Department Faculty Participate in IUP Honors College Summer Program

The Chemistry Department took part in the Honors College Summer program once again by hosting 11 students in "The Real World of Chemistry". Each morning for two weeks, from 9-12, students took part in guided lab experiments and lectures centered around the synthesis, analysis, and detection of aspirin. Labs and discussions included the concepts of organic synthesis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After lunch, students then go on to take part in Honors College programs.

This years faculty participants were Dr. Wendy Elcesser, Dr. Larry Kupchella, Dr. Nathan McElroy, and Dr. John Woolcock. The program ran daily (M-F) from July 16-27.

Chemistry Prof Investigates Biomass Conversion to Fuel & Plastics

IUP will receive $650,000 in federal funding in order to further study the conversion of biomass to biodegradable plastics and biofuels. A project already started by Dr. Keith Kyler will be funded through this appropriation. Congratulations, Keith.

For IUP press release, click here.

Dr. Keith Kyler Wins University Award

Dr. Keith Kyler was one of four faculty to be presented with IUP's first ever Academic Excellence and Innovation Awards.

Dr. Kyler's proposal, under the Innovative Research category, was entitled IUPAX (Indiana University of Pennsylvania Explosives) as New Safer, High Energy Materials for DOD Ordinance and Missile Formations. The goal of this project is to determine new high-energy materials which offer safer munitions that are resistant to accidental detonations.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania recently established the Academic Excellence and Innovation Award to encourage innovative approaches to research, teaching and other creative activities by IUP faculty. Eighteen IUP faculty members submitted fifteen proposals for consideration for the 2007-2008 academic year. Grant awards of up to $20,000 for one year or divided over a two year period were made on a competitive basis.

The Academic Excellence and Innovation Award Review Committee was comprised of the Provost for Academic Affairs, the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, The Assistant Dean for Research, the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, and faculty members from each of the colleges selected from a list provided by APSCUF of faculty members with established records of research/scholarship.

Each proposal was reviewed based on the degree of innovation and creativity of the planned project. Three categories of innovation were utilized for proposal review. These categories are Innovative Research, Interdisciplinary Research or Creative Initiatives, and Innovative Interdisciplinary Teaching. Criteria for proposal evaluation include: the strength and quality of the proposal, potential for external funding and sustained support, attainable project milestones and realistic timetable, and appropriateness of the proposed budget to the project’s description and objectives.

The End of an Era

For those of you who have had any connection with the Chemistry Department here in the last 20+ years, you most likely recall getting at least one answer to a pressing question from Ms. Judy (Somonick) Kovell. Unfortunately for us, today that omniscient and caring lady put in her last day as an IUP employee. However, all of us, no matter how sad we are to see her go, are extremely happy for her and her husband Paul as they enjoy retirement together. They plan to remain in Indiana.

A dinner in Judy's honor is being held this evening by the department at the Rustic Lodge.

Congratulations Wendy!

Effective August 2007, Dr. Wendy Elcesser will hold the rank of Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department.

Congratulations on your promotion, Wendy!

Chemistry Department 2007 Graduates

The following students from our department are graduating today:

Mr. Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah - Chemistry, MS (August)
Mr. Adam D. Beitelman - Chemistry, MS (August)
Ms. Catherine E. Gumm - Chemistry, BS¹
Mr. David R. Kirchner - Chemistry, MS (August)
Ms. Stacy L. Krigbaum - Chemistry, BS-Ed
Ms. Sara L. Krull - Chemistry, BS-PreMed; Psychology, BA (August)
Mr. Jerrod W. Moore - Chemistry, BS-Ed²
Mr. Joseph W. Zewe - Chemistry, BS¹

Congratulations to all of our graduates and best of luck in your future endeavors!

¹summa cum laude; ²magna cum laude

Student Granted International Internship

Starting in June, IUP chemistry student Beth Leverett will be working in the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany (RWTH Aachen). Her internship was arranged through the German Academic Exchange Service (known as DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. Beth will work in the lab of Dr. Richard Dronskowski under the direction of his graduate student Manuel Krott synthesizing new transition metal cyanamides and carbodiimides and examining their magnetic properties. She will work until August 15, when she will return to the US and prepare for her Fall semester at IUP.

"The RISE program is open to undergraduates studying science or mathematics. No knowledge of German is required - the "language of the lab" is English. I have been corresponding with Mr. Krott for some time now, and his grasp of English is flawless. I already speak German, having been an exchange student to Bavaria before coming to IUP, so that will help with the day-to-day communication. Still, I know from my previous experiences in the country that English speakers can get by quite well with some patience. The program also pays a monthly stipend, which helps offset the costs of room and board, as well as the airplane ticket. It won't make you rich, but I think the experience will be well worth it. I am very excited to return to Germany. Before I go to Aachen, I will spend a few days near Munich visiting friends and host families from my previous stay. I hope to learn some "scientific" German while I am abroad and expand my knowledge of chemistry."

39th Annual Chemistry Department Awards

Today at 3:30, in 32 Weyandt, the 39th Annual IUP Department of Chemistry Awards Ceremony took place for our students (both graduate and undergraduate), their families and friends, and the faculty and administration. The awards were hosted by Dr. Wendy Elcesser, Dr. John Woolcock, and Dr. Lawrence Kupchella.

The Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award for Outstanding Achievement was given to Mr. Joseph Zewe, who also was given an academic achievement award and the ACS Student Affiliate Member of the Year.

Mr. Andrew Kerr was awarded the Division of Analytical Chemistry American Chemical Society 2007 Undergraduate Award, the Edward N. Brown Memorial Scholarship, and an academic achievement award.

The Ronald Marks Scholarship was given to Mr. Michael Deible.

Ms. Tracey Baker received the William I. Heard Memorial Scholarship.

Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year was awarded to Mr. Einstein Djabeng.

The Graduate Research Award was presented to Ms. Dongmei Zhang.

Mr. Sean Smith won the Graduate Academic Excellence award.

Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant was given to Ms. Kelly Haldeman and Ms. Caitlin Williamson.

The freshman CRC Handbook Award went to Mr. James Shellhammer.

The following, by year, is the list of Academic Achievement Awards also granted:

Seniors

Mr. Justin Blake

Ms. Lindsey Cox

Ms. Amanda Davis

Ms. Catherine Gumm

Ms. Kelly Haldeman

Ms. Jennifer Morral

Ms. Nadia Penrod

Mr. Andrew Smith

Ms. Jessica Wishard

Mr. Joseph Zewe

Juniors

Ms. Brittany Baird

Mr. Robert Bauer

Ms. Kaycie Butler

Mr. Andrew Crawford

Ms. Yang Dai

Mr. Andrew Kerr

Ms. Nicole Morozowich

Mr. Chad Myers

Sophomores

Ms. Tracey Baker

Ms. Brittany Buterbaugh

Ms. Martha Conners

Mr. Brandon Jones

Ms. Beth Leverett

Ms. Olivia McGovern

Ms. Jessica Nichol

Ms. Elizabeth Paladin

Ms. Nicole Peterson

Ms. Whitney Simmons

Ms. Aubree Webb

Ms. Caitlin Williamson

Freshmen

Ms. Olumayowa Azeez

Ms. Maura Barrett

Ms. Laura Becker

Ms. Tori Corosu

Mr. Andrew Friday

Ms. Jenna Gazzola

Mr. Jason Grimm

Mr. John Kanyan

Mr. Daniel McDermott

Ms. Melissa-Jean Moore

Ms. Katelyn Myers

Mr. Paul Putala

Ms. Brittany Rodgers

Mr. James Shellhammer

Mr. Justin Williams

A reception with refreshments followed immediately after.

Dr. Nadrian Seeman to Speak on 4/27

Dr. Nadrian Seeman (NYU) will be our guest speaker this Friday, April 27 in 208 Weyandt Hall and present "DNA, Not Merely The Secret of Life".

Dr. Seeman won the Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology in 1995, the Discover Magazine Emerging Technology Award in 1997, and the Popular Science Magazine Science and Technology Award in 1993.

Kaycie Butler Wins Department of Homeland Security Scholarship

Biochemistry major and Honors College student Kaycie Butler (Greensburg, PA) was awarded a scholarship through the Department of Homeland Security. The scholarship includes full tuition and a monthly stipend for her junior and senior years at IUP while maintaining a minimum of a 3.30 GPA. It also provides the opportunity to apply for a further scholarship that would be applied to graduate school for up to three years. In addition, there is a summer internship portion, which Kaycie will complete this summer for 12 weeks at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. While at LLNL, Kaycie will work on the development of a platform for virus detection through a microfluidic system.

Congratulations Kaycie!