Chemistry Department Newsletter
Spring 2005
Chemistry NMR Grant Funded!
The Chemistry Department has received a
major grant from the National Science
Foundation to purchase a 400 MHz NMR.
The proposal spearheaded by the organic
chemists in the department requested
$306,990. All faculty and students are eagerly
awaiting the arrival of this instrument
sometime this spring. It will be a great boost
for our research capabilities in the department
and will add more instrumental experiences to
our laboratory courses.
This Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
Dr. Armitage Actively Studying Rocks
Assistant Professor Ruth Ann Armitage
received an EMU Faculty Research
Fellowship (FRF) to continue her study of the
radiocarbon dating and compositional
analysis of rock paintings. FRFs award
selected faculty members a one-half teaching
load so they can devote more attention to their
scholarly activities. Armitage has been very
productive in her work as shown by her
travels and presentations. In May 2004,
Armitage attended the 34th International
Symposium on Archaeometry in Zaragoza,
Spain. At the conference, she presented a
poster titled, Characterization of Bricks
and Tiles from 17th-Century Maryland, coauthored with Nan Richards (EMU ’04),
Leah Minc, David Hill and Silas Hurry.
Armitage was not home long before she
presented at the 36th Central Regional
ACS Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana in
June. After that, she went west to present
with students in Tuscon, Arizona at the
Inaugural Symposium on Archaeological
Sciences of the Americas in September,
2004. To finish up her research
presentations, she and student Reshmi
Perumplavil went to the Anachem meeting
in Livonia, MI in November (she thought
she had traveled enough for the year) to
present, Depth Profiling and X-ray
Photoelectron Spectroscopy Analysis of a
Black Deposit Associated with Rock
Paintings in Little Lost River Cave, Idaho.
For this work, Perumplavil received the
award for best student presentation at the
Anachem Symposium.
Faculty Receive External Grants
Don Snyder worked with John Texter of the Department of Interdisciplinary
Technology to prepare and submit to the NSF Division of Materials
Research, a research proposal titled, RUI – Thermogravimetric Analyzer Acquisition for
Characterization of Advanced Materials, which was approved for funding of $133,000 on
July 16, 2004.
Harriet A. Lindsay was awarded $32,684 from the Research Corporation for the project: A
Versatile Approach to Polyhydroxylated Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids via an aza-Cope
Rearrangement - Mannich Cyclization.
Harriet Lindsay also received a grant from the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum
Research Fund for $40,000 for her organic research.
Jose Vites was awarded $59,652 from the Environmental Protection Agency to support his
sabbatical leave in North Carolina.
Faculty Sabbatical Research Reports
Dr. Ross Nord at University of Michigan
Professor Ross Nord took his first-ever
sabbatical leave this past fall. His project
was done in collaboration with Professor
Robert Ziff from the University of
Michigan’s Chemical Engineering
Department. They were looking at
developing statistical models for oxidation
processes on metal surfaces. In particular,
models were developed for studying the
oxidation of absorbed carbon monoxide by
either oxygen or nitric oxide. Nord found
the peace and serenity of the North
Campus ideal for developing large sets
(hundreds) of coupled differential
equations, getting his computer
programming skills up-to-date and writing
software for simulations of these
processes.
If this sounds boring, as it did to one
student who stopped by Nord’s office to
inquire what he was doing while on
sabbatical, stop by his office yourself and
ask him to show you what he
accomplished. The aforementioned student
is now doing undergraduate research on
this very project. Nord is now happily back
teaching in the classroom, not-as-happily
serving on committees and even finding
some time to continue refining these
models.
Dr. Maria Milletti at Wayne State
Professor Maria Milletti is happily on
sabbatical leave from her regular duties
this winter 2005 term. She’s working with
Berny Schlegel and Chuck Winter at
Wayne State University’s Department of
Chemistry. They are collaborating on a
project to determine the nature of the
metal-ligand bonding in a series of
pyrazolato compounds. Alumnus Hrant
Hratchian, Milletti’s former B.S. student
and Schlegel’s current Ph.D. student, takes
credit for catalyzing the Milletti-Schlegel
professional bond.
Undergraduate Symposium
A record number of chemistry students gave presentations at the Undergraduate Symposium held in
McKenney Union in late March of 2004. Their research represents the array of activities involved with the
science being performed by our talented undergraduates. The 25th Symposium, scheduled for April 1, 2005,
will again include a large number of chemistry presenters.
1. Robert D. Anderson, Theoretical Study of Structural and Electronic Characteristics of a Series of
Glycosidase Inhibitors
2. Paula Gutman, Measurement of Hexanal Production in the Oxidation of Biological Systems
3. Kristyn A. Spangler, Matching Theoretical Modeling with Experimental Findings for the Isopropylium
Cation
4. Jennifer Stephens, Minimal Sequence Analogues of the Alpha-Amylase Inhibiting Protein, Tendamistat
5. Dean Zdravkovski, Theoretical Analysis of Two Possible Pathways in the Formation of Deuterated
Methane through -bond Metathesis
6. Harprit Bagga, Matthew Bidlack and Michael Gabor, DNA Sequencing and Site-Directed Mutagenesis of a
Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme
7. Starr Burke, Toxicity of Dinitroaromatic Compounds in Mammalian Cell Culture
8. Rochelle R. Ferrett, Microwave-induced Synthesis of 2-substituted Dioxolan-4-ones
9. Carrissia Holloway, Selectivity Issues in the Addition of Carbon Nucleophiles to an Amino Acid Derivative
10. Powen Hsueh, Conformational Stability of Substituted Iminium Cations
11. Anita Janiszewska, Kathryn Lawrence, Janice Lima and Cortney Petrok, Biomarkers of Oxidative
Damage to Cell Membranes Caused by a Muscle Protein
12. Horacia Opong-Owusu, A Minimal Sequence Analogue of the (-Amylase Inhibiting Protein, Tendamistat
13. Christina Varzoaba, Synthesis of a New, Novel Class of Cyclen Analogues
14. Barbara Webb, Inorganic Pollutants in the Stoney Creek Watershed
GRADUATE RESEARCH FAIR
Here is a list of our graduate students that presented at the annual Graduate Research Fair held on the EMU
campus in late March of 2004. The 2005 Fair will be held at McKenny Union on Monday, March 28.
Steve M. Fernandes Cyclic Peptide Analog Mimics of the β-Hairpin of Tendamistat Inhibitor for α-Amylase.
Luiza I. Genes, Theoretical Prediction of Fragmentation Patterns for Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Leena Khullar, Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors of α-Amylase Based on Tendamistat
Mallika Nethi, The Production of Toxic Aldehydes from Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids by the Native and an
Oxidatively Modified Derivative of the Muscle Protein Myoglobin
STUDENT AWARDS …
presented at the 2004 Chemistry Awards Banquet.
R.W. Peet Award
Paula Gutman
ACS Huron Valley Section Undergraduate Award Laura Kelly
American Institute of Chemists Award
Matt Bidlack
Collins Endowed Scholarship
Anthony Meade
Decoster Endowed Scholarship
Jennifer Stephens and Robert Vogt
John M. Sullivan Memorial Scholarship
Eddie Marrero
Hypercube Scholar Award
William Collin
Huron Valley Service Award
Troy Lipan and Cortney Petrok
Lobbestael Scholarhip
William Collin
CRC Press Freshman Award
Devin Foether
Brundage Scholarship
Mary McPhail and Suzanne Sweeney
Biochemistry Achievement Award
Laura Kelly
Wiley Inorganic Chemistry Award
Cristina Varzoaba
Toxicology Achievement Award
Kathryn Lawrence and Megan
Reardon
Pfizer Toxicology Scholarship
Jazmen Careathers, Chandra Luster,
Kristie Mitchell and Jennifer Muniz
ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Award
Paula Gutman
John J. Contario Analytical Chemistry Award
Jason Boyle
ACS Huron Valley Section EMU Outstanding
Thulani Senanayake
Graduate Student
Graduate Teaching Award
Leena Khullar
Graduate Research Award
Steve Fernandes
Ronald M. Scott Memorial Scholarship
Madhavi Lokireddy
Honors Thesis Fellowship
Matthew Bidlack
Honor Undergraduate Fellowships
Robert Anderson, Matthew Bidlack,
Paula Gutman, and Jennifer Stephens
University Fellowships
Reshmi Perumplavil, Nandita Prasad,
and Thulani Senanayake
Faculty Activities in the Department
Equipment Acquisition
Ruth Ann Armitage, Steve Pernecky and Heather Holmes
received $70,000 from an EMU strategic planning initiative
to purchase a GC-MS for their research activities. Armitage says,
“The ion-trap system gives our students more flexibility in designing their research.”
Publications
Dean Zdravkovski and M.C. Milletti, “A Comparison of Structural and Electronic
Characteristics among Subphthalocyanine and Phthalocyanine Complexes,”
Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM, 717, 2005, 85-89.
Deborah L. Heyl, Stephen E. Schullery, Kutralanathan Renganathan, Malika N.
Jayamaha, David W. Rodgers and John R. Traynor, “pKa and Volume of Residue One
Influence μ/δ Opioid Binding: QSAR Analysis of Tyrosine Replacement in a Nonselective
Deltorphin Analog,” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 11/17, 2004, 3761-3768.
Deborah L. Heyl, Shakila Tobwala, Leo Solomon Lucas, A. Dammika Nandanie, Rebecca
W. Himm, Jennifer Kappler, Elizabeth J. Blaney, Jason Groom, Jeffrey Asbill, Jonathan K.
Nzoma, Cara Jarosz, Hanna Palamma and Stephen E. Schullery, “Peptide Inhibitors of αAmylase Based on Tendamistat: Development of Analogues with ω-Amino Acids Linking
Critical Binding Segments,” Protein and Peptide Letters, 2005, in press.
B. Ma, Elizabeth R. Butch, S.E. Snyder and M.R. Kilbourn, “A Novel and Facile
Approach for Cell Labeling with F-18,” Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 45, 2004, 459P.
J.E. Knox, H.P. Hratchian, N. Trease, J. Struble, H.B. Schlegel and Heather Holmes,
“Using Stationary Points on Potential Energy Surfaces to Model Intermolecular Interactions and Retentions in Gas Chromatography,” Chromatographia, 59, 2004, 329-334.
S.V. Bohac, D.N. Assanis and Heather L.S. Holmes, “Speciated Hydrocarbon Emissions
and the Associated Local Ozone Production from an Automotive Gasoline Engine,”
International Journal of Engine Research, 5, 2004, 53-70.
T. Gunaratne, Vance O. Kennedy, M.E. Kenney and M.A.J. Rodgers, “Synthesis and
Excited State Dynamics of μ-Oxo Group IV Metal Phthalocyanine Oligomers: Trimers and
Tetramers,” J. Phys. Chem. A., 108, 2004, 2576-2582.
M. Amunugama, C.D. Clifford, P.M. Gutman, K. Venkatachalam, Steven J. Pernecky and
Heather L.S. Holmes, “Measurement of Hexanal Production by Myoglobin-Induced Lipid
Peroxidation Using a Miniature Incubator and Cryofocusing Inlet System with Gas
Chromatography and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry,” Chromatographia, 50, 2004,
441-447.
Departmental Community Service
Summerquest Attracts High
School Chemists
Professors Tim Brewer, Larry Kolopajlo
and Ruth Ann Armitage participated in
SummerQuest. This program involved
six high school students with interest in
chemistry who worked with faculty on
hands-on projects while living on
campus. The projects included studying
evidence from a burning model Popsicle
stick house, investigating the water
quality of the Huron River and separating
chlorophyll and beta-carotene from
spinach and analyzing these components
using spectroscopy techniques involving
lasers. Fun projects, such as ice creammaking and a canoe trip on the Huron
River, were also included in this
experience for the high school students.
High School Outreach
Dr. Larry Kolopajlo has been active in
providing services to high school science
teachers. He attended the Michigan
Science Teachers Association Meeting in
Lansing, Mich. and made two
presentations:
1. “Forensics Chemistry” with
Dennis Atkins
2. “Fascinating Demonstrations with
Rocks and Minerals” with
William Barr
Kolopajlo also ran a three-day workshop
through Continuing Education on
Forensics Science for high school science
teachers to help them prepare a course for
their students. The goal was to create
more interest in science among teenagers.
Saturday at the Lab 2K4
Eighteen hundred visitors came to Mark Jefferson for Saturday at the Lab during Family
Day at EMU. The area youth came to the university to enjoy the excitement and intrigue of
science. Pictured below are some student volunteers making liquid-nitrogen ice cream.
Nicholson to post final grades after 34 years!
After serving
the EMU
Chemistry
Department
for 34 years,
Professor Elva
Mae
Nicholson will
be retiring at
the end of this summer. Nicholson is a
well-liked professor who has served as
Chemistry’s undergraduate student
advisor for many years. In that capacity,
she welcomes students to the Chemistry
Department and is personally
responsible for having attracted many a
new chemistry major.
Nicholson has learned to successfully
blend two sides of her personality to
motivate students to learn. Students
know her as both a kind and caring
teacher and a no-nonsense evaluator. It’s
not uncommon for students to stop at
Nicholson’s office at the end of finals
week to say thank-you and good-bye and
to maybe even drop off some sweets.
Her door is always open for every
student—but especially those who are
leashed to friendly dogs.
She also cares for all the faculty and
staff in the Chemistry Department. She
has a knack for knowing who is
especially stressed or overburdened, and
she always has recommendations for
easing the load. She has an excellent
memory for past events and a keen sense
of fairness. Most existing Chemistry
Department policies were developed
under Nicholson’s critical, fair-minded,
and far-seeing eye. Her work has shaped
the department’s present personality, and
its impact will be felt for many decades
to come.
Nicholson earned her Ph.D. in organic
chemistry at Harvard in 1965. She
immediately took a job as an industrial
chemist for Dupont. In 1972, Clark
Spike asked her to join the EMU
instructional staff as a fill-in for thenAssociate Professor Mas Yamauchi, who
was embarking on his first sabbatical
leave. By the time Yamauchi returned to
campus a year later, Nicholson had
established herself as a valuable addition
to the department and Spike immediately
awarded her a permanent faculty
position.
Nowadays, Nicholson is an early-rising
organic chemistry and biochemistry
specialist who will get involved in any
service activity that impacts chemistry’s
students and staff. We will miss her in
the classroom next year, but we’re
hoping she will continue to occupy her
office and look out for all of us who are
feeling stressed and overburdened.