2009 Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award 2009

Iota Sigma Pi
National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry
October 2009 No. 101
2009 Agnes Fay Morgan
Research Award
Helen E. Blackwell
Department of Chemistry,
University of WisconsinMadison
Helen Blackwell was born in
Cleveland, Ohio in 1972 and attended
Oberlin College for her undergraduate
studies, graduating with highest honors
in chemistry in 1994. She pursued her
graduate studies in organic chemistry at
the California Institute of Technology
as a National Science Foundation
predoctoral fellow with Professor
Robert Grubbs. Helen received her
Ph.D. in 1999 and then spent three
years as Jane Coffin Childs Memorial
Fund postdoctoral fellow in the lab of
Professor Stuart Schreiber at Harvard
University. In 2002, she returned to the
Midwest and joined the faculty of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison as an
Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Helen
was promoted to Associate Professor
with tenure in 2008.
Helen has established a research
program at the very interface of organic
chemistry and bacteriology. Her broad
goal is to understand the role chemical
October 2009
signals in host-bacterial interactions
and infectious disease. Over the past
seven years, she has developed a range
of synthetic compounds that allow her
to intercept a key cell-cell signaling
pathway in bacteria called “quorum
sensing.”
This pathway is essential in bacterial
host colonization, and her compounds
represent powerful tools both to study
quorum sensing at the fundamental
level and to develop new therapeutic
strategies to treat bacterial infection.
Her research has been enabled by the
development of several novel synthetic
and biological screening methods that
expedite the discovery of active
compounds. Helen doesn’t do this
alone! Instead, she leads a dedicated
team of ~15 undergraduates, graduate
students, and postdoctoral fellows in
the pursuit of this research program
Helen and her research team have
received numerous awards for their
interdisciplinary research. She is the
recipient of a Shaw Scientist Award of
the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
(2004), a National Science Foundation
CAREER Award (2005), a Research
Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award
(2005), a Burroughs Welcome Fund
Investigator in the Pathogenesis of
Infectious Disease Award (2006), a
Dupont Young Professor Award
(2007), a Camille-Dreyfus TeacherScholar Award (2007), and a 3M NonTenured Faculty Award (2007). She
was also selected as a MIT Technology
Review “Top 35 Innovator under the
Age of 35 in the US” (2005), an Alfred
P. Sloan Foundation Fellow (2006), and
as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant
10” (2007).
Helen’s research has been covered
recently in the popular press, including
“The New York Times,” “The
Economist,” “Scientific American,” and
“Forbes.”
When she is outside of the Chemistry
building, Helen greatly enjoys travel,
the outdoors, good food, and playing
with her 4-month old daughter. She
lives in Middleton, WI with her
husband David Lynn (Professor of
Chemical and Biological Engineering at
UW-Madison) and their daughter,
Hannah.
2009 Centennial Award
for Excellence in
Teaching
Noel Sturm,
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, California State
University
Dr. Sturm is currently a Professor of
Chemistry and Biochemistry at
California State University, Dominguez
Hills.
IN THIS ISSUE…
Award Winners
Interim Meeting News
Centennial History
Call For Awards
Member News
Chapter News
National Council
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Her
professional
preparation
includes:
B.S.
and
M.S.
(Chemistry), at University of
California
Davis;
Ph.D.
(Chemistry), University of Toledo;
and
Post
Doctoral
Fellow
(Chemistry), University of Arizona.
Iota Sigma Pi National Council Interim meeting
Friday, June 12-Saturday, June 13, 2009, Cleveland, OH
National Council business included discussions and follow ups on the motions
and recommendations that evolved from the 2008 convention and meeting with
the 2011 convention planning committee from Fluorine Chapter.
In 2007, Dr. Sturm received the
Lyle E. Gibson Distinguished
Teaching Award. Her teaching
experience
include
Adjunct
Lecturer: Extension, University of
California Los Angeles; Adjunct
Lecturer: Saddleback College; and
Adjunct Lecturer: University of
Arizona College of Medicine.
Before joining California State
University at Dominguez Hills, Dr.
Sturm held an industrial internship
at Miles-Cutter Laboratories in
research and development leading to
non-human plasma derived clotting
factor (rF-VIII). Her list of
publications/presentations include:
“Integrating Active Learning Into
Traditional
Organic
and
Biochemistry Courses: the Story of
One Professor’s Paradigm Shift”,
2007, Chem. Educator; “Improving
Science Teachers from College
Freshman to Veterans”, 2006,
AACTE; Sturm, N.S. ”Integrating
Active Learning Into Traditional
Chemistry Courses: the Story of
One Professor’s Paradigm Shift”,
2006, ISETL; “QED (Quality
Educator
Development)
Professional
Development:
Integrating Active Learning Into
Traditional Chemistry Courses”,
2006, WASC Campus Poster
Session.
Dr. Sturm’s research is funded by
grants from the Department of
Defense, Army Research Office;
Minority Biochemical Research
Program, NIH Pilot Project and
Research and Scholarly Activity
Award, California State University.
The complete minutes from the Interim Meeting will be placed on the website as
soon as they have been approved by National Council.
The Centennial History of Iota Sigma Pi
Each current member has a copy of The Centennial History of Iota Sigma Pi and all
new members receive one with their membership packets. The Centennial History
records the activities and achievements of Iota Sigma Pi since its 1902 founding,
with quotations from contemporary female chemists and others relating to the role of
women. Below is a synopsis, including portions of the narrative (also on the ΙΣΠ
website) by Anne Sherren, National Historian, about how the writing of the
Centennial History began.
Writing of the Centennial History, 2005
In 1980 Sister Mary Rose Stockton, National Historian, produced the fifth edition of
the History of Iota Sigma Pi. When the history was published, then current National
President Anne Sherren asked Sister Mary Rose to begin work for the next edition of
the history. At that time we thought that we had printed enough histories to last for
10 years. In fact 25 years later, we still had a few left when the Centennial History
came off the press. In 1989 when Anne Sherren took the job as National Historian,
National Council said: “The Green History is out of date; it is almost 10 years old.
We need a new edition of the History.” At that time Anne was teaching full time and
also serving as Supplies Coordinator. In 1993 the message was repeated and, at the
1997 Interim Council Meeting, Shannon Brown was appointed Supplies Coordinator
with the idea that Anne would have the time needed to do more than collecting the
historical items. At the 2000 Interim Council Meeting, National Editor Sharon
Vercellotti agreed to scan the 1980 history as a word document. The scanned version
was proof read by various members of National Council. In the winter of 2001, Anne
took a sabbatical term and spent time working on the history, especially the
individual chapter histories and the award recipients.
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next 15-20 years.
After retiring in June of 2001 (and
recovering from a broken hip), Anne
worked on the history full time.
National Council members would
proof read the versions and offer
suggestions. In January 2002 Anne
sent what she thought to be the final
edition and the needed pictures to
Sharon Vercellotti, co-editor for
final editing. While Anne was
working on the written portion of
the History, Sharon was working on
a grant from the Dreyfus foundation.
She submitted a grant for $20,000 to
the Camille and Henry Dreyfus
Foundation Special Grant Program
in the Chemical Sciences for funds
for updating and printing of the
Centennial history. The grant was
awarded April 2002. The plan was
to distribute the history at the
Centennial Convention in Berkeley
in June of 2002. One thing led to
another and plans expanded. Anne
did several more drafts and made
additions and finally in 2004 Sharon
received the last items from Anne.
In July of 2005 the printed versions
were distributed. The final draft was
available at the 2005 Convention in
June. One of the points of the grant
was that this history would be
widely distributed to college and
university libraries. Members are
currently presenting copies to
various persons and libraries. The
purpose in the writing of the
Centennial History also was stated
in the specific aim in the original
application for the grant:
We want to encourage members to donate copies to their university and local
libraries. We have had articles in the Iotan periodically about donations. If you
contact your libraries at your academic institutions or locally, about donating a copy,
we have a sample press release and a photo release form on the website.
History Project. Having a
chronicle of the women chemists
of the twentieth century is an
important history to report and
preserve. The centennial history
is being compiled from the
chapters and is being updated
from the history printed in 1980.
We plan to print 5000 copies of
the history. A copy will be given
to each of our members, to
libraries with history of science
collections, and the remainder will
be given to new members for the
October 2009
ΙΣΠ NATIONAL AWARDS
Call for Nominations
Iota Sigma Pi is accepting nominations for the
following annual
professional and student awards and
scholarships.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award: This award is given yearly for research
achievement in chemistry or biochemistry by a woman chemist, not over the age
of forty at the time of her nomination.
Centennial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: This award is
given to a woman chemist or biochemist for excellence in teaching chemistry,
biochemistry, or a chemistry-related field at an undergraduate institution that
does not offer a graduate program in that field.
Each of the above professional awards will consist of $500, a certificate, and
membership in ΙΣΠ with a waiver of dues for one year. For 2010, nominations
are due by February 15, 2010. For more information on professional awards,
contact the Director for Professional Awards, Dr. Sara N. Paisner (contact
information on page 11).
STUDENT AWARDS
Anna Louise Hoffman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate
Research: This award is presented to a full-time woman graduate student who is
a candidate for a graduate degree at an accredited institution. The award will
consist of $500, a certificate, and a waiver of dues for one year.
Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry: This award is for a
senior woman chemistry student at an accredited college or university that grants
a four-year degree in chemistry. Students who graduate in December or January
are eligible for nomination. The award will consist of $500, a certificate, and a
waiver of dues for one year.
Gladys Anderson Emerson Scholarship: This award is for excellence in chemistry or
biochemistry. The nominee must have attained junior standing in her curriculum at
an accredited college or university and must have at least one semester of work to
complete as of August 1, 2009. The award will consist $2000 and a certificate.
Nominations for the 2010 student awards are due by February 15, 2010. For more
information, contact the National Director for Student Awards, Dr. Kathryn
Thomasson (contact information on page 11).
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ΙΣΠ Member News
Dr. Julia Chan (Cl) earned one of the seven 2009 Women of Excellence Awards
given by the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation. Julia, an associate
professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University, won in the category “Education
& Research.” The awards were created in 2008. Congratulations Julia!
Dr. Mildred Cohn,
2009 National Women’s Hall of Fame, passed away.
Iota Sigma Pi National Honorary
Member Award winner in 2002, Dr.
Janet E. Del Bene, Professor
Emeritus
of
Chemistry
at
Youngstown State University, was
bestowed by the university “the
honorary Doctor of Science
Degree”. Dr. Del Bene also received
the “Morley Medal” of the
Cleveland section of the American
Chemical Society in May 2008.
(Photo by Matt Schudel, Courtesy University of Pennsylvania)
Dr. Del Bene is an internationally
recognized theoretical chemist and
expert in the field of hydrogen
bonding. Dr. Del Bene has 215
scientific publications in the field.
In 2003, Dr. Del Bene received
YSU’s Heritage Award and the
Dean’s Lifetime Achievement
Award for Externally Supported
Research. She is a Fellow of the
American Association for the
Advancement of Science. A 22–year
member of the Clinical Research
Committee of St. Elizabeth Hospital
Medical Center, Dr. Del Bene has
also served as a consultant to the
Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company and the National Institutes
of Health and as an external
examiner for the U.S. Department of
Energy.
Congratulations Dr. Del Bene!
Dr. Mildred Cohn (MAL), the Iota Sigma Pi 1988 National Honorary Member, was
inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, located in Seneca Falls, NY,
during Induction Weekend, October 10-11, 2009. The National Women’s Hall of
Fame inducts distinguished American women through a rigorous national honors
selection process involving representatives of many of the nation’s important
organizations and areas of expertise.
Mildred Cohn pioneered research that helped form the scientific understanding of the
mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and the methods of studying them. In 1946, she
introduced the use of isotopic oxygen-18 to study metabolic processes and enzyme
mechanisms. She later applied nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron
paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to investigate metabolism and metabolic
intermediates. Dr. Cohn has published more than 150 scientific papers and has
received several awards for her work, including the National Medal of Science in
1982.
Dr. Cohn passed away on October 12, 2009 at a hospital in Philadelphia. She was 96.
She spent many years as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Cohn,
who worked alongside four Nobel Prize-winning scientists early in her career,
combined chemistry, biology, and physics to become a leader in the emerging
sciences of biochemistry and biophysics. She was elected to the National Academy
of Sciences in 1971 and received the country's highest scientific honor, the National
Medal of Science, in 1982. She was the first female president of the American
Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and was the first woman on the
editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, which she edited for 10 years.
Iota Sigma Pi community conveys our sympathies to Dr. Cohn’s family and friends.
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October 2009
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Visit Our Website!
http://www.iotasigmapi.info
There is a wealth of
information on
opportunities, awards, job
listings and also The Iotan
in full color !
There is information on
chapter resources and mini
grants!
2008‐2009 Chapter Report,
Iota Sigma Pi Calcium Chapter, Irvine, CA
The Calcium Chapter of Iota Sigma Pi has remained very active this past year with
many social and outreach activities. We continue strong with 41 members, 8 initiated
this academic year. Our activities focus on outreach but also include professional
developments and social gatherings. Many of our members enjoy participating in
outreach activities such as Sally Ride Science Festival and the National Chemistry
Week Festival at the Santa Ana Zoo. We regularly have meetings to plan events and
given opportunities for all members to be involved. The details of these events are
described below.
Our chapter has been dedicated to serving our community by conducting outreach
activities for elementary age students. We have developed a great relationship with
Girls, Inc. of Costa Mesa: an after school and summer program for underprivileged
girls. Through the past 3 years we have gone on-site and demonstrated simple
science experiments at least once every month. This year Girls Inc. came to UCI
through Eureka Program in July 2008 and had a chance to perform more complicated
experiments. The girls had an amazing time and as always are inspired to succeed in
school and in life.
Girls performing the science of bubbles
experiment and earning their science
badges
Members of ΙΣΠ Ca displaying their lip Two of our members beginning the bon fire
balms made at the Sally Ride Festival
at our annual gathering in Corona del Mar
State Beach in October
The pyrotechnics of chemistry display at
the bonfire
Three of our members enjoying the
camaraderie of the festivities.
Christmas is a time to have fun and leave
the lab behind, at least for one night
We also participated at the Sally Ride Science Festival held on December 6, 2008 at
the campus of UC San Diego. The Calcium chapter hosted a workshop on the
science behind lip balm. The girls had a hands on experiment where they made their
own lip balms and were explained the chemistry behind the different ingredients and
the process itself.
Girls making lip balm at the Sally Ride
Festival in UC San Diego
Calcium chapter member Angie Olson had a chance to take a leadership role in a
department wide service activity. Iota Sigma Pi sponsored an Angel Tree from the
Salvation Army with the names of 40 underprivileged children in Orange County
Continued in Page 6
October 2009
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and asked the members of the
chemistry department at UCI to
purchase one gift for a child. All the
children were sponsored and
received gifts at Christmas. This
was a very rewarding experience for
all that were involved.
The Calcium chapter keeps thriving
in the areas of need to our members.
We have been passionate about
teaching the younger generations the
greatness of science and chemistry.
We will continue to thrive on this as
well as preparing our members for
their future in science. Many
programs are in the works to do
professional
development
workshops for academia and
industry opportunities. We hope to
keep increasing in membership and
enthusiasm.
Iota Sigma Pi Tee Shirts
M – L – XL
$15 including shipping*
Chlorine Chapter of Louisiana
[ front - ISP logo;
back - "Share the Vision"]
Contact Anne Taylor,
[email protected],
Phone: 225-767-3565
Membership Dues Drive 2009-2010
by Margaret Workman, National Treasurer
All of the dues notices were sent out this summer. A second, reminder notice was
sent out early fall. If you have not received your notice, please contact me at
[email protected]. October 1, was the deadline to be included in this year’s
chapter rebate calculations (i.e. for your chapter to get money back from the National
Council for your membership). However, if you have not sent in your dues for this
year it is not too late. We continue accepting dues notices after this deadline,
however your chapter will not receive credit for your membership this year.
The following people had their dues notices returned to me as “Return to Sender with
No Forwarding Address.” Please contact me at the email provided above if you have
any information on the current contact information for these women. Unfortunately,
if we lose contact with a member due to change of address, we have no way of reestablishing connection with them unless they contact us. So, please help us in our
effort not to lose any of these valuable members.
Amy J. Aker (MAL), Marwa K. Ardellatte (La), Harriett B. Bible (AuI), Eugenia W.
Brackenridge (AuI), Vianna D. Bramblett (MAL), Jessica Cheng (MAL), Patricia
A. Chriswell (Np), Adrielle K. Crigger (Ag), Marsha L. Cullen (Es), Bernice D.
Gilmore (Pm), Katherine K. Harclerode (Es), Sara Harris (Cl), Virginia-Jane Harris
(H), Tabatha Hatfield (U), Alexandra E. Jones (Hg), Rodhika Kaimal (U), SoYoung Kim (Es), Sylvia Kunakom (Hg), Shirae K. Leslie (La), Jennifer A. Lippert
(Hg), Dinah Lovitch (K), Kacey L. Meaker (La), Kelly B. McCoy (Ca), Erin Oliver
(F), Alison D. Oostendorp (AuI), Margaret M. Rausch (Hg), Morrisa Regis
(Pu), Ashley L. Ringer (MAL), Alberta Ross (MAL), Rina D. Salurialam (
Ca), Laurel K. Sanders (La), Allyson K. Sia (Ca), Laine Stewart (Au), Stacey A.
Stoffregen (Au), Jiachun Su (Au), Johanna M. Thompson (MAL), Stephanie L.
Torcivia (Ag), Ardeth Vogt (AuI), Joanne L. Wallmuth (AuI), Maggie L. Walser
(Ca), Donna Weisburger (V), Kimberly A. Wilson (La) and Glora B. Wright
(MAL).
Thank you for your support! And remember, if you move, please contact our
National Records Chair Nancy Hopkins at [email protected] to update your
information so you don’t become a “lost Iotan”.
(*Special prices for group
orders available.)
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October 2009
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Sources of Iota Sigma Pi
Supplies and Information
Supplies
For “Membership Information” and
“National Awards” pamphlets, History,
Constitution and Bylaws, Rituals of Iota
Sigma Pi, Rules and Regulations, The
Iotan, Speakers Bureau information,
contact the Supplies Coordinator.
Initiation
For Membership Application and
Summary of Applicants forms, contact
the National Secretary.
Forming a Chapter
For procedural information and
application forms, contact the National
Vice President.
For Charter Certificate, contact the
National Historian.
Financial Reports
For Financial Report forms, contact the
National Treasurer.
Awards
For criteria and nomination forms:
Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award,
National Honorary Member, or the
Violet Diller Award for Professional
Excellence, contact the Director for
Professional Awards.
Undergraduate Award for Excellence
in Chemistry, Anna Louise Hoffman
Graduate Research
Achievement
Award, Gladys Anderson Emerson
Scholarship, contact the Director for
Student Awards.
Dues
For dues statements and payments,
contact the National Treasurer.
Chapter Operations
For changes in Chapter Officers list and
forms for reporting local elected
officers, contact the National Vice
President.
Address Labels & Membership List
For change of address and member
death, contact the Records Chair.
Historical Information
Contact: National Historian
***
See National Council listing for
officers’ names and addresses.
Iota Sigma Pi - National Council 2008-2011
President
Kathryn Louie
3573 Grandview Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76904
325-947-1369
[email protected]
Vice President
QuynhGiao N. Nguyen
21000 Brookpart Rd,
MS 106-5, Cleaveland, OH 44135
(216)-433-6073(w)
[email protected]
Secretary
Jie Huang
Senior Research Scientist
AMRI, 26 Corporate Circle
Albany, NY 12212-5098
(518) 512-2607 (w)
[email protected]
Treasurer
Margaret Workman
DePaul University
Environmental Science Program
1110 W Belden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-325-7445 (w)
[email protected]
Historian
Anne T. Sherren
North Central College
555 Foxworth Blvd, Apt. 630
Lombard, IL 60148
630-932-0481
[email protected]
Records Chair
Nancy Eddy Hopkins
Dept. of Cell & Molecular Biology
Tulane University
2000 Stern Hall, 6400 Freret St.
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-862-3162 (w)
[email protected]
Webmaster
Christine Hermann
Chemistry and Physics Department,
Box 6949
Radford University
Radford, VA 24142
(540)-831-5413 (w)
[email protected]
Coordinator of Members-at-Large
Karen Knaus
University of Colorado Denver
Department of Chemistry, B194
1201 5th Street,
Denver, Colorado 80204
(303)352-3628
[email protected]
Director for Professional Awards
Sara Paisner Senior Scientist,
Microelectronics Technology
Lord Corporation. 110 Lord Drive
Cary, NC 27511
919-469-2500, Ext 2490 (w)
919- 469-9688 (fax)
[email protected]
Director for Student Awards
Kathryn A. Thomasson
University of North Dakota
Chemistry Department,
Abbot Hall Room 236,
151 Cornell Street Stop 9024
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9024
701-777-3199 (w)
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
Janet Clark
Dept. of Sciences and Mathematics
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876
812-535-5295 (w)
[email protected]
Editor
Ajitha Devarajan
124 Spedding Hall, Chem. Dept,
Iowa State University/Ames Lab,
Ames, IA 50014.
(515)-294-6940(w)
[email protected]
Supplies Coordinator
Reiko Simmons
Chemistry Department, Room 301
Cleveland State University
Cleveland OH 44115
(216)-687-3969 (w)
[email protected]
Continued in Page 8
October 2009
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Nonprofit
Iota Sigma Pi
The Iotan, c/o Lily Ng
P.O. Box 22466
Beachwood, OH 44122
Wait!
News about you makes this publication interesting for other Iotans.
Please take a few minutes to jot down what you are doing.
1) Speeches, papers, symposia, invited talks
2) Publications, patents, grants awarded
3) New positions, appointments, promotions, awards, honors,
retirements, postdoctoral research
4) Offices held in professional societies
5) Avocational achievements, miscellaneous
Please send news and information to
Ajitha Devarajan, Editor
[email protected]
or contact by phone for fax information.
Items for “Chapter News” or for general information are also solicited. Send a photo of your activity
(electronic format preferred). Please include your chapter name.
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June 2009