Dr. Shanlin Pan received the Senior Investigator award in the Physical and Biological Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering division at the UA Faculty Research Day. Each year the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development hosts the UA Faculty Research Day.  Two faculty in at both the senior and junior level are selected to receive awards in one of three areas.  Dr. Pan’s research focuses on applications of electrochemistry and spectroscopy to understanding problems in energy conversion and storage, as well as catalysis.

Juliana Conte, a PhD student working with Dr. Frantom, received the best overall presentation award at the 2018 Southeastern Enzyme Conference in Atlanta, GA. Juliana’s poster was entitled, “Investigation of 2-Phosphinometylmalic Acid Synthase:  A Member of the DRE-TIM Metallolyase Superfamily.

Juliana Conte won the best presentation award at the 2018 Southeast Enzyme Conference.

Dr. Jack Dunkle, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study antibiotic resistance in collaboration with researchers at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.  Antibiotic resistance is a major concern as many of the commonly used antibiotic drugs become ineffective and bacteria evolve that are resistant to all available treatments.  The team will study the erythromycin resistance methyltransferase enzyme, which is one process by which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. By understanding the mechanism for this enzyme, Dr. Dunkle and his team hope to be able to identify potential targets for drugs to combat antibiotic resistance.  UA Press Release

Prof. Michael Bowman has been named Doctor Honorius Causa by the N. N. Vorozhstov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  This honor recognizes Prof. Bowman’s contributions to the field of EPR spectroscopy and his strong collaboration with scientists in Novosibirsk.

The NSF has announced it will fund a proposal entitled, “MRI:  Acquisition of a high performance matrix-assisted laser ionization dual time-of-flight (MALDI/TOF-TOF) mass spectrometer (MS),” through the Major Research Implementation program.  The proposal led by Dr. Carolyn Cassady will provide funds to purchase a state of the art MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer.  The MALDI-TOF instrument will be part of the department’s Mass Spectrometry facility.  MALDI-TOF allows molecular weight characterization of non-volatile compounds, such as biomolecules and polymers.  The instrument will support researchers in the departments of Chemistry, Chemical & Biological Engineering, and Biological Sciences.

Dr. David Dixon, Ramsay Professor of Chemistry, has been selected as a highly prolific author by the Journal of Physical Chemistry A.  Highly prolific authors were recognized for having the largest number of publications in the journal of the past 5 years.

Dr. Jared Allred has received a 5 year, $750,000 Department of Energy Early Career research grant from the Office of Basic Energy Science and the DOE EPSCOR program.  Dr. Allred’s proposal entitled, “Investigation of Short‐Range Ordering in Transition Metal Compounds by Diffuse Scattering,” was one of 59 proposals selected for funding from over 700 submissions.  The DOE Early Career Research Program supports the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science.

The Department is pleased to congratulate students doing undergraduate research with chemistry faculty who were recognized with Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Awards

• Hayden Arnold (Dixon):  Hydrolysis Reactions of Actinide Oxide Nitrates
• John Lundeen (Papish): Synthesis and Studies of pH Activated Metal Prodrugs
• Michael Royko (Vincent): Use of Metalloprotein Affinity Metal Chromatography to Remove Uranium From contaminated Groundwater
• Jamie Tesh (Papish): Synthesis of New Molecules for Energy Related Catalysis
• Donna Xia (Dixon): Bioengineering of C4 Compounds and Aactinide +III and +IV Ion Aqueous Hydrolysis Reactions

Dr. Arunava Gupta, Distinguished University Research Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering has been selected as the UA SEC Faculty Achievement Award winner.  Each year, one faculty member from each SEC member school is selected for this award based on their outstanding contributions to teaching and research.  The campus winners are eligible for the SEC Professor of the Year award. Dr. Gupta’s research focuses on development and application of nanostructured materials for use in information technology and alternative energy.