Yiliang Luan, President Stenger, Lynn Schmitt, Shan Yan, Probost Nieman, Victor Wambau,
Dean Tarhule
On March 27, 2019, 4 of our graduate students were presented with certificates in
recognition of their outstanding contribution to the excellence of Binghamton University.
Our recipients are:
Yiliang Luan - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Lynn Schmitt - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Victor Wambau - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Shan Yan - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Alumus Jared DeCoste Named Maryland Chemist of the Year
Jared DeCoste, Ph.D., a graduate of the Chemistry program here at Binghamton and now
a scientist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Chemical
Biological Center has been named Maryland Chemist of the Year by the American Chemical
Society.
Jared received the prestigious award for to his efforts to further the understanding
and development of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for chemical, biological, radiological
and nuclear (CBRN) defense applications. For the past eight years, DeCoste has been
a leader in MOF research with the goal of protecting Soldiers from CBRN threats on
the battlefield.
Congratulations to Jared on his excellent work!
Eriks Rozners' Group Receives NIGMS Award
Eriks Rozners’ group has received a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA
R35 GM130207, $2,040,290 for 5 years) from the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS) to support their broad research portfolio on Chemical Approaches
to Control the Function of Regulatory RNAs. This award will support two long-standing
research programs in Rozners’ lab on amide-modified RNA and on sequence selective
recognition of RNA via triplex forming peptide nucleic acids.
The goals of MIRA R35 Outstanding Investigator Awards are to increase the stability
of funding for NIGMS-supported investigators, enhance their ability to take on ambitious
scientific projects and approach problems more creatively, and increase flexibility
for investigators to follow important new research directions, while reducing the
time spent on writing and reviewing grant applications. The current award to Rozners’
group is the first R35 award received by Binghamton University.
Congratulations to Eriks and his group!
James Fang Receives DOE EFRC Grant
James Fang has received a $400,000 research grant over four years from the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) through the Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES), led
by Professor Abruña at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. The CABES is one of the
22 new Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) that received four-year awards. The
mission of CABES is to achieve a detailed understanding of the nature, structure,
and dynamics of electrocatalysis in alkaline media.
Stan Whittingham Awarded the 2018 David Turnbull Lectureship
Stan Whittingham has been awarded the 2018 David Turnbull Lectureship by the Materials Research Society (MRS). The Turnbull Lectureship is given to recognize the career of a scientist who has
made outstanding contributions to understanding materials phenomena and properties
through research, writing, and lecturing.
Stan was chosen from a group of outstanding nominees for "fundamental contributions
to solid state ionics including the discovery of the key role of intercalation mechanisms,
and the development and commercialization of rechargeable Li-ion batteries.” The award
will be presented at the 2018 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston, at the Awards Ceremony on
Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at 6:15 p.m.
Congratulations to Stan!
James Fang Awarded Major NSF Grant
Dr. Fang has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
(1808383, $504,124 for 3 years) to support his work for the development of catalytic
sites with lattice strain that exists in several types of shape-controlled state-of-the-art
nanocrystals as the model systems. This project aims to explore some fundamental understandings
of the lattice strain formation and solutions of catalytic improvement of some emergent
electrochemical reactions in energy conversion and environmental protection.
Recently, Dr. Fang also received a grant totaling $110K from the ACS Petroleum Research
Fund,entitled “Ceria Facet-Dependent Oxidative Coupling of Methane towards C2 Products”. This is the second-year’s support of the two-year “New Direction” grant,
initially awarded on 9/1/2017. This project is aimed at the methodological development
of facet-tailored CeO2 synthesis, and the observation of CeO2 facet stability as well as facet-dependent CH4 conversion/C2 selectivity.
Congratulations to Dr. Fang!
Postdoctoral Associate from the Rozners Group Receives Best Poster Award
Venubabu Kotikam won the Best Poster Award in Postdoctoral Research Associate category
at the XXIII International Roundtable of Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
hosted by the University of California, San Diego on August 26-31. Venu received this
high recognition for his research on synthesis and RNA interference activity of amide-modified
short interfering RNAs.
Congratulations to Venu!
Students from the Vetticatt Group Receive Awards
2 graduate students in the Vetticatt group won poster awards at the American Chemical
Society's 2018 Reaction Mechanisms Conference!
Juliet Macharia won the Royal Society of Chemistry's Catalysis Science and Technology
Poster Prize for her research on chemistry of a class of compounds called arylboronic
acids which are widely used in fine chemical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and modern-material
industries due to their stability, easy preparation and environmental benign nature.
Joseph Izzo was an American Chemical Society Omega prize winner for his poster on
how normal carbon-13 kinetic isotope effects led to the proposal of a new mechanism
for the organocatalytic epoxidation of enals. This proposal is in contention with
the pervasively proposed "iminium-ion" pathway.
Congratulations to Juliet and Joe!
Bane Group Receives Major NCI Grant
Susan Bane’s group has received a research grant (R15 CA 227747, $450,309 for 3 years)
from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support her work to develop a new bioorthogonal
chemical reaction discovered in her lab (US Patent 14694744; international patents
pending). They will explore the general utility of this chemistry to create bioconjugates,
with specific emphasis on producing improved antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer
chemotherapy. Her lab has also received funding for this work from the SUNY Technology
Accelerator Fund (TAF) to pursue commercialization of this technology.
Congratulations to Susan and her group!
2018 Graduate Receives NSF Research Fellowship
Michelle Crook, who received her Binghamton University degree in chemistry, will attend
the University of California, Berkeley, this fall with a National Science Foundation
graduate research fellowship. Read more at BingUNEWS!
Solmaz Group Receives Major NIGMS Grant
Sozanne Solmaz's group has received a research grant (R15 GM128119, $448,607 for 3
years) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to study the
cell cycle-specific recognition of the cell nucleus as cargo for dynein-dependent
transport. The research will establish regulatory mechanisms that ensure that transport
of the nucleus is initiated by motor proteins at the correct point in time. Results
of the proposed research will establish regulatory mechanisms that are promising targets
to help devise treatments for these devastating brain and spinal muscle development
diseases.
Congratulations to Sozanne and her group!
2018 Chemistry Department Awards
The annual Chemistry Department Award Luncheon was held in May 2018. Eriks Rozners,
professor and chair of the Chemistry Department presented each graduate student with
a certificate and award. Joe Izzo recieved the department's "Outstanding Research Assistant Award." Justine Gordon received the department's "Lois D. Mackey Award" which is given to an outstanding
first-year teaching assistant in general chemistry. Innocent Achari and Joe Izzo received the department's "Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award." Hannah Cronk received the department's "Outstanding Service and Outreach Award."
Joe IzzoJustine GordonInnocent Achari Hannah Cronk
Ming An Group Receives Major NIGMS Grant
The Ming An group has received a research grant (R15 GM128150, $450,334 for 3 years)
from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in support of their
work in ‘Rational Design of pH-Low Insertion Peptides for Cargo Delivery’. This grant
is received in partnership with co-investigator Lan Yao (Research Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Physics). Cross-membrane delivery of membrane-impermeable molecules has far-reaching
implications in biomedical research and medicine. The pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP)
is a carrier capable of transmembrane cargo delivery in response to acidity found
in diseased tissues (e.g. cancerous tumor, sites of inflammation, and ischemic myocardium)
or in certain cellular compartments (e.g. endosomes, lysosomes). The proposed research
aim to develop new pHLIP variants with improved properties based on prior information
gathered from solid state NMR (in collaboration with the Wei Qiang lab) and pHLIP-cell
interaction studies.
Congratulations to Ming and his group!
Roland Miller Receives Recognition
Roland Miller, a current graduate student from Prof. Omowunmi Sadik’s research group,
received a competitive travel grant to attend the 2017 The Sustainable Nanotechnology
Organization (SNO) Conference in Los Angeles, CA. SNO is a non-profit, worldwide professional
society comprised of individuals and institutions that are engaged in applications
and implications of sustainable nanotechnology (www.susnano.org). Roland also gave
an oral presentation at the 255th ACS National Meeting & Exposition Conference in
New Orleans from March 18- 22, 2018. He is also one of the recipients of the 2018
Chemistry Alumni Community summer research support. Our congratulations go out to
Roland!
Stan Whittingham Elected to the National Academy of Engineers
Stan Whittingham has been elected to the National Academy of Engineers for pioneering
the application of intercalation chemistry for energy storage materials. Academy membership
is among the highest professional recognitions that honors engineers who have made
outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including,
where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature" and to
"the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements
in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches
to engineering education."
Congratulations to Stan on a very well deserved honor!
Goyal Group Receives Scialog AES Award
Puja Goyal’s group has received a Scialog: Advanced Energy Storage team award from
Research Corporation for Science Advancement to study proton-coupled electron transfer
in batteries based on quinone crystals using an integrated experimental and theoretical
approach (http://rescorp.org/news/2018/01/six-team-awards-announced-for-scialog-advanced-energy-storage). In collaboration with researchers at the University of Houston and the University
of Southern California, her group aims to establish the design principles of quinone
anodes in aqueous rechargeable batteries to optimize key battery performance parameters
including specific capacity, reduction potential, and stability, with the overarching
goal of designing safe and high energy density aqueous batteries.
Congratulations to Puja and her group!
Qiang Group Receives Major NIGMS Grant
Wei Qiang's group has received a research grant (R01 GM125853, $1,328,027 for 5 years)
from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to study the molecular
basis of neuronal cell membrane disruption induced by early-stage aggregation of beta-amyloid
peptides, which is a heterogeneous process associated with the pathology of Alzheimer's
disease. This project utilizes a combination of advanced solid-state nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy and other biophysical, biochemical and computational approaches.
The outcomes will expect to provide high-resolution structural and physicochemical
information that are crucial for understanding of the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid
fibrils and oligomers.
Congratulations to Wei and his group!
Vetticatt Group Receives Major NIH Grant
The Vetticatt group has received a research grant (R01 GM126283, $ 1,502,992 for 5 years) from the National
Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in support of their research to discover
‘Novel Concepts and Mechanistic Probes in Catalysis’.
The research funded by this grant will utilize experimental and computational techniques
to study the fine details of some of the most widely used reactions in medicinal chemistry.
These studies will enable organic chemists to develop more efficient processes for
the synthesis of complex medicinal targets.
Congratulations to Matt and his group!
Alpha Bah Selected as an ACS Scholar
Congratulations to Alpha Bah who is the first student from Binghamton University to
be an ACS Scholar!
The ACS awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want
to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields. Awards, based on need
and available funding, are given to qualified students. African American, Hispanic,
or American Indian high school seniors or college freshman, sophomores, or juniors
pursuing a college degree in the chemical sciences or chemical technology are eligible
to apply.
Stan Whittingham Recognized for Contributions to Energy Research
Stan Whittingham, distinguished professor of chemistry and materials science, was
recognized by President Harvey Stenger and Provost Donald Nieman during the Aug. 31
grand opening of the Smart Energy Building. Smart energy is about discovering ways
to capture, convert and store low-cost, renewable energy that will enhance our lives
and reduce environmental impact. Stan Whittingham’s pioneering research in the area
of lithium-ion battery has put Binghamton University at the cutting edge of smart
energy research. University is honored to have him lead our battery storage research
efforts.
Eriks Rozners Receives Major NSF Grant to Study Molecular Recognition of RNA
Eriks Rozners has been awarded a grant totaling $502K from the National Science Foundation
to work on a collaborative research project: Nucleobase-Modified Peptide Nucleic Acid
(PNA) for Sequence Selective Triple-Helical Recognition of Non-Coding Ribonucleic
Acid (RNA). The project is a partnership with James A. MacKay who received a complementary
award totaling $196K from the National Science Foundation to support related activities
with undergraduates at Elizabethtown College. As part of this project, MacKay is spending
a sabbatical year at Binghamton University focused on jumpstarting the collaborative
activities.
The project is aimed at the development of new methods for molecular recognition of
biologically-significant, non-coding RNA. The majority of cellular RNA consists of
non-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulating gene expression even though
these processes are not fully understood. Selective recognition, imaging, and functional
regulation of such RNAs are useful for fundamental studies and practical applications
in biotechnology. The project expands interdisciplinary, collaborative research across
traditional institutional boundaries and contributes to improving STEM education.
Congratulations to the ACS Binghamton Local Section
The department of Chemistry is proud to announce that the ACS Binghamton Local Section
won two ChemLuminary Awards for the 2016 year:
Outstanding Performance by a Local Section – Small Size Category Award
Best Activity or Program in a Local Section Stimulating Membership Involvement
In 2016, the Binghamton Local Section celebrated its 75th anniversary through several
events, most notably at the 2016 Northeast Regional Meeting.
We would like to congratulate all the Binghamton Local Section members for an outstanding
year and once again thank all the volunteers, many of them members of our department,
for all the hard work!
2017 Chemistry Department Awards
The annual Chemistry Department Award Luncheon was held on May 18, 2017. Wayne E.
Jones Jr., professor and chair of the Chemistry Department presented each graduate
student with a certificate and award. Alex Haruk and Victor Karuiki recieved the department's "Outstanding Research Assistant Award." Carrie Kaplan received the department's "Lois D. Mackey Award" which is given to an outstanding
first-year teaching assistant in general chemistry. Hannah Cronk received the department's "Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award." Steve Boyer received the department's "Outstanding Service and Outreach Award."
Alex HarukCarrie KaplanHannah Cronk Steve BoyerVictor Kariuki
Alumna Catherine Zander Receives American Society of Hematology Congressional Fellowship
Catherine Zander, a 2015 Binghamton graduate from the PhD program in Chemistry, was
awarded a congressional fellowship from the American Society of Hematology. The purpose
of the fellowship is to allow a hematologist to work in a Congressional office on
Capitol Hill and to help shape health care and hematology policy.
After receiving her PhD from Binghamton in 2015 from the Grewer laboratory, Catherine
joined the Zheng laboratory at the University of Alabama in Birmingham Medical School,
where she works as a postdoctoral fellow. At UAB, Catherine's research focuses on
uncovering biological mechanisms of thrombosis.
Graduate Student Stephen Ambrozik Wins NRC Award
In a national competition, Stephen Ambrozik, a chemistry graduate student in the research
group of Nikolay Dimitrov, was awarded a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral
research associateship. This associateship provides significant opportunity for a
select group of scientists, who have demonstrated the ability to become creative leaders
in research to gain advanced research training.
Stephen will spend his tenure as a postdoctoral associate at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the guidance of Thomas Moffat and the NIST
Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML). Stephen will be investigating the proposed
research, which facilitated the award, of determining the role of sub-surface selvedge
hydrogen on the ability of copper to catalyze carbon dioxide reduction to useful hydrocarbons.
This is research that, as described by one reviewer, is a “high impact project, which
if successful could have a major impact on the science and technology of CO2 reduction.”
Alumnus Yihua Liu Earns the Early Career Investigator Award of The Electrochemical
Society
Yihua Liu, an alumnus from both undergraduate and graduate chemistry programs at Binghamton
has been awarded the Electrodeposition Division Early Career Investigator Award by
The Electyrochemical Society. Yihua's work while a member of Nikolay Dimitrov research
group provided the foundation for his success as a researcher at the National Institue
of Standards and Technology and at the Argonne National Lab. Congratulations go out
to Yihua!
On March 16, 2017, six of our graduate students were presented with certificates in
recognition of their outstanding contribution to the excellence of Binghamton University.
Our recipients are:
Steven Boyer - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service and Outreach
Stephen Ambrozik - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Alex Haruk - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hannah Cronk - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Linyue Tong - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Victor Kariuki - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Brian Callahan Receives Major Grant to Study 'Hedgehog' Proteins
Brian Callahan, Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry, has received a 5-year,
$541,614 grant from the National Cancer Institute to support biochemical and biophysical
studies of human “hedgehog” proteins. These unusual, cholesterol-modified proteins
are implicated in a range of human pathologies, from severe birth defects to the growth
and metastasis of multiple cancers.
The two main goals for the current grant are to develop a better fundamental understanding
of hedgehog’s molecular function, and to translate that knowledge into improved therapies
that benefit patients. Since joining Binghamton University in 2012, Callahan has received
generous support for his research from the Department of Defense, the New York State
Department Health, and now the NCI, totaling more than $850K.
Wunmi Sadik Selected a Jefferson Science Fellow
Congratulations to Wunmi Sadik for being selected to the 2017-2018 group of Jefferson
Science Fellows.
The 2017-2018 Jefferson Science Fellows (JSF) is the thirteenth class of Fellows selected
since the program was established in 2003 as an initiative of the Office of the Science
and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State. The Jefferson Science Fellows
Program is designed to further build capacity for science, technology, and engineering
expertise within the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID). The 2017-2018 JSFs were selected in December 2016 and will begin their one-year
assignments in Washington, DC in August 2017. More information about the Jefferson
Science Fellowship Program is available at this link.
First NMR Screening of Amyloid Fibrils from Different Alzheimer's Subtypes
A research paper from Assistant Professor Wei Qiang’s postdoctoral work was published
in Nature on January 12, 2017, http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v541/n7636/full/nature20814.html. The paper describes the very first screening of high-resolution structures of Β-amyloid
fibrils that are seeded from the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s patients with different
clinical subtypes. Over 37 such amyloid fibril samples from 18 different patients
were studied using the solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The results highlight the existence
of a common 40-residue Β-amyloid fibril structures that dominants the amyloid plaques,
as well as potential additional structures that may be responsible for rapidly progressing
clinical subtypes. Read more about Prof. Qiang’s comments on this work in the following
News:
Wunmi Sadik receives the 2016 Nigerian National Order of Merit
Wunmi Sadik has been awarded the 2016 Nigerian National Order of Merit for science.
The award is the country's highest national honor for distinguished contributions
in academia. Of the 73 total recipients of this award since its creation in 1979,
only four (including Wunmi) have been women, and many (like Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka
and author Chinua Achebe and Isidore Okpewho) are people whose work and accomplishments
have been very meaningful to Wunmi on a personal level. Wunmi and her family traveled
to Abuja to receive the award from President Buhari on the December 1, 2016. More
information can be found at this link.
Information about the award and its past recipients can be viewed here.
Eriks Rozners receives 2016 Chancellor's award for Scholarship and Creative Activities
Professor Eriks Rozners' biological and chemical research into the structure and function
of RNA has earned him the 2016 Chancellors award for Scholarship and Creactive Activities.
Wunmi Sadik Receives Major Grant to Develop Paper Based Biosensors
Professor Omowunmi “Wunmi” Sadik has received a $867,536 grant from the National Science
Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in collaboration with Prof. Seokheun
Choi in Binghamton’s department of Electrical Engineering and Professor Helen Asemota
at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. The team will be developing paper
based biosensors to increase the productivity of agriculture in developing countries.
This project seeks to revolutionize yam production in developing countries through
the development and field-testing of low-cost genotyping and phenotyping biosensors
and molecular genetic tools, which will contain an integrated paper-based biobattery
for self-sustainable and independent sensing systems. The results will be made available
to larger community through field-testing. User friendliness is an important objective
of this project as the resulting device is not limited for clinical and laboratory
professionals, it is also geared towards the general public with little or no knowledge
of the field of science and engineering.
A new breed of students/researchers will be trained capable of tackling global food
security problems. Broader dissemination plans include peer-reviewed publications,
handouts, web-page updates, expansion of genome yam sequencing database, international
experience for students and training of globally-engaged US workforce.
Binghamton Biochemistry Alumnus in the News
William Marsiglia, a 2013 Binghamton graduate with a BS in Biochemistry, has received
a prestigious NIH National Cancer Institute predoctoral fellowship. The purpose of
the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage
and retain outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest
in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers.
After graduating from Binghamton University, William joined the Chemistry graduate
program at NYU, where he is currently working on his dissertation as a member of the
Traaseth Lab. His research is focused on understanding how pathogenic mutations in
receptor tyrosine kinases activate cell division to cause cancer.
While at Binghamton, William performed research in Dr. Grewer's lab on the identification
of glutamine transport inhibitors. His work resulted in one publication, and he has
since added two more publications from his PhD work. He also received numerous awards
while at Binghamton, including the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater scholarship.
5th Bi-Annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis
The 5th Bi-Annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis will be held on April
8, 2016. Professor Bob Crabtree from the Department of Chemistry at Yale Univeristy
with be speaking. The event will take place in the Academic Building A, Room G008
ate 5:15 p.m.
On March 16, 2016, four of our graduate students were presented with certificates
in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the excellence of Binghamton University.
Our recipients are:
Paul Ogutu - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Steven Boyer - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching
Wei Zhao - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research
Stephen Ambrozik - - Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service/Outreach
Justin Sambur, a 2006 BS Honors graduate in Chemistry at Binghamton University, was
highlighted in a recent issue of C&E News for his recent research “reactivity hot
spots” on catalytic surfaces.
While at Binghamton, Justin completed an Honors Thesis working with Dr. Dave Doetschman
entitled, "Decomposition of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate (DMMP) in Sodium-X Type Faujasite
Zeolite.” This research involved quantifying the chemical effects of various quantities
of water adsorbed in the hygroscopic zeolite on the subsequent adsorption and decomposition
of the nerve agent simulant DMMP. Following earning his BS from Binghamton, Justin
went on to earn a PhD from Colorado State and is currently an NSF ACC-F post-doctoral
fellow working with Professor Peng Chen at Cornell University.
4th Annual John Eisch Letureship
Professor Eric N. Jacobsen, from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
at Harvard University, will be the guest speaker at the 4th annual John Eisch Lectureship
in Organic Synthesis. Professor Jacobsen's talk with be on "Anion-Binding Catalysis".
The talk will take place on Friday, November 13, 2015, at 12:00 noon in Academic Building
A, Room G008. The program for the event is available at this link (pdf, 280 KB).
Whittingham named Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate
Stan Whittingham has been named a 2015 Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate. This designation
acknowledges that his research on the lithium-ion battery is on a very high level
and that he is "of Nobel" class and likely to earn the Nobel someday. More information
about his achievement is available in this Binghamton Inside story.
Researching new ways to fight cancer
Brian Callahan's research is uncovering new information about hedgehog proteins that
could help improve cancer treatments without the side effects that we are accustomed
to today. Controlling the activity of hedgehog proteins is the key and Brian's research
has found several ways to help do just that. Read more in this article in Binghamton University's Discover-e magazine
6th Graders get Hands-on with Science at Binghamton University
About 35 in-coming 6th graders from the Binghamton City School District’s seven elementary
buildings are spending two solid weeks working side by side with professors, researchers,
graduate students and teachers at the “Go Green Institute” conducted in the science facilities on the Binghamton University Campus from July
13 – July 27.
Christof Grewer Receives Major NSF Grant to study glutamate transport
Dr. Christof Grewer has been awarded a grant totaling $530K from the National Science
Foundation to study the dynamics and energetics of secondary-active glutamate transport.
Here is a brief description of the work: ...the plasma membrane separates the interior
of the cell from the extracellular space and provides a barrier to cell entry/exit
for many molecules (for example nutrient or signaling molecules) that are essential
for cell survival. One such molecule, glutamate, is the most important neurotransmitter
in the mammalian brain. Glutamate is transported across plasma membranes through active
glutamate transporters, which play essential roles in controlling the levels of glutamate
in the mammalian brain and other tissue. This project explores the fundamental principles
by which these transporters operate. Understanding these principles is important because
it will contribute to our knowledge not only of the role of glutamate and nutrient
movement between cellular compartments in the mammalian brain, as well as other organs
of the body, but also glutamate homeostasis, which is important for cellular function
in general. Furthermore, the project facilitates undergraduate and graduate student
education by providing opportunities for cutting-edge biophysical research, as well
as training in basic physical, quantitative approaches to be applied to a significant
biological problem.
Wayne Jones receives NERM Award for Service
Wayne E. Jones Jr. has been named the NERM 2015 awardee of the E. Ann Nalley Northeast
Region Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society
Wayne has held leadership positions in the American Chemical Society, at the three
levels of organization: the Binghamton local section, the Northeast Region, and the
national stage of ACS governance. At the local level, Wayne started his service as
the Binghamton Local Section Awards Chair in 1996. In 1997 he was elected the section’s
Councilor, a post he still holds. In addition to this, he was Chair of the Binghamton
Local Section in 2000.
He enlarged the scope of his volunteerism when he decided to get involved with the
incorporation of the Northeast Region. As part of the “gang of four” volunteers, Wayne
contributed to the deliberations and ultimate production of the constitution and bylaws
of the Northeast Region of the ACS (NERACS). Incorporation was finally achieved in
2005, and Wayne served as the inaugural Treasurer of our Region. Besides high-level
governance, Wayne Jones has also carried out the heavy lifting of being General Chair
of NERM 2006, held in Binghamton, NY. He did a remarkable job, as this NERM proceeded
despite the primary conference site having been flooded out just prior to the meeting.
Meeting rooms were moved, and this NERM was a success both scientifically and financially.
Undaunted, Wayne has volunteered to again, in 2016, hold the reins of a NERM as General
Chair.
On the national level, Wayne’s work as Councilor has resulted in posts on three major
committees: Local Section Activities, Membership Affairs, and the Committee on Committees.
Remarkably, he has served as Chair for all of these! His various other contributions
in service to the ACS emphatically point to a well-deserved selection as the NERM
2015 E. Ann Nalley Volunteer Service Award.
Career Development Workshops Held
In partnership with the American Chemical Society (ACS); the Binghamton University
Chemistry Department, ACS Local Binghamton Section and Graduate Chemistry Club, held
the ACS Planning your Career Development and Finding your Pathway workshops on June
9 and 10, 2015.
The purpose of these workshops were to help individuals in the STEM fields explore
what career pathways are available to them following degree completion and explore
individual development plans (IDPs) that will help students develop the skills necessary
to achieve successful employment in the career pathway of their choice following degree
completion.
Eliud Mushibe receives EOP Center Award
Dr. Eliud Mushibe was recognized with the Michael V. Boyd EOP Center Faculty Staff
Award fro 2015 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to EOP students in
Chemistry 107/108.
ACS Local Section Awards
On April 29, 2015 the Binghamton Local Section of the American Chemical Society held
it's annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony at the Symposium Hall of the Center of
Excellence Building on the Binghamton University campus. Donna Nelson, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oklahoma, and President-Elect of
the American Chemical Society talked about her experience as a science advisor for
the television series Breaking Bad. The ceremony was presided over by Dan Brennan, Binghamton Local Section Chair, and Wayne Jones, Binghamton Local Section Councilor.
Several members of the Chemistry Dept received awards at the ceremony. Awardees were:
Anting "Amy" Chen, ACS Graduate Travel Award; Sandy Zhang, Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Chemistry Major Award; Megan Fegley, Zappert Award for Outstanding Graduating PhD Student; Christof Grewer, 2015 NYS Science Olympiad Division C Regional Coordinator; Mary Bridge, 2015 Local and National Chemistry Olympiad Coordinator; Alexsa Silva, 2015 Local Section Outreach Volunteer of the Year; M. Stanley Whittingham, ACS Binghamton Local Section Distinguished Research Award.
Below are a few photos from the event:
Brennan, Chen Brennan, Zhang, Jones Brennan, Fegley, Jones Brennan, Whittingham Brennan, Grewer Nelson, Jones
Student Athlete Agatha Ambrozy Inducted into National College Athlete Honor Society
Junior Chemistry Major Agatha Ambrozy was among 26 student-athletes inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society
(Chi Alpha Sigma) on Monday evening in the TAU Club Room of the Events Center. A Varsity
Tennis play, she has demonstrated excellence in both the classroom and her athletic
pursuits. She is currently planning to pursue a career in medicine following graduation.
2015 Graduate Student Excellence Awards
Cheruiyot, Ji, and Shan
Three graduate students from the Chemistry Department were named recipients of the
The Graduate School's 2015 Graduate Student Excellence Awards for their important
contributions to the excellence of the University in service/outreach, teaching and
research.
University President Harvey Stenger expressed his congratulations and thanks for their
efforts at the awards luncheon. More details about the awards are available in Inside Binghamton University.
Our recipients were:
Samwel Cheruiyot - Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching
Donshen Ji - Graduate Student Excellence in Service/Outreach
Shiyao Shan - Graduate Student Excellence in Research
Eriks Rozners' Work Highlighted in DISCOVER-e Magazine
Eriks' nearly 30 years of work on understanding the role of RNA in the body has drawn
a lot of attention in recent years, including large grants from both the National
Institues of Health and the National Science Foundation. This success comes from
his attention to detail and his interest in the basic science of chemically modified
nucleic acids.
Stan Whittingham Recieves Lifetime Achievement Award
Stan received the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt)
Lifetime Achievement Award Feb. 18 for more than 40 years of research on lithium-ion
batteries. He pioneered the development of the lithium-ion battery while working
with a team studying superconductors at ExxonMobil in the 1970s.
The NAATBatt recognizes those who promote the development and use of stored energy
technology in vehicles and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Brian Callahan awarded DoD grant for Cancer Research
Prof. Brian Callahan, Biological Chemistry, has received a highly competitive “New
Idea Development Award” from the US Department of Defense (285 K, 3 years). Approximately
10 of these awards were made this year from a national pool of >100 applicants.
The funding will support research aimed at discovering a new class of therapeutic
molecules to treat advanced prostate cancer.
Callahan is collaborating in this effort with a team of scientists that includes experts
from the University of California San Francisco and the Vancouver Prostate Cancer
Centre.
The Third Annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis
We are pleased to announce the third annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis
to be held on Friday, November 7, 2014. We are delighted to have, as our featured
speaker, the internationally recognized Professor Brian M. Stoltz from California
Institute of Technology. His talk is entitled, "Complex Natural Products as a Driving
Force for Discovery in Organic Chemistry." We invite you to join us on Nov. 7, at
4 p.m., in Science Library 212, for what promises to be an excellent lecture as well
as a chance to meet with faculty, alumni and friends.
We are at an exciting time in both the life of the University and the Department of
Chemistry here at Binghamton. We hope that you will be able to join us on November
7th!
A program with additional details is available for download here.
Getting Kids Interested in Chemistry!
Saturday, graduate students in the Chemistry dept headed to the Oakdale Mall where
they set up demos and taught kids about different aspects of chemistry ... and they
incorporated candy! Students say they hope these kids will walk away with a love for
science.
Stephen Ambrozik, grad student at Binghamton University said, "We really just hope
to pass on the passion that we have for science. There's a lot of grad students out
here, a lot of undergrads, and we're all majors in science and chemistry so we're
trying to get these students to have the passion we have."
Bruce McDuffie Remembered
Bruce McDuffie, former professor of analytical chemistry at Binghamton University,
passed away on Sept. 12 at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. McDuffie received national
recognition in 1970 for discovering high levels of methylmercury in a can of tuna.
More information about Bruce and his contributions to the University and community
are available in this Pipe Dream article.
NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage (NECCES) at Binghamton University has
been awarded a $12.8 million
The NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage (NECCES) at Binghamton University,
directed by Stan Whittingham has been awarded a $12.8 million, four-year grant by
the Department of Energy. The grant is one of the largest federal research grants
Binghamton University has received.
Whittingham and his colleagues want to understand the fundamental chemical reactions
in energy storage materials to make them work better and to develop new materials
that are cheaper, environmentally friendly and able to store more energy than current
materials can.
More details are available in Binghamton Unversity's Inside magazine at this link.
Eriks Rozners Awarded NIH Grant for His Work on Amide-Modified RNA
Prof. Rozners has received an NIH research award (R01 GM071461, $1,572,389 for four
years) to continue his research on the recently discovered biological activity of
amide-modified RNA. The goal of this project is to create novel research tools and
compounds for therapeutic applications of modified short interfering RNAs, while looking
for new fundamental insights into structure and function of RNA.
The project involves collaboration with structural biochemists at Vanderbilt University
and University of Rochester. In a long term, the project may open the door for development
of new drugs for diseases where the traditional pharmaceutics have been less successful.
NanoDays Science Café at the Lost Dog Café
A talk by Héctor Abruña, Director of the Energy Materials Center at Cornell University,
entitled "Fuel Cells, Batteries and the Energy Landscape" was one of several NanoDays
activities organized by Binghamton University. Dr. Abruña's presentation energized
a lively discussion with, and among, the audience members on the topics of energy,
energy technologies and energy research. Video from local TV coverage is available here.
NanoDays at the Roberson Museum
The Roberson Museum hosted a NanoDays event Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2014. The
event gave area students ages 4 to 13 a hands-on experience in science and chemistry.
Binghamton University graduate students from the Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials
Science programs teamed up to run the demonstrations and activities.
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The Chemistry Dept is participating in a NSF Research Experiecnes for Undergraduates
(REU) program in the area of energy. Students will work with a faculty mentor on a
topic related to that faculty member’s research. The program runs June 2, 2014 to
August 1, 2014 on the Binghamton University campus. For more information and to fill
out an application for the program, click here.
40th International Symposium of Nucleic Acid Chemistry
Prof. Eriks Rozners participated as an invited speaker in the 40th International Symposium
of Nucleic Acid Chemistry (ISNAC2013) held November 13-15 at Kanagawa University in
Yokohama, Japan. Prof. Rozners delivered a plenary talk on molecular recognition of
double-stranded RNA using chemically modified PNA. The three-day annual symposium
featured a panel of renowned experts in nucleic acid chemistry from around the world.
The United States were represented by chemists from Scripps Research Institute, Carnegie
Mellon and Binghamton University. As part of the week long lecture tour, Prof. Rozners
also delivered invited talks on his research on amide-modified RNA at Konan University
in Kobe and Gunma University in Kiryu.
The Second Annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis
Last year, the Department of Chemistry at Binghamton University hosted the first annual
John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis.
We are pleased to announce the second annual John Eisch Lectureship in Organic Synthesis
to be held, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. We are delighted to have, as our featured speaker,
the internationally recognized Professor David W. C. MacMillan from the Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University. His talk is entitled,
“The Use of Photoredox Catalysis in New Organic Bond Forming Reactions.”
We invite you to join us on Oct. 11, at 4:30 p.m., in Academic Building A, Room G-008,
for what promises to be an excellent lecture as well as a chance to meet with faculty,
alumni and friends.
We are at an exciting time in both the life of the University and the Department of
Chemistry here at Binghamton. We hope that you will be able to join us on October
11!
A program with additional details is available for download (pdf 126 KB).
