Binghamton University Chemistry Department - Chemistry

Professor Whittingham Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Distinguished Professor M. Stanley Whittingham and two others awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for development of lithium-ion batteries.

The undergraduate program in chemistry offers BA and BS degrees with a BS/American Chemical Society certification option and with BS/emphases in biological and materials chemistry. The graduate program offers MA, MS and PhD degrees for students who are innovative, competitive and highly motivated in the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, as well as other relevant interdisciplinary subjects.

DEPARTMENT NEWS

Dr. Swierk’s research group has been awarded an NIH grant.

John Swierk’s research group has been awarded an NIH grant (1 R15 GM140404-01) dealing with tattoo photochemistry ($450,480 in total). Despite the growing popularity of tattoos and massive economic footprint of laser tattoo removal, how light changes tattoos and what corresponding risks are introduced are poorly understood. Over the next 3 years, the Swierk group plans to map out what tattoo inks photodegrade into and what risks those photodegraded products pose to humans. Studies are also planned to understand how laser tattoo removal degrades tattoos, which may lead to better and more effective methods. Collaboration with Prof. Laura Rhoads (SUNY Potsdam) will allow the group to study the photochemical effects of tattoo in model biological systems.”

Regarding the communications & marketing people, sure go ahead. The project has been generating a bit of buzz online so no reason not to go through more traditional channels too.

Image: Chemical Reviews — Chemical Reviews

Fang Group

Having prepared for a long time, Fang group recently published a comprehensive review article, “Noble-Metal Based Random Alloy and Intermetallic Nanocrystals: Syntheses and Applications” in the prestigious ACS journal, Chemical Reviews (Impact Factor 2019: 52.758) that receives exceptionally high citation numbers. The article outlines random alloy and intermetallic nanocrystals from their structure, synthesis to their applications, and addresses their prospects and current challenges in terms of the controlled synthesis. This article, as part of thematic issue “Advanced Materials and Methods for Electrocatalysis by Transition Metals”, was invited by the Chem. Rev. editors and has been prepared since last fall.

“Noble-Metal Based Random Alloy and Intermetallic Nanocrystals: Syntheses and Applications”, Ming Zhou, Can Li, and Jiye Fang, Chem. Rev., 120 (xx) xxxx - xxxx, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00436

Image: Professor Eriks Rozners — Professor Eriks Rozners

Eriks Rozners wins the 2021 Melville L. Wolfrom Award

Eriks Rozners, Professor and Chair of Chemistry has been selected to receive the 2021 Melville L. Wolfrom Award from the Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry, American Chemical Society. The Melville L. Wolfrom Award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry and the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Professor Rozners will receive the award during the ACS National Meeting next March in San Antonio.

FEATURED PUBLICATION

Image: Accounts of Chemical Research — Accounts of Chemical Research

Rozners Group

Eriks Rozners and Venubabu Kotikam have published an Account “Amide-Modified RNA: Using Protein Backbone to Modulate Function of Short Interfering RNAs”. Remarkably, this major chemical modification has unexpectedly little effect on structure and stability of the RNA duplex and, at certain positions of short interfering RNAs, eliminates some of the undesired off-target activity while improving their on-target activity. The article was chosen by Editors as the Cover Image of the September 2020 issue of Accounts of Chemical Research.