland
University of Rochester
Wake Forest University
Weill Medical College
WIL Research, Inc.
M.D./Ph.D. Program
University of Pittsburgh
Nursing
In the spring of 1994 a formal Biochemistry major was approved. The Class of 1997 was the first class to graduate with this major. The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB)
major was introduced in 2001-02 when members of the Chemistry Department, in collaboration with members of the Biology Department, revised what was formally known as the
Biochemistry major. The first class of 16 BCMB majors graduated in 2004.
18
Discoveries by Paul Edmiston Could Have Major Global Implications
Edmiston Develops
Substance to Clean Up
Toxic Liquid Spills
December 14, 2007
Explosive Sensor
Could Have Major
Impact on America's
War on Terror
September 25, 2007
WOOSTER, Ohio — A new
explosive sensor could have a
major impact on America's War on
Terror. Paul Edmiston, associate
professor of chemistry at The
College of Wooster, has developed
a sensor that can detect miniscule
traces of TNT and other explosives. The significance of the
sensor is that it can identify these
explosive materials with perfect
selectivity, meaning that its reliability is virtually flawless, even in
environments where other chemicals are present.
Edmiston, who has been
working on the project for almost
four years, is now collaborating
with several chemists and one
engineer at Georgia Tech to
harness the technology and
develop a unit that could be used
in airports, subways, sports arenas,
convention centers, and other
public venues. An $800,000 grant
from the National Science Foundation made the collaboration
possible and enabled Edmiston to
expand the project.
"The group from Georgia
Tech had a similar approach to
measuring non-explosive materials," says Edmiston. "When we
combined our sensor with their
device, our results were 100 times
better, so we decided to form a
partnership."
The objective is to redesign
the sensor platform so that it can
be used to detect other substances,
such as liquid-based explosives.
The engineer in the group specializes in acoustics, and his role has
been to agitate the molecules in,
for example, a suspicious backpack so that the substances can be
identified without being detonated.
The appeal of Edmiston's
sensor is its reliability as well as
its sensitivity. Current screening
devices in airports, for instance,
are not nearly as precise as the unit
Edmiston has developed. "We
have a very sensitive platform that
uses a light source to produce
wave guides," he says. "It is
sophisticated but surprisingly
inexpensive to construct."
Now that the technology
is in place, Edmiston envisions
future applications, including
the precarious detection of
landmines. "We are building
'noses' for other types of explosives," he says.
When complete, the sensor
will likely resemble a household smoke detector with an
even greater potential to save
thousands upon thousands of
lives.
WOOSTER, Ohio — A collision
between a supertanker and a barge
off the coast of South Korea sent
65,000 barrels of thick, pungent
crude oil gushing into the ocean
last week in that country's largestever environmental calamity.
Nearly 2,200 troops, police, and
volunteers converged on the area
to assist with the clean-up, which
is expected to cost millions, but
one day soon such disasters could
be much easier to control and
clean up, thanks to a discovery by
Paul Edmiston, associate professor
of chemistry at The College of
Wooster.
Edmiston, who is also in the
process of refining an explosive
sensor he created that will aid in
the war on terror, is currently
testing a new substance that could
restore the environment after catastrophic spills like the one in
South Korea.
The substance, an absorbent
material that is capable of neutralizing the effects of toxic liquid
spills, whether in bodies of water
or on dry land, resembles shavings
of ground glass that swells to more
than five times its size as it surrounds and "swallows up" various
liquids. What makes the substance
especially attractive is its resistance to water. Because it will not
dissolve or swell in water, the substance is able to immobilize the
contaminant and separate it from
the water, which makes for easy
extraction of what becomes a
semi-solid material. Once the
material is removed, the water left
behind is fresh and clean. And if
that's not enough, the substance
can even release the eradicated
liquid and return to its original
form so that it can be used again
for another clean-up effort — a
feature that further benefits the
environment.
The applications for Edmiston's swellable glass are numerous.
Not only will it work against the
type of spill in South Korea, but it
will also work on dry land when,
for example, a tanker breaks apart
and floods a railway or roadway
with toxic liquid. Once again, the
substance can be used to prevent it
from dispersing any further and
then remove it so that it does not
seep into the earth's surface. The
material is so absorbent it can even
be used to remove noxious vapors
from the air.
Edmiston's substance is so
remarkable, in fact, it is almost too
good to be true, but the ultimate
irony is that it was discovered
quite by accident. One of Edmiston's former students, Colleen
Burkett, was experimenting with
different materials to absorb TNT
while working with his explosive
sensor when she discovered the
absorption properties of the new
substance.
Like all good scientists,
Edmiston said, "What if we try
this?" The answer may be one of
the most significant environmental
remediation technologies to date.
In January 2008 Paul was invited to Washington, DC to
meet with the Deputy Head of the Department of
Homeland Security and members of the Armed Forces.
Paul Edmiston's sensor device can detect trace amounts of TNT.
19
235th American Chemical Society National Meeting
New Orleans, LA
April 6-10, 2008
The 235th American Chemical Society National Meeting and
Exposition was one of the year’s largest and most important scientific
events — the annual spring meeting of the American Chemical Society
(ACS). With more than 160,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest
scientific society.
The meeting was held in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center. More than 12,000 scientists attended, presenting
more than 9,000 reports on new discoveries in chemistry. Those reports
span science’s horizons from astronomy to zoology and include special focus on health, energy, food, and alternative fuels.
For the first time, the meeting included sessions cosponsored with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
Bruce Bursten, Ph.D., the 2008 ACS President, selected “Energy and the Environment” as his theme and hosted a keynote
symposium, featuring a panel of top scientists in this area. ✦
Posters Presented by Students
Tamu Chidawanyika ('08), Virginia Pett, and Hannah Tims
Investigation of the biologically active forms of ZmHsp17.0-CII
Christopher Nau ('09), Virginia Pett, and Hannah Tims
Expression and purification of class two small heat shock proteins from
maize
Erin Fortin ('08) and Paul Bonvallet
Synthesis and functionalization of a dibenzo-30-crown-10 derivative for
incorporation into a light-emitting polymer
Joel Keelor ('08) and Paul Bonvallet
Progress in the fabrication of stable and efficient polymer light-emitting
diodes
Andrew Marley ('10) and Paul Bonvallet
Spectroscopic characterization of light-emitting organic polymers
Rachel Lipner ('09) and Sarah Schmidtke
Investigations of the photophysical properties of sunscreen active
ingredients
Andrew Rudawsky ('09) and Sarah Schmidtke
Investigating the photophysical properties of sunscreen active
ingredients
20
Posters Presented by Faculty
Paul A. Bonvallet
Synthesis and supramolecular activity of a
monomer containing a crown ether unit
Sarah Schmidtke gave a talk titled
Experimental and theoretical evaluation of the
photophysical properties of benzophenone
derivatives.
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference
San Diego, CA
April 5-10, 2008
Dean Fraga, associate professor of biology, and Paul Edmiston, associate professor of chemistry, joined nine
science majors from The College of Wooster in sharing their research with thousands of fellow faculty members and
students from across the country when they travel to San Diego for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference in April 2008.
Presenting at a national conference such as ASBMB not only gives the students a chance to practice their skills at
communicating their scientific findings, but it also gives them the opportunity to see the broader world of
biochemistry/molecular biology by attending talks given by some of the thousands of other scientists attending the
conference, who, like them, are on the forefront of their disciplines.
Nicholas Amato, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Norwalk, OH, discussed his work on
the synthesis and purification methods used in obtaining a 94% pure proposed analog of phosphatidylserine,
which is known to participate in the mechanism leading to unwanted cell death. His research will allow for further
experiments to be pursued, potentially opening new doors in understanding and preventing unwanted cell death,
as seen in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.
Valerie Andrus, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Richmond Heights, OH, shared her
work in localizing one isoform of the C. elegans' arginine kinase. This is the first study to specifically examine the
tissue distribution of this family in an invertebrate, and her results suggest the tissue specialization evolved early
in this family of proteins.
Jocelyn Barker, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology, and mathematics double major from San Jose,
CA, talked about methods she has developed for examining the details of evolution between closely related
organisms using data from sequencing the organisms' genomes.
Emily Barth, a sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major from Houston, TX, shared her efforts to
change the substrate specificity of an enzyme important in energy homeostasis.
Ray Gaines, a senior self-designed neuroscience major from Burghill, OH, presented his study of the function of
the Calcineurin family of proteins in the single-celled organism Paramecium tetraurelia.
Jim Graham, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Olmsted Township, OH, explained his
investigation of an uncharacterized domain of a structurally unique protein tyrosine kinase found in bacteria in
order to determine its possible role in the function of the protein. His results indicate that the domain is essential
for activity.
Marissa McGinley, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Maumee, OH, discussed her study
of a group of proteins that are needed for organisms to store and release energy. Specifically, she looked at the
evolution of their structure.
Allyson Palmer, a sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major from Burghill, OH, related her
experience in conducting structure/function studies of an enzyme involved in regulation of energy levels in the
body, and exploring a newly discovered way in which it is regulated.
Warren Swegal, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Sewickley, PA, described a new
method to do directed molecular evolution. Specifically, he has developed a means to use selective pressure in
a bacterial host system to "evolve" a protein into performing new functions. His project has implications for
protein engineering.
21
Grants, Awards, and Gifts for 2007-08
New Grants, Awards, and Gifts
Continuing Grants, Awards, and Gifts
Paul Bonvallet and Judy Amburgey-Peters received $4,300 from ✴ The Synthesis, Characterization, and
HHMI Curriculum, Equipment, and Laboratory Development to
Supramolecular Properties of a Light-Emitting
support course-embedded research in organic chemistry; 2007-08.
Polymer; Research Corporation, Cottrell
College Science Award; $36,232; May 2006 Virginia Pett wrote a letter of support for Gregory M. Ferrence
April 2008; Paul A. Bonvallet.
(Illinois State University) for his proposed NSF Discovery Corps
Fellowship project, Cambridge Structural Database Access to ✴ Acquisition of an Isothermal Titration
Enhance PUI Chemistry Programs. This proposal was funded. As part
Calorimeter; National Science Foundation
of this grant, the College receives a two-year site license for the
Major Research Instrumentation; $91,090;
Cambridge Structural Database and a faculty-training workshop.
August 2006 - July 2009; Paul A. Bonvallet,
PI; Mark Snider and Donald Jacobs, co-PIs.
MRI: Acquisition of an LC/MS/MS to Enhance Undergraduate
Research and Teaching; National Science Foundation Major
Research Instrumentation; $226,115; Melissa Schultz, PI; Paul ✴ Optical Sensors for the Detection of Vapor
Edmiston, Mark Snider, co-PIs; Paul Bonvallet and Catherine
Phase Explosives Using Molecularly Imprinted
Fenster, Senior Personnel.
Sol-Gel Materials: Integration of Research and
Learning Using Forensic Science; National
Science Foundation CAREER Award;
❧
$400,000; 2003-2008; Paul Edmiston.
During the 2007-08 academic year, The College of Wooster
William H. Wilson Fund supported the research efforts of Paul ✴ Active Sampling and Reactive Chemistry for
Enhanced Detection of Explosives; National
Bonvallet, Virginia Pett, Sarah Schmidtke, and Melissa Schultz.
Science Foundation; awarded to Georgia Tech
Applied Research Corporation; $800,000;
November 2007 - October 2010; David S.
Gottfried, Daniel P. Campbell, Jayme Caspall,
and Paul L. Edmiston.
Chemistry is Fun
featuring Mary Kate Lockhart.
Photo by Laszlo Marcze ('11)
22
The College Receives $1M Grant from
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
April 22, 2008
The College of Wooster has received a $1 million, four-year grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to
support undergraduate science education. The grant will fund initiatives in four main areas: interdisciplinary research
opportunities for undergraduate students, faculty and curriculum development, and pre-college outreach. The Wooster
grant was one of 48, totaling $60 million, announced today by HHMI, and the only one awarded to an Ohio school.
The grant will build on the success of the college’s HHMI Summer Scholars program, which, over the past three
summers, has allowed more than 60 Wooster students to work on research projects with faculty members from the college
as well as from the Cleveland Clinic and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. The new grant will
support 15 more students each summer. They will work in teams of two or more faculty and one to four students to
explore a research problem, with priority given to “high risk/high reward” interdisciplinary projects.
The grant will also allow the college to offer two-year appointments to four recent Ph.D.s who are considering
careers at undergraduate institutions. The individuals in these post-doctoral positions will teach one course per semester,
conduct research, and learn to mentor students in their own research endeavors. The experience they gain will enrich their
teaching and advising of undergraduate science students whether they remain at Wooster or move on to tenure-track
positions at other colleges.
Because the complex nature of many biomedical research problems requires investigators in a variety of scientific
disciplines to work together, and because they must share a common understanding of one another’s disciplines to do so
effectively, the grant also will support the development of interdisciplinary courses and course modules that will infuse
biology courses with physical science and quantitative methods, and physical science courses with biological concepts.
The fourth grant-supported initiative will leverage Wooster’s strength in undergraduate research to help attract
and retain underrepresented students who have expressed an interest in the sciences. The college will provide 10 Summer
Early Engaged Research (SEER) fellowships to graduating high school seniors who have been accepted at Wooster and
have expressed interest in a scientific field. Each SEER fellow will spend four weeks on campus working with a facultystudent research team in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, psychology, or mathematics and computer science. Each
fellow will be matched with an upper-class student mentor who will assist in integrating the new student into the team.
“We are thrilled to be one of the 48 colleges and universities chosen by the Institute to receive this generous
support,” said Grant H. Cornwell, Wooster’s president. “For 60 years, undergraduate research has been the centerpiece of
the Wooster curriculum, and we have developed an extensive infrastructure of coursework, faculty expertise, financial
support and institutional culture to nurture it. The Institute’s support allows us to utilize that infrastructure to build bridges
between scientific disciplines and further enhance undergraduate science education.”
HHMI is the nation’s largest private supporter of science education. It has invested more than $1.2 billion in
grants to reinvigorate life science education at both research universities and liberal arts colleges and to engage the
nation’s leading scientists in teaching.
Founded in 1953 by Howard R. Hughes, the aviator and industralist, HHMI is headquartered in Chevy Chase,
Maryland.
23
Chemistry Club
The officers for Chemistry Club were: Erin Fortin ('08), President; Allyson
Buytendyk ('09), Vice President; Roland Falcon ('09), Secretary; Kristen Stoltz
('09), Treasurer; Paul Bonvallet, Faculty Advisor.
Gretchen Lockhart ('10) oversaw the outreach portion of the Club. Members
went to Melrose Elementary School where they make liquid nitrogen ice cream for
two 6th grade classes.
The American Chemical Society celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the
National Chemistry Week program during the week of October 21, 2007. The
theme was The Many Faces of Chemistry. To celebrate, Chemistry Club held a
Photo Contest to show the many faces in Chemistry at The College of Wooster.
First Place went to Allyson Buytendyk (on front cover), Second Place went to Karin
Johnson (at right), while Third Place went to Laszlo Marcze (on page 22).
Who Doesn't Like Dry Ice?
featuring Charles Ebner.
Photo by Karin Johnson ('08)
Chemistry Club took a field trip to Cleveland to the Fabulous Food Show to see
a popular TV chef, Alton Brown. Mr. Brown is known for incorporating the chemistry behind what he is cooking. In his
presentation on making taffy, he talked about sucrose and compared in structurally to other types of sweeteners.
Howard Senkfor ('85) gave a Chemistry Club Seminar in November. Howard is working at PPG Industries. He
discussed career options after college with a B.A. in Chemistry as well as research and job opportunities at PPG.
Dr. Jovica Badjic from the Department of Chemistry at The Ohio State University also visited the department in
November to talk with students about graduate school. ✦
Department Seminars
The Department of Chemistry invited the following people to give Departmental Seminars:
Bruce Armitage
Jeffrey Myers
Carnegie Mellon University
Julianna Wilson Thompson Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
The College of Wooster
DNA Nanotechnology: Beyond the Genetic Material
Membrane Protein Misfolding and Human Disease: Adventures in
Hydrophobic Muckraking
Susan Glassmeyer
U.S. EPA
Cincinnati, Ohio
Emerging Contaminants in the Drinking Water Cycle
Theodore Goodson
Professor of Chemistry
University of Michigan
Scalable Enhanced Nonlinear Optical and Emission Properties in
Organic and Metal Assemblies
Anna Gudmundsdottier
Photochemistry of Azides
Mass Spectrometry for Protein:RNA Complexes
24
Hannah Tims
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Postdoctoral Researcher
Spontaneous and Catalyzed Nucleosome Assessibility
Chrys Wesdemiotis
Professor of Chemistry
University of Akron
Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Characterization of New
Synthetic Polymers and Materials
David Williams
Harry G. Day Chair and Professor of Chemistry
Indiana University
The Design and Synthesis of Marine Antitumor Natural Products
Helen Murray Free Endowment Lecture
Richard N. Zare
Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science
Department of Chemistry
Stanford University
TECHNICAL LECTURE
Strategies for Problem Solving
PUBLIC LECTURE
Cars: Chemistry in Motion
Dr. Richard N. Zare, the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science at Stanford University, presented the
second annual Helen Murray Free Lectures at The College of Wooster on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.
Dr. Zare, who also has an appointment in Stanford’s Department of Chemistry and a courtesy appointment in the
Department of Physics, is renowned in the area of lasers applied to chemical reactions and to chemical analysis. He
graduated from Harvard University with a degree in chemistry and physics, and a Ph.D. in chemical physics. He became an
assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he spent one year before moving on to the
University of Colorado at Boulder. Three years later, he was appointed full professor in the Department of Chemistry at
Columbia University. In 1977 he moved to Stanford University, where he is presently Chair of the Chemistry Department.
Dr. Zare is the recipient of many awards, including the National Medal of Science (1983), the Welch Award in Chemistry
(1999), and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2005). ✦
The Helen Murray Free Endowment was established by the children of Helen Murray Free ('45) through
the Al and Helen Free Foundation. Income from the Fund brings to the campus each year a renowned
woman or man, who is a practitioner in the chemical sciences (materials science, nanotechnology, and
molecular biology). This scientist interacts with chemistry students at a technical level and present an allcollege lecture on the contributions of science to the quality of life. ✦
Chemistry Club Photo
Contest Entry:
Roland Falcon in the lab.
Photo taken by
Joel Keelor ('08)
25
Class of 1998
We have received letters from the following members of the Class of 1998.
In the summer following graduation, David Barnett (Chemistry) and Anna (Class of 1998, English) married. They moved
to Chapel Hill, NC where David began graduate school at the University of North Carolina in physical chemistry. His
research involved using femtosecond lasers to study electronic dynamics of a variety of molecular systems and composite
materials. Anna utilized her degree in English with a number of pursuits, including attending the Denver Publishing Institute,
working for the North Carolina branch of Oxford University Press, and acting as the
assistant to an artist and children's book author. Early March 2005, David completed his
Ph.D. on the transient absorption spectroscopy of polymeric films imbedded with carbon
nanotubes. During that same month, Gillian was born (March 27, 2005).
The next stop on David's career path was a post-doctoral
research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. While he worked at
the national lab, he came to realize that what he really wanted to
do was to return to academia in a small college setting. He was
offered a tenure-track professor position in the Chemistry Department at the University of
Indianapolis, which he began this fall (2008). The department is small (five faculty) and is strictly
undergraduate. David is teaching general and physical chemistry and is enjoying the chance to get
out of the lab and back into the classroom. Anna, Gillian and David are settling into their new home
on the south side of Indianapolis and are looking forward to February, when their second child is
due. (Photos: David, second from left, receiving his Ph.D.; David and Gillian at the grand opening of
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.)
Benjamin Bayer (Chemistry) is currently employed at Qimonda Ag, in Richmond, VA. He is a process
engineer in CMP (chemical mechanical planarization), a process used in their 110-80nm technology DRAM.
Qimonda chips are in PCs, MP3 players, graphics cards, and TV sets, among other things. Ben occasionally
puts his chemistry training to use when he is investigating new materials for the processes he owns.
Ben married Ellen Weston (Class of 1993). They live in the Church Hill part of Richmond, a colorful,
historically-rich area near downtown.
After graduating from Wooster, Julie Morrison (Chemistry) moved to Syracuse, NY, to attend the State University of
New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry to obtain a graduate degree in Biochemistry/Environmental
Chemistry. After one successful semester of taking classes and doing research on
Brown Tide, she realized that she really didn’t like doing research science. Julie
moved back home to Grand Rapids, MI, where she worked as a Circulation Assistant
in a local public library.
In June 2000, she married Dave Walkenhorst (Class of 1999, Physics) and
moved to Alexandria, VA, where he had been living and working at the US Patent &
Trademark Office. Julie continued to work as a Circulation Assistant in a local public
library while attending George Mason University’s Graduate School of Education in
order to obtain a teaching license. She began teaching high school chemistry in the
fall of 2002 at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Fairfax County, VA.
In 2005 Dave made a career change to become a cargo pilot for AirNet (based in Columbus, OH) and Julie left her
teaching position so that we could move to Grove City, OH. On March 21, 2006, they became proud parents of a son, John
(Jack) Walter. Julie has since been keeping busy as a stay-at-home mom. Dave is now a charter pilot flying Learjets for
JetRide. The Walkenhorsts plan to move back to western Michigan to be near Julie's parents.
26
Class of 1998
Susan Norfolk (Biochemistry) moved to North Carolina in the fall of 1998 to pursue her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Under the direction of Dr. Susan Lord, Susan researched protein interactions
involved in blood coagulation. After receiving her degree five years later, Susan realized that bench work was not in her
future. Instead, Susan turned to writing and joined the staff of Clinical Tools, a small research firm in Chapel Hill- as a
Research Scientist. In the past five years, Susan has written numerous NIH small business grants, served on NIH scientific
review panels, and led research projects developing on-line educational opportunities for physicians and medical students
on topics related to substance abuse.
While at UNC, Susan met Gary Wilhelm, a Web-developer employed at UNC. Susan and Gary were married on May 4,
2002 in North Carolina. Her family has since grown with the additions of Natalie (born December 5, 2004) and Daniel (born
October 16, 2007). The Wilhelms now reside in Morrisville, North Carolina.
After graduation, Wendy Vaerewyck (Biochemistry) worked at the College for two years preparing to go to graduate
school. She entered a Physician Assistant (PA) program at Philadelphia University in July 2000 and graduated in August
2002 with a Master's of Physician Assistant Studies. She took off for Europe in September 2002, to travel with an old pen
pal/friend, Peter, from Germany. They ended up getting married in May 2005.
Peter and Wendy lived around the Milwaukee area from 2003 until July 2007 when they moved to Solingen, Germany,
Peter's hometown. Wendy left an excellent PA position at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert Hospital treating
patients with gastrointestinal disorders. She worked with two internationally recognized physicians and had the opportunity
to learn about really interesting, although devastating, diseases like ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Scleroderma, achalasia,
and systemic lupus.
Germany does not recognize the Physician Assistant designation so Wendy teaches English to adults. She teaches
only corporate classes and works for a company that is privately owned by a British man who also runs a translation
service. Peter and Wendy have a 6 month old black Labrador named Lexi, and spend a lot of time entertaining visitors,
mostly from the US.
Following graduation, Bilal Zuberi (Chemistry) joined the Chemistry Department at MIT as a graduate student. In 2003
he completed his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, working under Professor Mario J. Molina (Nobel Laureate, 1995). Bilal's
research focused on phase transitions and formation of atmospheric nanoparticles. After his Ph.D. he joined strategy
management consulting at The Boston Consulting Group, but left soon after to start a materials science venture-backed
technology startup in the cleantech space as a co-founder. They raised $23 million, hired 25 Ph.D. scientists and engineers,
and are getting ready to be acquired by a large chemicals/materials firm. Aside from that, Bilal has been active in the
investment space, advising early stage cleantech companies and venture capitalists. He got married to another MIT alum,
Lama Rimawi, in 2006 and they are expecting their first child later this year (2008). They live in Boston.
Class of 1998
From the Thirty-Sixth Annual Report
Top Row:
Second Row:
Third Row:
Michael Rohan, Allyson Kozak, Douglass Sillars,
Stacy Kincaid, Tasneem Islam
Meghan Flaherty, Jamie DiFabrizio, Rachel Silvestri,
Terah Robbin, Jennifer Liebfried, David Barnett,
Heather McConeghy
Nichole Moore, Elizabeth Kersteen, Julie Morrison,
Heather Rowell, Jamie Collins, Matthew Clapham,
Colleen Ryan, Michael Dean, Bryan Roland
Bottom Row:
Welsey Forbes, Benjamin Bayer, Wendy Vaerewyck,
Bial Zuberi, Sharon Austin, Susan Norfolk,
Melissa Cerny, Valerie Taylor
Not Pictured:
Shannon Baker, Sarah George, Booker Lucas
27
Department of Chemistry Summer 2008 Research Program
Five Students were in
Severance Hall During the
Summer of 2008
Roger Klein ('11)
Advisor: Virginia B. Pett
Funded by HHMI
Project: Chaperone Activity of Class II Small Heat Shock Proteins
I feel as though the summer research program has enabled me to get a better grasp on
the reality and nature of a full-time research position. By promoting independent
thinking and problem solving, the HHMI mentor-mentee relationship provided a lowpressure environment in which I could both produce significant results learn important
techniques that will almost certainly help my class work in the future. Between the
practical lab skills I acquired, the sense of community between myself and my fellow
researchers, and the additional information with which I can plan my future, I've very
happy to be taking part in summer research. ✦
Christopher Nau ('09)
Advisor: Virginia B. Pett
Funded by HHMI
Project: Purification Strategies and Chemical Cross-Linking of Three Small Heat
Shock Portien Isoforms
This summer's research had different challenges than previous' summer's work.
Working as a research mentor provided the unique experience of not only being in
charge of myself but planning for and working with Roger on experimental
techniques, lab confidence and background information. Coupled with the higher
expectations of being a second year researcher, this summer's research pushed me
to make personal judgment calls regarding how to approach obstacles that arose.
This forced me to fully understand our experimental procedures and techniques,
which was crucial for making these decisions. Ultimately, this summer has helped
build my confidence in my own judgment and independence which I think will serve
me well for I.S. ✦
Andrew Rudawsky ('09)
Advisor: Paul A. Bonvallet
Funded by HHMI
Project: The Synthesis of a Crown Ether-Substituted Polymer for Use in OLED
Displays
Summer research gave me an opportunity to intently focus on an area of research
that I find very interesting. The time available to me over the summer allowed me to
accomplish a lot, and gave me a chance to get to know the faculty and other
students better than I would during the school year. ✦
28
Department of Chemistry Summer 2008 Research Program
Katherine Stencel ('11)
Advisor: Hannah S. Tims
Funded by HHMI
Project: Expression and Purification of Archrea Histones
My experience with the HHMI program has significantly increased my lab confidence
and skills. Working with a professor in the lab has given me an irreplaceable
experience as I begin to explore possible career paths. ✦
Nordia Thompson ('11)
Advisor: Paul L. Bonvallet
Funded by HHMI
Project: The Synthesis of a Dimethyl Sustituted Crown Ether
During my summer research experience, I have learned a great number of
laboratory techniques which will be extremely useful in the future. This experience
has also given me the opportunity to improve my presentation skills and it has also
helped me to build my confidence. ✦
Other Summer 2008 Research Activities
Elise Myers ('09) was chosen by the Office of International Activities at the
American Chemical Society to be an ACS-RISE scholar. This honor (only 15
students from 300 applicants were selected) has enabled Elise to engage in clinical
immunology research in the group of Prof. Brigitte Muller-Hilke at
Forschungsförderung der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Rostock. This
research opportunity in Germany will certainly enhance Elise’s global perspective of
science and medicine, enable her to experience research at a premiere institute as
well as experience and learn to work in a new culture. This experience ends with her
presenting the results of her work at the National American Chemical Society
Meeting, held in Philadelphia this August. In the photo at the left, Elise is in Denmark
near Aarhus, the second largest Viking burial site. ✦
During the summer of 2008, Elana Stennett ('10) was an ACS/RISE scholar through the
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). She lived and worked with a Ph.D. student in
Chemnitz, Germany. Elana picked the project she wanted to work with and then went to where
the project was offered. Elana's Ph.D. student was an electrochemist who was just starting her
degree. Elana assisted with a project to discover some fundamental properties of seven nitrogen
containing ligands that are commonly used in complex molecules. At the right is a photo of Elana
in Dresden, a city near where she was living. ✦
29
Other Summer 2008 Research Activities
Valerie Andrus ('09)
Endocrinology Department
Cleveland Clinic Wooster
Advisor: David Shewmon, M.D.
Funded by HHMI
Project: An Investigation Into the Use of Oral Creatine
Supplementation as a Means of Treatment for the
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Jessi Baughman ('09)
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Advisor: Paul L. Edmiston *
Project: Detection of Gas Phase Explosives Using
Waveguide Interferometry
Marc Christian ('10)
Department of Biology
Funded by HHMI
Advisor: William Morgan
Project: Investigating Toxicity of RXLR Proteins in Yeast
Marcus Liotta ('09)
Ingredient Innovations International, Wooster, OH
Advisor: Scott Peters
Project: Quantifying Individual Phospholipids From a Soy
Bean Source by the Use of 31-P NMR
Seth Maurer ('10)
Department of Plant Pathology
OARDC
Advisor: Brian McSpadden
Project: Investigations of Bacterial Volatiles and Their
Effects on Pathogens and Plants
Theodore Moore ('09)
Department of Bacteriology
University of Wisconsin - Madison
NSF-REU Program
Advisor: Diana Downs
Project: Structure-Function Analysis of YjgF in Salmonela
enterica
Allyson Palmer ('10)
The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, Bar Harbor, ME
Advisor: Kenneth Paigen
Project: Genetic Control of Recombination Hotspot Activity
Lorna Johnston ('09)
Department of Entomology
OARDC
Advisor: Xiaodong Bia
Project: Improving the Entomopathogenic Nematode
Ryan Story ('10)
Heterorhabtitis Bacteriophora as a Biopesticide Using 2DMolecular Virology and Microbiology
Gel Analysis, RNA Interference, and mRNA Tag Sequencing University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Advisor: Joseph Glorioso
Virginia Kincaid ('10)
Project: Engineering HSV-Based Vectors to Express the
Cardiac Marker Transcription Factors NKX2-5 and GATA4
University of Utah
Advisor: Janis Louie
Project: Reactivity of the CO2 Moiety in Imidazolium
Carboxylate Complexes
Benjamin Leiden ('10)
Department of Health Sciences and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor: Elazer Edelman
Project: Cross Talk Between Vascular Endothelial Cells and
Cancer Cells
* On Research Leave from The College of Wooster
30
Herrick L. Johnston Scholarship
The Herrick L. Johnston Scholarship honors the memory of Herrick L. Johnston, Class of 1922, Sc.D. 1943, and was
established by Margaret Vanderbilt Johnston Dittmers in 1982. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming First-Year
student on the basis of merit and a strong interest in chemistry. A major in chemistry should be the perceived goal of the
recipient. The 2008-09 Johnston Scholarship recipients are Katelyn Brenner from Park City, UT and Kelsie Herring from
Farmington, PA. ✦
Recognition of 1st, 2nd and 3rd-Year Students
in Chemistry During 2007-08
Bryan Albani ('10)
Ryan Burzese ('11)
Shannon Conley ('10)
Joseph Jensen ('11)
Lorna Johnston ('09)
Virginia Kincaid ('10)
Zachery Matesich ('11)
Elise Meyers ('09)
Christopher Nau ('09)
Brad Palanski ('11)
Elana Stennett ('10)
Ryan Story ('10)
Nordia Thomson ('11)
Ingrid Thvedr ('11)
Lewis LaShell Memorial Scholarship
Wooster Section of the American Chemical Society First-Year Chemistry Award
Lewis LaShell Memorial Scholarship
Robert E. Wilson Award
American Chemical Society Polymer Education Committee Award
Cary R. Wagner Prize in Chemistry
American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry
Wooster Section of the American Chemical Society First-Year Chemistry Award
John W. Chittum Scholarship
John W. Chittum Prize in Chemistry
CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award
CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award
What can I do with a Chemistry Degree from Wooster?
CHEMISTRY CAREER RESOURCES
Wooster career website
http://www.wooster.edu/career/
Some Wooster chemistry alumni
http://academics.wooster.edu/programs/chemistry/alumni.php
American Chemical Society Careers Webpage
http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/careers/index.htm
What do chemists do?
http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/careers/
whatchemistsdo/index.htm
What are some careers in chemistry?
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blcareers.htm
Chemistry career advice
http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/careers/
advice/index.htm
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I’m interested in medical school, so my major needs to be “bio-something”, right?
In years past, almost all premeds majored in chemistry. Today, more flexibility exists but the
advantages of a chemistry degree remain—a quantitative, rigorous view of the world through
the understating of the behavior of atoms and molecules. A chemistry degree is the perfect
setup to shine in medical school and beyond, and particularly valuable if interested in clinical
research.
I’m going to graduate school to do environmental research. Would I be well served
majoring in chemistry?
Wooster is planning to implement an environmental science minor. Chemistry is the perfect
major to complement your interest, because qualitative and quantitative analysis of molecules
is at the heart of much of environmental research.
I’m interested in using computers in some area of science. Is chemistry for me?
While not one of the more visible areas of chemistry, computational chemists are in huge
demand by a wide variety of academic and industrial organizations. See http://www.ccl.
net/chemistry/announcements/jobs/index.shtm.
ACS career blog
http://acscareers.wordpress.com/
31
Class of 2008
Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology Majors
Standing: Warren Swegal, James Graham, Jocelyn Barker, Nicholas Amato, Sarah Haserodt, Julie Williamson
Sitting: Marisa McGinley, Kelly Knapp, Lauren Rackoff, Danyelle Dawes
Not Pictured: Jason Bowie
Chemistry Majors
Standing: Joel Keelor, Jonathan Butensky-Bartlett, Benjamin Franks, Andrew Storey, Charles Ebner, Paul Hamilton,
David Hoops, Paul Evans, Neal Kline
Sitting: Laura Underwood, Marnie Novak, Tamutenda Chidawanyika, Erin Fortin, Kamesha Barton
32
Class of 2008
In the Spring of 2008, 12 seniors graduated with a major in Chemistry, and 11 seniors graduated with a major in
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (*).
Entering graduate school (in chemistry unless noted otherwise):
Nicholas Amato*
University of Toledo (biochemistry)
Jocelyn Barker*
Stanford University (biochemistry)
Jonathan Butensky-Bartlett
Indiana University
Erin Fortin
University of Colorado at Boulder
Neal Kline
Entering health professional school:
Jason Bowie*
Danyelle Dawes*
Kelly Knapp*
Marisa McGinley*
Marnie Novak
Warren Swegal*
Employed:
Tamutenda Chidawanyika
Charles Ebner
Paul Hamilton
Joel Keelor
Sarah Haserodt*
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
Analytical and Quality Control Lab at Promerus Electronic Materials
PPG
Georgia Institute of Technology
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
(medical research) and University Hospitals (nursing assistant)
Paul Evans and Laura Underwood are looking for
jobs in industry. At some point, Paul would like to go
to graduate school to pursue a career in research.
Benjamin Franks is looking for a position with a
pharmaceutical company.
James Graham* would like to attend medical school.
Lauren Rackoff* traveled abroad during the summer
following graduation to do humanitarian work. She
then started a year of research at the National
Institutes of Health and will apply to medical school.
Andrew Storey will either attend dental school or
seek employment in chemical industry.
Julie Williamson* is looking for a lab position.
33
Class of 2008
Recognition of Seniors in 2007-08
Honors were awarded for Independent Study to:
Jocelyn Barker*
Paul Evans
Erin Fortin
James Graham*
Sarah Haserodt*
Neal Kline
Kelly Knapp*
Marisa McGinley*
Warren Swegal*
Prizes, Awards, and Scholarships Awarded to Seniors
Jocelyn Barker*
Sisodia-Williams Prize in Biochemistry
Vivian Chan Prize in Interdisciplinary
Sciences
Tamutenda Chidawanyika Karen Diane Cross Memorial Award
Lewis L. LaShell Memorial Scholarship
Women's Advisory Board Scholarship
Danyelle Dawes*
John M. Robinson, M.D. Scholarship
Dr. John Gardner Weeks Scholarship Fund
Theodore Williams Scholarship
Paul Evans
William Byron Ross Memorial Prize in
Chemistry
Paul Hamilton
Josh Farthing Endowed Prize
Marisa McGinley*
James Kendall Cunningham Memorial
Prize
James Graham*
Merck Index Award
Sarah Haserodt*
Joseph E. Weber Premedical Award
G. Julian Lathrop Memorial Award
Francis and Elizabeth Twinem Scholarhsip
Robert E. Wilson Award
Majors elected to Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy)
Marisa McGinley*
Joel Keelor
William Z. Bennett Prize in Chemistry
Cary R. Wagner Prize in Chemistry
Majors who received ACS Certification:
Erin Fortin
Joel Keelor
Neal Kline
Marnie Knovak
Neal Kline
Wooster Section of the American Chemical
Society Senior Award
Marnie Novak
Wooster Section of the American Chemical
Society Senior Award
Lauren Rackoff*
Warren Swegal*
Julie Williamson*
American Institute of Chemists Award
Departmental Honors were awarded to:
Jocelyn Barker*
Sarah Haserodt*
Neal Kline
Kelly Knapp*
Warren Swegal*
Majors elected to Phi Beta Kappa:
Jocelyn Barker*
Sarah Haserodt*
Joel Keelor
Warren Swegal*
Majors elected to Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
Lauren Rackoff*
* Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major
34
Class of 2008
Senior Independent Study Projects
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors
Nicholas Amato
J. C. Amburgey-Peters
The Purification of Protected Cyclohexyl Phospho
Carbobenzyloxy-L-Serine Benzyl Ester and The Synthesis
and Purification of Deprotected Cyclohexyl Phospho-LSerine Which is a Potential Analog of Phosphatidylserine
Jocelyn Barker
W. R. Morgan (Biology)
Determining Gene Copy Number from Genomic Sequence
Data
Jason Bowie
David Shewmon, M.D., The Cleveland Clinic Wooster and
W. R. Morgan (Biology)
An Investigation into the Role of Creatine in Muscle Toxicity
Associated with Stain-Use
Danyelle Dawes
C. P. Fenster (Biology)
Characterizing the Role of the Inositol 1,4,5 Trisphosphate
Pathway in Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Induced Apoptosis
of Retinal Ganglion Cells
James Graham
D. Fraga (Biology)
Investigating the role of the C-terminal domain in McsB, a
structurally unique tyrosine kinase found in Bacillus subtilis
Sarah Haserodt
V. B. Pett
Regulation of the Activation of Heat Shock Factor 1:
One Mechanism of Glutamine-Mediated Protection During
Cellular Stress
Kelly Knapp
S. B. Killian, TREK Diagnostic Systems, Cleveland, OH and
C. Garzon (Biology)
The Antimicrobial Effects of the Organosulfur Compounds
Diallyl Monosulphide, Diallyl Disulphide, and Diallyl
Trisulphide Found in Allium Sativum Against Planktonic
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and
MRSA Biofilms
Marisa McGinley
D. Fraga (Biology)
Evolution of Cooperativity in the Phosphagen Kinase Family
Lauren Rackoff
P. A. Bonvallet
Synthesis of a β-Cyclodextrin-Benzylpenicillin Complex that
is Mono-Substituted with Clavulanic Acid for Use as an
Antibiotic that is Protected from Inactivation by β-Lactamase
Enzymes
Warren Swegal
P. L. Edmiston
Converting a Monomeric Arginine Kinase to a Dimer through
Directed Evolution
Julie Williamson
V. B. Pett
The Role of Class II Small Heat Shock Proteins in the
Prevention of Heat-Induced Aggregation of Citrate Synthase
Jason Bowie, Danyelle Dawes, James Graham, Neal Kline, Marisa McGinley, Lauren Rackoff, and Julie Williamson
received Copeland Funds to help support their Senior Independent Study projects
35
Class of 2008
Chemistry Majors
P. L. Gaus
The Synthesis and Characterization of 4-Nitrobenzylidene
Derivatives
Tamutenda Chidawanyika
V. B. Pett
The Investigation of the Biologically Active Form of
ZmHsp17.0C-II Using Native PAGE and Blue Native PAGE
Charles Ebner
P. L. Gaus
Ammonia Borane as a Selective Reducing Agent
Paul Evans
P. A. Bonvallet
Synthesis of a Putative Calix[4]arene Molecular Container
with an Azobenzene Tether
Erin Fortin
P. A. Bonvallet
Light at the End of the Tunnel: Synthesis of a Crown EtherSubstituted Polymer for use in an Organic Light Emitting
Diode
Benjamin Franks
The Synthesis and Purification of Siloxymethyl Glucuronide:
Progress Towards the Synthesis of C-linked Retinoyl-βGlucuronide
Paul Hamilton
The Progression of the Synthesis of 1,3-transcyclohexylphospho-L-serine as a Phospholipid Analog for
Phosphatidylserine
Joel Keelor
P. A. Bonvallet
Synthesis of an Electrophosphorescent Fluorene Copolymer
with Diphenylquinoline-Coordinated Iridium
Neal Kline
S. J. Schmidtke
A Photophysical and Photodegradation Study of Sunscreen
Active Ingredients: A Combined Computational and
Spectroscopic Study
Marnie Novak
S. J. Schmidtke
The Photophysical Properties of PABA Derivatives: A
Spectroscopic and Computational Analysis
Andrew Storey
M. M. Schultz
Plant Accumulation of Atrazine and Its Major Metabolites in
Food Crops
Laura Underwood
P. L. Edmiston
Evaluating Swellable Organically Modified Silica for
Environmental Remediation Applications
James T. McFarland
Senior Independent Study Poster Session
The James T. McFarland Senior Independent Study Poster Session honors the late James. T. McFarland, a 1964
Wooster honors graduate in chemistry who taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1970 to 1990 before
succumbing to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
All Chemistry and BCMB (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) senior majors presented posters that described their
research projects on Friday, April 25, 2008. Parents and family members, as well as the campus community, attended.
The abstract booklet from the Poster Session can be found on the department's web site. ✦
36
Class of 2008
Independent Study Exposition
A Moveable Feast of Undergraduate Research
The inaugural weekend of Wooster's 11th president, Grant H.
Cornwell, took place April 25-27, 2008. It began Friday morning
with A Moveable Feast of Undergraduate Research, a celebration
of Wooster's commitment to undergraduate research. Seniors in
six locations across campus proudly displayed their Independent
Study projects and discussed their results in what may have
been Wooster's most successful effort yet to showcase its
The Moveable Feast in Severance Hall.
nationally acclaimed I.S. program. From posters in Kauke,
Severance, Scovel, Taylor, and Morgan Halls to displays in Freedlander Theatre and exhibitions
in Ebert Art Center, more than 100 seniors participated in the three-hour event that featured
food from local eateries at each of the locations. The campus seemed to come alive as scholars
of all ages streamed in and out of the six buildings hoping to learn more about a vast array of
projects while grabbing a bite to eat along the way. ✦
Neuroscience Added as a Major
Rapidly growing field to become an official area of study in the Fall of 2008
April 30, 2008
The College of Wooster will add neuroscience as a major area of study in response to a growing interest among students in
this increasingly popular field. The new program, which brings the number of majors at Wooster to 43, will begin with the Fall 2008
semester.
"Neuroscience encompasses a variety of disciplines, including biology, psychology, chemistry, philosophy, and computer
science," said Amy Jo Stavnezer, associate professor of psychology and a chief advocate of the new major. "An increasing number of
our students have gravitated toward neuroscience as a self-designed major in recent years, so it made sense for us to officially add it."
One of the more appealing aspects of the new major from Wooster's perspective is its interdisciplinary nature, which includes
courses in the humanities and social sciences. Neuroscience also meshes with the College's commitment to developing educated
students who can provide effective leadership in an increasingly complex society. The roots of this relatively new discipline can be
traced back to 1969, when the Society for Neuroscience was established. Since that time, the organization has grown from 500
members to 39,000.
In proposing the addition of neuroscience as a major field of study, proponents cited the rapid expansion of biomedical
neuroscience research and the neuroscience community as well as the substantial federal and private funding as rationale for giving
students a chance to begin their training at the undergraduate level. According to the proposal, the new major "will provide
opportunities for students to study a burgeoning scientific field in which groundbreaking discoveries are occurring at an ever
increasing rate." Not only will students have an opportunity to apply techniques and theoretical perspectives from a range of
disciplines to the study of the nervous system, but they will also have a chance to address real-world challenges, including Alzheimer's
disease, drug abuse and spinal-cord injuries.
The core curriculum will have a uniform set of requirements, but there will also be room for flexibility in upper-level courses
to accommodate students interested in molecular and cellular neuroscience as well as those interested in the behavioral and cognitive
aspects of neuroscience.
Wooster joins an expanding list of schools in the Great Lakes Colleges Association and the Ohio Five that have added
neuroscience as a major field of study in recent years, including Denison, Kenyon, Oberlin, and Ohio Wesleyan.
37
Chemistry Club Photo Contest Entry:
Birefringence resulting from anisotropic molecular ordering in a hybrid
organic-inorganic material as observed by polarized light microscopy.
Photo by Rebecca Volzer ('10) and Paul Edmiston
W
38

2007 - 2008 - The College of Wooster

Transcription

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