A New 600 NMR Facility to be Installed in Chemistry
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) recently granted an award of $550,000 under a “Major Research Instrumentation Program” led by Professor Eriks Rozners, Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry. With this support, Chemistry is prepared to purchase a new 600 NMR spectrometer equipped with solution probes and solid-state NMR accessories. This superb instrumentation will be used to examine the structure, dynamics, and function of biologically important macromolecules, which will no doubt further enhance the capability of Chemistry in organic and biochemical investigation. For example, with this new instrument Professor Rozners and his colleagues will be able to challenge advanced structural studies on biopolymers and others, such as the study of ribonucleic acids (RNA). Eriks and his colleagues are also pursuing a project driven by the notion that we’re approaching an antibiotic crisis. They’re looking at how we can recognize RNA molecules in a selective fashion change their structure and control their function. For all of these studies, this state-of-the-art NMR equipment is essential, indeed. The new NMR laboratory will be located in Science II building. The instrument purchase is in progress.
Related links:
- INSIDE article - http://www2.binghamton.edu/news/inside/news.html?issue=2009sep17&id=3
- News Channel 34 clip - http://www.newschannel34.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=20111@wbgh.dayport.com&navCatId=1
PEC Distinguished Service Award Received
At the 12th Annual Professional Employees Council (PEC) Recognition Luncheon and Constituency Meeting on October 21, 2009, Dr. Alexsa S. Silva received the 2009 PEC Distinguished Service Award for employees with greater than 5 years of service, recognizing her well-deserved achievement and great service to the department and the University. PEC Distinguished Service Award is normally given in two categories annually: one to a professional with five or more years of service and another with less than five years of service. It is an outstanding recognition of our employees who contribute tremendous service to the University.
Former ACS President visits BU & four Chemistry Scholars win ACS (Binghamton Section) Awards
The 2009 Binghamton Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) held its awards ceremony in the science library on May 6. Professor Bruce Bursten, the immediate past president of the ACS and current dean of the college of arts and sciences, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, gave a special lecture, offering his opinions concerning the central role of chemistry in advancing basic scientific discovery. His presentation highlighted the challenges and opportunities available to professionals in the chemical sciences, particularly in the areas of communication and education. Four chemistry students and faculty from Binghamton University received ACS (Binghamton Section) awards: Mr. Justin Che received Undergraduate Senior Chemistry Major Award (Advisor: Prof. Wayne E. Jones); Dr. Jie Xiao received Zappert Award (Outstanding Graduating PhD Student, Advisor: Prof. M. Stanley Whittingham); Dr. Alexsa Silva received the Binghamton Local Section Distinguished Service Award; and Dr. Mark Poliks, research faculty of Chemistry Department and Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc (EIT) received an ACS Salutes to Excellence Award for support of the chemistry Olympiad and science Olympiad. Photo (from left to right): Professors Bruce Bursten, Mark Poliks and Wayne E. Jones).
Recent Alumnus receives "Teacher of the Year Award."
John N. Gitua, who received the Ph.D. degree in organic
chemistry in 2005 with the supervision of Professor John Eisch and who
is currently in his third year as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at
Drake University, has just received the "Teacher of the Year Award"
from the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, whose students John
has taught with great effectiveness and superior advising. This award
to John comes as no surprise to this Department of Chemistry, for John
received awards as a graduate student both for Excellence in Teaching
and Excellence in Research. Moreover, John was the finalist as the
chemistry department nominee for a Distinguished Dissertation Award.
Finally, as a result of John's graduate work here, he is a co-author
on eight scientific publications and a co-inventor on U.S. Patent
No. 6,743,872. The Department, as well as Professor Eisch in
particular, is proud to recognize John as one of our outstanding
doctoral graduates in chemistry.
Research Communication highlighted as VIP by Angewandte Chemie.
A recent research communication from Prof. J. Fang's group in Chemistry Department accepted by Angewandte Chemie was highlighted as VIP (Very Important Paper) on Feb. 13, 2008. [link] The original paper will be published in forthcoming weeks. Angewandte Chemie, weekly published by Wiley-VCH in Germany, is a leading Chemistry Journal with the highest Impact Factor (10.232 for 2006) in the field of Chemistry. Only a few percent of publications in this journal, which receive high evaluation from ALL of the reviewers, could be designated as a VIP. III-V semiconductor nanocrystals are significant materials inspired by new generation of microelectronics, such as spintronic exploration. Dr. Zhaoping Liu et al from Prof. Fang.s group and Dr. A. Kumbhar, a co-author from Clemson University (SC), have successfully developed a novel method to synthesize high-quality colloidal InP nanocrystals through a co-reduction between PCl3 as the P-source and superhydride as the reducing agent. According to their report, this synthetic strategy is able to extend for the preparation of other III-V nanocrystals with the corresponding pnicogen halides.
M. Stanley Whittingham receives 2007 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
This award recognizes faculty who consistently engage in and have established a solid record of scholarship and creative productivity in addition to their teaching responsibilities. Dr. Whittingham, professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering, received a doctorate in solid state chemistry from Oxford University. He spent two decades in industry, distinguishing himself as a researcher, manager and scientist before joining the Binghamton faculty in 1988. Whittingham, founding director of the University’s Institute for Materials Research, is known nationally and internationally as a prolific scientist. He holds 16 patents, has authored nearly 200 publications and has served as an invited speaker on hundreds of occasions. Since his arrival at the University, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy have continuously and generously supported his research. For the last five years, he has continued his award-winning work in the development of materials for batteries, while helping to establish a Materials Science Program in chemistry, physics and geology. The creative and multidisciplinary nature of his work has provided opportunities for study and growth to a large number of scholars. Whittingham has served the scientific community through his appointment to leadership positions with several professional societies. He has also served on the editorial boards of a number of materials chemistry journals.
NSF career award supports nanoworld research efforts
A $465,000 career award from the National Science
Foundation is the latest in large-scale support for a Binghamton
University chemist who is exploring exciting new research
opportunities at the scale of the infinitesimal. read more >>
Photochemistry research could lead to cleaner environment, new sensors
Alistair Lees spends much of his research time hoping to see the light. Using tools that improve by several orders of magnitude on the accuracy of microscopes and stopwatches, Lees is working at the molecular level to explore the effect of light on chemical systems. read more >>
Sadik receives Chancellor's Award for Innovative Research
Professor Omowunmi Sadik was one of 20 researchers from the SUNY system to be honored at a January 22 recognition dinner hosted by SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King. She was honored for her work in developing microelctrode sensors that can detect previously undetectable levels of organic materials. Sadik's research is helping to move environmental "field testing" out of the laboratory and into the field in ways that have turned the traditional approach to sensor development on its ear, especially by developing sensors that work together as an "electronic nose." She has two patents pending on the use of this technology for drug and explosives detection, in place of drug- and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Doetschman receives Research Corporation Award
Professor David Doetschman recently received a small, special incentive, grant from the Research Corporation entitled, "Chemistry in Alkali Metal Activated Zeolites." The grant, which received 50%-50% matching support from Binghamton University and has support for a graduate and undergraduate student interested in materials chemistry, is based on preliminary work by undergraduate, Richard Wilson, in which zeolite was activated with atomic Na to give a reagent capable of electron transfer, alkali metal complexation, or electronegative atom abstraction with a variety of organic molecular functional groups. The reactions are evidently sensitive to zeolite (e.g. cage, channel, etc.) geometry, the particular activating alkali metal, and the extent of alkali metal loading. The grant will support further exploration of the range of organic functionalities with which the reagent reacts. Additional experiments are proposed with zeolites of different structure, zeolite activation with Li, K, Rb, Cs and activation with a range of alkali metal concentrations.
Bane Recieves National Cancer Insititute Award and Cover of Journal of Natural Products
ProfessorSusan Bane has received a renewal of her research grant to study the anticancer drug Taxol. For the past several years, she has worked in conjunction with Professor David G. I. Kingston of Virginia Polytechnical Institute to understand how this drug interacts with microtubules, which are the cellar target for Taxol and related anticancer drugs. The National Cancer Institute has awarded the project a total of $900,000 to support this work for the next four years.
The cover illustration for the Journal of Natural Products features the work recently completed by Professors Bane and Kingston and their collaborators. This illustration will appear on all issues of the journal from June through December 2000!
Zhong and Jones Receive NSF-CCLI Award
Professor CJ Zhong and Wayne Jones have received an NSF-Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) award. The award is for "Atomic Scale Imaging Instrumentation Visualization for Undergraduate Education. The $117,297 award will be used to purchase a combination Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM). This equipment will be incorporated into undergraduate and graduate education programs. Support is also included to create web based training modules to facilitate student preparation to use the machine.
Sadik receives NSF-CCLI Award
Professor Omowunmi Sadik recently received a NSF-Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) award. The award is for the "Integration of Environmental Chemistry and Good Laboratory Practices into Undergraduate Curriculum." The $53,204 award including a 1:1 University matching totaling $106,408 is for 2 years and it provides for the procurement of state-of-the-art instrumentation including Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, automatic flow injection mercury hydride AA and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE200) systems.
Recent Graduate awarded NRC Fellowhsip
Our recent graduate student and current Assistant Professor at Ball State University, Dr. Jared DeCoste (Advisor: Prof. David Doetschman), just won an NRC fellowship that he may be able to take up after he finishes his year at Ball State. The title of his proposal for this award is “Small Molecule Adsorption with Metal Organic Frameworks”. The mission of the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) is to promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U. S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. Supported by this award, Jared will work with Dr. George Wagner at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center in Aberdeen, MD in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Catalysts, Materials, and Environmental Matrices Lab.
Student from ACS Binghamton Section selected for US International Chemistry Olympiad team
The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Program (USNCO) recently announced four finalists who have earned spots on the elite United States team that will compete in the 41st International Chemistry Olympiad in Cambridge in Cambridge, England from July 18 to 27, 2009. One of the four Alpha Beta Team members is Colin Lu, 17, from Vestal High School, a student from ACS Binghamton section. The other three are Nathan Benjamin (Harrison High School, IN) from ACS Purdue Section; Brian Seifried (Chamblee High School, GA) from ACS Georgia Section; and Yixiao Wang (Westfield High School, NJ) from ACS North Jersey Section. The top four students at the camp -- based on written exams and laboratory work -- made the American team (Alpha Beta Team). Teams from more than 65 countries are competing in the event. Congratulations to all the students, their teachers, and their ACS Local Section USNCO coordinators. Good luck in the international competition!
Three Graduate Students Received Department Awards
A luncheon to honor three graduate student award winners of the department, Jun Zhang, Jared B. DeCoste and Corey Mitchell, was held at Olive Garden on May 28. This year, Jun Zhang received “Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award” that was established by the department in 1993 in order to recognize and encourage continued superior performance in research by a graduate student; Jared B. DeCoste received “Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award” that recognizes a graduate student who demonstrates outstanding teaching abilities. Both Jun and Jared received award certificates and $200.00 checks. Corey Mitchell received a certificate of the third award, Lois D. Mackey Award, due to his outstanding first-year teaching assistant performance in general chemistry. He is also honored with one-year subscription of the “Journal of Chemical Education”. Chair and Professor Alistair J. Lees presented the prize to each of the three awardees. TA Directors and research advisors of the awardees also attended the luncheon.
Dr. Stephanie Lim, receives the Distinguished Dissertation Award from Binghamton University for 2009.
Stephanie Lim, a Chemistry PhD recipient in 2008 who worked with Professor C.J. Zhong has received the Distinghuished Dissertation Award from Binghamton University for 2009. Her graduate work on nanostructures has earned her the distinction of being one of only 7 Dissertation Awaredees from the University this year and the only one in Science. Congratulations to Stephanie.
Jared DeCoste receives Binghamton University
Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching 2008-09
Jared DeCoste, a Chemistry Ph.D. graduate
student working with Professor David Doetschman, has been awarded a
Binghamton University Graduate Student Award for Excellence in
Teaching 2008-09. This award is given once a year to 10-15 graduate
students from select departments across the university. The criteria
considered for this award include laboratory evaluations, SOOT
results, faculty input and other items that illuminate achievements in
teaching and supporting student learning. Jared was unanimously
nominated by the faculty in the department and selected from a
competitive pool of nominees from across the university.
Jun Zhang receives Binghamton University Graduate
Student Award for Excellence in Research 2008-09
Jun Zhang, a Chemistry Ph.D. graduate student
working with Professor James Fang, has been awarded a Binghamton
University Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
2008-09.The research awards are given once a year to 10-15 graduate
students university-wide. Jun was unanimously nominated by the faculty
in the department and selected from a competitive pool of nominees
from across the university. In particular, he was recognized for his
research in the area of nanomaterials including six publications that
have already appeared in peer-reviewed journals.
Nian Du Awarded First BU IGERT
Fellowship.
Nian Du has been awarded
one of SUNY-Binghamton’s first NSF’s Multi-institutional Integrative
Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT)
fellowships. Professors Sadik and Sammakia are the co-PIs on the NSF
IGERT Flex-E-Bios grant in collaboration with Cornell University. Nian
received her B.S. degree in Wuhan University - Branch Campus in
2001. She joined the Chemistry Department at SUNY-Binghamton in 2006
to pursue her PhD degree after teaching for five years in
China. Currently, she is working in Biosensor Group under the
supervision of Professor Sadik. Nian will join other IGERT fellows
(Cornell, Binghamton, Wadsworth /UA) institutions via
videoconferencing, exchange visits, electronic communication and
periodic meetings. IGERT fellows receive 12-month stipends of $30,000
renewable for up to 5 years plus tuition and fees. Their PhD
dissertations have a chemical, biological or life sciences focus, with
linkages to the other disciplines. A semester in residence with one of
industrial partners ((DuPont, Endicott Interconnect, GE, Kodak and
Rohm & Haas) involves Fellows with problem-solving activities.
Justin Martin to participate in the 2007 Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium.
Justin Martin, a Spring 2007 graduate of the Ph.D. program was selected by the polymer division of the American Chemical Society to participate in the 2007 Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium. The Symposium was held in conjunction with the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Chicago, IL, March 26 and 27th. Justin presented the work that he has been doing under the guidance of Professor Jones in the chemistry department entitled “Self-assembled inorganic interfaces as a tool for control for control over conducting polymer conductivity.” Among the co-authors on the paper were two undergraduate chemistry majors that also worked in Professor Jones lab, Jean Gaffney, ’06, and Aaron Sattler, ’07.
Stephanie Lim Wins National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship award.
Stephanie Lim, a first-year graduate student (Advisor: Prof. CJ Zhong), will receive the three-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship award (2005-2008) offered by the NSF to support the nation's most promising young scholars in the early stages of their graduate study. This award is one of most prestigious Fellowship Program in the nation, which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in the relevant science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines pursuing research-based doctoral degrees. It is highly competitive and confers high honors upon its recipients. In her research proposal submitted to NSF, Stephanie proposed new approaches to exploring nanoscale chemistry and nanotechnology, which won her three years of support for graduate study leading to her doctoral degree. This is the first NSF Gradate Research Fellowship award in BU history.
Mathew Maye receives Goldhaber Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
Mathew Maye, a forth-year graduate student (Advisor: Prof. CJ Zhong), is offered with Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship by BNL starting this Fall. The prestigious Fellowship is awarded to candidates with exceptional talent and credentials who have a strong desire for independent research at the frontiers of their fields with three-year appointments. The fellowship program will also provide a modest amount of independent funds for material and supplies. It is highly competitive and confers high honors upon its recipients. The intention of the program is to select individuals who will qualify for scientific staff positions at BNL upon completion of the appointment. Derrick Mott is selected to attend the annual meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany, June 26-July 1, 2005 2002 ACS Graduate Student Paper Award Winner Materials Society Recognizes Undergraduate Researcher Mr.Mathew M. Maye, a senior majoring in chemistry, has received a second award from the Materials Research Society for his work. Working with Prof. CJ Zhong since the Fall of 1998, his research has focused on fabrication and characterization of core-shell nanoparticles, which has been very successful and contributed to several recent publications. His paper was presented at the 2000 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society. This award is based on his successful application of a novel approach towards size and shape manipulation of thiolate-encapsulated metallic nanoparticles. Mr. Maye is currently working toward completing an honors thesis in chemistry to be defended Spring 2001. Anita Sargent, a Ph.D. student in Professor Omowunmi Sadik's laboratory, Department of Chemistry has been awarded the Charles Hutchins Educational Grant for her project entitled "Mechanismof Electroless Gold Plating Using Dimethylamineborane Baths for Electronic Packaging Applications." This $5,000 annual award, presented by the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA), in a national competition, recognizes an outstanding graduate-level student pursuing a degree in electronic assembly, packaging and related field. The official presentation of award and certificate took place during the SMTA annual meeting, September 14, 1999, in San Jose,California. Anita's travel expenses were covered by SMTA where she presented a poster detailing her project at the meeting. Anita received a BS degree in Chemistry from Nazareth College, Rochester, in May 1995 and She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry. Her project in interfacial molecular interactions has resulted in several peer-reviewed papers in reputable chemistry journals. The project which is currently being carried out by a team of researchers in Professor Sadik's laboratory, aims at providing insights into how reducer, gold and complexing agents influence electroless bath performance and to utilize the understanding of the bath chemistry in the design of on-line monitoring devices and systems. Binghamton Students win Prestigious Materials Society Research Awards The Materials Research Society atits National meeting in Boston last week announced the winners of its 1999-2000 Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative (UMRI) Award. UMRI is designed to introduce undergraduates to the excitement of discovery through research in materials science and engineering by providing funds for research. From over 150 proposals submitted, just 40 awards were made in the United States and Internationally. Two of those were to Binghamton University undergraduates, Melissa McCartney and Mathew Maye. Each will receive $750 for support of their research plus an additional personal award of $250 on completion of the project. Melissa McCartney's proposal was for work to develop and characterize new manganese oxides materials for use in advanced dry cells and lithium batteries. She is working with Professor Whittingham and graduate student Arthur Dobley, who is President of the Binghamton Student Chapter of the Materials Research Society. Melissa is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry. She is also a member of the Materials Research Society, and the captain of the woman's varsity swim team at Binghamton University. Mr. Mathew M. Maye is currently a junior majoring in chemistry. He started his independent research studies in Prof. CJ Zhong's research laboratories in Spring 1999. His research has focused on fabrication and characterization of core-shell nanoparticles, which has been very successful and contributed to several recent publications. He presented this work at the 1999 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society. This award is based on his successful proposal of a novel approach towards size and shape manipulation of thiolate-encapsulated metallic nanoparticles, which will allow him to further develop his research abilities in the direction of interfacial materials chemistry.
Derrick Mott, a second-year graduate student (Advisor: Prof. CJ Zhong), is selected for support by the National Science Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate to attend the annual meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau. The selection is highly competitive among projects funded by NSF or DOE. This is the first of such an award to a BU student. He will travel to Lindau to participate in discussions with the Nobel Laureates as well as fellow young researchers from around the world. The experience will provide fuels for his continuing exploration of novel nanostructured materials in the NSF-funded projects.
Adam Wanekaya, a Ph.D. student in Sadik's laboratory wasselected a winner of the 2002 American Chemical Society, Graduate Student Paper Award. This is the highest award given to students by the Division of Environmental Chemistry. At a special awards symposium during the Fall ACS meeting in Boston, MA, Adam will be presenting a paper entitled "Pressure-assisted Chelating Extraction (PACE) as a Novel Technique for Digestion and Removal of Metals in Solid Matrices. And he will be honored at the Environmental Division Dinner where he will receive a check of $500 and a plaque.
Graduate Student Awarded Charles Hutchins Educational Grant
updated, March 2009
