Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

1

Issue 7Fall 2010

N e w s l e t t e r

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CHEVRON SCIENCE CENTER

In This Issue

1 GreetingsfromtheChair

2 2010DistinguishedAlumni

3 ChemistryDepartment History2

4 Classof1970: Wherearetheynow? AlumniUpdates 5 HonorRoll-Thankyou6 FacultyHighlights: PeterWipf

7 FacultyNuggets8 GraduateHighlights: KathrynDavis PhiLambdaUpsilon (PLU)

9 UndergraduateHighlights: KelleyPeters ACSStudentAffiliateNews

10 NewFacultyandStaff

11 RenovationStatus DepartmentMilestones InMemoriam

Greetings from the Chair

LookingnorthwestfromUniversityDriveand ParkmanAvenue, the Chevron

Annex construction project makes it clearthatmajorexpansionisunderwayintheDe-partmentofChemistry.Whetheryouenterthrough Chevron,Ashe, or Eberly Halls,renovationprojectsthataremodernizingourresearch and instructional laboratories, aswellasthegatheringspacesforstudents,areapparent.NewresearchlabsontheeastwingofEberlyHallandthe14thfloorofChevron,withworkareasthatareopen,flexible,andmodern,provideaglimpseintothefutureforalloftheDepartment’sresearchlabs.Build-ingonthesuccessofthenewinstructionalorganiclaboratoriestwoyearsago,acompre-hensiverenovationofthegeneralchemistrylabswillbeginthissummer.Inadditiontotheseresearchandinstructionalspacerenova-tions,newsocialandstudyspacesarebeingcreatedintheDepartment.Escapingfromitsformerlifeasatransitcorridor,theChevronlobbynowprovidesaplacetopurchasecoffeeorsnacksattheBunsenBrewercoffeeshop,tomeet friendsandcolleagues,or to learnabouttheDepartmentthroughpostersandatouchscreendisplay.

Inadditiontothesestrikingphysicalchanges,thegrowthandqualityoftheDepartment’sresearchprogramsandeducationalcurricu-lumareevident. Over thepastfiveyears,ninenewfacultymembershave joined theDepartment,twoofwhichstartedthisfall—Dr.HaitaoLiu,whosefocusisthephysicaland synthetic chemistry of nanomaterials,andDr.XinyuLiu,whosefocusisthesyn-thesisofnaturalproductsattheinterfaceofchemistry,biology,medicine,andmaterialsscience. The graduate program remainsvibrant,with51studentsmatriculatingthisfallandfourofourexistinggraduatestudentswinning national awards and fellowships.Astheundergraduateprogrammaintainsits

excellenceandcontinuestoattractthebeststudents,weareexpandingourcourseoffer-ings(especiallyintheareasofnanomaterialsandbiologicalchemistry)andouropportuni-tiesforundergraduatestopursueresearchandexperientiallearning.Ourmajors’excellenceisalsorecognizedfromoutsidetheDepart-ment,includingaChancellor’sScholarAwardtoAndrewSavinonandaRhodesScholarshiptoEleanorOtt. TheDepartmentbestowed19 PhDdegrees, sevenMScdegrees, and66BScdegreestoexcellentyoungchemistsduringthepastyear.

This newsletter aims to share some of theDepartment’s accomplishments this yearwithyou.Whilenotwelve-pagenewslettercanproperlydescribeorrecognizealloftheaccomplishmentsduringthepastyear,Ihopethatthearticleswehavechosenprovideyouwithaglimpseintoouractivitiesandmotivateyoutovisitourwebsitewww.chem.pitt.eduto learn more about today’s Department.Lastly,Iwouldliketothankyou,ouralumniandfriends,foryoursupport.Outsideoftheindividualfinancialorvolunteerassistanceyou provide to the Department, your suc-cessesandaccomplishmentshelptofuelourcommitmenttoscienceandtotheeducationofourstudents.Ihopethatyouwilltakethetimethisyeartosharesomeofyouraccom-plishmentswithus.

May the upcoming year be productive, healthy, and satis-fying for you and yours.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

2

2010 Distinguished Alumni Awardees

HELEN M. BERMAN (PhD ’67G) Professor Helen M. BermanreceivedherPhDinChemistryin1967fromtheUniversityofPitts-burghunder thedirectionofGeorgeAlan Jeffrey, and stayedon forpostdoctoral training as a National Institutes of HealthTrainee. ShethenjoinedtheFoxChaseCancerCenterin1969,wheresheinitiatedand led a research program on nucleic acid crystallography and theinteractionsbetweennucleicacidsanddrugs.In1989,shejoinedthefacultyatRutgerswheresheexpandedherresearchprogramtoincludestructural studiesofproteins.Currently she isaBoardofGovernorsProfessorofChemistryandChemicalBiologyandthedirectoroftheProteinDataBank.

EDWARD R. BIEHL (BS ’58, PhD ’61G)ProfessorEdBiehlearnedhisundergraduateandgraduatedegreesinchemistryattheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofArtsandSciences.Sincethattime,hehashadadistinguishedcareerasascientist,educator,andresearcher.Dr.Biehlhasreceivednumerousawardsforexcellenceinteachingandmentor-ing,forwhichheisknowntoput theneedsofhisstudentsandpost-doctoralassociatesfirst.AsdepartmentalchairinchemistryatSouthernMethodistUniversityforthepast28years,hehasledthedevelopmentoftheirchemistryprogramandthecreationoftheirPhDprogram.Pro-fessorBiehl’shighstandardsfor teachingandresearchhaveprovidedsuperiorlearningopportunitiesforhisstudentsandhavesetanexampleformeetingthechallengesoftoday’seducationalenvironment.

BRUCE W. DIXON, MD (BS ’61) Bruce Dixon received a BS inchemistryfromtheUniversityofPittsburghin1961andanMDfromtheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofMedicinein1965.Aftercomplet-inghisresidencyatDukeUniversity,heservedonthefacultyatDukebeforereturningtotheUniversityofPittsburghin1975.Currently,Dr.DixonisanassociateprofessorofmedicineattheUniversityofPitts-burghSchoolofMedicine.HealsoholdsajointappointmentatPitt’sGraduateSchoolofPublicHealth. Inaddition tohis teachingduties,Dr.DixonisthedirectoroftheAlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment,apositionhehasheldsince1992.

H. LEE NOBLE (BS ’62) H.LeeNobleearnedhisbachelor’sdegreeinchemistryfromPitt’sSchoolofArtsandSciencesin1962.Followinga25yearcareerwiththeBayerCorporation,Mr.Nobleretiredasexecu-tivevicepresident.LeeistheCEOofNobleConsulting,whichspecial-izesinstrategicplanning,mergersandacquisitions,andthefinancingofstart-upcompanies.LeealsoservesaschairoftheBoardofDirectorsofFluorousTechnologies,Inc.andontheUniversityofPittsburghBoardofTrustees.

On October 8, 2010 of this year, the Department recognized the outstanding accomplishments of four of its alumni.CALL FORNOMINATIONS

TheDepartmentissolicitingnominationsfortheChemistryDepartmentAlumniAwards.Nomineesshouldhaveabachelor’s,master’sordoctoraldegreefromtheDepartment.Thebasisforthenominationcanbeexcellenceinresearch,teaching,management,orvolunteerefforts.

Nominations should include:

1. Yournominatingletter

2. Atleastonebutnomore thanthreesecondingletters

3. ACVforthenominee

4. Contactinformationforthe nominee

Pleaseseethealumnisection

ofourwebpageat

www.chem.pitt.edu

formoreinformation

Nominationsshouldbeposted

by

December1,2011

to:

UniversityofPittsburgh

DepartmentofChemistry

AssistantChair

234ChevronScienceCenter

219ParkmanPlace

PittsburghPA,15260

Copyright ©, PittsburghPost-Gazette,2010,

All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

3

Chemistry Department History 2: On the Move—Our Commitment to Undergraduate Education

From the beginning, undergraduate educationhas been of paramount importance in the lifeof the Chemistry Department.The first chair,

FrancisCliffordPhillipswashiredtoteachanatomy,allbranchesofchemistry,aswellasmineralogy,ge-ology,botany,physiology,andzoology;literallyAtoZ.The first organic chemistry professor,AlexanderLowy(1918-1941)coauthoredamajor,widelyusedtext, A Textbook of Organic Chemistry, which wentthrough seven editions as late as 1951. There wasalso a companion text, coauthored with fellow fac-ultymemberWilliamBaldwin,A Laboratory Book of Elementary Organic Chemistry,thatwentthroughatleast twoeditionsandwasreprinted inIndiaas lateas 1947. Other important texts to come out of theDepartmentwereConcepts and Models for Inorganic ChemistrybyBodieDouglas(threeeditions),aimedat seniorundergraduates, andSymmetry in Bonding and Spectra,writtenwithC.A.Hollingsworth,whichfocusedonapplicationsofgrouptheoryatthegradu-ate level. Finally, what texts have had more impactthan the universally used and ubiquitous Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of College Chemis-try?Thiswasauthored,fromthethirdeditionin1949througheightheditionin1997,byJeromeRosenberg,co-authorshipoftheseventhandeightheditionswaswith Lawrence Epstein. Recent textbooks authoredbyfacultyareUniversity ChemistrybyPeterSiskain2006andPrinciples of Physical ChemistrybyDavidWaldeckin2009.

AstheDepartmenthasgrownandbecomearesearchpowerhouse,undergraduateeducationhasremainedapivotal focusofdevelopmentand innovation.WhentheUniversitybeganthehonorscollege,honors-levelcourses in general and organic chemistry were cre-ated.Aboutfiveyearsago,DavidWaldeckandLisaBell-Loncella (University ofPittsburgh, Johnstown)spearheaded the Computing Across the ChemistryCurriculum(CACC)effort thathas integratedcom-putationalchemistrytrainingintotheundergraduatecurriculum from the freshmen level through seniorlevel.JoeGrabowskihashelpedtointroducecomput-ermodelingandotherhightechimprovementstoourcoursepresentations.Mostimportantly,thechemistrycourseofferingscontinuetoevolveandexpand,espe-ciallyintheareasofnanoscience(ledbyAlexStar)andbiological chemistry (ledbyLillianChongandMichaelTrakselis).

While course work remains a core element of theundergraduate program, experiential learning isof growing importance. Between 80 and 90 per-cent of chemistry majors perform undergraduateresearch as part of their education.This experienceexposes them to the challenge of defining researchquestions and answering them. Our UTU (Under-graduates Teaching Undergraduates) program in-troduces nearly two-thirds of our majors to the

teachingofchemistry.UndertheleadershipofMi-chaelGolde,thisprogramhasexpandedfromthegeneralchemistryprogramthroughallofourlabo-ratorycourses,andisnowtheparadigmforanalo-gouseffortsthroughouttheUniversity.

Another aspect of our commitment to under-graduate education is the excellence of ourACSundergraduate student affiliates, recognizedas anOutstandingChapterforover20years.UnderthementorshipofGeorgeBandik,studentsparticipateinmanyoutreachactivitiesinsideandoutsidetheDepartment.These includegivingdemonstrationsat local schools and youth groups, the SaturdayScience Program, which provides instruction andlaboratory experiences for disadvantaged highschool students, and many other activities. Thatstudentsparticipateandexcelintheseextraactivi-tieswhilecompletingarigorous62creditsequenceofsciencecoursesistestimonytoourundergradu-ate students’ commitment and the Department’sspiritofexcellenceineducation.

TheimportanceofgoodundergraduateteachingisrecognizedbytheDepartmentandtheUniversity.TheDepartment’steachertraininghasprovidedamodelfortheUniversityasawhole.EachyeartheDepartment holds the Hurd SaffordAwards Cer-emony to recognize outstanding graduate studentinstructors. The University has bestowed numer-ousteachingawardsontheDepartment’sexcellentteachers.GeorgeBandik,JoeGrabowski,andPeterSiska have won both Chancellor’s DistinguishedTeaching Awards and Bellet CAS Teaching Ex-cellenceAwards.ErickaHustonhaswonaBelletAward, andDavidPratthaswon theChancellor’sTeaching Award. This record of excellence is ofgreatpridetotheDepartmentandabenchmarkforallcurrentfacultyandstudents.

AlexanderLowy

For more informationon Professor Lowy, see

www.alexanderlowy.com

George Bandik performs a demonstration for students in the

Saturday Science Program.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

4

Class of 1970: Where are they now?Let’sturnbacktheclocktolookatsomehighlightsof1970.UndertheleadershipofChairWilliamEdwardWallace,theDepartmentofChemistry

awarded45BSand14PhDdegrees.

• TheKansasCityChiefsbeattheMinnesotaVikingsinSuperBowlIV;theBaltimoreOriolesdefeatedtheCincinnatiRedstowintheWorldSeries;ThreeRiversStadiumopenedinPittsburgh.

• BlackSabbathreleaseditsdebutalbum,Black Sabbath;theBeatlesreleasedtheir12thandfinalalbum,Let It Be;thePublicBroadcastingService(PBS)wasinaugurated.

• TheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty,ratifiedby43nations,wasenacted;PresidentRichardNixonsignedameasureloweringthevotingageto18.

• ThefirstEarthDaywascelebratedintheUnitedStates,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)beganoperation.

• TheU.S.SteelTower,thetallestskyscraperinPittsburgh,wascompleted;theNorthToweroftheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkreached1368feet,makingit,atthetime,thetallestbuildingintheworld.

• ThepoliticalclimateatcollegesanduniversitiesacrosstheUnitedStateswasdominatedbyprotestsagainsttheVietnamWar;atKentStateUniversityinOhio,fourstudentswerekilledandninewerewoundedbyNationalGuardsman.

• In1970anewhousecost$23,400,theaverageincomeperyearwas$9,350,agallonofgaswas36cents,theaveragecostofanewcarwas$3,900andafirstclassUSpostagestampwassixcents;theDowJonesIndustrialsAverageclosedtheyearat838.92.

C. William Angus (BS ’70; Advisor: Safford): Dr.AnguswentontoreceivehisPhDfromJohnsHopkinsin1984.In2009heretiredfromtheNIHandhasmovedtoChocowinity,NC.HeiscurrentlyaresearchassociateattheBrodySchoolofMedicine.(angusc@ecu.edu)

Gary Cummins (BS ’70; Advisor: Douglas): GarywentontoreceivehisMD.Heworkedinfamilymedicinefor20yearsandwoundcarefor10years.Heiscurrentlyretired,albeitworkingpart-time,andliveswithhiswifeinNewport,RI.(gcummins2@cox.net)

Richard C. Diehl (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen):Dr.DiehliscurrentlyretiredandresidesinCapeCoral,FL.

Timothy R. Drury (BS ’70):AftergraduatingfromPitt,TimothywenttoPennStateHersheyMedicalSchoolandgraduatedwithhisMDin1974.HedidhisinternalmedicalresidencyatRhodeIslandHospitalinProvidence.Since1978hehasactedasthedirectoroftheEmergencyDepartmentatSouthcountyHospital.Heismarriedwithonechild.(timothydrury@cox.net)

Ivor René Fielding (PhD ’70; Advisor: Hollingsworth): Dr.Fieldinghasworkedasanindustrialresearchchemist.Heretiredin2000fromBP/AmocoandholdsthirteenUSpatents.Heismarried,andhehastwochildrenandfivegrandchildren.(fielding2000@hotmail.com)

Jerry A. Jenkins (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen): Dr.JenkinsisprofessorandchairoftheDepartmentofChemistryandBiochemistryatOtterbeinCollege.Hehas recentlypublishedabookentitled,Workbook for Organic Chemistry – Supplemental Problems and Solutions,W.H.FreemanandCompany,2010(ISBN-13:978-1-4292-4758-0).(jjenkins@otterbein.edu)

Fran Rattay (BS ’68, MS ’70; Advisor: Cohen): FranretiredrecentlyfromBayerafter36years.HebeganhiscareeratMobay(nowBayerMaterialScience)asananalytical chemist, andhiswork includedcompetitiveproducts identification,plantprocessanalysis, and thedevelopmentofpolymersequencedistributionanalyticaltechniques.WhileatBayer,heoversawaRegulatoryAffairsDepartmentthatisresponsibleforproductcomplianceandregistrationwithEPAandFDAregulationsforindustrial,specialty,dyes,polymersandrubberchemicals.FranhasparticipatedinseveralTradeAssociationGroupprojectsoftheAmericanChemistryCouncilincludingajointefforttodevelopstandardizednomenclatureguidelinesfortheisocyanateindustry.HeandhiswifeDianeareenjoyingtheirsixgrandchildrenandspendtheirwintersinFlorida.(drattay@zoominternet.net)

George Rovnyak (BS ’66, PhD ’70): Advisor: Danishefsky):AftergraduationGeorgeworkedatSquibb(nowBristol-MyersSquibb),primarilyincardiovascularandoncologydrugdiscovery.In2003,heretiredfromhispositionasaresearchfellow.Georgewasmarriedin1963andhehasthreedaughtersandfivegrandchildren.HeisenjoyinghisnewsecondhomeinWestCapeMay,NJ.(rovnyakg@verizon.net)

ALUMNI UPDATES:

Paul Rupert (PhD ’69; Advisor: Frank): Paul is aProfessorofChemistryatAdrianCollege.Healsoownsandoperates a commercialwinelaboratoryandhasbeendesignatedaCertifiedWineChemistbytheU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury–TobaccoandAlcoholTaxandTradebureau(TTB).(prupert@tc3net.com)

Nancy McKeever Targett (BS ’72): Nancymethergoalandbecameamarinechemicalecologist.Aboutfiveyearsago,shebecameDeanof(andprofessorin)theUniversityofDelaware’sCollegeofMarineandEarthStudies.Withherresearchshehashadtheopportunitytotravelextensively(threeunderwaterhabitatmissions).ShehaspublishedandpresentedpapersatmeetingsaroundtheworldandgraduatedmanyMSandPhDstudents.SheisverygratefultoProfessorDavidPrattfortakingthe“timetotalkwithageekykidintheearly70sandlistentoherdream!”

Robert Joseph Radnoti (MS ’74):Mr.RadnotiisretiredfromtheMarylandStatePoliceCrimeLabafter30yearsinforensicscience-“morethanenoughforanysaneindividual!”Heiscurrentlybuildinganewhouse(doingalotoftheworkhimself)andflyfishinginhissparetime.

Christina Pampena (BS ’75):Christinaisafieldsalesrepresentative(SouthCentralterritory)forPPGIndustries,Inc.intheCalHypobusinessunit.CalHypo,calciumhypochlorite,isawatertreatmentchemicalproducedbyPPG.(cmpampena@gmail.com)

Jeff Moore (PhD ’85; Advisor: Butera):Jeffhasbeenemployedbyvariouscompaniessincetheearly80s,beginningwithBellLabsMurrayHill(FiberOpticsdesign)in’85.In1995hemovedtoBusinessAnalyticsandthenbecametheDirectorofBusinessintheIntegratedCircuitsOperationsandPlanningdivisionforATT,thenLucent,andmostrecently,Agere.From2000-2004hewasanadjunctprofessoratLehighUniversity.WhiletheBusinessAnalyticsDirectorforAgere,JeffspentalotoftimecommutingtoLondonandlatertoMunich.Hegracefullyescapedfromtrans-AtlanticcommutingbyworkingforUSA-basedFairchildSemiconductorasSeniorDirectorofBusiness.HenowcommutesbetweeneasternPennsylvania,wherehehaslivedsince1991andPortlandMEwhereFairchildCorporateheadquartersislocated.Jeffismarriedandhasa16year-olddaughterwhoisinterestedinattendingPitt.

Anthony Rosati (BS ’82, MS ’87; Advisor: Waldeck): Forthepasttwoyears,TonyhasbeenDirectoroftheDataIntegrationandDisseminationDivisionoftheOfficeofCoal,Nuclear,ElectricandAlternateFuels,oftheU.S.EnergyInformationAdministration,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy.Hisstaffsupportstheenergyanalystsincollecting,analyzing,anddistributingtheresultsoffederalindustrysurveysofvariousbranchesoftheU.S.energymarkets.Tonyhasonechildwithhiswife,Benita,offouryears.

David Muddiman (PhD ’95; Advisor: Hercules): DavidiscurrentlyProfessorofChemistryatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity.HewasawardedtheBiemannMedalbytheAmericanSocietyforMassSpectrometry(ASMS)inMayofthisyearattheannualASMS,whichitrecognizesasignificantachievementinbasicorappliedmassspectrometrymadebyanindividualearlyinhisorhercareer.

Randy R. Micheletti (MS ’01; Advisor: Wipf): RandyisnowworkingasapatentattorneywithK&LGatesLLPinChicago.

Amit Paul (PhD ’08; Advisor: Waldeck):AmitisworkingasapostdocattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillwhereheispartofanEnergyFrontierResearchCenter(EFRC).Heisworkingonhydrocarbonoxidationbyrutheniumandplatinumcatalysts.Amitandhiswifehaveonechild.

Eleanor Ott (BS ’09):Eleanorwasnameda2010RhodesScholar.Eleanor’sinterestsareinhumanrights,refugeeissues,andevidence-basedpolicy.AttheUniversityofOxford,shewillstudyforcedmigrationandevidence-basedsocialintervention,refugeeandmigrationstudies,andsocialscienceresearchmethods.

Faculty 1970

W. Edward Wallace, Chairman

Edward McCollin Arnett, Professor

Richard A. Butera, Assoc. Professor

James Clyde Carter, Assoc. Professor

Toby M. Chapman, Asst. Professor

Johannes Francois Coetzee, Professor

Theodore Cohen, Assoc. Professor

Raymond S. Craig, Professor

Samuel J. Danishefsky, Asst. Professor

Kenneth E. Daugherty, Assoc. Professor

Bodie E. Douglas, Professor

Paul Dowd, Asst. Professor

T.H. Dunkelberger, Professor andAsst. Dean, College of Arts and Sci-ences

Frank Oscar Ellison, Professor

Lawrence M. Epstein, Assoc. Professor

Henry S. Frank, Professor

Klaus H. Hofmann, Professor andDirector of Protein Research Lab

Charles Alvin Hollingsworth, Profes-sor

Kenneth Jeffrey Johnson, Asst. Professor

Frederick Kaufman, Professor

Robert Levine, Professor

Richard Hugh McCoy, ProfessorDean and Director of Graduate Pro-grams, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Foil A. Miller, Professor andDirector, Spectroscopy Laboratory

Alfred Leon Moyé, Asst. Professor

David Wixon Pratt, Asst. Professor

V. Udaya Shankar Rao, Asst. Profes-sor

Jerome L. Rosenberg, Professor

Hurd Winter Safford, Professor

David Philip Schumacher, Asst. Professor

Darel K. Straub, Assoc. Professor

Joseph J. Taber, Assoc. Professor

William Edward Wallace, Professor

Claude Edwin Wilson, Asst. Professor

Robert L. Wolke, Professor

Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

5

Honor Roll A warm thank you to those who made donations from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010

AnonymousAbbottLaboratoriesDr.WilliamD.AbrahamMr.andMrs.GaryJ.AdamczykMr.GregoryJ.AdamczykMr.ShigeruAmemiyaMarkR.Ams,PhDMr.andMrs.C.WilliamAngusMr.GiuseppeLuigiArliaandMs.AnneMarieBosynakDr.SanfordA.AsherandDr.NancyL.DayMr.JeffreyPaulBaloghGeorgeC.Bandik,PhDMr.JohnFrancisBargarDr.RobertJeffreyBasemanBASFCorporationBayerUSAFoundationBayshoreEnvironmentalDavidN.Beratan,PhDHollyMaryBevsek,PhDJosephN.Biber,PhDEdwardRobertBiehl,PhDDr.andMrs.IoannisV.BletsosMr.ThomasWarnerBoyerMr.andMrs.PaulBradleyMr.CharlesBrnardicPhilipFrederickBrodeIII,PhDMr.PhilipR.BrooksMr.TerryJosephBrownMr.andMrs.WalterBrutschDr.SeanM.BuchananandDr.KimberlyJeanDurniakDr.EllenLackeyBunyanMr.KennethElliottBurkmanPaulDarwinCarfagna,PhDJ.P.BlakeCasher,D.O.Mrs.AnnaM.CastleMs.KateMarieCerullyMs.SallyChapmanLillianT.Chong,PhDDr.MudanChowandDr.HueimingChowMr.andMrs.RichardClappMarkCampionClawson,MDDr.TheodoreCohenandDr.PearlBerniceCohenMr.JamesJosephConnersN.JohnandKarenCooperDr.F.FlemingCrimJr.Mr.andMrs.GerryDaherDr.andMrs.KennethC.DeNardoDr.andMrs.VincentMichaelDonnellyMr.WalterJamesDressickDr.CarolineM.DriscollandMr.TimGearyMr.MarkDavidEllisonFamilyDentistryDr.EricAnthonyFarabaughMr.JamesM.FarrarJohnJosephFarrell,PhDMartinLouisFeldman,PhDMs.CarolynT.FergusonFidelityCharitableGiftFundMr.RobertW.FieldMr.JamesNormanFosterMs.JanetFrankMr.EdwardCharlesFreseMr.andMrs.DuaneFreyMr.LouisD.FriedmanMichaelBrodieGarver,DMDMr.StevenJ.GeibMr.ThomasJ.GerlowskiJr.Dr.andMrs.DonJosephGermanoMr.NicholasJosephGervaseDr.andMrs.ArunK.GhoshArthurJoelGoldman,MDAndrewJamesGoudy,PhDMr.D.TylerGourleyMr.andMrs.W.RichardGregorMr.andMrs.LeroyS.GressMr.MarkAndrewGriffithAndrewD.Hamilton,PhDMr.MelvinWayneHarshbergerDr.JoyceFehlHaskellandMr.AlexC.HaskellIIIMr.RobertGreenHayesMr.JackL.Hedrick

Ms.LoriJeanHenningerDr.DavidM.HerculesandDr.ShirleyH.HerculesDr.KendallN.HoukandDr.RobinL.GarrellProfessorPaulL.HoustonShan-JenChenHuang,PhDAbulHussam,PhDRobertDouglasHutchens,PhDMrs.PatriciaBrownIsaacsMr.andMrs.JustinDavidJaeckeKevinD.John,PhDMr.RobertAnthonyJohnsMr.andMrs.RichardJohnsonMr.andMrs.CraigR.JonesMr.EdwinL.JonesJr.Mr.JoshuaC.JonesKennethD.JordanDianeElizabethJunker,PhDMr.KevinJamesKapplesDr.CostasG.KarakatsanisandMs.BarbaraAnnBlackmondMr.CharlesA.KarcutskieCharlesAnthonyKarcutskie,DMDDr.ChristopherKaufmanandDr.LisaCambottiKaufmanRobertEugeneKerwin,PhDArshadKhan,MDMr.andMrs.MoufidKhouryDr.Sung-HouKimandDr.RosalindYuanKimMr.LesterDeanKingMs.CynthiaG.KinnanDr.JosephA.GardellaJr.andMs.CarolKizisDr.LeonardS.KogutGaryAllenKoppel,PhDMs.MichelleMarieKotsagrelosMr.ThomasRichardKrughMr.andMrs.BrianKrullJamesM.P.Kyros,DMDYuanTsehLee,PhDMs.MargaretMatuschakLevinMr.RonaldJamesLewarchikDr.CraigRichardBielerandDr.LisaBethLewisDr.andMrs.ChristopherL.LienDr.andMrs.JonathanLipowitzMs.AlvernaBernadetteLoberQuentinL.Looney,PhDMr.SigmundJ.LukasiewiczGeorgeWilliamLutherIII,PhDGeorgeMajetich,PhDMargaretM.LevinCharitableRemainder-AnnuityTrustMr.DavidGirardMartinRonaldJ.Martis,PhDMs.KieraAnnKocibanMatheyMr.PhilipJeffreyMcDermottL.DennisMcKeeverMs.MirnaMemisevicAdrianMichael,PhDMrs.AnneStickleyMichelDr.FoilA.MillerDr.JohnT.MinorMr.&Mrs.EdisonMontgomeryMr.RaymondM.MoranJr.Mr.ChristopherMyronMostowyMr.GarthChristopherMoyleMichaelRayMyers,PhDMs.PatriciaLynnOpreskoOrganicSyntheses,Inc.G.R.Padmanabhan,PhDVasilPajcini,PhDGeorgeRobertPatrick,PhDMr.andMrs.GlenPetersMr.AndrewS.PetitMs.PaulineCarpinelliPiattPittsburghSectionAmericanChemicalSocietyWilliamPlummer,PhDRonaldKurtPoropatich,MDMrs.FrancesS.PozunMr.ZacharyD.PozunDavidW.Pratt,PhDMs.KathleenPrattTheT.RowePriceProgramforCharitableGiving

Mr.JohnF.QuinnMr.MichaelThomasRadvanMs.JudithRamseyerMr.MarkA.RatnerMr.andMrs.FrancisJosephRattayWilsonTerryRawlins,PhDMr.andMrs.TimothyJ.RenschRetroSystems,Inc.KennethE.Rohly,PhDMs.KathleenLehmanRohrSoniaRondon,PhDJeromeM.RosenbergDr.JosephJ.RothermelMr.WesleyPatrickSadlerMr.andMrs.MitchellSasalaJr.Dr.andMrs.CameronSatterthwaiteMr.ThomasHarrySchaefersMr.andMrs.StevenL.SchaferSchwabCharitableFundMr.andMrs.JamesSchwartzPaulScolieri,MDHerbertH.Seltzman,PhDMr.andMrs.LeonSendeckiMr.JitenHarishShahWilliamRaymondSharpe,PhDMr.MichaelGeorgeSheppoMr.andMrs.RobertEmmetteSheridanIIRobertDonaldShoup,PhDMr.AlbertW.SimonJanetDiPasqualeSimon,PhDJ.MatthewSimon,PhDProfessorJohnP.SimonsMr.JosephSmiskoH.KevinSmith,PhDSocietyforAnalyticalChemistsofPittsburghMr.JohnP.SonyeKirkLeonardSorgi,PhDDr.ConstantineN.SpalarisSpectroscopySocietyofPittsburghCharlesHalcombSpringer,PhDJoeCharlesSpurgeon,PhDMr.DonaldC.StevensDr.MichaelAlanStranickandDr.KimberlySelsorStranickMichaelStremFamilyMs.BarbaraA.SvitekMichaelD.Swerdloff,PhDDr.GregoryDavidSysynNancyMcKeeverTargett,PhDDr.CharlesAlbertTarinoandDr.JanetZiskindTarinoEstherF.TeplitzTrustEstherF.Teplitz,MDJosephMichaelThomas,PhDDr.andMrs.DanielWilliamTrainorDr.andMrs.ForrestA.TrumboreDr.andMrs.MichaelP.TurbergMr.JewleeWeahTwehTheValsparFoundationMr.DavidAlanVanzinRobertAlfredVolkmann,PhDDavidH.Waldeck,PhDAndrewBuchananWalker,MDDr.NyalS.WalkerMr.JohnJosephWallLijunWang,PhDStephenG.Weber,PhDIrvingWender,PhDMr.andMrs.RoyWetzelMr.RichardAlbertWinschelDr.andMrs.PeterWipfElizabethThereseWise,PhDGilbertWitschard,PhDMr.andMrs.KirkB.WolffDr.RobertL.WolkeTse-ChongWu,PhDYanXia,PhDJiYang,PhDDr.andMrs.JohnT.Yates,Jr.Dr.andMrs.RalphE.YingstMr.andMrs.Sun-QuanYuanDr.JosephS.YudelsonMarkStuartZahniser,PhDMr.andMrs.AnthonyKeithZiberna

Gifts to the Department of Chemis-

try have a direct impact on the daily

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Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

6

Faculty Highlights: Peter Wipf

Chemistry Professor Peter Wipf and his group developand apply the tool chest of synthetic chemistry to im-portant problems in chemistry, biology, and medicine.Theyare interested innewmethodologies,stereochemi-calanalysisbyspectroscopicandcomputationalmethods,synthetic strategiesandmechanisms,medicinalchemis-tryandchemicalbiology,andtotalsynthesis.Theyselecttargetmoleculesonthebasisoftheiruniquearchitectures,biological activity, as well as for showcasing their syn-theticmethods.Below,afewspecificexampleshighlightthisapproach.

Synthetic Methodologies.Startingwiththetransmetala-tionchemistryoforganozirconocenes,theWipfgrouphasgreatlyexpandedthescopeoforganozirconiumchemis-tryoverthepast20years.Theyreportedthefirstasym-metricprotocolfortheadditionofalkenylzirconocenestoaldehydesaswellasseveralinnovativecascadereactionswith imines. For example, the multicomponent reactionof alkenyl zirconocene, alkynyl imine and zinc carben-oid in thepresenceofdimethylzinc leads tonovelC,C-dicyclopropylmethylamines.Theformationofintermedi-atebicyclo[1.1.0]butanesrepresentsthefirstsyntheticallyusefulexampleofadoubleC,C-s-bondinsertion,andtheincreaseinstructuralcomplexityfromstartingmaterialsishighlightedbytheformationofninenewC,C-bondsinthefinalproduct:

Theseproductscanbefurtherelaboratedintopharmaceuticallysignificant5-,6-,and7-memberedheterocycles:

Natural Product Total Synthesis.Tuberostemonineisamemberof theStemonafamilyofalkaloids thathasat-tractedincreasinginterestfromsyntheticchemistsinthelast10years.TheWipfgrouphaspioneered theoxida-tivecyclizationoftyrosineasaunifiedstrategytowardthemajorStemonaalkaloidringscaffolds:

Their tuberostemonine synthesis highlights a threefolduse of ruthenium catalysts, first in azepine ring-closingmetathesisandtheninalkeneisomerizationandcross-me-tathesispropenyl-vinylexchange,aswellasmethodologydevelopmentsfromtheirlaboratorysuchasthestereose-lectiveattachmentoftheg-butyrolactoneringtothetetra-cyclecorestructurebyuseofalithiatedABO-orthoester.

While tuberostemonine illustrates strategic and tacticalmotivationsfora totalsynthesisprogram,disorazoleC1andbistramideCwereinspiredbythepursuitofinterest-ing biological activities and fundamental computationalstudies,respectively:

Medicinal Chemistry. The application of modern syn-thetic methodology for solving challenging biologicaland medical problems is an extremely fertile field, andtheWipfgroupcontinuestoexploreopportunitiesinthisinterdisciplinaryandcollaborativeresearch.Sinceitsdis-coveryin1942,thecyclodecapeptideantibioticGramici-dinS(GS,cyclo[(Val-Orn-Leu-DPhe-Pro-)2])hasservedasaninspirationforthedesignofantibacterialagentsandantimicrobialpeptides,aswellasthestudyofconforma-tionalmimicry.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

7

Faculty Nuggets

Mitochondria are key organelles that perform essentialcellular functions and play pivotal roles in cell deathand survival signaling.Hence, they represent anattrac-tivetargetfordrugstotreatmetabolic,degenerative,andhyperproliferativediseases.Targetingmitochondriawithorganelle-specificagentsorprodrugshasproventobeaneffectivetherapeuticstrategy.Morespecifically,control-ling the cellular ROS balance via selective delivery ofanantioxidant“payload”intomitochondriaisanelegantemergingtherapeuticconcept.Inexcitingbiomedicalap-plicationsofpeptidomimeticdesignprinciples,theWipfgroupwasabletodesignandsynthesizeamitochondrialmembranetargetingsequencethathasshowninvivoeffi-cacyagainsthemorrhagicshock,age-relatedneurodegen-erativediseases,aswellasutilityasradiationmitigatorsandradiationprotectiveagents.

Insummary,theresearchprogramintheWipfgroupaimstobroadenthearsenalofsyntheticorganicchemistry,show-casenewmethodologyinnaturalproductanddesignedmoleculesynthesis,applythesetoolstocuttingedgebiologicalproblems,andmoveforwardwiththedevelopmentofnewtherapeuticstrategies.

Damodaran Krishnan Achary(NMRDirector)waspromotedtoresearchassociateprofessor.

George BandikwasrecognizedforhisoutstandingworkwithstudentsinthefieldofchemistrybythemembersoftheUniversityofPittsburghGreekLifeandreceivedspecialrecognitionasanoutstandingpro-fessorthisyear.

Kay Brummondwaselectedtothe2010classoffellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.

Toby ChapmanwasinductedasadistinguishedmemberoftheUniversityofPittsburghChapteroftheNationalSocietyofCollegiateScholarsfortheacademicyear2010-2011.HealsowaspresentedanawardforbeingamemberoftheAmericanChemicalSocietyfor50years.

Dennis CurranreceivedaDoctoratHonorisCausa(HonoraryDoctorat)fromtheUniversityofPierreandMarieCurieinParisatanawardsceremonyonMarch26,2010.

Kenneth JordanreceivedtheACSPhysicalChemistryDivisionAwardinTheoreticalChemistry.

Haitau LiureceivedtheNewYorkAcademyofSciences2010BlavatnikAward.

Renã RobinsonisthefacultyadvisorforthenewlyformedchapteroftheNationalOrganizationofBlackChemistsandChemicalEngineers(NOBCChE).ThePittsburghchapterwasofficiallyinductedatthe2010NortheastRegionalMeetingrecentlyheldattheUniversityofPennsylvania.

Nat Rosi wasselectedasa2010‘EmergingInvestigator’byChemicalCommunications.AlsohereceivedaNationalScienceFoundationCAREERawardbasedonhisproposalentitled“DesignedPeptideConjugatesforPreciselyControllingtheFabrication,Structure,andPropertiesofNanoparticleSuperstructures.”

Megan SpencewasfeaturedinthePittsburgh Post-Gazette,forherstudiesofthestructureofproteinsincellmembranes.

Alexander Starwasnamedsectioneditor-in-chiefofthetopicalsectionon“Biosensors”forthejournalSensors.Also,hewasselectedtoreceiveafive-yearNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS)OutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientist(ONES)Awardforhisproject,“InvestigationsandMiti-gationofCarbonNanomaterialToxicity”,andhasbeenselectedtoreceiveaNationalScienceFoundationCAREERawardbasedonhisproposalentitled“SynthesisandExplorationofGraphiticNanocapsules.”

Michael TrakselisreceivedanAmericanCancerSocietyResearchScholarGranttosupportthe“Mecha-nismofDNAPolymeraseSwitchingDuringReplicationtoBypassLesions.”

Peter Wipfwaselectedtothe2010classofFellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.AlsohisresearchwasfeaturedastheNewsoftheWeekinC&E NewsandinChemistry World.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

8

KathrynDavis(2005BS/BAfromHopeCollegeand2010PhDfromtheUniv.Pittsburgh) received her PhD in chemistry this past summer. Her research inbioelectrochemistrywasperformedundertheguidanceofDavidWaldeckand

focusedonthenatureofelectrontransferfrommetalelectrodestoimmobilizedredoxproteinsandtonucleicacids.DuringhertimeatPitt,Kathyreceivednumerousawards,includingaMaryE.WargaFellowship andaGoldblattFellowship.Shealso receivedatravelawardandgaveoralpresentationsofherworkatthenationalACSmeetinginPhiladelphiain2008andatinternationalmeetingsoftheElectrochemicalSociety(ECS)inViennain2009andVancouverin2010.

Kathy’s thesis isentitled“ChargeTransfer in ImmobilizedBiomolecules.”Herexperimental studiesofimmobilizedproteinsexploredhowtheelectrontransferrateconstantchangeswiththechemicalnatureoftheprotein’simmobilizationandwiththepropertiesoftheelectrolytemedium,suchasviscosityandisotope(H

2OversusD

2O).Thesestudiesdemonstratedexperimentalstrategiesforexploringproton-coupledelectron

transferatelectrodesandforexploringchangesintheelectrontransfermechanismthatarisefromchangesinthecouplingstrengthbetweenaredoxproteinandtheelectrode.Kathy’sstudiesofPeptideNucleicAcid(PNA)revealedthenucleobasedependenceforelectrontransferthroughduplexPNAandlaidthefoundationforexploringelectrontransferthroughPNAduplexesthatcontainmetalionsalongthehelix’score.

BecauseofKathy’slong-standinginterestinanacademiccareer,sheperformedanumberofdifferentteachingdutiesintheDepartment.Duringherfirstyearintheprogram,shewasateachingassistantforgeneralchemistryandlaterinhercareersheservedasateachingassistantinthephysicalchemistrylaboratory.Throughouthertimeintheprogram,Kathywasaprivatechemistrytutorforundergraduatestudents,aswellashighschoolstudents.Inthefallof2009,KathywaschosentobealecturerforourCHEM0100course,whichisapreparatorycourseforthesubsetofundergraduatestudentswhomaynothavehadhighschoolchemistryandneedsomebasictrainingbeforetakingthemainstreamgeneralchemistrysequence.UndertheseasonedmentorshipofDr.GeorgeBandik,Kathyperformedexcellentlyinthisnewandchallengingroleasacourselecturer.

ThisfallKathyassumedapositionasanAssistantProfessorofChemistryatManchesterCollegeinIndiana,wheresheteachesphysicalchemistry,aswellasgeneralchemistrylabsandanintroductorychemistrylecture.

Graduate Highlights: Kathryn Davis

Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU)

GraduateAwards

Andrew MellonPredoctoral Fellowship

AdamFleisherAndreySolovyev

Arts and Sciences FellowshipsAnthonyBencivenga

AdamEvansBenjaminEyerGeorgeLengyel

RichardLiberatoreEverettMerlingBrandonMills

MichaelNardoneElizabethPaladinGuangRongPeh

YouweiXieJieXu

YongzhaoYanYingYi

MatthewZwier

Bayer MaterialsScience Fellowship

YifanTangHongZhang

Goldblatt FellowshipJuanfangWu

Warga FellowshipVictoriaChuLauraKocsis

Bayer FellowshipSeanGardner

Kaufmann FellowshipCheukFaiChiu

Provost’s FellowshipHaoLu

MaduMendis

Sunoco FellowshipToddVargson

PhiLambdaUpsilon(PLU)istheNationalHonoraryChemistrySocietyfoundedin1899.Theaimsandpurposesofthesocietyarethepromotionofhighscholarshipandoriginalinvestigationinallbranchesofpureandappliedchemistry.TheUniversityofPittsburghXiChapterhasbeenapartoftheNationalPLUsinceitwasfoundedin1917.

Inthe2009-2010year,PLUorganizedseveralsocialeventssuchas iceskating,bowling,andhappyhours.PLUalsosponsoredtheannualfirst-yearpicnic aswell as theholidayparty,whichwasheldatPeter’sPubthisyearandwasagreatsuccess.

OneofPLU’sbiggesteventsistheannualFrancisCliffordPhillipsLecture,thelongestrunninggraduatechemistrylectureseriesorganizedbygraduatestudents.The55thPhillipsLecturespeaker,Dr.PhilBaranofTheScrippsResearchInstitutewasselectedbytheorganicchemistrydivision.ProfessorBaran’sresearchfocusesonthepracticaltotalsynthesisofcomplexnaturalproducts,suchasalkaloidsandterpenes,byaim-ingtoachievethe“idealsynthesis.”Todate,theBarangrouphasaccomplishedtotalsynthesesofnumeroushighlycomplexandbiologicallyactivenaturalproducts.

PLUendedthe2009-2010yearbyinitiatingsevennewmembersintothesocietyinJune.Inthe2010-2011year,PLUlooksforwardtoseveralmoresocialeventsaswellasthe56thPhillipsLecture,whichforthefirsttimeinPLUhistorywillrepresenttherecentlyintroducedbiologicalchemistrydivision.

MoreinformationaboutPLUandupcomingeventscanbefoundonourwebsite(www.pitt.edu/~plu)orvisitusonFacebook(PluPitt).PLUofficersforthe2010-2011yearareKristyGogickandBrianGraham(Co-Presidents),RobinSloan (Vice-President),AmyHamsher (Secretary), andTimCunningham(Trea-surer).

Dr. Phil Baran with graduate students at the 55th Phillips lecture reception dinner.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

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Undergraduate In The Spotlight: Kelley Peters

ACS Student Affiliate News

2010 UndergraduateSenior Awards

The American Institute of Chemists Award

MaryLiang

The Mary Louise Theodore Prize

AlexanrdaM.McSorleyMichaelG.OlahMariaT.PantevaKelleyL.PetersRyanA.Wetzel

The Merck AwardSethA.PattonRyanA.Wetzel

The SACP College AwardMichaelS.Freedman

The Silverman PrizeJosephW.Kaus

The Phillips MedalDanielleN.Chirdon

KelleyPeters receivedherBachelorofSciencedegree inchemistrywithabiological sciencesoption inMay,2010.Kelleywasoneofourmanyout-standinggraduatingseniorsthispastacademicyear.ShegraduatedwithbothUniversityandDepartmentalhonors.ShealsowasrecognizedforherstrongperformanceinanalyticalchemistrywiththeACSUndergraduateAnalyticalChemistryAward.

Duringhertimewithus,Kelleywasactivelyinvolvedinourundergraduateprogram.SheservedasalaboratoryinstructorintheOrganicChemistryILabo-ratoryProgramandshewasresponsibleformentoringnumerousundergraduatestudentsastheymasteredthetechniquesoforganicchemistry.

KelleywasalsoanactiveparticipantinourUndergraduateResearchProgram.ShecarriedoutresearchunderthedirectionofProfessorSteveWeberwhereshelookedatcalciumimaginginratbraintissue.Itwasforthiswork,aswellasherstrongacademicperformance,thatKelleyreceivedtheACSAnalyticalChemistryAward.

KelleyalsowasanactivememberofourACSStudentAffiliatesgroupduringhertimeintheDepartment.ShevolunteeredformanyofouroutreacheffortsincludingthecelebrationofNationalChemistryWeekattheCarnegieScienceCenter.Closertohomesheservedasamentortonumerouslocalhighschoolstudentsaspartofourhonor’sorganiclaboratoryprogramandourSaturdayScienceAcademy.Kelley’sabilitytoshareherenthusiasmandloveforscienceandeducationwithouryoungvisitorswastrulyinspiring.Inad-ditiontothis,KelleyalsoservedonourSeniorAffairsCommitteethispastyear.

SinceleavingPittsburgh,KelleyhasbegungraduatestudiesinforensicchemistryatFloridaInternationalUniversity.WewishKelleyandallofthispastyear’sgraduatesgreatsuccessinalltheirfutureendeavors.

HereattheUniversityofPittsburgh–ACS-SAchapter,werecognizetheimportantrolethatweasalargeurbanuniversityplayinoursurroundingcommunity.Webelievethatitisourresponsibilityto

interactwithlocaleducationalgroupsinordertoshareourappreciationofsciencewithothers.Wealsorealizethatthiscanonlybeachievediflocalgroupsarewillingtobeactiveplayersintheseundertakings.

Allofouroutreacheffortsbeganwithsmallgroupdiscussionsbetweenoneortwomembersofourchapterandofthelocalcommunitygroup.Duringthesemeetings,welearnedabouttheindividualgroups’needs,demographics,andultimategoalsforbetteringtheirstudents’appreciationofscience.Becauseourout-reacheffortsfocusontheeducationalmission,wewereabletoexpandoureffortsthroughnetworkingwithalumniwhoarenowinvolvedinthelocalclassrooms.

Wehave found thatourmembersareveryenthusiasticaboutparticipating in theseoutreachprograms.Uponfurtherinquiry,wehavereceivedcommentsfromstudentssayingthatsincethePittsburghcommu-nityhadsuchapositiveimpactontheircollegeexperience,theyhopedtoreturnthisfavorbygivingbackthroughtheseprograms.OthershavetoldusthatsimplyseeingtheenthusiasmonthefacesofouryoungvisitorsmadegettingupearlyonaSaturdaymorningworthwhile.Stillothersaremorepragmaticandreal-izethatbeinginvolvedintheseofferingscanhelpthemachievetheirultimatelongtermgoals.

Weareparticularlyproudofthemakeupofourchapter.Weboastnearly75activememberscomingfromawidevarietyofmajors.Forexample,thisyearourco-presidentsarebothbiologymajorsandourtreasurerisacivilengineer.Weadvertisethisregularlyandbelievethatitencouragesothernon-chemistrymajorstoattendourmeetingsandparticipateinouractivities.Inadditiontoourstrongoutreachprograms,wehaveawidevarietyofotheractivitiesinwhichourmemberscanparticipate.Wehostspeakersthatdiscusstop-icsincludingmakingcareerchoices,contemporaryresearchbeingdoneinbothacademicsandindustry,andthecurrenthotissueofgreenchemistry.Wealsomakeapointofhostingseveralsocialeventseachsemestersuchasbirthdaycelebrations,holidayparties,andseniorrecognitionawardceremonies.Finally,togiveallofourmembersopportunitiestoactivelyparticipateinourgroup,theyareinvitedtotutorwithintheDepartmentandassistinourweeklyfundraising.

Weareveryproudofmembershipandtheirachievements.WehopetocontinueourstronglegacyhereattheUniversityofPittsburgh.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

10

New Faculty and Staff

Haitao Liu, Assistant ProfessorHaitaoLiureceivedhisBSfromtheUniversityofScienceandTech-nologyofChina,hisPhDfromUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,and he completed postdoctoral work at Columbia University. Re-searchintheHaitaoLiulabisfocusedonthechemistryandapplica-tionsofnano-materials.Theyareinterestedinawiderangeoforganicandinorganicmaterials,includingbutnotlimitedtoDNA,graphene,carbon nanotubes, and colloidal nanocrystals. Current projects in-cludetheuseofDNAnanostructurestodolithographyonasiliconwafer,thesynthesisandchemicalmodificationofgrapheneandsin-glewalledcarbonnanotubes,andthemechanisticstudyofcolloidalnanocrystalsynthesis.

Xinyu Liu, Assistant ProfessorXinyu Liu received his PhD in organic chemistry from the SwissFederalInstituteofTechnology(ETH)ZurichinSwitzerlandandhecompleted postdoctoral work in biochemistry at Harvard MedicalSchool,Boston.Research in theXinyuLiu lab residesat the inter-faceofchemistry,biology,andmedicineandconcerns thestudyofbroadlydefinedtemplate–independentbiologicalprocessesinlivingsystems.Thecurrentresearchfocusofthelaboratoryistodevelopanextgeneration(bio)syntheticplatformthatwillserveasthebasistounderstand the biogenesis and signal transduction events related topolysaccharide,polypeptideandpolyprenylatedsmallmoleculenatu-ralproducts.Byunderstandingthesebiologicalprocessesatadetailedmolecular level, theyaim to facilitate thediscoveryofnovel therapeutics for the treatmentofcancer,autoimmune,neurodegenerative,andinfectiousdiseases,aswellasthecreationofnewenvironmentally friendly biomaterials for biomedical applications.While their strength lies insyntheticorganicchemistry,proteinbiochemistryandenzymology,theyalsointegratemicrobiol-ogy,cellbiology,biophysics,andbioengineeringintotheirresearchprogram.

John P. (Jay) Auses, Senior AdministratorJohn P. (Jay) Auses was recently named senior administrator(assistantchair)oftheDepartmentofChemistry.AnativeofWesternPennsylvania,Jaygrewup inJohnstown,earnedaBS inchemistryfromSt.FrancisUniversityinLoretto,andearnedanMSinchemistryfromWestVirginiaUniversity.Duringhisindustrialcareer,Jayheldpositions as research scientist, environmental chemist, technicalsupervisor, and quality manager at theAlcoaTechnical Center. HehasbeenactiveintheSocietyforAnalyticalChemistsofPittsburghand the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, once having served aspresidentofthePittsburghConferenceonAnalyticalChemistryandApplied Spectroscopy (PITTCON).Among his duties as the senior administrative officer, Jayassiststhedepartmentchair,overseesthedaytodayoperationsofthedepartment,andservesasthegraduatestudentliaison.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

11

Renovation Status

Department Milestones

RETIREMENTS:

BOB MUHA (2/1971 – 6/2010) Bob,adegreedelectricalengineer,cametousfromWestinghouse’sformerBettisAtomicPowerLaboratory.Underhissupervision,theDepartment’selectronicsshopgrewfromaone-personunittoawell-respectedandhighlyvaluedfour-personoperation.After39yearsofdedicatedserviceBobretiredtopursuetheartoffreshwaterfishing.

DENNIS SICHER: Machinist (6/1966 – 8/2009)DenniscametoworkfortheUniversityatage17,whenhewashiredtoworkforDr.RaymondCraigandDr.WilliamE.Wallace.AstheDepartmentexpandedanddemandsgrew,DenniseventuallybecamesupervisoroftheMachineShopandretired43yearslater.HenowresidesinFlorida.

NANCY WOODRING: Assistant to the Chair (9/1972 – 8/2010)NancywasapartoftheDepartmentofChemistryfor38years.OriginallyhiredaspartoftheDepartment’ssecretarialstaff,andshebecameassistanttothechairin1989.SheremainedinthatpositionuntilherretirementonAugust31,2010.

IN MEMORIAM:

NANCY SATTLER: Graduate Studies Administrator (11/1970 – 7/2000)Nancybeganherwork in theDepartmentofChemistryworkingaspartof the secretarial staff andeventually moving into the position of graduate studies administrator. Nancy always had a positiveattitudeandasmileonherface.Sadly,NancypassedawayonAugust28,2009.

MARYANN STEVWING: Office Administrator (2/2/1980 – 3/29/1996)MaryannhadmorethanonetitleduringhercareerintheDepartmentofChemistry.Shewaspartofthesecretarialstaff,eventuallybecomingofficemanageroftheadministrativeoffice,andinherlastyearswiththeDepartment,shewasundergraduateofficeadministrator.Afteralongillness,MaryannpassedawayonJuly6,2009.

Updates and expansions to Pitt’s chemistry facilities continue at a brisk pace.

TwofloorsoftheChevronScienceCenterarenowinfulloperationafterthecompletionofmajorupdates.Renovationofthe14thfloorhasresultedinanopen,efficient,flexibleresearchlabora-torysetting that ishometo threeorganicchemistrygroups. Organicchemistry instructionallaboratoriesonthe4thfloornowfeatureacentralcorefordemonstrationsandinstrumentationplusmodern laboratoryamenities thatareenhancingour students’educationalexperience inchemistry.

Thesteel frameworkhasbeenerectedandconstructionof theannex to theChevronScienceCenteriswellunderway.Theresultingstructurewillhousetwoadditionalfloorsdedicatedtograduateresearch.ThelobbyandmezzanineoftheAsheAuditoriumandthelobbyofChevronareundergoingamajorfaceliftthatwillprovidebrightandspaciousareasforstudentstogather,relax,orstudy;itwillincludeanewlydesignedstate-of-the-artcomputerclassroom,anditnowhousestheChemistrylibrary.Constructiononthe5thfloorofChevronandtheformerlibraryareainEberlyarealsounderwayandwillprovidenewresearchspacefortheDepartment.

Renovationstosupportfacilitiesandteachinglabsarecontinuingalso.Renovationoftheun-dergraduatestockroomandtheelectronicsshopwillbecompletedthiswinter.Developmentofmoderndesignsforrenovationoftheundergraduategeneralchemistrylaboratoriesareunder-wayandscheduledtobeginthissummer.

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

www.chem.pitt.edu

12

Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh

Department of Chemistry234 Chevron Science Center217 Parkman PlacePittsburgh, PA 15260

www.chem.pitt.edu

Address Service Requested

Information Please

WeareveryinterestedinhearingabouttheaccomplishmentsofouralumniandformercolleaguesintheDepartmentofChemistry.IfyouhavenewstosharepleasecompletethetopportionoftheenclosedenvelopeorcontactMicheleMonacobytelephone(412-624-8200)ore-mail(monaco@pitt.edu)sothatwecanshareyourinformationwiththerestofourreaders.TheinformationthatyouprovidetouswillbeincludedinfuturemailingsoronthedepartmentalWebsite.

Welookforwardtohearingfromyou!