University of Rochester Chemistry Department

Check out Will Schlageter, one of our Chemistry BA graduates, TONIGHT on "American Ninja Warrior." Good luck, Will!

Since her arrival in our department in July 2015, Prof. Ellen Matson has been building a creative research program addressing challenges in energy storage through the development of novel inorganic materials. The Matson laboratory is focused on the synthesis and characterization of redox-active multimetallic cluster complexes, with the goal of developing new catalysts capable of mediating multielectron and multiproton transformations for the generation of chemical fuels. Wh...ile this remains an active area of research in her program, she has continued to add depth to her portfolio by a complementary project that targets the development of novel materials for use in grid-scale energy storage. The projects undertaken by Prof. Matson are all ambitious, and serve to demonstrate the originality of her contributions. Prof. Matson obtained her B.A. in Chemistry at Boston University (Magna Cum Laude) in 2009 working with Prof. John Cardona, and helped to develop a new inorganic teaching lab on iron(III) spin-crossover complexes. At the same time, she also completed a B.S. in Science Education. She went on to pursue her Ph.D. in 2013 with Prof Suzanne Bart at Purdue. Her work focused on the synthesis of low-valent uranium complexes for small molecule activations. As a postdoctoral fellow at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, she work with Prof. Alison Fout on the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of first-row metal complexes with redox-active ligands (2013-15). We were then fortunate to attract her to our faculty at Rochester in 2015, where she has flourished. Prof. Matson has won several impressive awards, including an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, a Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award, a Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Edith Flanigan Award, and most recently, a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award. She also won an NSF CAREER award, and has DOE funding to return to actinide research. Visit the link below for the Zoom link! _______________________________________________________________________ https://events.rochester.edu/event/matson_tenure_talk

David Brewster, a 5th year Ph.D. student from the Chemistry Department, has been selected to receive a 2020 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) award! This award is given in recognition of David’s outstanding academic accomplishments and the merit of the research proposed in his SCGSR application and reflects David potential to advance in his Ph.D. studies and make important contributions to the mission of the DOE Office of Scie...nce. David and fifty-one other physics, chemistry, and engineering graduate students from across the United States will travel to DOE National Laboratories where they will conduct research critical to advancing their Ph.D. studies. David will travel to the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colorado in November to complete a 10-month residency during which he will collaborate with Dr. Mike Carroll, a staff scientist in the chemistry and nanoscience sector of NREL, on a project entitled In situ Spectroelectrochemical Analysis of the Structural Evolution of Ni(III) Oxides Upon Intercalation of Sodium Ions. This project will take advantage of the unique spectroelectrochemical tools developed at NREL, which include in situ/operando Raman and UV-visible absorption spectroscopies, as well as NREL’s battery testing facilities to study the electrochemical properties of a unique nanocrystalline nickel(III) oxide material David synthesized during his research in the Knowles lab. The proposed study has implications for understanding capacity fade in sodium-ion batteries, necessary for enhancing next-generation electrical energy storage systems. "David is an exceptional graduate student, and this award is an incredible opportunity for him to broaden his intellectual horizons, while taking advantage of state-of-the-art research infrastructure that is available at DOE national labs," says David's Ph.D. advisor, Prof. Kathryn Knowles "I am extremely proud of David's development as a scientist, and I look forward to seeing what he discovers during his time at NREL!" _______________________________________________________________________ http://www.sas.rochester.edu//2020-10-12-david-brewster-aw

Professor Rudi Fasan, Andrew S. Kende Professor of Chemistry, has been honored with the 2020 Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Established in 1997 by University Trustee Robert Goergen and his wife, Pamela, the award aims to acknowledge the full scope of work that contributes to excellence in undergraduate education, and recognizes the distinctive teaching accomplishments and skills of faculty in the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering. Professors... are nominated by undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff members, and administrators. The award recognizes Professor Fasan for his excellence in undergraduate teaching and training both in the classroom and in the research laboratory. Professor Fasan has taught a number of undergraduate level courses including First-Year Organic Chemistry I (CHM 171), Biological Chemistry (CHM 262), and Advanced Laboratory Techniques (CHM 234), in which he has introduced innovative components that are aimed at promoting student engagement and creating an intellectually stimulating and interactive classroom environment. Prof. Fasan’s exceptional contributions to undergraduate research were also noted by the selection committee. Since his start at the University of Rochester, he has supervised over fifty undergraduate students as research assistants in his laboratory, which focuses on the development and application of novel chemo-biosynthetic strategies for the discovery of biologically active molecules. Through these experiences, undergraduate students have received a rigorous and highly interdisciplinary training at the interface of chemistry and biology, working on relevant and challenging problems related to the discovery of chemical agents for modulating cellular processes implicated in cancer and other diseases and the development of novel biocatalytic methods for asymmetric synthesis and sustainable chemistry. "For me, what makes Rudi’s nomination unique is his commitment to and success in training undergraduates to perform biological/organic chemistry research in laboratory. Providing such rich (in quality and quantity) experiential learning experiences is what in my view sets the University of Rochester apart from almost all other institutions." - Todd Krauss, Chair, Chemistry Department The award will be presented to Prof. Fasan and the other winners of the 2020 Goergen Award at a virtual ceremony at 2:00 3:00 pm on Friday, October 23rd, 2020. Congratulations Professor Fasan! ------ http://www.sas.rochester.edu//2020-09-28-fasan-goergen-awa

Need a little help with some of your chemistry courses? The UCC offers tutoring every Wednesday and Thursday from 8 to 9 PM.

"Zoomaritas"? Yes please! The ACS Local Section is holding its first-ever "Zoomaritas" Virtual Happy Hour on Thursday, September 24 at 7 PM. Log onto Zoom and hang out with fellow chemists during this stress-free, contact-free, agenda-free, cocktail hour. It will be fun! Please, RSVP by Monday September 21th 2020. You can use the QR Code, or sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/yygeasmd

Professors Kathryn Knowles and Ellen Matson have been named Fellows for a new Scialog initiative, Negative Emission Science (NES). Cosponsored by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) the series will begin virtually with its first conference November 5-6, 2020. When asked what being chosen as a Scialog fellow means to her, Knowles said, "I am thrilled to be named a Scialog fellow for Negative Emissions Science. Fighting climate cha...nge by decreasing carbon emissions is a challenge that has motivated my research since I was an undergraduate. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity this program provides to brainstorm new approaches to tackling this problem with an interdisciplinary group of fantastic scientists, including my chemistry colleague Prof. Ellen Matson!" Scialog is short for science + dialog. As part of each multi-year initiative, Fellows are selected from multiple disciplines and institutions across the U.S. and Canada to maximize creative thinking and innovative ideas. The cohort of Fellows is diverse and inclusive of researchers from underrepresented groups of scientists. Participants in Scialog: Negative Emissions Science will convene to take up the pressing challenge of greenhouse gases accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. The multidisciplinary group of scientists from chemistry, engineering, materials science, physics, and related disciplines will explore how to advance fundamental science in the design of novel approaches for removing and utilizing or sequestering greenhouse gases, and for making those technologies globally scalable. At each conference, participants form multidisciplinary teams to design cutting-edge research projects, which they pitch to leading scientists who have facilitated discussions throughout the meeting. A committee of these facilitators then recommends seed funding to catalyze the most promising of those team projects, based primarily on the potential for high-impact results. ------ http://www.sas.rochester.edu//2020-07-20-knowles-matson-sc

Faculty of the UR Department of Chemistry responded to the recent White House Proclamation 10014 and the revisions to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, stating: ------------ "In the Department of Chemistry at the University of Rochester, we believe that the strength of our research and education missions depends on our ability to recruit and train the most talented chemists from around the world. Each member of our department has a unique background and set of identi...ties, which inform and inspire individual approaches to learning and research. We are stronger as a community when we support and celebrate our scholars of all backgrounds. We are disappointed by the White House’s Proclamation 10014 (https://www.whitehouse.gov//proclamation-suspending-entry/) issued on June 22, 2020, which suspends processing of certain types of J-1, H-1B, H-2B and L visas through the end of the calendar year. This ban effectively makes it more difficult for international scholars to secure industrial and academic research positions in the United States. For detailed information, please visit the Office of Global Engagement web site (http://www.rochester.edu//updates-and-information-on-the-/) Furthermore, we find the July 6th, 2020 announcement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detailing modifications to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to be equally concerning (http://www.rochester.edu//updates-and-information-on-the-/). For more information, please visit ISO web site (http://iso.rochester.edu/covid19info.html). Both of these policies directly contradict our Department’s beliefs that science is an international enterprise and that freedom to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our academic community is essential to all that we do. We want to state clearly to all students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff that we are strongly opposed to the White House Proclamation 10014 and the revisions to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. In line with our denunciation of these actions by the Trump Administration, we are actively pursuing new ideas and strategies to advocate for the reversal of these (and other discriminatory) policies. We encourage the participation of all members of our research community in these efforts. If you wish to share any individual concerns or ideas, we welcome your comments. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to consider contacting your local congressional representative with regard to these policies (https://www.house.gov/representati/find-your-representative). We also encourage members of the ACS to contact the President of that organization to demand action in response to these policies from the Chemical Community in the United States ([email protected]). " -------

Check out Cody Fagan, one of our a PhD chemistry students, "rocking some PPE while working at LLE!"

Nikki Wolford received a travel and conference award from Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) to attend the 52nd annual Inorganic Discussion Weekend (IDW), which was held at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, Ontario. Nikki is a 4th year doctoral candidate in the Neidig lab. Her oral presentation, titled "Homoleptic Uranium Complexes of Uranium (IV)", focused on her research recently published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition as well as some more recent work. Congratulations Nikki! ----------- http://www.sas.rochester.edu//2020-06-20-gwis-travel-wolfo

Technology developed by the University of Rochester Health Lab to check employees for potential COVID-19 symptoms before they report to work each day is being u...sed by businesses across the country to help them reopen safely. Software code at the heart of the Dr. Chatbot screening tool is now available free as open source software. First created for internal use among health care workers at UR Medicine, the technology is also the foundation of the ROC COVID community screening tool recently launched in thirteen counties in the Finger Lakes region. #URochesterData

Brittany Abraham has been chosen as a recipient of the 2020 Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student. Established to encourage excellence in the work of graduate students who assist undergraduate instruction, this award seeks to recognize full-time graduate students who have had significant face-to-face interaction with undergraduate students in classroom and research settings. Awardees are selected by the Dean of Graduate Studies and a Unive...rsity faculty committee, based on nominations from individual departments, faculty, and undergraduate student groups. A total of 13 graduate students across the University of Rochester have been recognized this year for their outstanding dedication as teachers and mentors who work closely with undergraduates. Brittany is a graduate student in the Nilsson Group. Her research focus is on the synthesis of novel small molecule gelators and the application of their hydrogels in drug delivery and tissue engineering. She has mentored four undergraduate students in the lab over the past two years, and also works with organic chemistry students through the David T. Kearns Center to continue fostering her teaching skills. We are thankful for her dedication and commitment to students and her exceptional service to the Department of Chemistry. Congratulations Brittany! ---------------->: www.sas.rochester.edu//new/news/2020-06-10-peck-award.html

Zachary Piontkowski has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Outstanding Dissertation Award for the Natural Sciences in Arts, Sciences and Engineering. This award is in recognition of an outstanding dissertation and serves as a testament to Zak’s exceptional work as a graduate student at the University of Rochester. Zak received his Ph.D. in 2020 under the guidance of research advisor Professor David McCamant, and is currently a Post Doc at Sandia National Laboratories. ... There he is continuing work in Raman imaging and modelling of electron-phonon properties in novel transparent conducting oxide materials. The title of Zak’s thesis was, Excited State Torsions and Electron Transfer in Dye-Sensitizers for Light Harvesting and Photodynamic Therapy. His dissertation explored the connection between excited state nuclear dynamics and electron transfer in dye-sensitizers for solar light harvesting and photodynamic therapy. Theoretical methods were developed to explain experimental results and to extract hidden information from Raman spectra. The thesis highlights the wealth of information about molecular excited states contained within resonance Raman spectra and provides new tools for extracting this information. Congratulations Zak!