CHEM Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

Vision; New Faculty -P1News stories -P2Faculty Updates; Staff Corner -P4Our Students; CGSA -P5Giving to Chemistry -P6

Where innovation meets collaboration. chemistry.rice.edu

Volume 1, Issue 1 August 1, 2019

Vision for the DepartmentWelcome

Our new

Faculty

Julian West

Assistant ProfessorJuly 2017

Assistant ProfessorJuly 2019

Matt Jones

Kasey LeighYeartyWiess InstructorAugust 2019

Han XiaoAssistant ProfessorJuly 2017

KristaKobylianskiiLecturerJuly 2019

The Department of Chemistry is actively seeking an

experimental physical chemist.

To apply: http://jobs.rice.edu/postings/20469

Faculty Search

The Department of Chemistry continues to be a worldwide leader in many areas of chemical research, including Experimental Physical Chemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry of Materials and Theoretical Biophysics. It is supported by the influx of very talented young researchers. Three new Assistant Professors (Han Xiao, Matt Jones, and Julian West) recently joined our Department, invigorating and energizing our versatile research activities. Two new teaching instructors also recently joined our ranks (Krista Kobylianskii and Kasey Leigh Yearty). The Department is increasing its role in educating and mentoring students at different levels. We are continuing to develop new programs to

enhance the support of research and mentoring activities of our graduate and undergraduate students. We are also excited to announce that we are planning a new Professional Master’s Program in Applied Chemistry Sciences (Fall 2020 enrollment, pending approval) that will help prepare specialists with more applied needs in Chemistry and will bring us closer to the industrial world. We are happily looking forward to the future of our Department, expecting more exciting opportunities! The purpose of our Chem Newsletter is to share our exciting activities with you on a semiannual basis—please enjoy this inaugural Newsletter!

Anatoly Kolomeisky, Chair, Department of Chemistry

I am a new professor and CPRIT Scholar in the department of chemistry specializing in catalysis. My studies began in Canada, where I earned my B.Sc. (Honours) in chemistry with Prof. Glenn Sammis, followed by my Ph.D. at Princeton with Prof. Erik Sorensen and my postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech with Profs. Harry Gray and Brian Stoltz. Throughout my training, I’ve really benefitted from

my mentors encouraging me to learn everything I can about chemistry and I’m excited to share this knowledge and approach with students and postdocs at Rice. My research group is broadly interested in the development of powerful new chemical tools for synthesizing cancer therapeutic and diagnostics molecules. A key part of delivering on this goal is using earth-abundant

element catalysts to take advantage of their unique chemical reactivity, particularly when compared to traditional elements in catalysis like palladium and rhodium. This unprecedented reactivity will allow us to design first-in-class reactions to solve longstanding challenges in sustainable synthesis of life-changing molecules.

“

Introduction: Julian West

Rice Newsfeatures

Our faculty, students, and researchers are doing oustanding work in the classroom and in the lab. Catch a glimpse of a

few of their stories featured on Rice News this cycle.

‘Hot spots’ increase efficiency of solar desalination(Jade Boyd, Rice News)

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HOUSTON - (June 17, 2019) - Researchers in Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics (LANP) this week showed they could boost the efficiency of their solar-powered desalination system by more than 50% simply by adding inexpensive plastic lenses to concentrate sunlight into “hot spots.” The results are available online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Naomi Halas, a chemist and engineer who’s spent more than 25 years pioneering the use of light-activated nanomaterials, said, “The efficiencies provided by this nonlinear optical process are important because water scarcity is a daily reality for about half of the world’s people, and efficient solar distillation could change that.

“

Concentrating the sunlight on tiny spots on the heat-generating membrane exploits an inherent

and previously unrecognized nonlinear relationship between photothermal heating and vapor pressure.

(Photo by Pratiksha Dongare/Rice University)

Rice University engineers boost output of solar desalination system by 50%

Full article: https://news.rice.edu/2019/06/17/hot-spots-increase-efficiency-of-solar-desalination/

Rice freshmen help entrepreneur find the right mix for shelf-stable vegan coconut milk

HOUSTON - (April 22, 2019) - The Rice University alumna and proprietor of Houston’s allergy-friendly Awesome Bites turned to chemistry students for help when her experimental concoction – a vegan coconut flaxseed milk beloved, she said, by all who tried it – refused to cooperate in the kitchen and separated too quickly for her liking.

The freshman honors chemistry laboratory class taught by Rice lecturer Michelle Gilbertson gleefully took on the problem, not only to help Jennifer Thai but also to learn the process of working in a chemistry lab toward a specific solution, a skill that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Rice-led study finds molecules alter gold nanoparticles’ electronic properties

HOUSTON - (March 22, 2019) - The light scattered by plasmonic nanoparticles is useful, but some of it gets lost at the surface and scientists are now starting to figure out why.

In novel experiments at Rice University and the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, along with theoretical work at Princeton University, researchers found that molecules placed on the surface of a single gold nanorod affect its plasmonic response by altering the electronic structure of the particle itself.

The finding could enhance applications like catalysis that involve plasmon-driven chemistry.

Mystery of the ‘mylk’ drove alum nuts(Mike Williams, Rice News)

Chemicals induce dipoles to damp plasmons

(Mike Williams, Rice News)

Nitrogen gets in the fast lane for

chemical synthesis(Mike Williams, Rice News)

‘Great gift to industry’: Rice chemists discover way to simplify synthesis of valuable precursor for drugs, other compounds

HOUSTON - (Feburary 8, 2019) - Rice University scientists have given organic chemists a boost with their latest discovery of a one-step method to add nitrogen to compounds for drugs, pesticides, fertilizers and other products.

Rice synthetic organic chemist László Kürti said the method, reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is a major step forward as it quickens and boosts the yield of valuable molecules known as alpha-aminoketones.

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Full article: https://news.rice.edu/2019/04/22/mystery-of-the-mylk-drove-alum-nuts-2/

Rice freshmen Minjung Kim, left, and So Jeong (Brianna) Lee cook a batch of coconut “mylk” in Rice’s research kitchen. (Photo by

Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Rice researchers László Kürti, left, and Zhe Zhou. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Full article: http://news.rice.edu/2019/02/08/nitrogen-gets-in-the-fast-lane-for-chemical-synthesis-2/

“The work is fundamental and I think it’s pretty because it’s so simple,” Stephan Link said. “We combined the

right sample, the experiment and single-particle spectroscopy with advanced theory, and we put it all together.”

Full article: http://news.rice.edu/2019/03/22/chemicals-induce-dipoles-to-damp-plasmons-2/

Promotions and Recognitions

Retirement and departures

Promotions (2019) Zachary Ball, Promoted to Professor (July 2019)Kristi Kincaid, Promoted to Assistant Teaching Professor (July 2019)

Congratulations on these well-deserved promotions.

Rice University Awards (2019)angel Marti, Presidential Mentoring Award lesa tran lu, George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching Julianne yost, Nicholas Salgo Distinguished Teacher Award John hutchinson, Faculty Award for Excellence in University Service and Leadership

Congratulations on these honors.

dr. edward Billups (July 2016) dr. philip BrooKs (January 2018) dr. andrew Barron (February 2019) dr. lon wilson (July 2020) The department is thankful to each faculty member for the many years of service and for continued contributions to the department.

dr. Julianne yost (June 2019)

The department is grateful for Dr. Yost’s 8 years of service as a Wiess Instructor. Her contributions were numerous. F

ac

ult

y

Co

rn

er We have a fantastic team whose

common purpose is to support the Department of Chemistry through administration, organization, and unification, with excellence, to advance scientific research. We recently moved into newly renovated space in the Space Science & Technology Building—modern and open space, which we truly enjoy. We had to say farewell to Bella Rodriguez, who moved away (we miss her, but wish her the best). We welcome our newest team-member, Selena Zermeño.

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Department Office Staff, from left to right: (Top Row) Javier Chavez, Patricia Villanueva, Pam On, Pedro Prado, Vicky Nielsen

Armstrong, Abby Vacek, Carlos Cabello; (Bottom Row) Anita Walker, Ruxin Feng, Nancy Adler, Susan Cudnik, Selena Zermeño

The Chemistry Graduate Student Association’s mission is to empower chemistry graduates, both in our graduate community and in development as professionals. This year we are working to strengthen this community by encouraging further intermingling during happy hours through group activities and highlights of cultures represented within the department and by continuing to facilitate student-to-student support through QE practice breakfast

talks and ChemPal pairings. Further, we are organizing free, off-campus activities capitalizing on what Houston has to offer like the Zoo-day and Miller Outdoor Theater outings we planned this summer. And of course, we are continuing the beloved tradition of Buckyball! On the professional side, we want to host more events promoting development of professional skills and networks. In addition to encouraging student interaction with CGSA hosted seminar speakers and organizing the yearly Career Day Symposium, we are identifying

non-traditional career paths in which to provide information and opportunities for graduate students.

We are currently planning to organize events focused on scientific writing and alternative academic careers to facilitate opportunities for graduate students to expand their writing repertoire and

networks. If you have thoughts or suggestions for other events we can host or support, please feel free to contact any member of the E-board and we’ll see what we can do about following through! The current E-board can be found on the Rice Chemistry webpage and you can contact us by email at cgsa@rice.edu. To stay informed, follow our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram (@ricechemgrad). We are looking forward to a great year!

alex PollatoSDr. W.E. Billups Fellowship

hallie trialDr. Paul S. Engel Fellowship

John liGeorge Holmes Richter Memorial Fellowship

Steven chamneSSFabio FaSanelli Kevin Gonzalez

ruchi GuPta manuJ Shah

Zevi & Bertha Salsburg Memorial Fellowship in Chemistry

Awarded to promising undergraduates in partial support of a chemistry summer research internship

Kyle chowPatricK Kelly

John Kim laura Quinn

Arthur L. Draper Award

In recognition of exceptional performance in chemistry coursework

PatricK KellyruSSell Kielawa

anna truonG laura Quinn

Distinction in Research and Creative Work

University award for select undergraduates, granted at commencement

Student Spotlight

Dayne SwearerArnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship

Beckman fellows receive $180,000 over two years for salary, fringe benefits and research expenditures.

Dayne graduated this spring and has since started his fellowship at Stanford University.

victor García lóPez Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Career Award

at the Scientific Interface

The awards provides $500,000 over 5 years to bridge postdoctoral training and the first 3 years of faculty

service. Victor graduated in ‘16 and worked as a post-doc at ETH Zurich for two years. He is currently a post-doc in the Tour Research group and seeking a

faculty position.

arzeena ali

vaneSSa eSPinoza

Kevin wySS

nicole behnKeStauffer-Rothrock Scholarship

In memory of E.S. Rothrock, Rice alumnus

DeSmonD SchiPPerJohn L. Margrave Thesis Award In recognition of an outstanding thesis

aShleiGh Smith Norman Hackerman Fellowship

In recognition of demonstrated commitment and achievement

muQinG ren Marjory Meyer Hasselman Fellowship

For academic excellence in the field of Chemistry

Awarded to a promising chemistry undergraduate in partial support of a chemistry summer research internship

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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The global impact of Rice University is expanded and sustained by the accomplishments and support of its alumni and friends. The continued generosity of donors is paramount to the mission and goals of Rice Chemistry. A current need for the Department of Chemistry is to upgrade the undergraduate teaching equipment and instrumentation. Whether the instrumentation is traditional in nature, such as atomic absorption, or as mainstream as automated sampler systems, we strive to provide our students with state-of-the art teaching facilities so they are well prepared for the technological world. Graduate education and research are top priorities in the Department of Chemistry.

Graduate Student Fellowships are of crucial importance to attract and sustain a strong body of doctoral students, an important component of our research programs. The Department’s research accomplishments would not be possible without the hard work of graduate students. The importance of graduate students will only grow in the future. We plan to build a strong foundation to increase the support for graduate student’s research. A gift in any amount to complement our named endowments for graduate student fellowships will improve our chemistry graduate program, thereby contributing to educating and training the next generation of scientists to improve our healthcare, protect

our environment, develop new and clean energy sources, and create the novel materials of the future for all intents and purposes, for a better World. We have several already established awards and endowed funds that you may make a specific donation to or you may choose to donate to the Chemistry General Gift fund to help support our general departmental needs such as above outlined projects. Your gift will tremendously help our research program in advancing science and in training new generations of educated specialists! You may contact Department Chair, Anatoly Kolomeisky, for information about opportunities to give (chemchair@rice.edu).

Giving to Chemistry

Department of Chemistry6100 Main Street Houston, TX 77005

Phone: 713-348-4082Fax: 713-348-5155Email: chemhelp@rice.edu

Join our group: linkedin.com/groups/6677045/

Like our page: facebook.com/RiceChemistry

We love to hear from you! Let us know what you have been up to since leaving Rice by filling out our alumni form:

https://bit.ly/2Mezkwb

6Chemistry.Rice.edu/Giving

The Department of Chemistry thanks you very much for your continued support!