National Chemistry Week is celebrated every year during the week of October 23 (Mole Day) throughout the country. The Carnegie Science Center holds its annual ChemFest on the Friday and Saturday of Chemistry Week, and invites university clubs and chemists from industry to put on demonstrations and displays related to the annual theme.

ChemFest 2009 celebrates the theme “Chemistry—It’s Elemental!.” IUP will participate for its fifth year running and is sending eight student ambassadors to run hands-on demonstrations for visiting elementary and high school students and their families. Each year, ChemFest attracts over 2,000 Pittsburgh-area students.

The cost of ChemFest is free with admission to the Carnegie Science Center. For more information, see the museum's website.

Department of Chemistry

Ardian is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Indiana University, and will present the seminar “Structural Analysis of the Human Folate Receptor and its Implications in Drug Discovery.” The chemistry seminar will be from 3:35 to 4:25 p.m. in Weyandt 240. All are welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

Over 360 club reports from around the U.S. were submitted to the Society Committee on Education last year. Of those, thirty-five received Outstanding, sixty-eight received Commendable, and 119 received Honorable Mention. Criteria for ranking student chapters include the number of student members, participation in community events, service to the university and student body, club activities, and monies raised/donated.

“This is a nice recogntion for all the hard work and time that our students put into this club,” says Nathan McElroy, the faculty advisor of the club. “Our club members offer free tutoring four nights a week, donate at least $1,000 a year to local elementary and high school science programs, and give demonstrations during academic expos here at IUP and at the Carnegie Science Center during National Chemistry Week. All of the students did a great job last year.”

Club officers for the 2008–2009 year were: President Olivia McGovern, Vice-President Jessica Nichol, Treasurer Beth Leverett, and Secretary Maura Barrett.

The first Honorable Mention Award was given to the club for its 2006–2007 accomplishments.

This research was made possible through a National Institutes of Health-funded grant under an REU program titled Minority Health Disparities as well as through a Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology scholarship for expenses. As a result of Jennifer’s summer research experience, she was granted a travel scholarship to present at the Society for Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science national conference, October 15–18, 200, in Dallas, Tex. She has submitted her abstract to another recognized national conference, the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, which will take place in Phoenix on November 4–7.

The IUP McNair program nominated Jennifer to attend the Compact for Faculty Diversity Institute, for which she was accepted to represent IUP. This will take place in Washington, D.C., October 22–25, where she plans to present her work.

Her summer experience began with a predeparture orientation in Washington, D.C., where she met other IREU students. Two of those students would be traveling with her to Scotland, while the remaining twenty would be traveling elsewhere in Europe. She was able to also meet and network with members of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and National Science Foundation (NSF).

During Laura’s ten weeks in Scotland, she researched volatile organic compound (VOC) assessment in heritage science. Her work focused on a nondestructive technique of analysing the VOCs that are emitted during the degradation of cellulose in old books.

In addition to research, Laura traveled all around the city of Glasgow, throughout Scotland, and even went to Paris for a weekend. One of the most rewarding experiences of the summer, she says, was the connections she made with people from around the world, especially her Scottish friends at work.

Her summer experience concluded with two poster presentations (one for international research and one for all undergraduates) at the ACS National meeting in Washington, D.C., in August. This internship was organized by the ACS and funded by NSF.

Title: Using Crystallographic Databases in the ACA Summer Course in Small Molecule Crystallography

Abstract: The American Crystallographic Association (ACA) Summer Course is a ten-day intensive program that teaches both single-crystal and power diffraction. Participants are encouraged to bring their own samples for structure determination and during the course they have access to both the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and the Powder Diffraction File (PDF). This presentation will focus on the ways the CSD and the PDF are incorporated into the lecture and lab components of the ACA course. The previous knowledge that participants have about crystallographic databases and how they use them to support structure determination in the course will also be examined.

Any student needing help in their Chemistry course may visit Weyandt Hall 128 between 7 and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday for free tutoring.

Tutoring is available starting Tuesday, September 8, and will be offered until the last full week of classes (except holidays). For more information, please contact club president Ms. Maura Barrett or club advisor Dr. Nathan McElroy.

For more information about his research, please see Dr. Michaels’ webpage.

Congratulations!

Dr. Fair is originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, and comes to us most recently from Storrs, Connecticut. He recently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Fair previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech as well as a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

During his military service, Dr. Fair served as a chemical specialist and as a nuclear medical science officer. His area of concentration is organic chemistry, and at IUP he plans to focus on organolithium methods, green synthetic methods, and practical organic synthesis and separations.

Ford was awarded for his proposal “Building Tools for the Production of Inexpensive, Efficient Cellulases from the Filamentous Fungus Trichoderma reesei,” which seeks to create fungus strains that are better able to convert cellulose to sugar. Cellulose-derived sugars can be used as renewable energy source for biofuels and also in plastics.

McElroy was awarded for his proposal “Determining the Effects of Acid Mine Drainage and Marcellus Shale Wells on Nonpolar Organic Contaminant Uptake in Semipermeable Membrane Devices.” Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) can be used to absorb nonploar chemicals from water, somewhat like a fish that absorbs pesticides and other contaminants. Understanding how these devices work in streams with other contaminants such as acid mine drainage will allow for better interpretation of field study results in local waterways.

Both awards provide up to $10,000 to use toward these projects during the 2009-10 academic year.

“The Natural Science degree program has the second-largest number of majors of any program in the college and, therefore, its continuing viabilty is important to the continuing health and viability of the college,” said Eck. “I appreciate the willingness of Dr. Kupchella to assume the duties associated with this assignment.”

Bachelor of Science Graduates

• Ms. Brittany Buterbaugh (magna cum laude) will attend Penn State as a doctoral candidate in inorganic chemistry
• Mr. Andrew Crawford (magna cum laude) will enter the workforce
• Mr. Andrew Kerr (magna cum laude, Dec. 2008) will attend George Washington University as a doctoral candidate in inorganic chemistry
• Ms. Beth Leverett (magna cum laude) will attend University of Michigan as a doctoral candidate in inorganic materials chemistry
• Ms. Jessica Nichol (summa cum laude) will attend Penn State as a doctoral candidate in organic chemistry
• Ms. Elizabeth Paladin (summa cum laude) will attend Pitt University as a doctoral candidate in biological chemistry
• Mr. Jarod Sterrett will enter the workforce

Bachelor of Arts Graduates

• Ms. Christina Arnold (cum laude)
• Ms. Lacie Buxton will attend Penn State as a master’s candidate in special education
• Ms. Lena Zein (Dec. 2008)

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Education Graduate

• Ms. Nicole Peterson (cum laude, Dec. 2008)

Master of Science Graduates

• Mr. Marc Ferrington (summa cum laude) will attend LECOM School of Pharmacy in Bradenton, Fla.
• Ms. Francisca Sekyere (summa cum laude) will attend Northeastern University as a doctoral candidate
• Ms. Selar Sulaiman (summa cum laude) will enter the workforce

The department’s Awards Committee organizes the event and encourages students to invite their families to the presentation and the reception that follows.

The graduate student awards given this year were:

• Mr. Yuan Hu, for Academic Excellence
• Mr. Marc Ferrington, for Research
• Mr. Daniel Adu-Ampratwum, for Teaching Assistant

Special undergraduate awards, including named memorial scholarships and regional and national chemistry awards, included:

• Ms. Olivia McGovern, for Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award for Outstanding Achievement
• Ms. Laura Fox, for Division of Analytical Chemistry American Chemical Society 2009 Undergraduate Award
• Ms. Jennifer Beveridge, for Edward N. Brown Memorial Scholarship
• Ms. Alex Daughenbaugh, for William I. Heard Memorial Scholarship
• Ms. Kimberly Boonie and Mr. Mathew Grata, for Ron Marks Scholarship
• Ms. Jessica Nichol and Ms. Caitlin Williamson, for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
• Ms. Caitlin Bumar, for CRC Handbook 
• Ms. Olivia McGovern, for ACS Student Affiliate Member of the Year

In addition to these special awards, the following students were recognized for their academic successes during the 2008–09 year:

Seniors

• Ms. Brittany Buterbaugh
• Mr. Andrew Crawford
• Ms. Amy Devlin
• Mr. Andrew Friday
• Mr. Brandon Jones
• Ms. Beth Leverett
• Ms. Elizabeth Paladin
• Ms. Galit Regev
• Mr. Peter Stonehouse
• Ms. Aubree Webb
• Mr. Joseph Wiley

Juniors

• Ms. Maura Barrett
• Ms. Ee Leng Terng
• Mr. Justin Williams
• Ms. Li Yin Wong

Sophomores

• Ms. Deanna Belsky
• Ms. Jennifer Casanova
• Mr. Stephen Christensen
• Ms. Victoria Constant
• Mr. Jonathan Henninger
• Mr. Phuong Lam
• Ms. Samantha Leone
• Ms. Lisa McCombie
• Mr. Dragomir Milovanovic
• Mr. Robert Putala
• Mr. Stephen Shiring
• Ms. Andrea Strein
• Ms. Ashley Szymanski
• Mr. Rongjin Weng
• Mr. James Zewe

Freshman

• Mr. Brendan Adams
• Mr. John Apa
• Mr. David Crum
• Mr. James Falicki
• Mr. Brian Ford
• Ms. Dangelica Garzarelli
• Ms. Martina Hauck
• Ms. Shenin Headland
• Mr. Bryan Kirsch
• Mr. Erich Lichtner
• Ms. Lindsay Matolyak
• Mr. Steven May
• Mr. Shane McDevitt
• Ms. Sarah McMahon
• Mr. Michael Monteleone
• Ms. Katrina Owens
• Mr. Mitchell Stadler
• Mr. Brent Taddie
• Mr. Charles Voyton

Long has been with IUP since 1988 and currently serves as the assistant chair in the Department of Chemistry. His areas of expertise include physical chemistry, the application of computers and the Internet in chemical education, and laser photothermal spectroscopy.

Long’s dedication to research is evidenced by his ability to secure over $1 million in sponsored research during his academic career, including two National Science Foundation grants for Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement programs. He has authored or coauthored twenty-six professional publications and research reports and has presented thirty-nine times for various professional organizations. He also serves as an assistant editor for the Journal of Chemical Education “Learning Communities Online” feature column, as a reviewer for Journal of Chemical Education, and as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation.

Second-place poster awards went to biochemistry major Ms. Caitlin Williamson for “Calcium Tungstate: A Convenient Recoverable Catalyst for Hydrogen Peroxide” and chemistry major Ms. Amy Devlin for “Effect of pH on Uptake Rates for Nonpolar Organics by Semipermeable Membrane Devices.”

In addition to these student, the following also presented research in a number of areas:

• Ms. Olivia McGovern (biochem) for “Developing a Model for the Eukaryotic Mismatch Repair System”
• Ms. Andrea Strein (biochem) for “Changes in Molecular Structure of Cherrybark Oak Acorns after Storage”
• Ms. Li Yin Wong (biochem) for “Characterization of the Baker's Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Srs2 Helicase Features Essential for Regulation of Homologous Recombination”
• Ms. Galit Regev (biochem) for “Characterization of Salicylic Acid Treated Mutant for Double Stranded RNA in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Rhizoctonia Solani:Isolate 303”
• Ms. Victoria Constant (biochem), Ms. Laura Fox (chem), and Ms. Nadia Szymanski (biochem) for “Water Chemistry for Beer Brewing”
• Ms. Jennifer Beveridge (chem) and Ms. Maura Barrett (chem) for “The Effect of Mercury Toxicity on Daphnia”
• Ms. Amy Devlin (chem) for “A Novel Synthesis: Iodohydroxylation of Alkenes from Hypoiodous Acid”
• Ms. Beth Leverett (chem) for “Li₂FeSnS₄: Synthesis of a Quaternary Diamond-Like Semiconductor”
• Ms. Jessica Nichol (chem) for “Azobenzene Dye Synthesis for Attachment to Carbon Nanotubes to Control Conductance”
• Ms. Whitney Simmons (chem) for “A Computational Redesign of Cellulose”

The event, held in the HUB, showcased the talent and drive of our students as they supplement their class loads with real-world research experience.

The following students participated in oral presentations:

• Ms. Caitlin Williamson and Mr. Peter Stonehouse with “Calcium Tungstate: A Convenient Recoverable Catalyst for Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation” (advisor: Dr. Keith Kyler)
• Ms. Brittany Buterbaugh with “Life Happens: An Unexpected Reaction Between Magnesium and Copper (II) Chloride” (advisor: Dr. Wendy Elcesser)
• Ms. Maura Barrett and Ms. Jennifer Beveridge with “The Toxicity of Mercury on Daphnia Pulex” (advisor: Dr. Ellen Yerger)
• Mr. Dragomir Milovanovic with “The Srs2 Protein Expression Using the pET11c Expression Vector in the BL21 (DE3) Bacterial Protein Expression Strain of Escherichia coli” (advisor: Dr. Jana Villemain)
• Ms. Olivia McGovern with “The Cloning of Inositol Monophosphatase Gene from Paramecium tetraurelia: A Search for the Molecular Basis of Ultradian Rhythms” (advisor: Dr. Robert Hinrichsen)
• Ms. Jennifer Casanova with “Finding DNA-Aptamers Against Human IMPDH Enzyme via Ligand-binding Isoelectric Focusing Electrophoresis LIFE” (advisor: Dr. Keith Kyler)

The following students participated in poster presentations:

• Ms. Amy Devlin with “Effect of pH on Uptake Rates of Non-polar Organics by Semi-permeable Membranes” (advisor: Dr. Nathan McElroy)
• Mr. Andrew Crawford with “The Efficacy of a Proposed Ion-paired Reverse-phased HPLC Method for the Determination of Polythionate Mixtures” (advisor: Dr. Lawrence Kupchella)
• Ms. Martha Conners with “The Ion-paired Reverse-phase Chromatographic Separation of Polythionates from Sulfur Oxidizing Bacterial Cultures Grown on Nonathion” (advisor: Dr. Lawrence Kupchella)
• Ms. Laura Fox, Ms. Nadia Szymanski, and Ms. Victoria Constant with “Water Chemistry for Beer Brewing” (advisor: Dr. Nathan McElroy)
• Ms. Whitney Simmons with “A Computational Redesign of Cellulase” (advisor: Dr. Jaeju Ko)
• Ms. Galit Regev with “Characterization of Salicylic Acid Treated Mutant for Double Stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Rhizoctonia solani: Isolate 303” (advisor: Dr. Bharathan Narayanaswamy)
• Ms. Ee Leng Terng with “Computational Function Prediction of Hypothetical Proteins” (advisor: Dr. Jaeju Ko)
• Ms. Ashley Rossib and Ms. Heather Wagner with “Using Technology to Discover the Constituents of a Mental Model of Chemical Equilibrium” (advisor: Dr. Michael Briggs)
• Ms. Jessica Nichol with “Azobenzene Dye Synthesis for Attachment to Carbon Nanotubes to Control Conductance” (advisor: Dr. Carl LeBlond)
• Ms. Li Yin Wong with “Characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Srs2 Helicase Features Essential for Regulation of Homologous Regulation” (advisor: Dr. Jana Villemain)
• Mr. James Zewe with “Development of ELISA for Mouse Growth Hormone Binding Protein (GHBP)” (advisor: Dr. Jonathan Southard)
• Mr. Brandon Jones with “Is Bacterial Alkaline Phosphatase Capable of Phosphite Oxidation?” (advisor: Dr. Jonathan Southard)

After meeting with faculty and students in the department, Dr. Mazzola will give a lecture on “Structural Elucidation of Saponins from Edible Fruits.”

Please join us this Friday in Weyandt 240 at 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Jennifer will work under the direction of Dr. William Montfort in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. Dr. Montfort’s research includes work with protein structures and their function and inhibition.

Congratulations, Jennifer.

For ten weeks this summer, Laura will conduct research in the analytical chemistry department at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. She will then present the results of her research at the undergraduate poster session during the 238th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C., August 16–17.

Support for her travel and research comes from the ACS and the National Science Foundation.

Congratulations, Laura!

CHEM 281: Food Chemistry
Food Chemistry is a three-credit, non-lab chemistry course focusing on basic and organic chemistry as it applies to food. This class is appropriate for Chemistry, Biochemistry or Biology majors wanting an elective chemistry course; for Food and Nutrition majors who plan to take FDNT 362; and for other students with an interest in food chemistry who meet the prerequisite requirements. The course will include lectures on topics including but not limited to: carbohydrates, protein, fats, grains, fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy, fermentation, chemical processes in food preparation, molecular gastronomy, coffee and tea, flavor and aroma, food additives, and more. This course is not eligible as a Liberal Studies non-lab science course.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of CHEM 102, CHEM 112, or CHEM 114 or completed credits that were accepted for transfer by IUP to count as one of the aforementioned courses.

For more information on the course, contact Dr. Nate McElroy.

The fellowship includes textbooks, housing, transportation, tuition, and lab supplies and will count as six credits from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Jen will take up the fellowship at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York this June and July.

Congratulations Jennifer!

After meeting with faculty and students, Dr. Tessier will present the talk “Chlorophosphazenes, the Precursors to Polyphosphazenes. Are Superacids Undetected Participants in Their Chemistry?”

Please join us at 3:30 p.m. in Weyandt 240 for the presentation. Light refreshments will be served.

Her trip is partially funded by the Undergraduate Student Travel Fund for Conference Presentations from the IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research.

The Stoltz Group at Caltech is a major source of new strategies for synthesizing complex organic molecules with interesting and useful biological activities. The studies in Brian’s group have focused on three conceptual areas:

1. advancing palladium-catalyzd oxidation reactions which don’t involve heteroatom transfer
2. developing asymmetric alkylation and protonation technologies to synthesize quaternary and tertiary stereocenters
3. inventing tandem reaction processes

Dr. Stoltz started his career in the Department of Chemistry under the direction of Dr. John Wood. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Yale in 1997 and became a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard from 1998 to 2000 in the group of E.J. Corey (1990 Nobel Laureate, Chemistry). He then moved to Caltech, where he won numerous awards, including the ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Dr. Stoltz was also presented with a 2006 IUP Alumni Ambassador Award in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The IUP ACS and AXΣ demonstration table complemented the projects of the Blairsville students, showing students and parents alike the properties of liquid nitrogen and oobleck (a curious mixture of corn starch and water).

Members of the local community were wowed by a demonstration of a banana hammer, in which a liquid nitrogen-frozen banana was used to pound a nail into a board. Children particularly enjoyed the non-Newtonian properties of the oobleck, which acts as a viscous liquid or a solid depending upon the force applied on it. This event was a great success in community outreach, and the groups look forward to participating next year!

After visiting with faculty and students, Dr. Luderer will present the seminar “Asymmetric Cyclizations Controlled by a Stereogenic Lithium and Oxidations Using Oxoammonium Salts in Aqueous Media.”

Please join us in Weyandt 240 at 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Find more information on Dr. Chong’s research.

Please join us in Weyandt 240 at 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Participating in today’s session were:

• Ms. Maura Barrett with “Finding DNA-Aptamers Against IMPDH Type II Enzyme via Ligand-Binding Isoelectric Focusig Electrophoresis”
• Ms. Jennifer Beveridge with “The Effect of Iron from Acid Mind Contamination on the Uptake Rates of Semipermeable Membrane Devices”
• Ms. Tori Corosu with “Synthesizing and Observing the Physiochemical Properties of Quaternary Diamond-like Oxides”
• Ms. Amy Devlin with “The Effect of pH on Uptake Rates of Nonpolar Organics by Semipermeable Membrane Devices”

The annual, weeklong conference was held this year at the Garden State Convention Center in Somerset, N.J.

Registering for Spring 2009?

Why not take a forensic class?

It’s a great way to learn about forensic science through CSI and it counts as a Liberal Studies non-lab science course!

CHEM 105: The Forensic Chemistry of CSI

(3c-0l-3cr)

Prerequisites: none

TR 2-3:15 p.m., Weyandt 208

Instructor: Dr. John Woolcock

The course is designed for students who would like learn about forensic chemistry and the basic science needed to understand it. Topics will include the forensic chemistry of drugs, arson, poisons, hair, fibers, glass, and fingerprints and the methods used in forensic evidence collection, processing, and crime scene reconstruction. Also included in this course is how forensic science is portrayed on TV and in novels, movies, and computer games.

During the visit, McGovern was able to meet students and faculty from six different labs in the areas of biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, where she learned that research faculty have a wide array of interests, including conscious decision making, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, molecular modeling, biomedical research with viruses and cancer, and cancer treatment via nanoparticle technology.

Not only were there a wide variety of research opportunities, but many in the program were surprised to find that research at CalTech almost always reached across disciplinary lines to encompass many fields. No lab seemed to contain students from only one area. Labs contained chemists, biochemists, physicists, engineers, and computer science students all working together on different aspects of the same or similar problem. McGovern was able to visit the wind tunnel lab where plane and car companies bring model cars and planes to test their aerodynamics. She also visited the Jet Propulsion Laboratory sponsored by NASA, where she learned that students can help design new rovers, like ATHLETE, for space exploration on the moon and Mars.

“Everyone at CalTech was extremely personable, making everything in the program very enjoyable,” said McGovern. She recommends this program to anyone who is interested in CalTech for graduate school. “CalTech is a great place to be. There is a wide variety of exciting new research available to its students, and the small student-to-faculty ratio adds to the research experience rather than limiting it. It allows valuable relationships to form and gives a collaborative experience to apply to future research. You should definitely apply to this program since it was a great experience, and the trip was totally free—flight, hotel, and food. I will definitely be applying to CalTech.”

Please join us at 3:30 in Weyandt 240 for Dr. Rosi’s talk, “Design and Fabrication of New Materials Using Assortments of Biolmolecular, Metal-Cluster, and Nanoparticle Building Blocks.” Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on his research, see Dr. Rosi’s website.

As part of National Chemistry Week, ChemFest is held each Friday and Saturday of that week in various locations around the United States. On each day, dozens of local university clubs, chemistry-related societies, and industry groups provide hands-on demonstrations to thousands of school children, their parents, and the general public. At least three to four thousand people visit ChemFest in Pittsburgh each year.

On Saturday, October 25, eight students from IUP’s ACS Club traveled to Pittsburgh to present four different demonstrations related to chemistry and sports.

• Ms. Maura Barrett
• Ms. Lacie Buxton
• Mr. Andrew Kerr
• Ms. Beth Leverett
• Ms. Olivia McGovern
• Ms. Jessica Nichol
• Mr. Peter Stonehouse
• Ms. Cay Williamson

Travel and a meal were sponsored by the Department of Chemistry.

Please join us at 3:30 in Weyandt 240 for Dr. Youngs’ talk, “Delivery of Silver Antitumor and Anitmicrobial Therapeutics Using Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles and Microspheres.” Light refreshments will be served.

For more details about Dr. Youngs’ research, vist his website.

Please join us at 3:30 in Weyandt 240 for Dr. McCamant’s talk, “Probing Photochemical Dynamics with Ultrafast Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy.” Light refreshments will be served.

Select for more details about Dr. McCamant’s research.

The title of the proposed research is “Student Construction of Mental Models: A Framework for the Evaluation of Inductive Teaching Methods in Chemistry.” The grant will be used to recruit participants into the research project and to hire student workers to assist in the research work.

The investigators are pleased to be awarded this peer-reviewed research grant because it confirms interest in their theoretical perspectives and the correctness of the methodological framework. The grant runs for two years and is a Phase I grant with the possibility of obtaining a Phase II grant after the current work is completed.

Brewer received her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and today is pursuing her doctorate in chemical and biological engineering at Iowa State.

Brewer, originally from Seattle, plans to use the fellowship to fund her research on the biochar project within the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies.

His talk will be titled “Xerogels: A Platform for Chemical Sensors.” The presentation begins at 3:30 pm and light refreshments will be served.

For more information on Dr. Bright's research, please visit his website.

LOCATION: Petrolia Plant (Petrolia, Pa., in northern Bulter Co.)
DEPARTMENT: Laboratory
POSITION REPORTS TO: Technical Director – Laboratory or Laboratory Supervisor

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Under immediate supervision, performs all types of analyses and tests in connection with raw material evaluation, quality control, process control, and process improvement in the white oil, Sulfonate, petrolatum, wax hydrogenation, and environmental areas of the plant.

JOB DUTIES:

1. Performs routine chemical analyses, tests, and determinations involving the application of established laboratory methods and techniques.
2. Assists higher level chemists by performing assigned phases of work where little evaluation, originality, or ingenuity is required.
3. Records results of tests and assignments and reports results to senior professional or group leader.
4. Learns and develops to become able to interpret test results and determine their technical significance.
5. Determine, verify, implement the appropriate analysis method and technique.
6. Identify method and procedures for investigation of analytical discrepancies.
7. Support quality programs and procedures.

Travel Time: N/A

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential knowledge and skills.

• Solid foundation and &understanding in Analytical Chemistry.
• Knowledge of appropriate method development/validation practices for the CPI.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills required.
• Working knowledge in statistics.
• Ability to work and communicate with a broad range of technical and nontechnical personnel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills.
• Good organizational skills.

COMPETENCIES/EXPERIENCE:

• Education: B.S./B.A. in Chemistry or equivalent
• Supervision: No regular supervisory responsibilities
• Experience: Entry-level position
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills required. Ability to communicate and work with a broad range of technical and nontechnical personnel.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Experience and working knowledge with the following analytical instrumentation/methods: Wet chemistry analysis, automatic titrator, HPLC, NMR, FTIR, AA, GC, GC/MS, UV-vis
• This position requires communication with all levels of associates and customers, handling discrepancy issues quickly and professionally while adhering to established quality procedures and practices. This position will require multitasking, making decisions/performing multiple functions under tight deadlines, prioritizing projects, meeting deadlines frequently set by another department or customer, assuring proper documentation is completed and maintained, following up with sample analysis, and project progress details.

Contact:
Anita Orozco, SPHR
Director, Human Resources
Sonneborn
100 Sonneborn Lane
Petrolia, PA 16050
anita.orozco@sonneborn.com 
Phone: 724-756-9327
Fax: 724-756-9351

• Ms. Jessica Nichol will present “Photochromatic Azobenzene Dye Synthesis.”
• Ms. Elizabeth Paladin will present “Mycobacteriophage Isolation, Characterization, and Bioinformatics.”
• Mr. Andrew Kerr will present “Summer Lovin' with Uranium.”
• Ms. Beth Leverett will present “Progress in the Study of Quaternary Diamond-Like Semiconductors.”

Seminar begins at 3:30. Light refreshments will be served.

Chemistry student Beth Leverett presented her research findings at the 21st Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography in Osaka, Japan on August 23–31, 2008.

The IUCr was established in 1948 to promote international cooperation in crystallography, and it organizes the largest crystallographic conference in the world. Leverett was one of nearly three hundred students to attend and was one of the only attendees from a non-Ph.D.-granting institution. Close to 3,500 crystallographic professionals attended this year’s meeting.

Leverett's presentation, titled "Twinning in the Adamantine-Like Quaternary Chalcogenide Li₂ZnSnS₄: A Crystallographic Detective Story" was well-received and attracted the interest of a number of world-class scientists.

This work has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Solid State Chemistry and will be published later this year. This is Leverett's first scientific publication.

To attend the conference, she earned a $1,000 Pittsburgh Diffraction Society Travel Bursary Award. She received additional funding from the Robert E. Cook Honors College Enhancement Fund, the Department of Chemistry, the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, and the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

For more information, please see Chemistry Department position on Employment at IUP.

Seniors:

• Ms. Brittany Baird
• Mr. Robert Bauer
• Ms. Kaycie Butler
• Mr. John Crandall
• Mr. Andrew Kerr
• Mr. Jeffrey Layton
• Ms. Nicole Morozowich
• Mr. Antonio Scatena

Juniors:

• Ms. Tracey Baker
• Ms. Brittany Buterbaugh
• Ms. Lacie Buxton
• Ms. Jane Calvert
• Mr. Andrew Friday
• Mr. Brandon Jones
• Ms. Beth Leverett
• Ms. Olivia McGovern
• Mr. Chad Meyers
• Ms. Jessica Nichol
• Ms. Elizabeth Paladin
• Ms. Galit Regev
• Ms. Aubree Webb
• Mr. Joseph Wiley
• Ms. Caitlin Williamson

Sophomores:

• Ms. Olumayowa Azeez
• Ms. Maura Barrett
• Ms. Jennifer Beveridge
• Mr. Justin Williams

First Years:

• Mr. David Ankney
• Ms. Deanna Belsky
• Ms. Kimberly Boonie
• Mr. Chris Chambers
• Mr. Stephen Christensen
• Ms. Victoria Constant
• Ms. Alex Daughenbaugh
• Ms. Laura Fox
• Mr. Jonathan Henninger
• Ms. Samantha Leone
• Mr. Andrew Lightner
• Ms. Mairi Lindsay
• Ms. Lisa McCombie
• Mr. Joseph Reichard
• Mr. Stephen Shiring
• Mr. Cory Stahlman
• Ms. Andrea Strein
• Ms. Ashley Swiderski
• Ms. Nadia Szymanski
• Mr. Christopher Taylor
• Mr. Kevin Taylor
• Mr. Rongjin Weng
• Mr. James Zewe

For older posts, please continue to view the Chemistry Department's Blogger Page.

Congratulations and good luck to the following:

• President: Ms. Olivia McGovern
• Vice President: Ms. Jessica Nichol
• Secretary: Ms. Maura Barrett
• Treasurer: Ms. Beth Leverett

Many thanks to our 2007-2008 ACS Club officers for another successful year:

• President: Elizabeth Paladin
• Vice President: Catie Brunecz
• Secretary: Kaycie Butler
• Treasurer: Jessica Nichol

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Ms. Beth Leverett won a $100 Co-op Store gift certificate for her research poster “A Crystallographic Detective Story: Solving the Li₂ZnSnS₄ Structure.”

Ms. Elizabeth Paladin won a $50 Co-op Store gift certificate for her research poster “Modifying the Physical Properties of Indomethacin by Co-Crystallization.” 

Other winners were undergraduate Ms. Olivia McGovern ($75 gift certificate) and graduate student Ms. Heather Meloy ($100 gift certificate).

Congratulations!

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Mr. Robert Bauer, a Biochemistry major, presented a poster of a project that he completed during his R.E.U. summer research at the University of Buffalo. The poster, DNA structure-selective interactions of Zn(II) tetraazamacrocycle with appended acridine, was authored jointly with Janet Morrow, of SUNY Buffalo.

Dr. Nate McElroy gave the invited oral presentation QSAR at the undergraduate institution and a model of air-to-blood partition coefficients for small organic molecules. Part of this presentation was a review of the cheminformatics research completed by Mr. Sean Smith, who recently completed his master’s thesis in the department. Dr. McElroy also spoke of the advantages and challenges of teaching cheminformatics and chemometrics at IUP, citing examples from this semester’s CHEM 681 course on these topics.

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For older news posts, please continue to view the Chemistry Department Blogger.