fall, 2006 volume 2, issue 1 the catalyst - depaul university

Professor Avrom Blumberg retired in August 2006, after a43-year career in the Chemistry Department at DePaulUniversity. Professor Blumberg earned his B.S. in chemistryfrom Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1949) and his Ph.D. inphysical chemistry from Yale University (1953). His careerat DePaul began in 1963, following stints with the AtomicEnergy Commission (1949-1953), Mellon Institute (1953-1963), and University of Pittsburgh (1957-1958). Dr.Blumberg was quickly promoted through the ranks ofassistant professor to associate professor (1967) and fullprofessor (1975), and served as chair of the department fortwo consecutive terms (1986-1992). Dr. Blumberg alsoserved as head of the college’s division of natural sciences & mathematics from 1966-1982, andwas awarded the prestigious Cortelyou Lowery award in 1983. During his tenure at DePaul, Dr.Blumberg maintained an active research program in physical and polymer chemistry, publishingnumerous manuscripts and presenting talks all over the country. Dr. Blumberg was also an experton national security and developed courses and spoke with the press on the subject.

From the Desk of the Chair

Inside:

2006 SMTShowcase

Chemistry Club

Alumni News &Notes

Professor Blumberg Retires after 43-Year Career

Fall, 2006

Volume 2, Issue 1

DePaul University/ (773) 325-7420

The Catalyst

Much like the seasons, theDepartment of Chemistry is currentlyundergoing change. As you readabove, Dr. Blumberg retired this pastsummer after a full and successfulcareer at DePaul. Many of you will ofcourse remember him from yourphysical chemistry courses, or perhapsyou worked in his laboratory. Dr.Blumberg’s interests were indeedwide ranging and he routinelycontributed classes on forensics, theconquest of disease, and arms control.His daily presence in the Department,and his deep institutional knowledge,will be sorely missed. Life in the Department marches on,however, and I am pleased toannounce that after a long andthorough national search, the facultychose Dr. Cathrine A. Southern to fillthe opening created by Dr.Blumberg’s retirement. Dr. Southernreceived her Ph.D. from theUniversity of Chicago, and then wenton to do a post-doc at AmherstCollege. She comes to DePaul after

two years of teaching at the College ofthe Holy Cross. My colleagues and I areexcited about Dr. Southern’s work at theintersection of physical and biochemistry,and we look forward to working with herbeginning in Autumn, 2007. Finally, on a sad note, Dr. Melford’shusband, George, passed away in Octoberafter a battle with cancer. You mightrecall that Dr. Melford left DePaul justover a year ago and was just settling intoretirement with George. Our deepestsympathies go out to her. In the next issue, I will bring you up todate on the status of our planned newfacility. In the mean time, keep up to datewith us at our new web site,http://chemistry.depaul.edu.

Best of wishes for a healthy andprosperous new year,

Richard F. NiedzielaAssociate Professor and ChairClass of 1988

Chemistry Researchers Represent Department at2006 Natural Sciences, Math & TechnologyShowcase

The College of Liberal Arts &Sciences hosted the “Natural Sciences,Math & Technology Showcase” onFriday, November 10, 2006. ThisShowcase provided an opportunity fornon-scientists to learn more about theefforts of science faculty and students.Student researchers in the sciences andmathematics presented posters in theSAC Pit from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PMwhere they could talk to individuals andgroups about their work. The eventincluded Biological Sciences ,Chemistry, Geography, EnvironmentalSciences, Mathematics, Physics, Schoolof CTI, Scientific Data Analysis &Visualization, and the IST Center. Thechemistry liaison to this event wasProfessor Lihua Jin. Forty posters werepresented, including seven from thefollowing chemistry students:

• Selena Russell (ProfessorGregory B. Kharas): “NovelCopolymers of Vinyl Acetateand Alkoxy Rings-Substituted 2-Phenyl-1, 1-Dicyanoethylenes”

• Adrienne Stich (ProfessorWendy S. Wolbach): “Searchfor evidence of Impact-Triggered Fires at the EndPleistocene”

• Alex Han (Professor Lihua Jin):“Calorimetry of Ca2+ and Mg2+

Binding to Tetracycline: DistinctStoichiometries, CoupledDeprotonation, andConformational Change”

“This Showcase provided an

opportunity for non-

scientists to learn more

about the efforts of science

faculty and students.”

• Andrew Little, MassimoPacilli, and DominicPileggi (Professor MatthewR. Dintzner): “Applicationsof Clays as Catalysts forOrganic Reactions”

• Shannon McGinty(Professor Richard F.Niedziela): “OpticalProperties of OleicAcid/Water Aerosols”

• Geralyn Dickey (ProfessorRichard F. Niedziela):“Mixing Rules for Two-component OrganicSystems”

• Priyanka Pitroda andElizabeth Sisler (ProfessorQuinetta D. Shelby): “P~Pand P~O CoordinatedPalladium Complexes”

Following the poster presentations,a reception was held in the StudentCenter for participating students andt h e i r r e s e a r c h a d v i s o r s .Refreshments were served andstudents received awards certificatesfrom University Provost, HelmutEpp.

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Top: Andy Little; Middle: ElizabethSisler (left) and Adrienne Stich;

Bottom: Selena Russell; at Right:Shannon McGinty

DePaul’s Chemistry Club became anofficial Student Affilitates Chapter of theAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) thisyear, under the leadership of its newofficers: President Sean McCormick,Vice President Mike Wemhoff ,Treasurer Adrienne Stich, and SecretaryMarina D a m i a n o . The StudentAf f i l i a t e s p rog ram suppo r t sundergraduate students, their faculty,and local section members in promotingprofessional development, mentoring,and peer-support mechanisms for thosemajoring in the chemical sciences.Among other benefits, affiliation meansthe club is now eligible for prizes andstudent scholarships. The club has become increasinglyactive in the last few years, boastingover thirty student members. The clubwelcomes any student interested inchemistry. One benefit to clubmembership is that it provides a placefor students to discuss chemistry andchemistry-related issues that affect allchemistry students, such as their classes,professors, the GRE exam, etc.Professors Matthew Dintzner andLayne Morsch serve as faculty advisors.The organization started the school yearstrong with a number of activities. Toraise money, the club assumedresponsibility for cleaning and rentingthe hall lockers in the O’Connell Center(home to the Chemistry Department). Members held a root beer float socialin early September to introducethemselves to new and returningstudents. Working with a campuscommunity service organization CircleK, Chemistry Club members performeda chemical demonstration show forelementary students in order to givethese young students a glimpse ofcollege while exciting them aboutscience.  The club members have alsoassisted Instructor and graduate studentMike Davis with his professionalchemical demonstration shows in the

Chemistry Club Affiliated with the ACS

Chemistry Club Officers: MarinaDamiano (Secretary, top left);Adrienne Stich (Treasurer, top

right); Sean McCormick (President,bottom left); Mike Wemhoff (bottom

right)

The club has become

increasingly active in the

last few years, boasting

over thirty student

members.

first annual Chicago Science Expeditionat Daley Plaza. The Chemistry Club also hosted guestspeaker in October, Dr. Pat Dussaultfrom the University of Nebraska -Lincoln who spoke on the topic,"Organic peroxides; some newchemistry for an old functional group"and "The chemical basis for quorumsensing in pathogenic fungi" as well asthe graduate chemistry programsavailable at UN-L. The club organizedand advertised the talk, dinner, andprovided an honorarium to the speaker. Upcoming activities include assistingthe department as it co-hosts (withNorthwestern University and under thedirection of the ACS) the Student Socialfor the ACS Spring Meeting in Chicago.Like last year, the club will recruitstudent assistants to help orchestrate theevent, which is designed to bringtogether high school and middle schoolscience teachers and their students.  Oneof the goals of this annual event is tohelp recruit students into the sciencesand to interest them in attending the hostuniversity.  The Chemistry Club is alsoplanning a T-shirt sale; it is awaiting thefinal design from one of our artisticchemistry students. A party forchemistry majors is also in the works. The club has a web page(http://groups.msn.com/DePaulChemis t r y C l u b ) for those interested inlearning more. Contact information forclub officers can be found there. Theclub welcomes your feedback and ideasfor future activities.

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DEPAUL UNIVERSITYDepartment of Chemistry1036 West Belden AvenueChicago, IL 60614

DePaul University

Department of Chemistry1036 West Belden AvenueChicago, IL 60614

Phone:(773) 325-7420

Fax:(773) 325-7421

Chair’s E-Mail:rniedzie@condor.depaul.edu

DePaul chemists havesolutions!

Charlie Harrison (BS, 2003) co-authored a paper published in theJournal of Agriculture and FoodChemistry, titled Identification ofComponents Responsible for the Odorof Cigar Smoker's Breath.  This paperwas then presented last week at theACS National Meeting, where areporter from C&EN wrote a story onit (for details, see the following link:http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/84/i38/8438cigarbreath.html). Bedrija Isic(BS, 2005) is currently at UIC Collegeof Pharmacy as a third year student inthe program (P-3), and will be startingher rotations (practical learning) nextMay. In addition to being a pharmacystudent, she is also involved in severalstudent organizations. Currently, sheserves as the Educational PolicyCommittee Student Representative for

Matthew Dintzner, Writer and CoordinatorWendy Wolbach, WriterRichard Niedziela, Department ChairAndre Wilson, Departmental Assistant

Catalyst Contributors…We’re on the Web!See us at our NEW site:

http://chemistry.depaul.edu/

the college. As such, she sits in oncommittee meetings once a month,and is currently working on preparingfor UIC’s next accreditation visit fromAccreditation Council for PharmacyEducation. Some of the otherpositions she holds are Vice Presidentof Muslim Pharmacy StudentAssociation (MuPhSA) and ICHPstudent Representative for IllinoisCounc i l o f Hea l th -Sys temsPharmacists (ICHP).

Alumni News and Notes