U CHEM
A
Chemistry Department News
The University of Akron
Volume 1, Issue 3
August 2009
August 2009
A quarterly newsletter for our faculty, graduate students,
A quarterly newsletter
for our faculty,
graduate students,
undergraduates,
alumni, and friends
Drs. Wesdemiotis and Youngs Named Distinguished Profs
Points of Interest
• Distinguished Professors
• Department Picnic
• New faculty
• Summer Graduates
• Presentations
• Joint Appointment
Inside This Issue
Fall Picnic
2
Summer Graduates 3
New faculty
3
Meetings and Pres- 4
entations
Grants, Contracts, 5
and Patents
Faculty News
5
Summer UG research 6
scholarships
Distinguished Professor, the
highest academic level at the
University of Akron, was recently awarded to two Chemistry Department faculty members, Drs. Chrys Wesdemiotis and Wiley Youngs. The
title is an honor bestowed on
a faculty member based on
professional accomplishments
over his/her career and it is
given for the dedication to and
achievements in scholarship
and teaching as recognized at
the local, the national and the
international arenas.
faces. Over the last decade,
he created, with federal and
state support, a Mass Spectrometry Center to promote
interdisciplinary research in
chemistry, polymer science,
engineering, and biology. The
center has become a resource
for polymer-related mass
spectrometry studies within
the Ohio Mass Spectrometry
Consortium and was recently
funded by NSF to acquire new
instrumentation.
Since 1989, Chrys has directed 19 Ph.D. dissertations,
9 M.S. theses, and 40 undergraduate research projects.
He has authored more than
180 peer reviewed publications and book chapters and
serves as editor of the European Journal of Mass Spectrometry. He serves on the
Board of Directors of the
American Society for Mass
Spectrometry as member-atlarge for education and has
organized numerous symposia and workshops on mass
spectrometry related topics.
Chrys received B.S. (1972),
M.S. (1976), and Ph.D. (1979)
degrees from Technische
Universität Berlin (Berlin
Institute of Technology) in
Germany. After a
postdoctoral fellowship at
Cornell University in 1980,
and a stint in the Greek Army,
he returned to Cornell
University in 1983 as a Senior
Research Associate. In 1989,
he accepted a faculty position
at the UA Department of
Chemistry, where he has
been ever since.
Chrys received the American
Society for Mass Spectrometry Research Award (1991),
the Buchtel College of Arts
and Sciences Research
Award (2001), the University
of Akron Outstanding Researcher Award (2004), and
the Buchtel College of Arts
and Sciences Chairs’ Award
for Outstanding Achievement
in Research (2006).
Chrys’ research interests involve fundamental studies in
gas phase ion chemistry and
the development of new mass
spectrometry methodologies.
Current research focuses on
the design and advancement
of mass and tandem mass
spectrometry techniques for
the analysis of synthetic polymers, polymer surfaces, and
polymer-biomolecule inter-
Wiley Youngs received a B.S.
in Physchology (1972) from
SUNY Albany and a PhD
(1980) from SUNY Buffalo.
After a three year postdoctoral appointment at Northwestern, he went to Case
Western Reserve as an Assistant Professor, reaching the
level of Associate Professor in
1989. He then migrated to the
University of Akron, where he
reached the level of Professor
in 1993.
Wiley’s research has been far
reaching. He has studied the
synthesis and reactivity of
transition metal cyclynes, the
synthesis of imidazoles and
their macrocyclic rings, and
the application of these moieties to fuel cell membranes.
More recently he focuses on
the anti-tumor and antimicrobial activity of silver complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes. Throughout his career
he has used x-ray crystallography to study the structures
of compounds he has made.
He is the director of the department X-ray crystallography center.
Wiley has directed 22 Ph.D.
dissertations, 6 M.S. theses,
and 30 undergraduate research projects. He is the
author of more than 160 publications and review articles
and has 11 patents. Wiley
serves on the editorial board
of Organometallics and Metal
Based Drugs.
In 2005, he was chosen as
Researcher of the Year by the
Buchtel College of Arts and
Sciences. He was also
awarded the Buchtel College
of Arts and Sciences Chairs’
Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Research in
2002.
Volume 1, Issue 3
Fall Picnic Welcomes New and Returning Students
Our annual Chemistry Department Fall Picnic was
held adjacent to Knight
Chemical Laboratory on the
afternoon of September 4.
The weather was beautiful,
the food was delicious, and
Dr. Chris Ziegler served
the food with panache. As
always, there were many
healthful side dishes. Everyone from the department
had the opportunity to meet,
laugh, and gather strength
to meet the upcoming semester. Again, Sarah Robenstein’s grandmother’s
cookies were appreciated by
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Page 3
Volume 1, Issue 3
Dr. Thomas Leeper Joins Faculty
This fall semester, Dr.
Thomas Leeper joins the
Department of Chemistry
faculty as an Assistant Professor. Tom’s field of specialization is the structural
aspects of protein-RNA
interactions and he will be
a member of the Biochemistry Division.
Tom comes to Akron after
a post-doctoral appointment in the Department of
Chemistry at the University
of Washington. His postdoctoral mentor was Dr.
Gabriele Varani.
Tom received a B.S. in
Biology at Truman State
University and earned a
Ph. D. in Biochemistry in
2001 at the University of
Missouri.
At UA, he will study the
way in which RNA/protein
(RNPs) complexes modify
chromatin. His structural
studies make use of NMR
to determine the three dimensional structures of
these RNPs. Specifically,
he will examine the targeting of telomerase to DNA
by looking at the Ku arm of
telomerase RNA that interacts with the ends of DNA.
He also plans to look at the
mode by which non-coding
RNA, Xist RNA, involved in
x-chromosome silencing.
Tom occupies newly remodeled labs on the second floor of Knight Chemical.
Graduate Students Earn Degrees Summer ’09
Five Chemistry Department
graduate students received
degrees this summer. Four
of whom earned the Ph.D.
The Chemistry Department
is proud to welcome all
these new chemists to the
alumni ranks. All the graduates report they have jobs
that utilize their talents to
the highest extent.
Melinda Carnahan Ph.D.
“Novel Nitric Oxide Donors
for Use in Medicinal Applications.” She will be working at SNH in Stow Ohio.
Sara Philips M.S. “A Photophysical Characterization on
the Unique Properties of
Perylene-3,4:9,10-Bis ((3,4,5
(Tris(Octyloxy)
Benzohydrazide)Dicarboximide.” Sara has
taken a job at Hiram College
as a lab coordinator.
is post-doctoral researcher
at Kent State University.
Tim Smith Ph.D. “Synthesis
and Photophyiscal Characteriazation of Covalent and
Self-Assembled Oligo
(Phenylenevinylenes and
Related MultichromophoneContaining Assemblies .” He
Beth Subel Ph. D.
“Applications of Mass Spectrometry to Poly(electrolytes)
and Kinetics .” Beth is employed at the FDA in Cincinnati.
Heather Steele Ph. D.
“Permeation Sampling of
Phthalate Esters.” She is
currently working at Analytical Perspectives in Wilmington, North Carolina.
From left to right: Melinda Carnahan, Sara Phillips, Tim Smith, Heather
Steele, and Beth Subel
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Volume 1, Issue 3
New Graduate Students Fall 2009
From Left to right: Kiran Khanal – B.S., Tribhuvan University, Nepal, M.S. University of
Akron; Bryan Katzenmeyer – B.S. Penn State
University , M.S. University of Wisconsin;
Caroline Davis – B.S. Walsh University;
Joshua Chavez – B.S. New Mexico Institute of
Mining & Technology; Mahesh Dawadi – B.S.
and M.S. Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Yusheng Chen – B.S. Tianjing University, PR
China; Ryan Schafer – B.S. Westminster College; Jessi Baughman – B.S. College of
Wooster.
Faculty, Students Present Research at National Meetings
Faculty and students were busy this
summer presenting research at
several national meetings.
Invited Keynote Presentations
Rinaldi, P. L.; Li, X.; McCord, E.
F.; Baiagern, S.; Fox, P. A.; Howell, J. L.; and Sahoo, S. “Advanced
2D-NMR studies of fluoropolymers”
42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry
Solutions, Glasgow, Scotland
Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Mass spectrometry methods for the characterization of new synthetic polymers
and materials.” Annual Conference
of Mass Spectrometry, Society of
Japan, Osaka, Japan
Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Mass Spectrometry of Polymers and Materials I
– Structures and Properties” and
“Mass Spectrometry of Polymers
and Materials II – HPLC and Ion
Mobility Separation,” ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and
Allied Topics, Philadelphia PA
ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC
Colòn and Ronald F. Ziolo “Polymer
-Semiconductor Nanoparticle Composites: Characterization of the Bulk
and Interface Structure”
laiye, Ed Johnson, and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Characterization of the physical
and chemical networks in filled rubber
compounds by pyrolysis - GC/MS”
ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Philadelphia, PA.
Brian Field, Fan Xiang, Martin Resch,
and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Overcoming
the limitations of MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of polymers using GPC-MALDI and a
hybrid ion trap time of flight MALDI MS”
Nilufer Solak and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Structural characterization of a
complex nonionic surfactant by LCMSn”
Danijela Smiljanic and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Investigation of noncovalent complexes between synthetic polymers and biomolecules using mass spectrometry”
Chrys Wesdemiotis, Nilufer Solak,
and Andrew Baker, “Separation and
characterization of copolymers by ion
mobility mass spectrometry”
Ömür Çelikbiçak, Bekir Salih, and
Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Noncovalent
interactions between poly(ethylene
imine) and Cibacron Blue 3GA studied by mass spectrometry”
Li, X.; Rinaldi, P. L.; McCord, E.
F.; Fox, P.; Baiagern, S.; Sahoo,
S. K.; Howell, J. L.; “Advanced 2DNMR studies of fluoropolymers”
Vincenzo Scionti, Claire Tessier,
Wiley Youngs, and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Characterization of poly
(organophosphazene)s by mass
spectrometry techniques”
Matthew P. Espe, Saida Y. Ortiz-
Alesia Salberg, Abdulkareem Me-
David E. Dabney, Jon Janoski,
Roderic P. Quirk, and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Identification of functional additives
in polybutadiene by tandem mass spectrometry”
Bethany Subel and Chrys Wesdemiotis, “Positive and negative mode mass
spectrometry of poly(electrolytes)”
63rd Ohio State University International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus
Sylvestre Twagirayezu, Trocia N.
Clasp, David S. Perry, Justin L. Neill,
Matt T. Muckle, And Brooks H. Pate,
“Confirmation of Vibration Coupling in
The Symmetric CH Stretch as Revealed
by Coherence-Detected FTMW-IR Spectroscopy of CH3OD”
Sylvestre Twagirayezu, David S.
Perry, Justin L. Neill, Matt T. Muckle,
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Volume 1, Issue 3
Continued from page 4
and Brooks H. Pate “CoherenceDetected FTMW-IR Spectroscopy of
CH3OD in The OD Stretch Region”
Sylvestre Twagirayezu, Trocia N.
Clasp, David S. Perry, Justin L.
Neill, Matt T. Muckle, Brooks H.
Pate, , “Vibrational coupling pathRam S Bhatta, Amy Gao And David S ways in methanol as revealed by
Perry “Nature of Torsion-Inversion
coherence-detected FTMW-IR specCoupling in CH3NH2, CH3OH2+, and
troscopy”
CH3CH2•”
30th Annual Combustion Research
Dynamics of Molecular Collisions
Meeting, Warrenton, VA
2009, Snowbird, UT
David Perry “The Dynamics of
Large-Amplitude Motion in Energized
Molecules”
42nd Silicon Symposium, Long
Branch, NJ
Joanna Beres, Alyison M. Leigh,
Chrys Wesdimiotis, Claire Tessier,
“Use of Group 6 carbonyl reagents to
stabilize siliconium cations”
Grants, Contracts, and Patents News
The faculty continue to receive research support from national funding
agencies.
IDBR: Development of Microfluidic
Coulter Counting Instrument, NSF,
Jun Hu, $45,535
Collaborative Research: Transformation Model of STEM Education for
First-Year Students at an Urban-
Commuter Campus, NSF, Bill Dono- Dynamics of Large Amplitude Motion in
Energized Molecules, DOE, D. Perry,
van, $26,000
$122,000
Collaborative Research: Polymeric
Drug Delivery Systems and Biofilms Protic Salt Polymer Membranes, DOE,
in the Lung, NIH, Wiley Youngs,
W. Youngs, $45,000
$36,400
Ohio Consortium for Undergraduate
Acquisition of a Dual Cu/Mo Source Research: REEL, NSF, Bill Donovan,
X-ray Diffractometer, Matt Panzer,
$10,000
Claire Tessier, Wiley Youngs,
Chris Ziegler, NSF, $438,650
Faculty News
Dr. Wesdemiotis Receives Joint Appointment with Polymer Science
Beginning Fall 2009, Dr. Chrys
Wesdemiotis will serve both the
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Polymer
Science and Polymer Engineering
as a distinguished professor of
chemistry and a distinguished professor of polymer science.
“Dr. Wesdemiotis’ joint appointment
with full faculty rights in the Department of Polymer Science will
strengthen ongoing collaborations
with the polymer science and polymer engineering faculty and will certainly lead to new ones, facilitating
joint grants and publications,” says
Dr. Stephen Cheng, dean of UA’s
College of Polymer Science and
Polymer Engineering.
and add lectures on mass spectrometry techniques, which are used
increasingly in polymer research,
but also actively involve the decision
making process and supervise
graduate students in the department. Any current graduate students assigned to the department
who are interested in Dr. Wesdemiotis’ research can choose him as
their advisor, Cheng added.
“Many of these synergistic activities
take place within the Integrated Bioscience Program and will, consequently, promote the development
of new biomaterials and new biological applications of synthetic polymers,” Chrys says.
The joint work with the department
Wesdemiotis will not only participate of polymer science and the intein teaching polymer science courses grated bioscience groups will help
advance the UA Mass Spectrometry
Center as a national core facility for
mass spectrometry studies of synthetic macromolecules and biomaterials, according to Wesdemiotis.
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Volume 1, Issue 3
Three Undergraduates Receive Summer Research Fellowships from UA Chemistry
In keeping with the department emphasis on undergraduate research, three
students received $3000 summer research fellowships for 2009. These
fellowships came from donations to the
department from alumni and industry.
Megan Cesta is a senior honors chemistry major pursuing a double major in
biology and biochemistry at UA. Over
the past year she has been working
with Professor Michael Taschner on
the synthesis of a PEG conjugate of
flavin. This compound will be coupled
with bioactive molecules to provide
specific targeting of medicines to tissue.
Patrick Wagers is a senior honors
chemistry major. He spent the summer synthesizing and characterizing
new inorganic molecules and new
organic based ligands. He worked
the laboratory of Professor Wiley
Youngs. During the summer he became quite adept at running and interpreting NMR spectra.
Albert King is a senior chemistry
major at Walsh University in North
Canton Ohio. He worked this summer in the laboratory of Professor
Wiley Youngs. He spent his time
learning advanced techniques in organic and inorganic synthesis and in
structural characterization of com-
pounds using various spectroscopic
techniques.