Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Dr. Bodsgard has article published
Dr. Brett Bodsgard, Department of Chemistry, had an article published in Dalton Transactions titled, "Silica-bound copper (II) triazacyclononane as a phosphate esterase: effect of linker length and surface hydrophobicity" (Dalton Trans., 2009, 2365-2373). The article details the study of a family of insoluble copper-containing materials that may be useful in the decontamination of chemical warfare agents.
Chemistry Student Workers
A big thank you goes out to all the students that worked in the chemistry department. Thank you for all the work you did: trying to keep glassware clean and stocked, setting up and tearing down labs, helping the professors and students during labs. You all did great - especially when the WOM students complained that the labs were too long and too hard! Have a great summer.
The 2008-09 student workers were: Lauren Davidson, Justin Steinke, Thomas Shultz, Theo Manahan, Alexander Papaconstandinou, Nicole Haese, Emily Mason, Kim Johnson, John Tarras, and Jake Beckel.
The 2008-09 student workers were: Lauren Davidson, Justin Steinke, Thomas Shultz, Theo Manahan, Alexander Papaconstandinou, Nicole Haese, Emily Mason, Kim Johnson, John Tarras, and Jake Beckel.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. James Vogel
I am sad to announce that this year was Dr. Vogel's last year teaching full-time at SMU. He will retire at the end of this school year. But not too worry, he won't be disappearing yet, he will be back next year teaching Analytical Chemistry.
Two of our students (Thomas Briese and John Nolte) had a chance to talk with Dr. Vogel and find out some interesting things you may not know about him...
1. What was your favorite memory from your time at SMU?
The most dramatic one I have is when I was asked to do Analytical Chemistry alone instead of Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II. My concentration at this time became the acquisition of new equipment, which was largely made possible by donations from my brother-in-law.
2. What is your favorite activity other than chemistry?
I have two favorite activities other than chemistry, one of which I simply enjoy and one I enjoy partly because I know I can be more helpful with it. The activity I can be more helpful with is cantoring for mass in Rollingstone. I sing for masses as well as funerals. The other activity I enjoy is flying, particularly flying, creating, and building model aircraft. The largest model I have is a 1/3 scale model. I've also flown in an airplane with a licensed pilot but would love to fly in a hot air balloon as well.
3. What is your favorite element?
My favorite element is beryllium mainly because I did a lot of work with its compounds (basic beryllium carboxylates). I don't do a lot of work with them anymore because they're so toxic to work with.
4. What is your ideal vacation destination?
The one I enjoyed the most was biking with my wife along the Blue Danube in the northern part of Austria. That part of the world actually looks a lot like the Mississippi River Valley, except the bluffs are a little larger. Another memorable vacation was a railroad tour of Alaska. My wife and I are planning to see more of the southern United States in the future.
5. What was the biggest change in chemistry over your lifetime?
The dramatic increase in instrumentation and computerization was definitely the biggest change in chemistry. When I started out, everything was glassware, and very rarely were goggles or gloves considered necessary. Benzene and mercury weren't even considered poisonous. In my Junior or Senior year of college, calculators finally began to show up. They had cost $100 and could only perform the four basic functions.
6. If you had to be an element, what element would you be and why?
Simply because it would be least dramatic change and the easiest one for me to adapt to, I would have to say MANganese. That's the best I can come up with on the spur of the moment.
7. What made you decide to be a chemist?
When I was in 6th or 7th grade (back then they didn't teadch chemistry at the level of schooling) I worked for my brother-in-law on his dairy farm. I worked with a machine that cleaved bottles and used the money I earned to buy a chemistry set. I became fascinated with it and did some reading as I became more interested in WHY reactions happened. When I was a sophmore in high school, the chemistry teacher who was teaching juniors needed help, so I volunteered to teach a few classes. It was at this time that I realized I really enjoyed working with students. It wasn't till my junior year of high school that I really considered going to college. Once I made that decision, I knew I wanted to learn enough to teach chemistry at the collegiate level. My junior year I committed to the Ph.D. program.
8. Who is your favorite chemist?
Linus Pauling would have to be one of the top ones, simply for the ideas he was know for pioneering. As I got involved in teaching, I got to know chemists that were interesting in teaching and learning about chemistry. I would say George Bodner is my favorite chemist from an educational standpoint.
9. How do you want to be remembered at SMU?
I would a least like to be remembered that I was able to communicate to the students here at Saint Mary's University and that some would say that I was a least a little bit helpful.
10. What is your favorite movie, type of music, TV show, and book?
movie: West Side Story and other musicals
music: Classical (favorite composer is Wagner)
TV show: CSI and other crime investigation shows
Book - Fiction: the Andromeda Strain
Book - Non-Fiction: National Geographic publications
11. What is your favorite chemistry joke?
When Jerry Lewis was in jail, what was he?
A Silicon
Two of our students (Thomas Briese and John Nolte) had a chance to talk with Dr. Vogel and find out some interesting things you may not know about him...
1. What was your favorite memory from your time at SMU?
The most dramatic one I have is when I was asked to do Analytical Chemistry alone instead of Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II. My concentration at this time became the acquisition of new equipment, which was largely made possible by donations from my brother-in-law.
2. What is your favorite activity other than chemistry?
I have two favorite activities other than chemistry, one of which I simply enjoy and one I enjoy partly because I know I can be more helpful with it. The activity I can be more helpful with is cantoring for mass in Rollingstone. I sing for masses as well as funerals. The other activity I enjoy is flying, particularly flying, creating, and building model aircraft. The largest model I have is a 1/3 scale model. I've also flown in an airplane with a licensed pilot but would love to fly in a hot air balloon as well.
3. What is your favorite element?
My favorite element is beryllium mainly because I did a lot of work with its compounds (basic beryllium carboxylates). I don't do a lot of work with them anymore because they're so toxic to work with.
4. What is your ideal vacation destination?
The one I enjoyed the most was biking with my wife along the Blue Danube in the northern part of Austria. That part of the world actually looks a lot like the Mississippi River Valley, except the bluffs are a little larger. Another memorable vacation was a railroad tour of Alaska. My wife and I are planning to see more of the southern United States in the future.
5. What was the biggest change in chemistry over your lifetime?
The dramatic increase in instrumentation and computerization was definitely the biggest change in chemistry. When I started out, everything was glassware, and very rarely were goggles or gloves considered necessary. Benzene and mercury weren't even considered poisonous. In my Junior or Senior year of college, calculators finally began to show up. They had cost $100 and could only perform the four basic functions.
6. If you had to be an element, what element would you be and why?
Simply because it would be least dramatic change and the easiest one for me to adapt to, I would have to say MANganese. That's the best I can come up with on the spur of the moment.
7. What made you decide to be a chemist?
When I was in 6th or 7th grade (back then they didn't teadch chemistry at the level of schooling) I worked for my brother-in-law on his dairy farm. I worked with a machine that cleaved bottles and used the money I earned to buy a chemistry set. I became fascinated with it and did some reading as I became more interested in WHY reactions happened. When I was a sophmore in high school, the chemistry teacher who was teaching juniors needed help, so I volunteered to teach a few classes. It was at this time that I realized I really enjoyed working with students. It wasn't till my junior year of high school that I really considered going to college. Once I made that decision, I knew I wanted to learn enough to teach chemistry at the collegiate level. My junior year I committed to the Ph.D. program.
8. Who is your favorite chemist?
Linus Pauling would have to be one of the top ones, simply for the ideas he was know for pioneering. As I got involved in teaching, I got to know chemists that were interesting in teaching and learning about chemistry. I would say George Bodner is my favorite chemist from an educational standpoint.
9. How do you want to be remembered at SMU?
I would a least like to be remembered that I was able to communicate to the students here at Saint Mary's University and that some would say that I was a least a little bit helpful.
10. What is your favorite movie, type of music, TV show, and book?
movie: West Side Story and other musicals
music: Classical (favorite composer is Wagner)
TV show: CSI and other crime investigation shows
Book - Fiction: the Andromeda Strain
Book - Non-Fiction: National Geographic publications
11. What is your favorite chemistry joke?
When Jerry Lewis was in jail, what was he?
A Silicon
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jaime Mueller
Dr. Mueller has just completed her first year teaching Chemistry at SMU. She taught Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry classes and labs. One of our students had a chance to catch up with her and find a little bit more about her...
Where were you born?
Blue Earth, MN
Where did you grow up?
Brainerd, MN
Where did you go to school?
K-12 --Brainerd, MN
B.S degree--University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, WI
Northern Michigan University
Ph. D. University of Utah
Postdoctoral Work-The University of Chicago
What were your favorite subjects in high school and college?
It is difficult choosing a favorite subject—there are so many! Overall, I have always loved going to school and learning. I particularly loved the challenge of chemistry and calculus.
What led you to become an organic chemist?
I was introduced to physical organic chemistry by Dr. Frankie Ann McCormack in her Advanced Organic Chemistry class when I was training for the U.S. Biathlon team. I liked the practical aspect of investigating how a chemical reaction works to improve it. I actually started out as an Inorganic student, but switched to Organic chemistry by joining a research group that allowed me to combine metals and organic chemistry by studying organometallic reactions.
What fascinates or interests you in the field of organic chemistry?
What doesn’t? I am always amazed by how ubiquitous it is. Many of our everyday problems and future problems have organic chemistry roots. I believe a lot of our solutions lie in those fundamentals as well.
How have you found Winona so far?
Friendly, relaxed and far less traffic.
What do you love most about Saint Mary’s?
I love the emphasis on the importance of the student-teacher relationship and the close-knit academic community; however, I cannot forget the lovely, formidable cross country ski trails.
It is my understanding that you have a dog named Sandy, what can you tell us about her and any other pets you may have?
Sandy is our 13 year-old yellow Labrador; she adopted us when she was 8 years old. She was born in Utah, lived on the Chicago Southside for 3 years and has since retired to Southeastern MN. She enjoys walking to the radio towers up on Garvin Heights, eating dirt and sleeping on her futon. While hiking in Utah, she saved my husband Chris and me from a charging bull moose.
If you had not become a chemist what was or what do you believe could have been an alternative?
I believe the sky is the limit with a degree in chemistry. An alternative was a professional biathlete. Biathlon is the winter sport of target shooting and cross-country skiing. I considered joining the military and becoming part of their World Class Athlete Program. Another alternative was working for Google as part of their business strategy group.
What sports have you been, or still are, involved with?
In high school, I was a three sport athlete: cross country running, nordic skiing and track. I earned a NCAA Div I scholarship for Nordic Skiing all four years of undergraduate studies. I learned to target shoot my last year of college and began competing in biathlon when my college eligibility was up. I spent one year after college on the Olympic Development Team, but ultimately went back to graduate school to earn my doctorate. I now coach the high school Nordic team as a volunteer.
Any advice to incoming organic chemistry students?
Be prepared. Be prepared for the introduction to a vast field of knowledge, for the challenge of problem solving up to the highest levels, to work hard and to be surprised.
Any words of wisdom about life?
Change is inevitable; just go with it. The best laid plans can fall through so easily, it is better to just be prepared for anything and to be thrilled by the challenges that life presents.
Favorite… joke—see Dr. Vogel, food—anything ethnic, place—the highest rainforest in the world—Kauai, Hawaii, color--blue, dessert—How can I pick just one?, season—spring (good skiing, my birthday and warmth) and football team (Utah Utes—college, and the Green Bay Packers?
What have you enjoyed most in the chemistry department so far?
I really enjoyed the Organic II Multistep synthesis projects. I love watching developing chemists take their own first steps into ingenuity and passion about chemistry.
Where were you born?
Blue Earth, MN
Where did you grow up?
Brainerd, MN
Where did you go to school?
K-12 --Brainerd, MN
B.S degree--University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, WI
Northern Michigan University
Ph. D. University of Utah
Postdoctoral Work-The University of Chicago
What were your favorite subjects in high school and college?
It is difficult choosing a favorite subject—there are so many! Overall, I have always loved going to school and learning. I particularly loved the challenge of chemistry and calculus.
What led you to become an organic chemist?
I was introduced to physical organic chemistry by Dr. Frankie Ann McCormack in her Advanced Organic Chemistry class when I was training for the U.S. Biathlon team. I liked the practical aspect of investigating how a chemical reaction works to improve it. I actually started out as an Inorganic student, but switched to Organic chemistry by joining a research group that allowed me to combine metals and organic chemistry by studying organometallic reactions.
What fascinates or interests you in the field of organic chemistry?
What doesn’t? I am always amazed by how ubiquitous it is. Many of our everyday problems and future problems have organic chemistry roots. I believe a lot of our solutions lie in those fundamentals as well.
How have you found Winona so far?
Friendly, relaxed and far less traffic.
What do you love most about Saint Mary’s?
I love the emphasis on the importance of the student-teacher relationship and the close-knit academic community; however, I cannot forget the lovely, formidable cross country ski trails.
It is my understanding that you have a dog named Sandy, what can you tell us about her and any other pets you may have?
Sandy is our 13 year-old yellow Labrador; she adopted us when she was 8 years old. She was born in Utah, lived on the Chicago Southside for 3 years and has since retired to Southeastern MN. She enjoys walking to the radio towers up on Garvin Heights, eating dirt and sleeping on her futon. While hiking in Utah, she saved my husband Chris and me from a charging bull moose.
If you had not become a chemist what was or what do you believe could have been an alternative?
I believe the sky is the limit with a degree in chemistry. An alternative was a professional biathlete. Biathlon is the winter sport of target shooting and cross-country skiing. I considered joining the military and becoming part of their World Class Athlete Program. Another alternative was working for Google as part of their business strategy group.
What sports have you been, or still are, involved with?
In high school, I was a three sport athlete: cross country running, nordic skiing and track. I earned a NCAA Div I scholarship for Nordic Skiing all four years of undergraduate studies. I learned to target shoot my last year of college and began competing in biathlon when my college eligibility was up. I spent one year after college on the Olympic Development Team, but ultimately went back to graduate school to earn my doctorate. I now coach the high school Nordic team as a volunteer.
Any advice to incoming organic chemistry students?
Be prepared. Be prepared for the introduction to a vast field of knowledge, for the challenge of problem solving up to the highest levels, to work hard and to be surprised.
Any words of wisdom about life?
Change is inevitable; just go with it. The best laid plans can fall through so easily, it is better to just be prepared for anything and to be thrilled by the challenges that life presents.
Favorite… joke—see Dr. Vogel, food—anything ethnic, place—the highest rainforest in the world—Kauai, Hawaii, color--blue, dessert—How can I pick just one?, season—spring (good skiing, my birthday and warmth) and football team (Utah Utes—college, and the Green Bay Packers?
What have you enjoyed most in the chemistry department so far?
I really enjoyed the Organic II Multistep synthesis projects. I love watching developing chemists take their own first steps into ingenuity and passion about chemistry.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Brother Ambrose Trusk Chemistry Scholarship
A previous gift of $50,000 from Jim and Marlene Fugere of Boulder, CO., has endowed the Brother Ambrose Trusk Chemistry Scholarship. The scholarship, first awarded in 2001, honors Brother Ambrose, a 1943 Saint Mary's alumnus who returned to teach chemistry at SMU and chair the department for almost 20 years.
Brother Ambrose, a native of De Pue, Ill., earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 1966. He was instrumental in setting up a cooperative program between Saint Mary's and the College of Saint Teresa. In 1958, he was awarded a National Science Foundation Science Faculty Fellowship. Brother Ambrose died in December of 1998. The scholarship honors the integrity of Brother Ambrose's life and career, his achievements in the field of chemistry, and his support of the Saint Mary's liberal arts education.
The $2500 renewable scholarship will be awarded to a junior chemistry major with financial need, who shows a serious interest in pursuing chemistry as a profession.
This year, the SMU chemistry department is proud to announce the next recipient of the Brother Ambrose Trusk Scholoarship... Alexander Papaconstandinou.
Previous Brother Ambrose Scholars were: Janet Maegerlein 'o1, Melissa Janish '03, Chris Seifert '05, Brendan Corcoran '07 and Emily Mason '09
Brother Ambrose, a native of De Pue, Ill., earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 1966. He was instrumental in setting up a cooperative program between Saint Mary's and the College of Saint Teresa. In 1958, he was awarded a National Science Foundation Science Faculty Fellowship. Brother Ambrose died in December of 1998. The scholarship honors the integrity of Brother Ambrose's life and career, his achievements in the field of chemistry, and his support of the Saint Mary's liberal arts education.
The $2500 renewable scholarship will be awarded to a junior chemistry major with financial need, who shows a serious interest in pursuing chemistry as a profession.
This year, the SMU chemistry department is proud to announce the next recipient of the Brother Ambrose Trusk Scholoarship... Alexander Papaconstandinou.
Previous Brother Ambrose Scholars were: Janet Maegerlein 'o1, Melissa Janish '03, Chris Seifert '05, Brendan Corcoran '07 and Emily Mason '09
Annual SMU Chemistry Award Winners
Each year the SMU chemistry department gives out a few awards to its top students. All awardees will have their names engraved on plaques displayed in the chemistry department.
The ACS Outstanding Chemistry Graduate Award is given to an outstanding graduating chemistry senior, who plans to continue his/her study of chemistry. The 2009 recipient of the award was Jim Mazzuca. Along with the honor of receiving this prestigious award, Jim was given a framed certificate, a pen, and a one year membership to the ACS.
The AIC Chemistry Award is given to an outstanding senior chemistry student. The recipient of the 2009 AIC Chemistry Award was Emily Mason. She received a certificate, a one year membership in the AIC, a peer-reviewed journal, a listing in the AIC website, an opportunity to enroll in a certification program and participation in regional and national meetings.
The AIC Biochemistry Award is given to an outstanding senior biochemistry student. The recipient of the 2009 AIC Biochemistry Award was Bethany Kaufman. She received a certificate, a one year membership in the AIC, a peer reviewed journal, a listing in the AIC website, an opportunity to enroll in a certification program and participation in regional and national meetings.
The CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award is given to the top General Chemistry student. The 2009 recipient was Linda Tierney. Linda received a certificate, and the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
The ACS Outstanding Chemistry Graduate Award is given to an outstanding graduating chemistry senior, who plans to continue his/her study of chemistry. The 2009 recipient of the award was Jim Mazzuca. Along with the honor of receiving this prestigious award, Jim was given a framed certificate, a pen, and a one year membership to the ACS.
The AIC Chemistry Award is given to an outstanding senior chemistry student. The recipient of the 2009 AIC Chemistry Award was Emily Mason. She received a certificate, a one year membership in the AIC, a peer-reviewed journal, a listing in the AIC website, an opportunity to enroll in a certification program and participation in regional and national meetings.
The AIC Biochemistry Award is given to an outstanding senior biochemistry student. The recipient of the 2009 AIC Biochemistry Award was Bethany Kaufman. She received a certificate, a one year membership in the AIC, a peer reviewed journal, a listing in the AIC website, an opportunity to enroll in a certification program and participation in regional and national meetings.
The CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award is given to the top General Chemistry student. The 2009 recipient was Linda Tierney. Linda received a certificate, and the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
Chemistry faculty/students attend ACS national meeting
Drs. Jaime Mueller and Roger Kugel and four senior chemistry majors, Bethany Kaufmann, Emily Mason, Jim Mazzuca, and Justin Steinke, attend the 237th American Chemical Society national meeting in Salt Lake City on March 22-24. Dr. Mueller presented a poster entitled: "Chemistry Night: Formula for a Successful Program of Outreach and Recruitment," and Dr. Kugel presented a poster entitled: "Deriving the Boltzmann Distribution from Simple Combinatorics." Both posters generated considerable interest among chemists in the Chemical Education Division's poster session. Mueller, Kugel, anth the students also attended many of the more than 7,000 technical papers presented at this national conference and also benefited greatly from the informal interactions and professional networking opportunities. Student travel was subsidized by student senate and by a grant from the Fugere Family Foundation.
Senior Focus: Jim Mazzuca
Major: Biochemistry/Biophysics
Hometown: Maple Grove, MN
Plans After Graduation: University of South Carolina: PhD program in Physical Chemistry
Research Project: The Effects of Dichloroacetate on Normal Mus Musculus Cells and Cells Treated with DMBA and PMA
SMU Activities: Chemistry Club, SMU Rugby Club, tutoring for ASC, Physics Club
Favorite SMU Memories: Bonding with friends in the chemistry lounge.
Honors: 2009 ACS award
Hometown: Maple Grove, MN
Plans After Graduation: University of South Carolina: PhD program in Physical Chemistry
Research Project: The Effects of Dichloroacetate on Normal Mus Musculus Cells and Cells Treated with DMBA and PMA
SMU Activities: Chemistry Club, SMU Rugby Club, tutoring for ASC, Physics Club
Favorite SMU Memories: Bonding with friends in the chemistry lounge.
Honors: 2009 ACS award
Senior Focus: Justin Steinke
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Orono, MN
Plans After Graduation: teach chemistry and physics at MTS (Minnesota Transition School) High School in Twin Cities area
Research Project: Quantitative Differences in Conductivity of Thin-Film Polyaniline Due to Differing Solution pH before, during, and after Polymer Synthesis.
SMU Activities: Student worker in the chemistry department as a teacher's assistant in General Chemistry and Organic lab sessions. Cook at Country Kitchen and Ground Round.
SMU Favorite Memories: TAing for Dr. Mueller and Dr. Vogel, ACS trip to Salt Lake City, thesis presentation, Chemistry Night
Hometown: Orono, MN
Plans After Graduation: teach chemistry and physics at MTS (Minnesota Transition School) High School in Twin Cities area
Research Project: Quantitative Differences in Conductivity of Thin-Film Polyaniline Due to Differing Solution pH before, during, and after Polymer Synthesis.
SMU Activities: Student worker in the chemistry department as a teacher's assistant in General Chemistry and Organic lab sessions. Cook at Country Kitchen and Ground Round.
SMU Favorite Memories: TAing for Dr. Mueller and Dr. Vogel, ACS trip to Salt Lake City, thesis presentation, Chemistry Night
Senior Focus: John Nolte
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Owatonna
Plans After Graduation: SMU Graduate School, MAI Program
Research Project: Analysis of Reused Polyethylene Trerephthalate (PETE) Water Bottles for Migration of Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate into Water
SMU Activities: member of the chemistry club, chemistry summer worker, Cotter basketball coach, volunteer mentor
Favorite Memories of SMU: Dr. Kugel's copper thermite reaction outside, when we filled balloons with hydrogen and oxygen and lit with an acetone fuse, Brett's potassium and water reaction, very sweet!
Hometown: Owatonna
Plans After Graduation: SMU Graduate School, MAI Program
Research Project: Analysis of Reused Polyethylene Trerephthalate (PETE) Water Bottles for Migration of Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate into Water
SMU Activities: member of the chemistry club, chemistry summer worker, Cotter basketball coach, volunteer mentor
Favorite Memories of SMU: Dr. Kugel's copper thermite reaction outside, when we filled balloons with hydrogen and oxygen and lit with an acetone fuse, Brett's potassium and water reaction, very sweet!
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