the catalyst - cbc.arizona.eduas a full page announcement of two exciting initiatives coming from...

The

Catalyst

EthylEnEdionE Found!Andrei Sanov and his team observe and image the elusive oCCo molecule using laser spectroscopy

Chemistry and BioChemistry alumni magazine fall 2015

the Catalyst CBC alumni magazine

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it is our pleasure to introduce you to our expanded Catalyst Alumni magazine, now with 24 pages in print, and nearly 60 pages in total available

online. The extended version is due in part to the fan-tastic alumni stories you have been sending to Olivia Mendoza and Ellie Warder throughout the year, as well as a full page announcement of two exciting initiatives coming from the CBC department.

The first initiative is the CBC Alumni Reunion to cele-brate “125 Years of Excellence in the Chemical Scienc-es; 1891-2016,” which is scheduled for November 3-5, 2016 on The University of Arizona campus (see page 7). We are inviting all of our Chemistry and Biochemistry alumni to join us next year in beautiful Tucson for two days of celebration. The second initiative is described on page 19 as the “Carl S. Marvel Laboratories Renova-tion Fundraising Campaign” headed up in the College of Science by Dan Petrocelli, Senior Director of Develop-ment. The goal of this campaign is to raise funds for the design and construction of three state-of-the-art named research laboratories through a $1.8M effort that will provide much needed laboratory space for CBC faculty.

Enjoy the Fall 2015 edition of the Catalyst Alumni mag-azine, especially the photos and stories from Wildcat alumni around the world. We have two amazing faculty profiles, one from Assistant Professor Elisa Tomat, and the other from Professor and Associate Department Head Andrei Sanov. Our featured alumna is Dr. Tori Hi-dalgo, who tells us about her journey to chemistry and her outside life as a self-described fitness freak. Plenty of other photo essays are included, such as memories from the May 2015 CBC Commencement Ceremony, and

the 2nd annual White Lab Coat Ceremony at the Depart-ment Breakfast that was held in August 2015. Enjoy!

We once again invite you to join us in pushing the boundaries of Chemistry & Biochemistry in the areas of research, teaching, and outreach by helping support CBC@UA! with your tax-deductible donation.

CBC@UA!

Table of ConTenTs

Dear alumni anD FrienDs oF the Department

Be sure to see the full PdF version of the Catalyst magazine posted on the CBC Alumni news website for online Extras where you see this icon. cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

Andrei SanovAssociate head

Zhiping ZhengAssociate head

Roger l. Miesfelddepartment head

Andrei Sanov, Roger Miesfeld, and Zhiping Zheng

Alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Alumni Reunion 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Running Towards Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Chemistry in Full Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Ethylenedione Found! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122015 Student Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142015 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15New Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Thank You to Our Retirees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Faculty and Staff Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17CBC and Tech Launch Arizona Connect for Commercialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Industry Associates Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18RSS Profile: Fast Scan Force Microscope . . . . . . . . . . 18Carl S . Marvel Laboratories Renovation Fundraising Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Student Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Outreach Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21CBC Scrapbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

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CBC@UA! Charles leftault Ba Chemistry 1954; Bs Chemistry 1955 At age 82, I am retired and spend time playing golf and bridge . I was the first chairman of the UA’s CBC Advisory Committee .

harold mcnair Ba Chemistry 1955I will receive the 2016 American Chemical Society Award in Chro-matography sponsored by Supelco/Sigma-Aldrich at the 251st ACS National Meeting on March 15, 2016 in San Diego .

philip abbott Ba Chemistry 1960I volunteer with Sower Ministry doing maintenance, repairs and light construction work in the Western States .

roger Fellows Bs Chemistry 1961My hobbies are reading, golfing, walking and going to the beach . My children are educators—one at a grade school on the Big Island of Hawaii, the other a professor & department head at Weber State University .

Jerry Gin Bs Chemistry 1964My wife and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and we have 2 grandsons . Hobbies include tennis and carving in wood . more

Jake lark phD Chemistry 1965Nanotechnology introduction into current areas of fiber and fabric production .

larry Fox phD Chemistry 1966I am consulting on fundraising and management to bring the first true Alzheimer’s drug to market . I am active in Rotary, starting a new electronic club, and lots more . more

mark nupen Ba Chemistry 1966I spend my time playing golf and serving as president of a friends’ group for a wildlife area .

sharon ruble ms Chemistry 1967I spend my time traveling, shoveling snow, gathering chicken eggs, maintaining feeding area for birds and deer, rescuing dogs and cats, playing bridge and euchre, and watching college football . more

David sakura phD Chemistry 1970I spent 20 years as an investment banker for biotechnology compa-nies . Now retired, my wife and I moved from Boston to the moun-tains of New Hampshire . more

mark Dewhirst Bs Chemistry 1971I completed a DVM and PhD at Colorado State University in 1979 . After 4 years at the UA College of Medicine, I was recruited by Duke University where I have spent the last 31 years and currently hold an endowed Professorship in Radiation Oncology . more

alan shapiro Ba Chemistry 1973; mD 1975 I earned my MD degree from the UA in 1975 . more

richard yost Bs Chemistry 1974I am the Head of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Florida, where I also direct the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolom-ics, and serve as Professor of Pathology, Immunology and Laborato-ry Medicine . more

Dennis Dixon Bs Chemistry 1976I consult, speak and do business coaching at various architectural and construction industry venues, such as JLC Live, Portland 2015 and NAHB 2016, Las Vegas . Youngest son Hunter is in Engineering at the UA . more

Connie pitman Bs Chemistry 1978I have been working at the University of Colorado for 30 years and plan to retire in 2021 .

tim Krupa ms Chemistry 1979Last year I returned to campus to honor my research advisor, Victor Hruby, at the symposium held in his honor . To see Victor and a cou-ple classmates, Don Upson and David Wright, was very enjoyable .

We had so much Alumni news we couldn’t print it all. See the online Extras for their full stories where it says more! cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

alumni news

Send your news to olivia Mendoza at [email protected] to be included in next year’s magazine!

harold Mcnair david SakuraJake lark

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Mark dewhursttim Krupa, don upson, and david Wright at hruby Symposium

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department of chemistry and biochemistry | fall 2015


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alumni news, Cont.

Chris stavroudis Bs Chemistry 1979 I developed the Modular Cleaning Program, a tool to assist painting conservators to create more tailored cleaning systems for works of art . more

Dan Villalanti phD Chemistry 1980Founder and President of Triton Analytics Corp, which for two decades has collaborated worldwide with oil, chemical and environ-mental companies . I have a vested interest in Navy jet fuel, as son Carl is a Naval Aviator . more

tomi sawyer phD Chemistry 1981Currently I am leading a worldwide drug discovery and innovative technologies effort focused on the peptide modality at Merck Re-search Laboratories . more

leo t. Kenny Bs Chemistry 1983 I recently left my position at Intel to explore a new direction for my career . I’m also writing several books . I expect to be back working full time later this fall . more

patricia hill phD Chemistry 1986My husband and I have retired to Cedar City, Utah, where I have joined the Southern Utah Rock Club and am teaching workshops on chemistry and art . more

terry matsunaga niDa postdoctoral Fellow in Chemistry 1986-92 Continuing contrast agent research with ultrasound diagnostic and therapeutic agents .

scott hertzog Bs Chemistry 1987 I am employed by Chemical Abstracts Service, training users on the tools I have used throughout my career . My wife and I recently celebrated our 23rd anniversary . more

andrew leavitt Bs Chemistry 1988 Recently was inducted as the 11th chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh .

David Benz phD Biochemistry 1991Now “retired”, I spend much of my “free” time managing Caretaker Farm, a non-profit animal rescue foundation located in southern Oregon, and attending to the needs of the rescued animals .

patrick Desrochers phD Chemistry 1992I recently assumed the position of department chair at the Uni-versity of Central Arkansas, where I have served for 23 years as an inorganic faculty member .

michael levine Bs Chemistry 1993I am working for RTI International as an Analytical Chemist . My research revolves around trace metals analysis specializing in mercury analysis .

matthew Grumbling Bs Chemistry 1995I am a registered patent attorney concentrating in the pharmaceu-tical industry . I have been married since 1985 and have 3 children . more

Brian ralston Bs Biochemistry 1997I am no longer in science . I now compose music for film and televi-sion in Los Angeles, California .

Gwen Gross Bs Chemistry 1998In January I was inducted into the Boeing Technical Fellowship as an Associate Technical Fellow . My role there is to set technical direction for Boeing and to resolve issues that arise with new products . more

Jessica yingling Bs Biochemistry 1999I have spent the last four years establishing www .litldog .com, my own biotech public relations and communication business .

lCDr Danny dj morales Ba Biochemistry 2000Although I can be at sea in another hemisphere, I am never too far in spirit from my U of A . I recently crossed the equator on the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and experienced a “monsoon” wash-down of the salt-water variety . more

Scott hertzog david Benz

lCdF danny dj Morales at the equator on the uSS George Washington

dan Villalanti with family

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linda Breci phD Chemistry 2001I am an Assistant Scientist focusing on biological mass spectrome-try as well as Associate Director of Proteomics at the UA . My hus-band and I just spent 7 days backpacking in the high Sierras . more

tim sikorski Bs Chemistry 2001After completing my MS degree in Defense Analysis, I will move to Fort Hood, Texas to work as an information operations planner on the III Corps staff .

Christina Birch Bs Biochemistry 2008I recently earned my PhD in Biological Engineering at MIT . I also raced with the MIT Cycling Team, winning several team and individ-ual collegiate National Championship titles . more

erika offerdahl phD Biochemistry 2008I recently had a paper make the “Top 8” list . more

yomi ajulo Bs Biochemistry 2009I earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering and am now working in the oil and gas industry . I got married earlier this year .more

Brianna Kolody magnusen Bs Biochemistry 2009I got married in January 2015 to Drew Magnusen .

emily tenenbaum phD Chemistry 2010Currently I am a business development manager at Primus Green Energy and live in New Jersey with my husband, Michele Pavanello, and our son and daughter . more

sterling udom Bs Biochemistry 2010I’m in my last year at the Medical College of Wisconsin and am currently applying to anesthesiology residencies . more

amanda Davis roca Bs Biochemistry and mCB 2011I am in my 4th year as a PhD student at Northwestern University and was awarded an NSF graduate fellowship . I recently married another UA alumnus, Antonio Roca .

ashley head phD Chemistry 2011Ashley and Jeff Head have moved to the San Francisco Bay area where Ashley has a new postdoctoral position at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and Jeff is a service engineer for Shimadzu Scientific . In July they welcomed a new baby girl to the world, Emma Rose Head .

Jesse Caballero Bs Biochemistry 2012I have completed my first year of medical school at Indiana Univer-sity, and I just was selected to research for the GEMS-HP program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus where I am working on targeted liposomal delivery of an antioxidant enzyme for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension . more

natasha Kong Bs Biochemistry 2012Since graduation, I have been pursuing a career in acting full time . I spend most of my time auditioning or on sets doing small roles, working my way up . In my free time, I play the ukulele, bake French macaroons, leather craft, or go to the archery range . more

nancy leo Bs Biochemistry 2012After graduation I went on to earn a master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology . Currently I am a chemistry/biology tutor at Chandler Gilbert Community College’s Learning Center . more

sophie hapak Bs Biochemistry 2013I am a third year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh . I currently am part of a group that studies Alzheimer’s Disease and schizophrenia . In what little free time I have, I enjoy horseback riding, running and playing tennis . more

Sophie hapack

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Deboleena sarkar phD Biochemistry 2013I am employed at Ventana Medical Systems in Oro Valley, where I work on cancer studies, and I am the mother of two baby girls, Aalo and Aadi .

aishan shi Bs Biochemistry and mCB and Ba in english 2013I just finished my MBA with the Eller College of Management and have started medical school at at UA College of Medicine – Phoenix .

Kara smith Bs Chemistry 2013I got married to Nadina Anderson recently, and I was selected as one of the first females to integrate the Virginia class fast-attack submarines . more

luis torres-Figueroa ma Chemistry 2013I am working at Pima Community College as a Science Laboratory Technician, and when not doing lab preps, I hike around Tucson and take photographs .

lauren wugalter Bs Chemistry 2013I am a chemistry instructor at Tacoma Community College as well as an instructor at the University of Washington-Tacoma, where I teach courses on general chemistry as it applies to environmental science . more

Christopher atcherley phD Chemistry 2014I am working for Dr . Frank Porreca as a Research Fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, where we are investigating the under-lying mechanisms of headache . more

eric Figueroa Bs Biochemistry 2014I am starting in the IGP PhD program at Vanderbilt University .

teryn holeman Bs Chemistry 2014This past summer I traveled to Peru on a UA medical campaign, volunteering in rural hospitals and providing free health clinics . I am applying to medical school now . more

Cheryl Cheah Bs Biochemistry 2015I am currently working as a Research Technician at the Arizona Respiratory Center . I also am applying to Medical School . more

Brittany Forte Bs Biochemistry and mCB 2015I just began my first year as a PhD student in the Arizona Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at the UA . My research will focus on mechanisms of breast cancer invasion and metastasis . more

ronald Gonzalez Bs Chemistry 2015For the last three months, I have been working as a quality control research associate at Accelerate Diagnostics in Tucson . more

sara hall phD Biochemistry 2015Now employed at Ventana Medical Systems in Oro Valley, Arizona . more

stephanie Kha Bs Biochemistry 2015I am in my first year of medical school at Case Western Reserve University . more

Clayton lanham Bs Biochemistry 2015 Currently I am earning my Master’s degree in Diagnostic and Labo-ratory Sciences here at the UA and TA/GA for two BIO 181L class-es . I just took up Ballroom dancing, West Coast Swing and Polish dancing . more

yvonne ng Bs Chemistry 2015After graduation, I spent a month traveling in Asia . I am now in my first year of Pharmacy School at the UA . more

taylor szyszka Bs Biochemistry 2015I just moved to Australia, where I am in the Biochemistry PhD program at the University of Sydney . I am spending my time down under to expand my structural biology skill set and check out some of the wildlife . more

alumni news, Cont.

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alumni reunion 2016saVe the Date: noVemBer 3–5, 2016

tour CBC FaCilities to see what researCh is BeinG Done now

Visit with FrienDs anD FaCulty

attenD short talKs GiVen By Current FaCulty aBout exCitinG DeVelopments

lunCh with Current stuDents

taKe a GuiDeD walKinG tour oF Campus

tour the tree-rinG laB anD/or the mirror laB

Since 1891, research and education in the chemical sciences have been an integral part of the University of Arizona. Next year, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will celebrate 125 years of

Excellence in the Chemical Sciences. Please save the weekend of November 3-5, 2016, so that you can be part of this exciting event. We will have informal group dinners on Thursday evening, followed on Friday by CBC and UA tours, lunch with graduate students, a free afternoon to explore, and a banquet on Friday evening. Finally, on Saturday morning we will have a presentation of CBC research highlights given by a few of our newest faculty, leaving the afternoon free to spend as you wish.

Please visit www.cbc.arizona.edu/celebration to find out more about next year’s reunion, and most importantly, take a short survey to provide us with your feedback so we can best plan for the 2016 Alumni Reunion.

Exce

llen

ce in

the Chemical Sciences

1891–2016125

Left photo: Chemistry class in Old Main, ca. 1899. Louise Foucar Marshall and Tom Marshall Collection, 1888-1972, courtesy of University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections.

Right photo: Chemistry class in Koffler Building, 2014. Photo by Mark Yanigihashi.


www.cbc.arizona.edu/celebration


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II did head off to college at 18, like I was “supposed” to, but it only lasted about one semester before I found myself in quite a bit of trouble with very poor grades. I decided to go into the work force and see what a high school degree could do for me. I got bored fast and started running marathons in my spare time. Through the years of training and running in races, I developed quite a few injuries and decided to pursue an education in physical therapy.

It was through my required curriculum that I discovered I had a passion for chemistry and eventually pursued my PhD, which I earned from Dr. Dennis Lichtenberger’s lab in 2009. It was always my goal to do R&D work and be-come your quintessential “lab rat.” How-ever, just as I had discovered chemistry

while seeking a physical therapy degree, I discovered that I had a deep passion for teaching while earning my chemistry degree and was lucky enough to find myself a teaching position at UA after graduation.

I have always been shy in front of large groups of people. In fact, I took a drama class as an undergraduate know-ing I would one day pursue a higher education degree and be forced to speak in front of a large audience (it didn’t help). Granted, giving seminars and being a TA throughout my PhD program allowed me to gain confi-dence, but when I first saw 300 people—600 eyes—star-ing at me, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Although teaching a large lecture is substantially differ-ent from teaching a small lab, I found my groove and can honestly say I love my job. I love chemistry, but I love teaching it even more. I pride myself on getting some of my freshman students to switch to a chemistry major, my favorite comments being “You made chemistry bear-able. I even found myself enjoying the subject when you taught it.”

I moved here in 2000. My first job, out of necessity, was at The Good Egg waiting tables, but I eventually found a position as an analyst at an environmental lab. From there I worked at Selectide, a pharmaceutical company, but quickly found myself missing academia. I applied and got a research specialist position in Dr. Ann Walk-er’s lab that led me to graduate school. From there I was lucky enough to get an adjunct lecturer position and TA

was born and raised in Hawai’i. I was not a scholastic child; in fact, I did just about everything possible to get out of school work and find my way to the beach.

by dr. tori hidalgo | Phd in Chemistry 2009, CBC lecturer

runninG towarDs Chemistry

THEN

tori hidalgo teaching

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job in the department, even-tually becoming a full-time lecturer and am now also the general chemistry lab TA manager. I have fallen in love with Tucson and am very hap-py to raise my two daughters, my “little electrons,” here.

During my time at UA I have had many mentors, but I really can’t express enough how helpful Mr. Steve Brown, my supervisor as a graduate student TA, was to me. Not only in the beginning, when I was pretty sure I would faint or throw up while teach-ing, to now, the person to step into part of his respon-sibilities since his retirement. He has been an amazing mentor to me and helped me flourish in the classroom. I very much appreciate his encouragement to be myself and run my classroom according to my personality—an-imated and verbose with little apology, a whole lot of energy, and bad... often very bad... mnemonic devices I am forever happy to entertain my students with.

I have heard throughout my life that to be truly happy you should find good people to love and be loved by, not be afraid to take risks, never give up on anything, find your passion and figure out a way to get paid for it. I can honestly say I have done all of the above to the best of my abilities, and I strongly encourage my students each semester to do the same. I am not shy about the fact that my greatest triumphs have always followed a lot of stumbling; they are the things I was the most afraid of pursuing, and are the ones I worked the hardest to earn. And my greatest lesson: Sometimes you don’t need a plan, you just need the guts to try.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.” —J.K. Rowling

It means a lot to me that these lessons resonate in the minds of many of my students.

dr. tori hidalgo, Fitness FreakI am a fitness freak and don’t mind that this is fairly well known . In fact, when I write letters of recommendations for students the gifts that I receive have gone from candies and chocolates to healthy treats, both handmade and purchased . I have always been active . I could swim before I could walk, I started doing competitive cross country running in 7th grade, track and Outrigger canoe paddling (my favorite) in high school, and after high school I started doing long distance running . I have run 5 marathons, countless half marathons and duathlons (run – swim – run), and I played roller derby for years, only retiring from the sport after having my second daughter .

I now do no form of cardio, unless lifting weights fast counts . I have fallen in love with the sport of bodybuilding; once I discovered what it felt like to be strong I became passionate about becoming stronger . I have competed in one bodybuilding competition and won 3 trophies, one in each division I entered . I am now starting to pursue powerlifting because I love seeing how much weight I can push or pull . But my real love for the sport came through the realization that you cannot build a strong body under the supervision of a weak mind . It is this mental growth that keeps me motivated . Lifting weights won’t make you manly, but it will make you strong . And we all deserve to know what that feels like .

NOW

tori, daughters, and trophies

Roller derby

Visiting hawai’i



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I

The pigment that makes our blood look red belongs to one of the best-studied classes of metal-binding com-pounds. In these so-called porphyrins, a cyclic structure of carbon and nitrogen atoms forms a framework that can bind many metal ions. For their rich reactivity and optical properties, metalloporphyrins are employed and studied in many fields, including medicine, catalysis for chemical synthesis, and photovoltaics.

Having worked with several compounds related to porphyrins when I was a graduate student, I recently became interested in the chemistry of smaller fragments of the well-known cyclic structures. Such fragments, which are sometimes called biopyrrins, are produced in biological environments after the degradation of iron porphyrins (for instance, heme cofactors of oxygen- carrying protein hemoglobin) in red blood cells, and they were initially isolated from human urine.

What is the chemistry of biopyrrins? Do they bind met-als? Do they retain the ability of porphyrins to exchange electrons with other compounds? In my laboratory here at the University of Arizona, we have started to answer these questions. We now know that these small pig-ments interact with several metals and that they engage

in electron transfer reactions. We are now investigating the biological implications of our chemical findings, and we are also planning to explore the reactivity of these compounds to develop new methods in chemical synthesis. Our first report on the palladium complexes of a biopyrrin fragment will appear in an international publication this fall.

Earlier this year, I received the Faculty Early-Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation. This federal program, which will support my research and educational work for five years, recognizes the dual role of academic scientists as re-search scholars and educators. I am particularly honored to be involved in a program that supports this unique aspect of our professional environment.

f I look back and try to identify a young scientist in my previous self, I find a child fascinated with colors. The colors in Nature, their multitude and the reasons we have them in the first place,

are what drew me to science and art. These were the occupations of my childhood, and I am very much interested in both. Colors still speak clearly to me through many forms of visual art, and I have continuously worked with brightly colored compounds for over 15 years in chemistry laboratories.

by dr. Elisa tomat | Assistant Professor

Chemistry in Full Color

Structure of urinary pigment tripyrrindione bound to a palladium center.

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A portion of the NSF CAREER funding will enhance the reach of the Chemistry Discovery program, which is both a chemistry course and an outreach initiative. I launched Chemistry Discovery in 2012 with the goal of engaging UA students in the communication of science. The main objective of the course is the devel-opment and presentation of educational workshops for middle-school students visiting our campus at the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. Every year we host more than one hundred students from local middle schools, and we have received extremely rewarding feedback.

Several Chemistry and Biochemistry colleagues con-tribute their expertise and participate in the develop-ment of engaging activities on a broad range of topics from protein science to the properties of metals to diagnostic tests for forensics and many others. Chem-ical transformations associated with color changes are always effective visual tools, and this year will have a whole section of the workshops devoted to the theme of Color. The students enrolled in the Chemistry Discovery course are the energetic presenters of the workshops; they provide not only educational content in the chemical sciences but also tremendous role models and a school-to-college message for an audi-ence in a critical age group. Middle school is a time in which many students appear to opt out of the physical sciences, so we are committed to revealing the excite-ment of chemistry and perhaps keeping them engaged a little (or a lifetime) longer.

I believe that science, particularly scientific research, and art have a lot in common; although tools and meth-ods may be very different, they both rely on human creativity to yield progress. With my research work and my involvement in teaching and outreach activities, I enjoy every day the excitement and the creative effort that characterize careers in science.

Elisa tomat (center) and graduate students Ritika Gautam (left) and Eman Akam (right) in their chemistry laboratory

Are you really italian? An Italian last name lacking a final vowel does not sound completely legitimate . Indeed my last name is pretty common in my home region of Friuli, in the Eastern Alps . This area used to be tucked between two borders and is now enjoying a border-less proximity to our Slovenian and Austrian neighbors in the European Union . Our native language is Friulian, which is recognized as a minority language by the Italian government and is spoken by approximately half a million people (who also speak Italian of course) .

I am from a small town that sits in a beautiful position between an Alpine stream and a lake . The population is about 1,000 residents, which means that there are no strangers in town . My uncle Decio is interested in genealogy and has found written records (in religious and land registry archives) of our ancestors living in town continuously since 1505 . I have at least a dozen ancestors named Stefano Tomat, which is also my brother’s name, and one of them had a house built in the heart of town in 1732 . In spite of a major earthquake, the old family house is still standing; Stefano’s initials and the date of construction are engraved on the keystone of the gate .

Every summer I enjoy meeting family and friends in town, swimming in the frigid waters of the stream, and taking pictures of the beautiful natural scenery . Sometimes I mount vintage lenses from the 50s and 60s on my modern digital camera, a combination of old and new that matches the spirit of the town and gives interesting visual effects .

Elisa’s hometown of Alesso in the Friuli region in italy

A splash of color in the summer sunlight captured through a vintage lens



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“W

ethyleneDione FounD! Chemistry throuGh the eyes oF sChröDinGer’s Cat

“I bet you’ve never seen one before. I can show you s, p, d, sigma, pi, delta—any type you want!”

Rapid blinking of the eyes, followed by an amused ex-pression, as the person I am talking to begins to realize that I am joking.

I am not.

There is a good chance that you, too, have not seen an electron. People know they exist but few have actu-ally seen one. They are quantum entities, mysterious products of Schrödinger and his infamous cat. They also inspire art. So, would you like to see an electron? Here:

My students and I are electron hunters. We tiptoe around in vacuum, looking for interesting molecules or assembling them on the spot. When the moment is right, we spray them with beams of photons from rapid-fire lasers and evict electrons from their natural molecular habitats—all to take a photo. Smile!

Some photoelectron images (as we call the photographs) are stunningly beautiful, some are a complicated mess, but all contain rich information about the molecular bonds and interactions with the surroundings.

We have many tricks in our arsenal. One is starting measurements with negative ions. Unfortunately, you cannot buy a bottle of ions at your local pharmacy or a chemistry stockroom, so we have to make them on the fly. Once we eject an electron, it leaves behind a neutral

molecule. As always in spectroscopy, we observe a tran-sition between the initial (anion) and the final (neutral) states. Hence, our electron images reflect the properties of both the anions and the neutral molecules.

The molecules that we produce by this technique are not of a pedestrian type. We design the experiments to target exotic species in elusive states. We study radi-cals, diradicals, and other reactive intermediates. Such species control the deciding steps of chemical reactions, but they are difficult to isolate. Rapid spectroscopy is usually the only way to study them.

This was the key to our recent discovery of OCCO.

The discovery was made on the heels of a century-long history of this mysterious, “exceedingly coy” molecule (E. G. Lewars, in Modeling Marvels, Springer, Berlin, 2008, p. 131)—history filled with controversy and failed attempts to observe it. Also known as ethylenedione, OCCO had eluded chemists since 1913. At one partic-ularly controversial turn in its history, in the 1940s, it was claimed to be the active component of Glyoxylide, a purported antidote for a long list of afflictions, from exhaustion to cancer. The claims were classified as fraud by the FDA, after the wonder drug was found to contain nothing but water. For this, conspiracy theorists were quick to blame the government, and to this day the myth of Glyoxylide as a “lost” cancer cure continues to be perpetuated on the Internet.

We came to the scene without prior knowledge of the controversy, motivated only by the elegant puzzle that the molecule presented. Anyone with elementary education can draw the O=C=C=O structure. And yet, all past studies had failed to produce conclusive experimental evidence of the molecule’s existence—and therein lay the puzzle.

Theorists long ago predicted the unstable nature of OCCO: it splits into two carbon monoxide fragments in a nanosecond or so. Thus, if the 1940s Glyoxylide

ould you like to see an electron?”

Silence and blank stare.

by dr. Andrei Sanov | Professor, Associate department head

Electrons emitted from the anions of nitric oxide (no), a render-ing based on electron images. Artist: luis Velarde, former graduate student in the Sanov lab (Phd 2008), now Assistant Professor at Suny Buffalo.

13

ever existed, it was not “lost” by the government, but decayed on its own faster than a Schrödinger cat’s sneeze. Although short by human standards, it is still a long lifetime in the molecular realm, leaving OCCO with no good reason to evade detection. The fact that it remained unobserved had understandably frustrated chemists and even temporarily landed OCCO on Wiki-pedia’s “Hypothetical Compounds” page.

And then my graduate student Andrew Dixon and undergraduate student Tian (Chris) Xue approached the problem from an angle overlooked by others. Foregoing the strategies that relied on neutral species, they used laser pulses to remove excess electrons from the anion of ethylenedione and captured photoelectron images of OCCO at the very beginning of the molecule’s lifespan.

The experiment involved first stripping hydrogens off the precursor glyoxal molecule. Glyoxal has two carbon atoms bonded together and an oxygen and a hydrogen attached to each of them. The initial idea to use glyoxal belonged to Dmitry Khuseynov, a 2014 PhD graduate from my group, but it was Andrew and Chris who made it happen. They attacked glyoxal with atomic oxygen radical anions, known for their eagerness to strip off hydrogens and protons from organics. By losing H2+, glyoxal yielded OCCO−. And then the real fun began.

Once the lasers were unleashed, the anions had no choice but to neutralize. The electrons emitted in the process bore the fingerprints of the neutral ethylenedi-one molecule. The images indicated the bound triplet and dissociative singlet states, which are responsible, respectively, for the very existence and the short lifespan of OCCO. The results matched very well what theorists had been predicting for a hundred years, and provided the first definitive proof of OCCO’s existence.

A “simple” molecule, 102 years in the making, was finally revealed.

From Russia with Six dollarsAndrei grew up in an isolated town, Gorodets, in Russia . In the 8th grade, he came across the do-at-home entrance test for the Correspondence School of Physics and Technology (CSPT), an extracurricular organization for high-schoolers run by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) . The test was published in a youth science magazine, to which Andrei subscribed for the science fiction stories included in every issue . He was intrigued and solved the test, just to see if he could . That proved to be the single most important event that defined his future .

All the way through high school, in addition to regular schooling, he studied physics and math at the CSPT . The curriculum was very challenging, given his provincial background, but he pressed on and soon was hooked .

After high-school graduation, he took the entrance exams and was admitted to the MIPT . The credit for that belongs completely to the CSPT . Had it not been for the preparation he received through this school, he would not have stood a chance . In the pre-Internet world, it was a truly unique organization, and it still exists today: www .school .mipt .ru .

He graduated from MIPT and came to the US in 1992 to the PhD program at the University of Southern California . Little practical information about America was accessible in the collapsing Soviet Union; hard currency was even harder to come by . His airfare to Los Angeles was paid by USC . On arrival, he had no credit cards or bank accounts of any sort . One of his professors in Moscow had given him 6 (yes, six) US dollars and that was all he had . It was the sort of adventure that requires one to close the eyes and … jump, hoping it would all work out okay .

It did .

Sanov group 2015 in the excited state

At a farm in the Soviet union, where Andrei (far right) and his college classmates picked beets as their required annual farm labor, 1986

Andrei Sanov and laura Van dorn in Moscow, 2013

GRound StAtE

PotE

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EnER

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2015 stuDent awarDsundergraduate AwardsCBC outstanding FreshmanJean-Laurent Blanche - Chem

CBC outstanding SophomoreElise Noelle Munoz - BIOC

CBC outstanding JuniorsKexin Li - Chemistry Nicole C. Schwalbe - BIOC

CBC and Chemistry outstanding Senior Fall 2014Teryn Holeman

Chemistry Excellence in Research Spring 2015Yvonne Wing-Yee Ng

Chemistry outstanding Senior Spring 2015Joseph Patrick Marshalek

CBC and Biochemistry Excellence in Research Spring 2015 Brittany Leigh Forte

CBC and Biochemistry outstanding Senior Spring 2015Stephanie T. Kha

Biochemistry outstanding Senior thesis Spring 2015 Brittany Leigh ForteKaitlyn McLeod

American Chemical Society hach ScholarKarey M. Armenta

Charles hoyt ScholarTaylor Szyszka

lela E. Booher Memorial ScholarTaylor Szyszka

Excellence in Biological Sciences ScholarsTrace BartelsAli IcenogleNicole C. Schwalbe Benjamin Van Maren

Michael A. Wells Memorial Research ScholarsAli IcenogleElise Noelle Munoz Benjamin Van Maren

hyperCube ScholarsTian (Chris) Xue Kexin Li

the Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Award 2015Ronald Gonzalez

Galileo Circle ScholarsEman AkamBenton J. Anderson Rafaela Arroyo-Vallejo Trace Bartels Jean-Laurent Blanche Javier Castillo-Montoya Philip DirlamAndrew DixonBrittany Leigh Forte, michael Cusanovich scholarAxel Gomez Casarez Mahsa GhaffariLeo Marc Hamerlynck Shaina H. HasanAli Icenogle Stephanie M. Jensen Flora KimaniTam LeKexin LiAndrew McDonald Yvonne Wing-Yee Ng Nicole C. SchwalbeEric A. Simental, Gilbert r. escalante scholarDaria Timonina

Graduate Awardsoutstanding CBC Graduate Students 2014 - 2015 Outstanding Scholarship Edon VitakuOutstanding ServiceEman AkamOutstanding TeachingMahsa Ghaffari

industry Associates Program Graduate Research Assistantship 2015Cody CorbinBrandon Smith

GiGA Graduate Research Assistantship 2015 Andrew DixonNicholas Pavlopoulos

John hostetter Scholar 2014-2015Matthew Swan

First year Excellence in Graduate Research Adam Meier

Second year Excellence in Graduate Research Brandon Smith

david o’Brien Graduate FellowAndrew Dixon

Carl S. Marvel ScholarChristopher Atcherley

Special RecognitionCollege of Science & Molecular & Cellular Biology outstanding Senior Spring 2015Shaina H. Hasan

Robie Gold Medal, uA Senior Award 2015Stephanie Zawada

Robert logan nugent uA Senior Award 2015 Stephanie T. Kha

Murray deArmond Mind, Body and Spirit Award 2015 Stephanie T. Kha

thomas R. Brown Foundation distinguished Scholar in Entrepreneurship 2014-2015 Stephanie Zawada

Beckman Scholars 2015-2016Jordan Barrows Ben Wu

Marshall Foundation dissertation Fellow 2014- 2015 Sara M. Hall

uA Graduate College, uA Fellows Award 2015 Brittany Leigh Forte

Postgraduate Research Excellence Award university of Sydney Taylor Szyszka

Paul G. Koch & Elsie M. Koch Memorial Scholar 2015 Guadalupe Davila

newell A. younggren Scholar in Biological Sciences 2014-2015 Tam Le

tRiF imaging Fellowship 2015 Adam Wallace Bret Maughan

American Chemical Society undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry 2014 Stephen Merchant

Biological, Engineering & Chemical undergraduate Research Conference 2015 Bennett Adamson Meagan BethelAustin BrownCarl Buchholz Pearl Dixon Morgan Fitzpatrick Shaina Hasan Jason Kronenfeld Gloria LeKendra LiuKyle Lopez Corina Maclsaac Anna Villas

CBC Poster Fair 2015Senior Thesis1st: Taylor Szyszka2nd: Brittany Leigh ForteBiological Sciences Advanced1st: Gloria Le2nd: Kassidy TompkinsBiological Sciences Emerging1st: Katherine Burrell 2nd: Spencer Escobedo & Salil KalarnPhysical Sciences Advanced1st: Ronald Gonzalez 2nd: Sona AvetianPhysical Sciences Emerging1st: William Bahureksa 2nd: Alina Kraus

Stephanie Kha with her parents and dr. david Alberts

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2015 CommenCement

The 2015 CBC Awards and Commencement Ceremony was held on May 14, 2015 at the Student Union Memorial Grand Ballroom. The 400 guests included 2014-2015

graduating students, student award recipients, student ambassadors, faculty, staff, family members, and friends of the department.

The program began with Dr. Roger Miesfeld, CBC Department Head, who welcomed everyone to the event, followed by the Keynote speaker, Dr. Philip Miller, President/Consultant from Miller Consulting. Dr. Andrei Sanov presented the undergraduate awards; Dr. Oliver Monti, Chair of the CBC Graduate Program Committee presented the Graduate student awards; College of Science Dean, Dr. Joaquin Ruiz, presented the Galileo Circle Scholars; the calling of the CBC Graduates was given by Drs. Roger Miesfeld, Andrei Sanov and Zhiping Zheng. Dr. David Alberts, UA Regents Professor and Director Emeritus, UA Cancer Center, introduced Stepha-nie Kha, CBC/Chemistry Outstanding Senior, who provided the closing remarks.

The 2016 CBC Awards Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thurs-day, May 12, 2016 at the Student Union Memorial Grand Ballroom approx-imately from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.

Elyse harris and Sara herman

Shaina hasan (holding flowers) and family

CBC Phd and MS graduates Rachel Burnett (in cap and gown) and family

Katrina Farrell (red dress) and family

danny and dago Robles (at side ends) and family



16

ua FaCulty awarDs 2015

new staFFBobbi Anglin, Instructor

Megan Cunnington, Academic Advisor

Adam Daly, Instructor

Christopher Lundin, Accountant Associate

Brian Zacher, Instructor

Dr. Craig Aspinwall IUPAC Young Observer Award 2015, IUPAC; Honors Professor 2015, UA Honors College

Dr. Pascale Charest ACS Research Honor, American Chemical Society

Dr. Indraneel Ghosh Honors Professor 2015, UA Honors College

Dr. Jim Hazzard Distinguished Career Teaching Award 2015, UA College of Science

Dr. Victor J. Hruby Innovator of the Year Award 2015, Tech Launch Arizona; Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Academia 2015, Arizona Governor’s Office; Bures Lecturer, 2015, Bures International Lecture

Dr. Megan McEvoy Distinguished Advising Award 2015, UA College of Science

Dr. John Pollard Honors Professor 2015, UA Honors College

Dr. Robin Polt Catapult Award 2014, Tech Launch Arizona

Dr. Vicente Talanquer Distinguished University Professor 2015, University of Arizona

Dr. Elisa Tomat Faculty Early-Career Development (CAREER) Award 2015, National Science Foundation

Dr. Lucy Ziurys Barbara Mez-Starck Prize 2015, Bar-bara Mez-Starck Foundation

Neil Jacobsen is the 2015 College of Science Award of Excellence winner representing CBC

Michael Morris and Beth Vinson, 2015 McNair Awardees

The Teaching Support Office in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry won the UA 2015 Team Award for Excellence

ua staFF awarDs 2015

learn more about the new staff in the online Extras! cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

Bobbi Anglin Adam daly

Brian Zacher

Megan Cunnington

Christopherlundin

thanK you to our retireesMary Flores

Amy Morris

Roger Sperline

Amy Morris

Mary Flores

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Herbert Craig, BS Chemistry 1965, d. 1/5/2015

Melissa (Missy) Farrow Klute, BS Chemistry, 1992, d. 8/9/2015

Martin (Marty) Krevitz, BS Chemistry 1941, d. 11/3/2014

Stephen Newcomb, BS Chemistry, 1989, d. 9/16/2015

Fredrick Stong, BS Chemistry 1960, d. 6/8/2015

Marian (Sally) Lounsberry Storch, BS Chemistry 1947, d. 7/18/2015

Thomas (TK) Waddell, BA Chemistry 1950, d. 2/13/2015

Elizabeth Willott, PhD Biochemistry 1989, d. 5/2/2015

Margaret (Pinkie) Ban Wong, BS Chemistry 1947, d. 5/30/2015

Ron Workman, BS Chemistry 1968, d. 7/8/2015

in memoriam people we lost in 2014-2015

Read more about those we’ve lost in the online Extras. cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

CBC anD teCh launCh arizona ConneCt For CommerCialization

Successfully Growing an Ecosystem of invention and Commercialization

tla metric—ua Fy13 Fy14 Fy15

invention disclosures 144 188 213

Exclusive licenses/options 22 39 45

Startup companies 3 11 12

Provisional/utility patents filed 145 167 200

income from royalties and patent reimbursements

$1.3 M $1.6 M $2.4 m

CBC had the highest level of TLA activity of any department in the College of Science.

dr. Jeffrey Pyundr. Victor J. hruby

A few of our tlA superstars

UA researchers in CBC and across the University of Arizona make important discoveries every day. Tech Launch Arizona helps the University’s

brightest minds put their best breakthroughs to work for a better world. How?

The UA created TLA to move inventions, technologies, and intellectual property from the laboratory out into the mar-ketplace. The UA unit brings together faculty and researchers with the business community to maximize the impact of research and innovation, and connects the University to the resources and interactive ground of Tech Parks Arizona.

Over the last three years, CBC had the highest level of com-mercialization activity of any department in the College of Science, and one of the highest in the entire university. For example, CBC increased its number of US patents filed from

five in fiscal year 2013 (FY13) to 36 in FY15, a nearly six-fold increase. Over the same three-year period, four start-up companies came out of CBC. To incentivize this activity going forward, the 2015 CBC Catalyst Award was initiated through a part-nership with the Nguyen & Tarbet Patent Law Firm and the College of Science Dean’s Fund.

A total of $10,000 in prize money will be awarded in January 2016 at the annual CBC Faculty Retreat to the five CBC faculty (or labs) with the most impactful applied science as measured by commercialization activity through TLA.

dr. Jon njardarson



18

inDustry assoCiates proGram

The Department of Chemis-try and Biochemistry is excited to develop closer relationships with small

businesses and large corporations that are seeking ways to interface with leading academic researchers and highly trained students in the fields of nanoma-terials, synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chem-istry, biochemistry, protein structure and function, computational biophysics, and drug design. These corporate relationships are fostered through our In-dustry Associates Program (IAP), which provides an opportunity for companies such as yours to become partners with a top tier Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at a world class Research I University located in beautiful Tucson, Arizona. Receipt of your company’s annual gift of $5,000 initiates your IAP partnership. Visit us on the web at cbc.arizona.edu/iap.

A primary benefit of an IAP partner company is preferred technical access and consultation services with our CBC scientific staff in the Research Support Services (RSS) unit, which includes expertise in 15 specialized areas of chemistry and biochemistry. Up to six employees of your company may become University of Arizona Designated Campus Colleague (DCC) associates of CBC, which includes online access to all electronic journal subscriptions and library databases. Join our growing list of IAP part-ner companies and begin to build your company’s relationship with The University of Arizona!

rss proFilesFast Scan Force Microscope Capabilities introduced into Keck Facility

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was recently awarded a National Science Foundation MRI

grant for the purchase of a unique, state of the art fast scan Atomic Force Microscope. With matching funds provided by the university, an Asylum Cypher ES system was purchased and installed and is now being used by students to support the nano-tech, bio, and thin film research projects in the department and across campus. The new microscope is located in the CBC Keck Center for Nano-Scale Imaging in the Chem-ical Sciences Building. Utilizing the latest in innova-tions in acoustical and thermal isolation, the scope enables the user to scan up to 20x faster than previous instruments over a wide range of spatial resolutions. Coupled with an environmental module that allows precisely controlled gas/liquid dosing as well as inte-grated temperature control, the new system puts the Keck lab at the forefront of force imaging capabilities in the Southwest. The new equipment joins an array of co-located instruments dedicated to the imaging and analysis of materials from the micro to the nano-level. The facility is directed by Dr. Brooke Mas-sani, who is an expert and campus leader in imaging methods and their applications. Training is available for any university personnel who require these tech-niques for their research and education programs.

For more information, contact:Brooke Beam Massani, PhDW.M. Keck Center for Surface and Interface ImagingChemical Sciences Building 135(520) [email protected]/facilities/keck_center

topographical image of Perovskite

Roger l. Miesfeld, PhdProfessor and Department HeadDirector, Industry Associates ProgramTel. 520.626.2343 [email protected]

sponsors:

cbc.arizona.edu/iap

http://cbc.arizona.edu/iap


http://www.cbc.arizona.edu/facilities/keck_center


19

Carl s. marVel laBoratories renoVation FunDraisinG CampaiGn

YoU Can be a MaRVel, Too!

IF YOU WERE AROUND CAMPUS IN THE EARLY 1970s, you may remember the beauti ful new lab building going up just west of the Old Chemistry Building. Originally called the New Chem istry Building, it was renamed in 1984 in honor of Carl Shipp "Speed" Marvel, a UA Chemistry faculty

member from 1961 to 1988, and one of the world’s leading organic polymer chemists. While some of the Marvel labs were recently renovated, three more labs are in desperate need of updating in order to relocate CBC faculty from the Old Chemistry building, which is slated for partial demolition (the back half eventually will be replaced with new space).

Funds are not available for new building projects at this time, so it is up to the CBC Department and the College of Science to partner in their fundraising efforts to meet this critical need. We are looking for individuals or corporations who are interested in making a significant impact on chemical sciences by donating funds toward three state-of-the-art named research

laboratories in the Marvel Building. Our goal is to raise $1.8M over the next two years to renovate three labs.

For more information on how you can have a laboratory named for you, please contact College of Science Senior Director of Development Dan Petrocelli at [email protected] or (520) 621-1215.

“tHe University of arizona DePartment of cHemistry anD BiocHemistry is a triPle tHreat. tHey are sUccessfUlly creating new knowleDge, transferring tHat knowleDge to tHe commUnity, anD tHeir commitment to stUDents is UnParalleleD. tHey are leaDers in enzyme researcH anD analytical cHemistry.”

JoaqUin rUizDean, University of arizona college of science

carl s. marvel1894-1988

Photo courtesy of theUniversity of Illinois Archives

olD laB new laB


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stuDent aDVentures in researCh, internships anD stuDy aBroaDJasmine Acfalle—Germany

Sona Avetian—University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Alex Aydt—Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

Courtney Collingwood—Guatemala

Melissa Harnois—Sanofi, Tucson

Stefan Hinote—Carnegie Mellon University

Teryn Holeman—Peru

Efren Ibarra—Mexico

Tyler Kennedy—India

Lauren Koch—University of Arizona

Carline Newmann and Global Medical Brigade – Panama

Elizabeth Nguyen—Aramco Research Center, Houston

Alex Aydt

Sona Avetian

Elizabeth nguyen

Jasmine Acfalle and a Berlin Bear

Carline newmann

Melissa harnois

Courtney Collingwood

Efren ibarra, Jose Angel and Efren A. ibarra

tyler Kennedy and his cousin Kendyl Brown in traditional indian clothing

See the online Extras for the student stories! cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

21

ASBMB Biochemistry Club

The UA Biochemistry Club is an affiliated Student Chapter of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Our main goal is to provide the com-munity, specifically middle and high school students, with exposure to opportunities in scientific research and careers. Our club received the 2015 Outstanding Student Chapter Award from ASBMB at the ASBMB National Meet-ing in Boston where we were recognized for our leader-ship and commitment to science education in the Tucson community. In addition, the Biochemistry Club worked very hard helping the Department gain ASBMB ac-creditation for the Universi-ty of Arizona’s Biochemistry degree—equivalent to the ACS certification for Chem-istry. Starting in Fall 2015, UA students who graduate with a major in Biochemistry will have an ASBMB-certified degree.

outreaCh aCtiVities

BECuR

In February 2015, the UA Biochemistry Club hosted its sixth annual Biology, Engineering & Chemistry Under-graduate Research (BECUR) Conference. The BECUR Conference focuses on the outstanding research being conducted by undergraduates at the University of Arizona across a wide variety of scientific disciplines. The pur-pose of this conference is to provide participants with the opportunity to present their research in a professional yet comfortable environment. BECUR serves as excellent preparation for future attendance and participation in larger and more competitive national scientific meetings. The 2015 BECUR Conference was the largest yet, with a total of 55 abstracts.

The seventh BECUR Con-ference will be held on February 20, 2016, and the Biochemistry Club is honored to welcome Purdue University’s Hanley Distinguished Professor Michael Rossmann as the 2016 Keynote Speaker.

Visiting Scholars

The Visiting Scholars Program was established in 2011 by the UA Biochemistry Club and is now offered in the Fall semester as a one-unit class through the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Under the guidance of Drs. James Hazzard and Andy Hausrath, students prepare presentations which focus on their research and/or their collegiate experiences and present to juniors and seniors at Tucson-area high schools. The Visiting Scholars gain expe-rience presenting and actively engaging with an audience,

while the high schoolers have the opportunity to ask questions about university life. The aims of this program are to evoke inter-est in pursuing higher education among high school students as well as to provide them with insights into the transition from high school to college.

12

nicholas Everetts, nathaniel napierski, Melissa harnois, and dr. Bill Montfort Middle school students visit Charles Amling’s glass shop at Blastoff!

ASBMB: 1 thy tran, 2 Greg lyons, 3 danny Robles, 4 Chris Chan, 5 Katie Burrell, 6 Ben Rounseville, 7 Paula Mendoza, 8 Cheryl Cheah, 9 Melissa harnois, 10 Shaina hasan, 11 dago Robles, 12 Angel Soto, and 13 Pablo hernandez.

by Melissa harnois | 2015-16 ASBMB Club President

Blastoff!

Each summer the UA Biochemistry Club hosts BlastOff!, a week-long summer camp offered free of charge to mid-dle school students from low-income areas of Tucson. BlastOff! engages students in various activities aimed at fostering and enriching their interest in science. The summer 2015 camp hosted fifteen middle schoolers and allowed them to experience the thrill of scientific explo-ration through field trips, and the chance to conduct their own experiments under the guidance of Biochemistry Club members. On the last day of camp, family members were invited to an informal poster session so they could see what their campers had accomplished and learned.

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3 4

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More photos in the online Extras cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends



22

CBC sCrapBooK

HRUBY SYMPOSIUM

CBC POSTER FAIR

SALSA CHALLENGE

BLASTOFF! UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER DAY

BECUR

See more photos in online Extras, and on CBC Facebook at: www.facebook.com/chembioc.dept

Salil Kalarn, Spencer Escobedo and Kassidy tompkins

2015 Poster Fair winners

dr. Victor J. hruby

dr. James hazzard and Cheryl Cheah

Justin lopez

CBC Faculty, staff, students and alumni in their holiday finestBlastoff! participants and Biochemistry Club counselors

Rahik Mazumder, leo hamerlynck, and Ron Gonzalez

Front: Alicia Cool, Gloria leBack: Justin lopez, Meredith

larabee, Robin Rarick, douglas Starkey, Jennifer Sanchez and Katie Burrell

nicholas Everetts and dr. Steven Schwartz

http://www.facebook.com/chembioc.dept

23

CBC BREAkFAST

CHEMISTRY SHOW

RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM LUNCH

AXS student group. Front row: Guadalupe davila, Matthew Posnansky, Madison dawn, taylor Szyszka, Sara herman, and Keeper Sharkey. Middle row: iman daryaei, Christy Warner, Ron Gonzalez, Andrew dixon, and Matt Bucchino. Back row: Jessica Gardin, Michael Williams, Jeff ivie, and Calley Eads.

drs. Michael heien, Megan McEvoy and Andrew hausrath

Rachel utterback, Alyssa Ellsworth and dr. Anne Padias

Sona Avetian

(Clockwise, starting at front left) tristan Kleine, Matt humphries, Jacob Marx, dr. dennis lichtenberger, John de lorenzo, nick Pavlopoulos, Sona Avetian, and Philip dirlam

trace Bartels, Cheryl tomoeda and olivia Mendoza

2015 first year CBC Phd and MS students

Kaitlyn Griffin, Morgan Berryman-Macie and Sarah Pattengale

WELCOME BACk CBC STUDENTS ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BALLOON TOSS


NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDTUCSON AZ

PERMIT NO. 190

If you received the 24-page print version of the Fall 2015 Catalyst alumni magazine, be sure to go online to view and download the expanded version containing more exciting CBC Alumni News!

cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

CBC@UA!

the Catalyst editor in Chief: Olivia Mendoza associate editors: Ellie Warder and Roger L. Miesfeld Design/production: Lisa Stage Contributors: Tori Hidalgo, Elisa Tomat, Andrei Sanov, and Melissa Harnois

520.621.6354 | [email protected] | www.cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends | Chemistry and Biochemistry at the university of arizona on Facebook

2016 alumni reunionsaVe the Date: noVemBer 3–5, 2016

See page 7.

PO Box 210041Tucson, AZ 85721-0041

CampaiGnsPlease consider making a tax-deductible donation today to help make a difference:• CBC Department Fund to support student activities,

staff awards, and faculty enrichment

• CBC Outreach Activities to support UA student out-reach to K-12 classes and community events

• CBC Graduate Student Scholarships to provide en-hanced research opportunities for students

• CBC Undergraduate Support to provide funding for the May CBC Commencement Event

Find out more about supporting CBC@UA!:

cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends/guide-giving

Exce

llen

ce in

the Chemical Sciences

1891–2016125

suBsCriBe to reCeiVe monthly issues oF the

Catalyst e-newslettercbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends/newsletters

or text CBCatua to 22828

http://cbc.arizona.edu/alumni_friends

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25

On

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e e

xtr

as


alumni newsJerry Gin Bs Chemistry 1964Just celebrated 50th wedding anniversary . New: 2 grandsons—ages 1 and 6 . Hobbies: Still playing tennis, into sculpture and carving in wood . Passions: Study and investigations in the science of consciousness; understanding cosmology . Companies: Founder in Nuvora—technology in area of oral drug delivery . New products in the market: Salese for dry mouth and Dentiva for oral health and fresh breath . Founder in Livionex—new technology to remove biofilm . New product in market: Livionex Dental Gel—removes plaque 2 .5 times better than any other toothpaste .

larry Fox phD Chemistry 1966I am consulting on fundraising and management to bring the first true Alzheimer’s drug to market . I am active in Rotary, starting a new electronic club, and serve as President of the Board of a regional water and wastewater utility and a local municipal utility district . I also serve on the Lecture Committee for an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UT Austin and as a board member for a local equity actors stock company, Austin Playhouse .

sharon ruble ms Chemistry 1967I spend my time traveling, shoveling snow, gathering chicken eggs, maintaining feeding area for birds and deer, nurturing house plants, rescuing dogs and cats, playing bridge and euchre, and watching college football . I also play in a pool league .

David sakura phD Chemistry 1970I spent the last 20 years working as an investment banker where I was involved with financing and ad-vising start-up biotechnology companies in both the US and in Europe . I’ve enjoyed watching many of these start-ups grow to become billion dollar companies and leaders in the field of biotechnology . After retiring in 2008, my wife and I moved from Boston to the mountains of New Hampshire, where I enjoy building a Japanese style stroll garden and fly fishing . I serve on several non-profit boards, and over the years I have lectured on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II to high school and college students .

mark Dewhirst Bs Chemistry 1971I completed a DVM and PhD at Colorado State University in 1979 . From 1979-1984, I was an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at the U of A . In 1984, I was recruited to Duke . I have been on the faculty of Duke University for the past 31 years and currently hold an endowed Professorship . My primary appointment is in Radiation Oncology, with secondary appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Pathology . Since 2011, I have also held the position of Associate Dean for Faculty Mentoring in the School of Medicine . My research focuses on oxygen and drug transport in cancer, angiogenesis and tumor metabolism . I have published over 600 peer-reviewed papers in my career . Much of my success harkens back to my training in Chemistry that I got during my undergraduate experience at the UA .

alan shapiro Ba Chemistry 1973; mD 1975 I was admitted to medical school after three years . I was one lab short of a B .S . I was able to get a BA in chemistry because ASU gave credit for the first year of medical school for degree credits . I got my MD degree in from UA in 1975 .

richard yost Bs Chemistry 1974I am the Colonel Allen R . and Margaret G . Crow Professor and Head, Analytical Chemistry at the Uni-versity of Florida . I direct the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics, a new NIH national center, and serve as a Professor of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine as well as a Professor in the School of Natural Resources and Environment . I recently co-chaired the search for a new President for the University of Florida; I also completed terms on the UF Board of Trustees and the State of Florida Board of Regents (Governors) .

david Sakura

Mark dewhurst

the Catalyst Online extras CBC alumni magazine

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Dennis Dixon Bs Chemistry 1976I consult, speak and do business coaching at various architectural and construction industry venues, such as JLC Live, Portand 2015, and NAHB 2016, Las Vegas . Publishing Finding Hidden Profits, 2nd edi-tion, in December 2015 . My wife, Jan, is working with the NAU Lady Lumberjacks Basketball Team as an announcer and press contact . Our youngest son, Hunter, is in Engineering at the UA .

Chris stavroudis Bs Chemistry 1979 I have developed the Modular Cleaning Program, a tool to assist paintings conservators to create more tailored cleaning systems for works of art . The MCP is a FileMaker Pro database that performs ionic equi-libria calculations for aqueous systems and works in Hansen solubility space for solvent-based cleaning systems . I have been teaching workshops on the system to professional art conservators domestically and internationally—most recently at a private conservation studio in Paris .

Dan Villalanti phD Chemistry 1980Founder and President of Triton Analytics Corp . For two decades Triton Analytics has collaborated worldwide with over 250 oil, chemical, and environmental companies and has solved significant problems by first listening, then together with the client formulating a set of analytical solutions focused on providing the best value in laboratory data . Also Chair of ASTM D02 .04 Section k Correlative Methods . My wife and I are very proud of our son Carl, who is a Naval Aviator . I have a vested interest in Navy jet fuel as our son is a Naval Aviator in Squadron VAQ-132 flying the EA18G Growler Electronic Attack fighter .

tomi sawyer phD Chemistry 1981I have now passed my 33+ year as a pharma/biotech scientist with concurrent academic appointments at several major universities . I’m currently leading a worldwide drug discovery and innovative technol-ogies effort focused on the peptide modality at Merck Research Laboratories . This is an exciting time in peptide science, and reminds me of my PhD graduate studies in the late ‘70s at the UofA . My sons, Thomas and Jonathon, are now amidst their PhD graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts (structural/cellular biology) and the University of Arizona (chemical/cellular biology), respectively . This is a special time for my wife, Constance, and me, to witness our sons building the foundations for their careers!

leo t. Kenny Bs Chemistry 1983 I recently left my position at Intel, taking my sabbatical and a voluntary separation package, to explore a new direction for my career . I’m also writing several books and continuing with a number of external engagements that I had been involved with previously . My expectation is to be back working full-time soon .

patricia hill phD Chemistry 1986My husband and I have retired to Cedar City, UT where our daughter Jessica Gerlach (MFA from UofA) is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Southern Utah University . I have joined the Cedar City Arts Council and the Southern Utah Rock Club and am teaching workshops on chemistry and art both as part of an NSF grant and a local Cedar City Arts grant .

scott hertzog Bs Chemistry 1987 I am recently re-employed by Chemical Abstracts Service, now training users in the tools (STN, SciFinder and AnaVist) I have been using throughout my career in scientific information retrieval and as a patent examiner . I am loving being able to travel to clients and share how these tools can help them be more efficient in their performing their jobs and pursuing answers to research questions . My wife and I re-cently celebrated our 23rd anniversary . Our daughter is just about to turn ten and wants to be a veteri-narian, loves Pokemon and video games .

Scott hertzog

dan Villalanti with family

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matthew Grumbling Bs Chemistry 1995I am a registered patent attorney; my practice is concentrated in the pharmaceutical industry, represent-ing both specialty pharma and generic interests . I have been married since 1985 and have 3 children, one girl (age 15) and two boys (age 17 and 5) .

Gwen Gross Bs Chemistry 1998In January of 2015, I was inducted into the Boeing Technical Fellowship as an Associate Technical Fellow . The role of the engineers and scientists serving as Technical Fellows is to set technical direction for Boe-ing and to resolve issues that arise when the company creates new products . To become a member of the Fellowship, a candidate must go through a formal nomination, vetting and review process . Thus the members of the Technical Fellowship comprise only about 1 .5% of the Boeing work force .

lCDr Danny dj morales Ba Biochemistry 2000Although I can be at sea in another hemisphere, I am never too far in spirit from my UA . I recently crossed the equator on the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and experienced a “monsoon” washdown of the salt-water variety . Congratula-tions to all recent grads and CBC majors . keep leading our nation’s biosciences!

linda Breci phD Chemistry 2001I’m a backpacker . Have been since the 80’s . One step in front of another . Com-fort? Phooey! Sleep on the ground, eat dried food, and carry your house like a turtle -- tough stuff! That might be one way to explain how I could give up a decent career in Advertising and Public Relations and return to school for nine years to ultimately get my PhD in Chemistry at the University of Arizona . And why would I do it? My goal was to learn, to understand, and to contribute to the world of biological science in a meaningful way . And so I left my favorite place, Phoenix, Arizona, to go to Missouri State University for my BS in Chemistry and found my calling: research and working with faculty and students . This in turn brought me to my new favorite place, Tucson, Arizona, as a graduate student in the Chemistry Department . Here I studied under Dr . Vicki Wysocki and discovered the power of mass spectrometry in today’s research lab . After graduating with a focus in Analytical Chemistry, I had many opportunities in the private sector: companies specializing in drug delivery, ag research, even a research firm in Iceland . However, I chose instead to stay in Arizona and live the University life by taking a new position as an Assistant Scientist focusing on biological mass spectrometry . I’m now Associate Director of Proteomics, meaning I am doing mass spectrometry in a shared-resource facility and am involved in many fascinating research projects with the common theme being the identification or charac-terization of proteins from many sources: plants, spiders, cows, bacteria, rats, humans and so on . I am very fortunate to spend a good deal of time working directly with students to help them plan their experiments and train them in sample preparation, instrument use, and data analysis . Now I’m still a backpacker, and in fact I am just back from a 7-day trip in the high Sierras . I also enjoy books, playing classical guitar, and hiking with my husband, NMR Facility Director, Dr . Neil Jacobsen .

Christina Birch Bs Biochemistry 2008I graduated with a BMB BS degree (before the department change) and Math BS degree in 2008 . I went directly to graduate school at MIT to pursue a Ph .D . in Biological Engineering . I recently successfully de-fended my thesis on “Identification of Malaria Infected Red Blood Cells by Inertial Microfluidics SELEX .” My time outside lab was spent racing with the MIT Cycling Team, winning several team and individual collegiate National Championship titles . Now, I am looking to continue my passion for science (and cycling) outside of MIT, and hopefully I will move back west to warmer weather!

erika offerdahl phD Biochemistry 2008I recently had a paper make the “Top 8” list . http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teach-ing-professor-blog/best-list-celebrates-scholarship-teaching-learning/

lCdF danny dj Morales at the equator on the uSS George Washington

Christina Birch

linda Breci

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/best-list-celebrates-scholarship-teaching-learning/

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/best-list-celebrates-scholarship-teaching-learning/


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yomi ajulo Bs Biochemistry 2009While I was at the UA, I was involved in the university community like many of my peers . However, while my peers were certain of the futures as MDs, I was always uncertain . Although I prepared myself for a future as a medical doctor, I decided to take a break from studies after graduating . While travel-ing in 2009, I made a friend who became my husband earlier this year, and I also got clarity on how to proceed with my life . In the fall of 2011, I went back to school to earn a master’s degree in chemical engineering . Upon finishing, I have been working in the oil and gas industry . I thank all the CBC profes-sors for instilling in me a desire to learn and the biochemistry ambassadors program for keeping me engaged . Most especially, I am grateful to Prof . William Grimes for always encouraging me .

emily tenenbaum phD Chemistry 2010I am Business Development Manager at Primus Green Energy, an exciting Princeton-based company that makes systems to convert natural gas into gasoline . I live in NJ with my husband, Michele Pavanel-lo (UA PhD 2010), an assistant professor at Rutgers Newark, and our two children Antonio (2 yr) and Francesca (6 yr) .

sterling udom Bs Biochemistry 2010I’m in my last year at the Medical College of Wisconsin and currently applying to anesthesiology resi-dencies . I am very grateful for the high quality education I received at the UA, and it was so much fun! CBC is my home away from home .

Jesse Caballero Bs Biochemistry 2012Hi . I’m Jesse, don’t stress me . Stress can cause headaches, increase your heart rate, or cause you to sweat excessively . Since I began as a freshman at the University of Arizona I have been learning how to balance the weights of reverse . The pressure of stress can be deleterious, however, it can also be quite the contrary . Stress is a physiological response which helps you to perform under pressure . The tricky part is recognizing stress and using it to accomplish your goals rather than allowing the pressure to overcome you . As an aspiring physician I have been under a lot of stress, and as I continue to reach my goals, I am learning to use stress to my advantage .

I entered the UA as a business major, and at the time I held little interest in science . However, after taking classes in general chemistry and biology, I decided to change my major to Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (this was also in part because of my appreciation for mathematics) . Eventually I joined the exceptional lab of Dr . Patricia Stock, where I worked to characterize secondary metabolites of an entomopathogenic, or insect killing, bacterium . Working for Dr . Stock was an experience that propelled my interest in research . Altogether, I was sure I would pursue a career in science . In fact, I began this pursuit by working as a teaching assistant for general chemistry labs for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC) .

In the spring of 2014 I was accepted to the Indiana University School of Medicine . My first year was ful-filling, to say the least, and I developed wonderful relationships with my classmates . Studying medicine is a privilege and I have vowed to apply the knowledge I gain to break down the barriers between a patient, a disease, and a treatment . This summer I was accepted to research for the GEMS-HP program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus . As a part of the program I am working on a project involved with targeted liposomal delivery of an antioxidant enzyme, Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase, for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension . My work has been conducted in the laborato-ry of Dr . Eva Grayck, another outstanding lab where the research is focused on understanding molec-ular mechanisms to treat human pulmonary vascular diseases . My project will reach its completion in early August and shortly thereafter I will begin the second round of medical school . Thus far, I have my sights set on practicing orthopedic surgery . The path to becoming a physician is rigorous, and I couldn’t have made it to where I am without the guidance from the impactful personnel at the UofA and the department of CBC . As always, BEAR DOWN!

Sterling udom

yomi Ajulo

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natasha Kong Bs Biochemistry 2012Since graduating college, I’ve been pursing a career in acting full-time . It seems way out of left field, but before graduation, several CBC professors encouraged me to look for what I was passionate about . Interestingly enough, that led me to acting . Since then, I’ve graduated from a longform improv program at The Torch Theatre, been part of a dinner theatre show, been in a YouTube webseries, and am currently a standardized pa-tient at St . Joseph’s medical center . I’m currently in a Sanford Meisner technique acting program . I spend most of my time auditioning or on sets doing small roles, working my way up . It’s been a blast! People ask me all the time if I regret not being a theater or film major in college, and I tell them not at all! I really believe God had me where I was for a reason . Getting a Biochemistry major taught me excellent work ethic and research skills (com-pletely applicable for character research) . Most importantly, if I had not been in CBC, I wouldn’t have met all the amazing classmates, professors, and staff that I formed relationships with . So now, I’m just living life as it comes at me, learning incredible amounts of social and networking skills and having fun while doing it! When I have free time, I love to play ukulele, bake French macarons, leather craft, or go to the archery range .

nancy leo Bs Biochemistry 2012As an incoming freshman in 2004, I was ecstatic to surround myself with an academic community al-ways at the forefront of great scientific discoveries . I knew that the department would foster my intrin-sic desire to ponder a world full of unknowns, allowing me to one day excel in the fields of biochemis-try and molecular sciences . And so my journey began with great explorations of the intricacies between protein structure and function in metabolic pathways and in overall cellular pathophysiology . I joined the research lab of Dr . Miranda k . Adelman after my return from a year of study abroad in Orvieto, Italy . Her lab examined the role of endogenous retroviruses in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythe-matosus and other related autoimmune diseases . My exposure to working with numerous cellular and molecular biology techniques incited my desire to pursue a master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology following my undergraduate graduation in December 2012 .

After graduating with my degree in December of 2013, I took an unforgettable trip back to my family’s homeland—Italy . By way of recommendation from Dr . James Hazzard, I was able to meet one of the most renowned agricultural molecular scientists in the world, Dr . Augusto Marchesini, one of whose many discoveries included the crystallographic study of ascorbic acid oxidase in green zucchini squash . Touring the city of Torino, Italy and exploring the numerous scientific libraries there was an experience of a lifetime!

Upon my return home to the States, I decided to apply my love of learning and knowledge to help oth-ers! I am currently a chemistry/biology tutor at Chandler Gilbert Community College’s Learning Center . It is an honor to be a part of the wonderful team that provides intellectual counsel and guidance to students who enter into the center feeling defeated by a subject or concept . By encouraging critical thinking and proper question asking, I yearn to help students build an inherent love for learning that supersedes any quest for success solely for the grade!

Currently, my extracurricular activities include being an active volunteer member for The Grove Christian church in Chandler, Arizona . I serve on the worship ministry as a computer tech, and I am a member of the meals ministry, providing meals to families experiencing loss or illness . Additionally, I am actively involved in the church’s LiveLove ministry, a non-profit organization aimed to build on the strengths and assets of neighborhoods, in order to promote stronger caring communities . In my free time, I enjoy the company of my loved ones and the wonders of a stunning world!

sophie hapak Bs Biochemistry 2013I’m currently a third year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh . Right now, I’m interested in internal medicine/GI, but that could easily change as I go through my rotations and experience differ-ent aspects of medicine . I have no idea where I’ll go for residency yet, but I hope to end up somewhere west eventually . I am just as interested in research now as I was when I was a biochemistry undergrad, and I’m currently part of a group that studies Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia . In my free time (the little that I have), I enjoy horseback riding, running, and playing tennis . Sophie hapack

natasha Kong


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Deboleena sarkar phD Biochemistry 2013A fearless mission to change the fate of the 1620 people expected to die of cancer every day this year in the United States alone, and each and every individual afflicted with cancer in the years to come, working tirelessly to develop cutting edge tools that’ll shape the future of medicine- otherwise lofty goals that have become my everyday reality thanks to the fascinating line of work I embarked upon since my graduate tenure at the University of Arizona . As a graduate student, I had had the express opportunity to pursue the Bio5 Internship (extended by the University of Arizona) in the Cytology group at Ventana Medical Systems, Inc . This opportunity was extremely insightful in the organizations’ mission and work ethic . The internship reinstated my belief that research in diagnostic and pharmaceu-tical industry is an environment where I can thrive and be extremely productive . Within a short span of working with the group, I was granted the responsibility to undertake a pilot project to aid the devel-opment of diagnostics for selecting pre-cancerous cervical diseases compared to existing HPV and Pap detection . Upon completion of my Ph .D in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology in Novem-ber 2013, I joined the Companion Diagnostics group of Ventana Medical Systems, Inc ., a member of the Roche Group, a global leader in developing cancer diagnostic solutions . I am part of a pioneering group developing diagnostic solutions to identify whether an individual’s cancer expresses the specific bio-marker, or molecular target, of a specific tailored, targeted treatment . This futuristic healthcare method takes advantage of today’s advanced knowledge of molecular mechanisms of cancer and is a step above the “one size fits all” approach that dominates current cancer care . As a Scientist in the Roche Group, I particularly enjoy the global access it provides to give patients suffering from this dangerous disease a real chance to live a longer and more fruitful life and for my own professional development .

I have made it a personal mission to empower cancer patients by awareness by being a part of FORCE, an organization working to support patients suffering from breast and ovarian cancer by create aware-ness and providing easily accessible information .

As a wide-eyed student joining graduate school in the Fall of 2007 with a background in Genetics, Bio-technology, Chemistry and Microbiology, I was always inclined to study complex diseases from a bio-chemical point of view . I had the opportunity to be part of research teams studying DNA damage and repair in ovarian and breast cancers in humans in top-notch research laboratories during my rotations and I joined Dr . Tsu-Shuen Tsao’s laboratory whose focus was to study obesity associated diabetes . As part of my PhD dissertation, I studied the insulin resistance-inducing treatments that altered endo-plasmic reticulum (ER-the organelle involved in protein folding) redox state in cultured adipocytes and developed and characterized a redox sensitive GFP probe (roGFP-iL) for use as a tool to study ER redox conditions . I demonstrated that glutathione; the primary redox buffering peptide mediates formation of disulfide bonds in the ER in an enzyme independent fashion . My work has been published in part in the peer-reviewed journal Biochemistry . As any graduate student worth his money would say, my publication and dissertation ‘story’ didn’t come easily either . With its arduous ‘ups and downs’ it was a journey that led me to my most valued personal discovery—that I can persist no matter what and that that is all I need to see things through . I owe this self-discovery to Dr . Tsao’s guidance that no decision is right or wrong—what matters is how you work on the decision made! This is advice that I will hold close as a mother of two baby girls, Aalo and Aadi, as well as a professional in a highly ambitious and innovative industry .

Kara smith Bs Chemistry 2013I recently got married to Nadina Anderson in Saratoga Springs, NY . She is currently a PhD student at the UA finishing her degree in Sociology, specializing in sex and gender . She is currently working/teaching/doing research in kyiv, Ukraine under a Fulbright Scholarship . I have recently moved from New York to Connecticut to take new orders . I was selected as one of the first females to integrate the Virginia class fast-attack submarines .

lauren wugalter Bs Chemistry 2013As a senior at the University of Arizona in the CBC program, I was making final decisions about which graduate school chemistry program to attend after graduation . My first choices were the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Texas-Austin, University of Oregon, and University of Washing-ton . I made my final decision to attend UW because of the research opportunities and the amazing city of Seattle .

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When I arrived at the University of Washington to begin research a few months early, I realized that the city of Seattle exceeded all my expectations, while the research seemed to fall short . I realized that I felt completely unfulfilled working in a laboratory . Although my main goal in graduate school was to be a researcher, I felt most inspired and fulfilled working in the classroom and lab as a teaching assistant, working with students to help them learn chemistry concepts and to strengthen their critical thinking skills . I loved the feeling of walking into a classroom and knowing it was “gas laws day,” or going to lab and being the students’ guide through every experiment, all the while being a mentor to the students who continually came back after class for questions about their future in science .

Because of this realization, I decided to leave the UW graduate program with an MS in chemistry, and pursue teaching opportunities at the college level . Currently, I am a chemistry instructor at Tacoma Com-munity College in Tacoma, WA . I am also an instructor at the University of Washington-Tacoma, teaching courses on general chemistry as it applies to environmental science .

I hope to continue to bring my love of chemistry and my passion for science education to each student I encounter throughout my teaching career, as I believe that success in chemistry begins with a desire to learn and an excitement for science that a teacher’s enthusiasm can inspire .

Christopher atcherley phD Chemistry 2014Since graduation last December, I have started working at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona as a Re-search Fellow . I am working for Dr . Frank Porreca, and we are investigating the underlying mechanisms of headache . I am also working in Dr . Porreca’s lab at the UA where I continue to collaborate with my PhD advisor, Dr . Michael Heien . Michael and I have started a company called knowmad Technologies, LLC, and we have had several sales and are off to a good start . I am starting to get used to the commute between Scottsdale and Tucson and am truly enjoying my new position .

teryn holeman Bs Chemistry 2014Since graduating in December of 2014, I have been teaching general chemistry lab classes at the UA and have helped design the new chemical thinking curriculum that will be implemented this year . With my ultimate goal of attending medical school, I have focused on expanding my clinical skillset by obtaining my national EMT certification and volunteering in the UMC emergency department as a clinical re-searcher . Completing numerous applications to medical schools around the nation, I hope to continue my career in medicine . This summer, I traveled to Peru on a UA medical campaign, volunteering in rural hospitals, hosting health education sessions, and providing free health clinics .

The UA Chemistry and Biochemistry Department has prepared me for my life in the biomedical sciences . Even when I didn’t know what I wanted to do with Chemistry, I enjoyed every facet; from the physiolog-ical aspect of organic and biochemistry, the tedious nature of analytical, the precision and accuracy of the innovative instruments in instrumental analysis, to the challenges that the characterizations project posed . Every class was so different that it brought out different personal strengths and weaknesses . I learned to adapt quickly and adjusted to my strengths . The UA Biochemistry curriculum taught me the scientific knowledge and skills that are applicable to any type of lab . After working as an undergraduate researcher in the department of neuroscience pharmacology under Dr . Theodore Price for three years, I was pleased to be accepted to a volunteer position in the Mass Spectrometry Department working under Dr . Arpad Somogyi . The research opportunities at the UA are endless .

This year I am teaching general chemistry lab full time while completing my SCUBA diving instructor certification . I am excited to give back to the UA CBC community and share my passion and enthusiasm for Chemistry with my students, showing them that the application of chemical thinking is everywhere, from the exothermic nature of my hot Starbucks coffee to the intricate details behind the BP oil spill! We are surrounded by Chemistry!

lauren Wugalter

Christopher Atcherley


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Cheryl Cheah Bs Biochemistry 2015In addition to preparing me for my future career goals, the Biochemistry program at the University of Ari-zona enhanced my college experience in more ways than I could have imagined . In a comparatively chal-lenging degree program, the faculty members are easily accessible and eager to share words of wisdom, while the advisors are always on hand to offer valuable insight and support . There are also numerous ways to get involved and interact with like-minded peers such as student clubs, undergraduate research and ex-citing social events . The Biochemistry Club serves as a platform for peer-mentoring opportunities and for students to exchange and discuss ideas . More importantly, the club connects with the Tucson community through outreach events that include summer camps and mentorship opportunities . As a former member and president of the Biochemistry Club, I was also able to acquire professional skills that are translatable to multiple career fields . All in all, the Biochemistry program hosts a diverse group of students who are passionate about science!

Brittany Forte Bs Biochemistry and mCB 2015I have begun my first year as a PhD . student in the Arizona Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program here at the U of A! I will be majoring in Cancer Biology with a minor in Pharmacology, and my research will focus on mechanisms of breast cancer invasion and metastasis . Following obtaining a PhD ., I plan on pursuing a post-doc to prepare myself for a long-term career goal of tenured professorship studying cancer immunology .

Although now confident in my future path as a professor and cancer biologist, the road to graduate school was not straightforward . When I began college in the fall of 2012, I was a pre-Pharmacy major with inten-tions to apply to Pharmacy School . However, after spending two summers working as a pharmacy tech-nician, it was evident I was not meant for a career as a pharmacist . This revelation devastated me . I told myself I would never change my major or career path, so when I found out my life’s plan was falling apart during my first few weeks of college, I felt like a failure . I instantly knew I needed to change my major, and immediately switched to Biochemistry because I had such a great experience in both my AP Biology and AP Chemistry classes in high school . The day I stepped into the CBC Advising Office to meet with Olivia Mendoza, I knew my life would be forever changed .

I was extremely encouraged to become involved in research, something I had, until that point, never thought of pursuing . Only a month later I became involved in research under the direction of Dr . Todd Vanderah in the Department of Pharmacology . During the three years of my undergrad career, I studied novel therapeutics in treating cancer-induced bone pain, a severe chronic pain state experienced by 75-90% of late-stage metastatic cancer patients . Although in a pharmacology lab, I worked hard to integrate my research subject with my major, and through this balance, was able to present a poster and give a talk at the 2015 Experimental Biology Conference in Boston this past March .

I became involved as a CBC Ambassador, a College of Science Ambassador, and a Biochemistry Mentor . Through these leadership roles, I was able to spread my passion for the STEM fields, encourage high schoolers to pursue challenging majors in science, and inspire my peers to engage in opportunities around campus such as internships or research .

My undergraduate research and time as a CBC ambassador and mentor, all opportunities given to me by the CBC department, have fueled my passion for knowledge, scientific discovery, and mentoring, and led me to discover my passion to remain in academia . I am forever grateful for the experiences I had as an undergraduate at the U of A, particularly as a part of the CBC Department and College of Science, as they have allowed me to grow as a scientist, mentor, and adult!

ronald Gonzalez Bs Chemistry 2015For the last three months, I have been working as a quality control research associate at Accelerate Diagnostics in Tucson . Accelerate Diagnostics is an in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to providing solutions to the global challenge of drug-resistant organisms and hospital-acquired infections . My main duties include analytical testing of the various reagents used in the company’s rapid identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing (ID/AST) instrument . Recently, I have been involved in the biological testing while being trained in various microbiological techniques . In the coming months the company is looking to enter clinical trials for the ID/AST system . As part of the quality control team, I am working to improve and develop testing techniques that guarantee the effectiveness of reagents used in the system .

Brittany Forte

Ron Gonzalez

Cheryl Cheah

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sara hall phD Biochemistry 2015I finished my PhD in Biochemistry the middle of August 2015 and was very fortunate to be offered a job at Ventana Medical Systems in Oro Valley, AZ, which I started 1 week after graduating . Although I now work for a tissue diagnostic company, which is different than the drug discovery I learned in graduate school, the skills I obtained helped prepare me for this job . Learning techniques in biochemistry and organic chemistry were important but the extensive collaborations I made within CBC as well as with groups in other departments across campus proved very beneficial in my development as a scientist . Being able to work with other groups efficiently is pivotal for my new job, and I’m glad that I learned this skill at the UA .

stephanie Kha Bs Biochemistry 2015Greetings from Ohio—Land of the Buckeye Trees! My name is Stephanie kha, and I am a proud - and recent - alumna of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona . I grad-uated just three months ago with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Minor in Sociology . After the firework celebration from the 2015 Commencement ceremony, I packed up my belongings, sold my textbooks back to the bookstore, ate as many cups of Eegee’s and Beyond Bread sandwiches as physically possible, and then moved from sunny Tucson, Arizona—which has been my wonderful home for the past four years—to Cleveland, Ohio to begin my first year of medical school at Case Western Reserve Univer-sity . Classes began in the second week of July, along with the marvelous White Coat Ceremony—a formal traditional event where students receive their white coats, which symbolizes our inauguration into the study of clinical medicine . Since July, my brain has been inundated with oceans of knowledge from vari-ous fields—epidemiology, population health, health systems, bioethics, genetics, endocrinology, anatomy, etc . Fortunately, following a routine to balance school time with non-school time keeps me sane .

In fact, if you flew to Cleveland right now, the odds are high that you could find me doing one of three activities: (1) attentively sitting in the middle row at the left-handed desk in the lecture hall at school, (2) drinking a foamy café latte with a buttery croissant in hand at my favorite coffee shop called Luna’s Bak-ery, or (3) hitting and digging [passing] volleyballs on the court during club practice at the gym . School and studying remain top priority over all of my extracurricular activities, but I am happy to report that the medical school here at Case Western really emphasizes the pursuit of personal hobbies and person-al wellness for its students . All in all, I am honored to have this remarkable opportunity to train into a physician at a phenomenal school . Furthermore, I am honored to have had my undergraduate education at the University of Arizona, because the CBC Wildcat experience prepared me exceptionally well for a career that combines science with medicine .

I chose to major in Biochemistry because I wanted to know why and how we—as living humans—can live as we do . As a first year medical student, I discovered that having this background in biochemistry is extremely advantageous, especially since the clinical manifestation of diseases can often be rooted in abnormal processes occurring at the molecular and cellular level . Concepts that I learned from the faculty in the CBC Department are absolutely applicable to the study of medicine—from Dr . Zheng’s Intro to Chemistry lecture on osmotic pressure and Dr . Ghosh’s Organic Chemistry lecture on keto-enol tautomers to Dr . Hazzard’s laboratory lecture on avidin binding and Dr . Horton’s lecture on ratcheting ribosomal subunits . When I connect the dots of the past material to the present material while sitting in class, the nerd inside of me can’t help but smile (a secret smile, of course, to avoid funny looks from my classmates) . Active learning is bliss .

I anticipate a challenging and exciting four years here in Cleveland . I also hope that Lebron James will show up at my favorite coffee shop, give me a high-five, and chat with me about his next movie ven-ture in his post-basketball career . In the meantime, I will continue to Bear Down with Wildcat pride in the Buckeye state! One interesting thing to note: the phrase “Bear Down” takes on an entirely different meaning in medical school . I realized this when a fellow classmate responded with, “…as in a prostate exam?” The expression on his face was priceless .

Clayton lanham Bs Biochemistry 2015 Currently I am earning my Master’s degree in Diagnostic and Laboratory Sciences here at the UA and TA/GA for two BIO 181L classes . I have recently taken up Ballroom dancing, West Coast swing and Polish dancing with my girlfriend . It is quite fun, and I’d recommend it to anyone who had the time .

Sara hall


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yvonne ng Bs Chemistry 2015After graduating in Spring 2015 from University of Arizona, I spent a month traveling in Asia . I am starting my first year of Pharmacy School at University of Arizona . I appreciated how the UA Chemistry and Biochemistry Department prepared me for my career as a pharmacist . The UA Chemistry curriculum taught me scientific knowledge that I am able to apply to my pharmacy career . I learned how to manage time effectively while taking multiple labs and upper division classes . Completing the senior thesis had prepared me the necessary skills and foundation for research . I appreciated the various instruments that we were able to use in lab and completed a comprehensive analysis on commercial products . I enjoyed the various resources and chemicals that we were allowed to use for designing our own synthesis proj-ect . The advisors at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department were supportive and always provided a bowl of candy that gave me the extra energy boost in the middle of the day . I am really grateful for the relationships I formed at this university and the continual support they gave me throughout my under-graduate career .

taylor szyszka Bs Biochemistry 2015I can say with absolute certainty that my time at the UA completely changed the course of my life . When I came to the university as a freshman I was a timid pre-med who really didn’t know the first thing about science . Once I joined the Chemistry Club (SMACS) I realized that my true passion did not lie in medi-cine, but rather biochemistry . I then joined the CBC department as a biochemistry major and the rest is history .

I spent 4 years in SMACS holding an officer position for 2 years and this helped to establish my position as a leader in the department . I also used my connections in SMACS to get involved in undergraduate research under Dr . Matthew Cordes where I discovered that I am a structural biologist at heart . While all

of these wonderful things were happening, I was also meeting my best friends and entrenching myself in the CBC family .

In my junior year I looked at graduate programs abroad on a whim and found the lab of Prof . Joel Mackay at the University of Sydney in Australia . I contacted him and after 6 months, countless email exchanges, and multiple skype sessions, I was admitted to the Biochemistry PhD program and offered full funding for the length of my degree . In mid-August of this year I made the move to Sydney, and have started working toward my degree . Every day is filled with new and exciting experiences, and I am steadily rising to the challenge of this program . Had I not been a part of this department, I never would have dreamed of moving to Sydney and without my leadership positions and support network I never would have had the courage or confidence to make that move . This department and this university have changed me in countless ways, and my life is so much richer for it! taylor Szyszka

yvonne ng

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new staFFBobbi Anglin, Instructor

Megan Cunnington, Academic Advisor

I graduated from the UA in 2012 with my Bachelor’s degree in History, and I completed my Master’s in Education from Ashford University Spring 2015. I began working with CBC in June 2015, but I have a few years’ experi-ence working in higher education. In my spare time, I write and spend time with my friends and family. I have 4 nieces, a nephew, and a ginger cat who enjoys knocking over glasses of water and hot coffee with his tail. I am only a successful advisor because of Olivia Mendoza, who is perfec-tion personified.

Adam Daly, Instructor

My name is Adam Daly, and I am a new instructor for the Chemical Thinking curriculum at the University of Arizona. After I graduated with a PhD in 2010 from the U of A, I spent two years working in Spain and two years working in Los Angeles at the Jet Propulsion Laborato-ries while teaching part-time at CSU-Los Angeles. I am very happy to return to Tucson and teach full time using the exciting Chemical Thinking curriculum.

Christopher Lundin, Accountant Associate

My name is Chris Lundin and I am the new Accountant, Associate for the CBC department. I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and attended Adams State University in Colorado. The campus atmosphere here is very energizing, and I am fortunate to work with great people. I am excited to continue my career with an institution that makes such a positive impact. I enjoy sports and being with family in my free time.

Brian Zacher, Adjunct Lecturer

It has become clear that I am unable to remain apart from Tucson or the University of Ari-zona. I initially departed from the UA in 1999, after obtaining my BS in electrical engineer-ing, to work in the semiconductor industry. Ten years later I returned and obtained a PhD in physical chemistry (2013) under Dr. Neal Armstrong. After two years in New York City, the allure of Tucson and the University of Arizona could no longer be ignored- enticing the wife, hound dog, and I to again return. As a new lecturer in the CBC department, I am already achieving great fulfillment in my position, a role in which my “job” requires of me to engage in daily interactions with passionate and scholarly students, faculty, staff, and community.

Bobbi Anglin

Adam daly

Brian Zacher

Megan Cunnington

Christopherlundin


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Marian (Sally) Lounsberry Storch, BS Chemistry 1947, d. 7/18/2015

Sally worked as a chemist at Eastman Kodak and Colgate Palmolive before deciding to be a stay-at-home mother. An avid gardener and reader, she en-joyed hiking, exploring antique shops and being the swimming pool lifeguard for her family and friends.

Thomas (TK) Waddell, BA Chemistry 1950, d. 2/13/2015

An Arizona resident since 1933, TK was a son, broth-er, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, soldier and educator.

Elizabeth Willott, PhD Biochemis-try 1989, d. 5/2/2015

During the 5 years prior to her death, Elizabeth served as the curator of the Tucson Botanical Garden’s Butterfly Magic exhibit, where she was known to all as the Butterfly Queen. A memorial bench will be installed at TBG in her memory.

Margaret (Pinkie) Ban Wong, BS Chemistry 1947, d. 5/30/2015

After graduation, Margaret married and moved to Flagstaff where she became an interior decorator for their new family business, June’s Custom House. She was a member of the Soroptomists, where she held many offices over the years. She is survived by her chil-dren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ron Workman, BS Chemistry 1968, d. 7/8/2015

Ron went on to graduate first in his medical school class at the University of Minnesota and became a practicing pathologist and physician executive. He wrote two published novels and is survived by his wife, daughters, brother, and grandchildren.

in memoriampeople we lost in 2014-2015

Herbert Craig, BS Chemistry 1965, d. 1/5/2015

Herb passed away unexpectedly at the age of 70, leaving behind his wife Emerald and two young children.

Melissa (Missy) Farrow Klute, BS Chemistry, 1992, d. 8/9/2015

After graduation, Missy worked as a research chem-ist for a biotech company in San Francisco. Later she and her family spent 13 years living in the U.K. and Australia, where she earned a degree in Science Education.

Martin (Marty) Krevitz, BS Chemistry 1941, d. 11/3/2014

An amazing gardener and tennis player, Marty passed away in Sherman Oaks, California. He is survived by his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Stephen Newcomb, BS Chemistry, 1989, d. 9/16/2015

Steve went on to earn an MS and a PhD degree in Ma-terial Science from Penn State University. He loved hiking and shared that passion with many students at the UA’s hiking club.

Fredrick Stong, BS Chemistry 1960, d. 6/8/2015

Fred worked for General Electric, where he designed radiation monitoring equipment. After retiring in 1989, he spent his time boating and build-ing and flying radio-controlled model airplanes.

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stuDent aDVentures in researCh, internships anD stuDy aBroaDJasmine Acfalle—Germany

This past year, I was given a wonderful opportunity to spend a whole year in Heidelberg, Germany! It was like living in a place one could only imagine seeing in fairy tales. Germany has always been a second home to me, due to the fact that I attended an American high school there. Coming to college, I knew I was going to return to Germany eventually. One day in March, as I was walking to class I came across the study abroad fair on the Mall. I was able to talk to one of the study abroad coordinators and just the conversation sparked my interest to study abroad. I had visited Heidelberg once before and I was just so amazed by how beautiful it was. Once I started to look for a program, I knew exactly where I wanted to go, because this city just seemed to give such a good impression.

Studying abroad is not cheap. Just thinking of the exchange difference from euro to dollar is where a lot of money is lost. I had to make sure I had the funds for studying abroad by applying for and checking my own scholarships. I came to find out my scholarship would support my stay in Germany, plus I also received a scholarship from the state of Baden-Württemberg where Heidelberg is located. Now financially I seemed to be squared away.

Traveling and living abroad was totally a different experience for me than when I lived here with my parents. I had never felt so independent. Germany was everything and more than I hoped it would be. I had this opportunity to learn the language, the culture, and the traditions first hand. I didn’t only learn about the German culture, but cultures from around the world such as China, Spain, England, Thailand, Brazil and so on. This experience broadened my horizons. I had to learn do things I never knew one had to do. I had to apply for a living permit, learn the new school system(which is totally different from the US), and so much more! Living abroad has opened many opportunities to grow independently as individual. Just figuring out the public transportation system, going out of my comfort zone to travel to new places and speaking in a different language; this life experience was just incredible.

My time over here has influenced my dreams and goals for the future. I was so influenced, that I decided to pick up a BA in German Studies as my second major. This decision came easily as I came to love everything about Germany and its culture more and more.

When it came to school, I decided to challenge myself. I took every single class in German. It helped with my comprehension splendidly; even if I still may not be considered fluent, I am conversationally competent. I used my time abroad to fulfill my Gen. Ed. requirements and my German major requirements, since the classes needed for Biochemistry degree were not transferable, but I did challenge myself even more to take a Biomedical/medicine class in German, and not only did I learn new vocabulary in German, but also in English. There is no better way to just challenge yourself than with everything you come across. Studying abroad has taught me that everything is possible and challenging yourself makes life exciting and worthwhile. But as for all of my fellow science majors, I know we are also challenging ourselves with every step closer that we get to our goals.

Jasmine Acfalle and a Berlin Bear

in heidelberg


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Even though my time abroad did not have to do anything with my major as a Biochemistry student, I used my free time to study and do the best I could with my academics. I wanted to take every opportunity I could, such as traveling to other countries, staying in hostels (where you bunk with other travelers), becoming more assertive and confident with myself. I would recommend everyone to take a little time, whether it is during the summer or a semester abroad, to adventure around the world on your own. It is a great opportunity to get to know yourself, while traveling the world.

Sona Avetian—University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

This summer I was given the incredible opportunity to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This was a 10-week program in which I and 16 other students from Universities across the United States conducted research in various different disciplines within chemistry. We were all fortunate enough to have been selected to work in research groups at UIUC, which not only has a prestigious chemistry program but also a beautiful campus! The campus is actually built directly between the two towns, with half the campus in Champaign and the other half in Urbana while the student union sits on the border. Though miles and miles of cornfields surround the towns, within the towns there are a lot of fantastic restaurants, with live music and a vibrant downtown area.

The campus has several attractive landmarks that provided for an interesting and exciting experience, especially in exploring the campus. The library is one of the largest university libraries in the nation, second only to Harvard University. Also located on campus is the Morrow Plots, the oldest experimental cornfield in the United States and the second oldest in the world. In order to ensure that the Morrow Plots had enough sunlight, the University was careful in placing buildings so no shadows would cast on the field—even part of the library is underground! Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was first applied at UIUC for chemical analysis, and faculty member Paul C. Lauterbur shared the Nobel Prize in 2003 for his research in NMR.

UIUC is an amazing school with phenomenal professors and students conducting cutting-edge research. This summer I worked in Professor Rodriguez-Lopez’s electrochemistry group, conducting research in non-aqueous redox flow batteries. I explored the electron transfer kinetics of redox active polymers for use in flow batteries. It was an awesome experience working hands-on in a new environment while learning new techniques and methods. Working in a lab full-time gave me the opportunity to realize that research is my passion and has made me incredibly excited for graduate school. I strongly encourage anyone interested in, or even just considering conducting research to apply—the REU is a fantastic program!

Alex Aydt—Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

Hi, my name is Alex Aydt, and I am a junior Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology Major here at the UA. This past summer, I went back home to St. Louis where I did research at the Washington University School of Medicine. There I worked in the Optical Radiology Lab under Dr. Mikhail Berezin. The ORL’s purpose is to develop novel contrast agents, allowing doctors to effectively image the body, aiding in both early detection and treatment of various maladies. My project specifically was to attempt to find a compound capable of emitting light with a wavelength around 1300 nanometers. 1300 nanometers is a notable wavelength as it represents one of the recently discovered “Optical Windows.” These windows occur in places along the electromagnetic spectrum where water has a low absorbance. As the body is mostly water, we can utilize these windows to image more deeply into tissue than many conventional techniques.

Sona Avetian in front of the Morrow Plots

Alex Aydt

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In looking for a compound capable of emitting at this range, I chose to investigate a nanoparticle known as the quantum dot. Quantum dots are miniscule spheres made of a semiconductor coated in an interchangeable ligand coating. They are far smaller than even the smallest cells. There are multiple reasons why quantum dots were chosen for this experiment. Quantum dots are extremely bright. Where a conventional dye typically emits far less than 1% of the energy it absorbs as light, quantum dots have been synthesized that convert higher than 30%! The method by which quantum dots emit light is also strikingly different than that of dyes. Due to their nature, dyes emitting over 1000 nanometers are very difficult to create. As quantum dots do not behave similarly, they will not run into this problem. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the surface coating can be easily interchanged. The implications of this is that we can easily stick some sort of targeting molecule to the surface of the quantum dot, allowing them to seek out tumors or bacteria, and then the fluorescent signal can be used to find the site. Over the course of the summer, I made great progress with this work. I successfully synthesized the quantum dots emitting at the correct wavelength and managed to perform a secondary reaction allowing these quantum dots to be dissolved in water. This is one of the first and most important steps to making a new targeting agent available for use in the human body. I am excited to see how the project progresses in the future and grateful to have been a part of it.

Also over this summer, I was fortunate enough to be able to mentor Shane Blair, a high school student. Shane was selected for Washington University’s Young Scientist Program, a program devoted to promoting diversity in research by helping juniors in high school to enter labs. I myself am an alumnus of this program, and I never would have expected I would one day become a mentor to the next generation of scientists. Mentoring was an eye-opening experience. It reminded me that science is a collaborative effort and showed me the enthusiasm of a new scientist. All in all, my summer was an exciting and productive experience, and I am glad to have had this opportunity.

Courtney Collingwood—Guatemala

Every summer since I started college, I have been traveling down to Guatemala. I intern with a group called Los Patojos, which serves as an alternative school, health clinic, youth group, after school program, sports team, hiphop crew, occupation training center, English school, night school, and much more in its community of Jocotenango. My position at the program changes every year. This past summer my plan was to run a shoe drive for three months in Wisconsin (during a different internship), then transport the shoes to Guatemala to help start a youth athletic program. It seemed simple enough.

“I’m sorry miss, you can only bring two bags.”

“I mean, I’ll pay more.”

“There’s an embargo. You can’t pay more.”

This was really just the beginning of the twists and turns. I had spent all summer running four shoe drives. I had coordinated with area gyms/businesses to hold the drives, and I had done so while playing a club sport and working 40+ hours a week. So when I landed in Tucson the night before flying out for Guatemala, the last thing on my mind was checking for an embargo in Guatemala. Lesson learned.

“Why is there an embargo?”

“It’s a highly traveled place during the summer season.”

“When does it end?”

“Next week, but it says that may change.”

Courtney Collingwood


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I was a week late. I called my friend to pick up one of my suitcases, and I moved on. I would figure out how to get it down to the kids later. I thought things were looking up when I breezed through security, only to have the flight attendant at the gate tell me I had two carry-ons. I was only permitted one carry on and one “personal item,” which was neither a duffle bag nor a suitcase. However, I couldn’t check one of them because I had exceeded my two-bag limit. After some pleading I was allowed on the plane and all went well. I even had an entire row of seats to myself.

“Tiene zapatos. Why do you have so many shoes?” The security guard asked me in Spanish at the Guatemalan customs. The security was unusually tight that night. I had never seen so many guards. I had definitely never scanned my bags before leaving the airport. The guard questioned me again, but in English. I stammered something about the children, and he begrudgingly let me move on. The driver met me outside, and we flew to my host parent’s house in Antigua.

I worked with the program director to find a truck to bring the suitcases to the school. Once there, I told them about the missing suitcase, but I assured them I would find a way to get it to them. The teachers took the shoes into an auditorium and laid them out across the first row of benches. Groups of kids soon came filing in, and like kids in an unbelievably large candy store, their faces lit up and their jaws dropped. They were grabbing the brightest ones, the biggest, or the most stylish. They were trading cleats for Keds or Nikes. There wasn’t an argument over a size or shoe. Children of all ages were trying on shoes, comparing with their friends, and searching for the perfect pair. The smiles on their faces were unreal, and their gratitude was profound. Twenty minutes in that room made the countless hours, meetings, fundraisers, and airport confrontations worth every minute.

I would do it again and a hundred times over, just to be in that room again. My host mom managed to help me find another University of Arizona student that would be coming down to study abroad over the school year. And on the day of my departure, Michael Chikos saved the day by bringing down the last suitcase.

Melissa Harnois—Sanofi, Tucson

Over the summer I had the opportunity to conduct pharmaceutical research as an intern at Sanofi’s Tucson Innovation Center in Oro Valley. I applied to the internship through Bio5 early last spring and was accepted to work on a project related to diabetes. I have always been interested in the disease, and it was part of the reason why I became a Biochemistry major so needless to say, I couldn’t wait for the summer to start. On my first day, I drove up to Oro Valley only to arrive far earlier than necessary, full of anticipation, adrenaline, and excitement, but slightly tired all at the same time.

After the eight other interns and I received our temporary badges and an overflowing folder of safety information and agreements to sign, we were taken into our first safety meeting and orientation. At the beginning of the meeting the site’s Safety Manager informed me that he wasn’t sure who I would be working with because my original mentor was no longer with the company. This took me by complete surprise—my first hour in the building and already I wasn’t sure what the rest of my summer was going to look like. Was I going to have a project? Who would I work with? Were they even going to keep me on board as an intern? All of these questions had my mind racing during our orientation, but my biggest fear was that any second someone would walk in and tell me that they could no longer offer me an internship.

Luckily, that was not the case and I found out later on the first day that I would be working between three different mentors—Teri Suzuki, Vasu Badarinarayana, and Mark Pincus. None of them were expecting to have another intern but all of them agreed to take me in on the first day, really without having even met me before. I was immediately impressed by the openness,

Melissa harnois at Sanofi

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positivity, and willingness to help that my three mentors exuded on my first day, and these were all things that I continually witnessed throughout the summer among the scientists and other employees at the site as well. Constant exposure to such positive personalities made me realize how crucial that type of team-oriented attitude is to maintaining a successful work environment—especially in research-based fields.

Instead of working on a diabetes project, I spent my summer primarily conducting gene expression studies related to Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). I also worked on various biochemical assays and teamed up with biomedical engineers to help develop a method for measuring muscle contractility. These were all completely different projects than I was originally expecting to take part in, but this taught me another important lesson about the reality of working in industry: the uncertainty of the duration of any given project.

Reflecting on my experience at Sanofi this summer, I believe that what was initially an unfortunate event turned out to be a blessing in the end. The opportunity to work between three mentors exposed me to multiple projects which really forced me to expand beyond my comfort zone. My biochemistry knowledge provided a solid foundation for all of the lab work I did this summer, but due to my unique situation I was able to gain experience in many areas— such as biomedical engineering—that I have never been exposed to before.

Aside from the experience I gained in lab, I think the most important lesson I will take with me after this summer is the importance of being able and willing to adapt to new situations. Through this internship I learned a lot about my own ability to adapt, and I believe that whether a situation takes a turn for better or for worse, the way that a person chooses to receive the change can make all the difference in the world.

My summer at Sanofi provided some truly invaluable experiences and insights into the world of pharmaceutical research. I learned far more than I could have ever anticipated and had a lot of fun along the way, which is why I am thrilled to be continuing my gene expression research with them throughout the academic year as my Honors Senior Capstone.

Stefan Hinote—Carnegie Mellon University

This past summer I had the wonderful opportunity to work with The Yaron research group based out of Carnegie Mellon University. The project was focused on using machine learning to create low-level models that replicate high-level data corresponding to the electronic structure of functional groups. The first half of the internship focused on learning the programming language Python and the Hartree-Fock method which approximates a solution to the time-independent Schrödinger equation. The second half of the internship was spent studying the effects of swapping out certain elements in the high-level data with low-level data to determine what portions of the model would be suitable for machine learning. I hadn’t taken physical chemistry yet, but fortunately I had taken Professor Sanov’s chem 380 course which proved to help tremendously with the mathematical aspect of the project. Since the project was computational in nature it allowed me to work from anywhere. Group meetings and daily communication was done through Skype while results and data was shared through GitHub.

With the flexibility of the internship I traveled to Sedona and Flagstaff for rock climbing. I camped with a group of friends and periodically went into town for Internet to check in with the research group and upload data results. This may be the most unconventional internship heard of, but I learned a lot while still being able to enjoy the summer. I’d like to thank Professor Yaron and his graduate students Christopher Collins and Matteus Tanha for their willingness to teach, as well as for their insight and patience.

Stefan hinote rock climbing


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Teryn Holeman—Peru

This summer I was afforded the opportunity to embrace a new Latin American culture working in Peru as a clinical medicine volunteer, working alongside Peruvian medical staff in the local hospitals and clinics in some of the poorest regions of Peru. I was able to observe numerous surgeries, administer vaccinations, start IV’s, assist in childbirths, in addition to holding medical campaigns and diagnose patients. This experience also forced me to practice my medical Spanish with patients.

Our group organized educational sessions for elementary school students and a local medical campaign for poor local families who are unable to purchase health care. We gathered with local doctors at Jardin Angelitos de Jesus in Pacasmayo, Peru to prepare and were quickly overwhelmed with the number of patients that arrived. My background as a certified EMT and studying Spanish in Costa Rica benefited me greatly as I interacted with patients. It made me realize that the lack of health care education was a much larger problem than I had expected. Expectant mothers did not have support with prenatal care; therefore, the rate of birth defects was very high. Poor public hygiene (such as proper trash disposal) has even resurrected diseases such as the bubonic plague. I went to Peru thinking lack of resources was the problem, and discovered that basic education about contracting parasites, malnutrition, and teeth brushing could drastically improve health care. The doctors are treating the diseases as they would arise, but the initial problem still exists.

Traveling to countries such as Peru and Costa Rica has significantly changed my views on education. Seeing first-hand the restriction of limited resources, I am even more passionate about giving back to underserved communities: with the consideration of volunteering time to organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. With extreme differences in the healthcare systems of the U.S. and Peru, the effects of education are huge. Even in America, science is constantly providing new information that we can incorporate into our lives. Cigarettes went from being “cool” to being deadly. Societal changes with long-term transformation have been the result of years of education. Teaching the population about these simple things in disadvantaged areas of the world such as Peru could mean the difference between life and death. My desire to make a larger impact is one of the main reasons I want to become a physician.

Efren Ibarra—Mexico

I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology and minoring in Mathematics and Physics. I am currently involved in biomedical research where I use stem cells to help treat patients with arthritis. Although my research and academics keep me engaged, I struck time (not gold) and had the opportunity this summer to immerse myself in deep rural territory.

I spent this summer doing volunteer work at a ranch. Now colloquially you may be thinking, “dude ranch” but this was very much unlike that. As a livestock-raising operation, there was no room for catering to tourists. There was plenty of work to be done.

The ranch was located in Cuchuveracho, Sonora, MX, about 10 miles outside the major city Agua Prieta, Sonora, MX. The ranch was open range, meaning cattle were allowed to graze the lands mostly unsupervised. The ranch, like many others in Mexico and Southwestern US, had diversified operations which included farming. Seasonal crops and those for feeding the cattle are grown in arable land, and making sure the crops are healthy and hydrated was one of my main duties.

Jose Angel Ibarra, my grandfather and proud cattleman (vaquero), headed the operation. With decades of experience in open range livestock raising, his instructions were followed

teryn holeman

Efren ibarra, Jose Angel and Efren A. ibarra

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meticulously and religiously. The cattle grazing his land was surveyed and checked for branding, a process that is arduous and time consuming, but with my help and the other vaqueros’, we were able to survey a considerable number of cows.

One evening, an unbranded calf managed to stray from the corral close to headquarters. Luis, a vaquero at the ranch, and I rode out on horseback to find the calf. We had to make sure it did not venture onto another proprietor’s land for unmarked cattle could be wrongfully seized by other landowners. Luis rode inexhaustibly. Although the sun was slowly waning, he refused to return back to the homestead. I respected his decision and followed wearily. We searched for hours, buoyantly looking for a calf with one distinct mark under its belly. When all hope seemed lost to me, Luis was calm, and in this poised manner he and I finally found the calf stranded on a cliffside late that evening.

This instance in particular left a profound impression on me regarding the work vaqueros do and the care they exercise for their cattle. Not only did it ignite a retrospective look at the time-oriented world I find myself in day to day, but it reminded me of the interest and care we should practice towards other beings, both human and not.

Gladly, only a minor part of my summer was spent planning for the upcoming year. Instead, I turned my desk-slaved world upside down and took a chance to step out of my shoes. Toiling under the heat of summer and plunging into an unfamiliar culture only bore fruits of gratitude and perspective.

Tyler Kennedy—India

In the bustling city of Hyderabad, I found myself awoken at 6 AM as the cooks outside my door banged pots and pans in preparation for breakfast. The meal would feed roughly 50 people including caregivers, cleaning women, volunteers, and 32 children. This was day two of my summer trip to India where I volunteered at Sarah’s Covenant Homes. SCH is an organization dedicated to giving high quality care to abandoned children with special needs including medical/surgical care, education, physical/speech therapy, and even vocational training. The organization is split into six homes, and each home is named for the quality it strives to represent. I lived in Rescue Home. The children in Rescue Home have been taken in from the streets, hospitals, or government orphanages where they were in desperate need of medical care that no one else could provide. As a volunteer, medical care was not in my job description, but therapy, playing, and education were all part of my daily duties.

But let me start with the original story. I first went to SCH last summer after a friend, Jasmine, invited me to go with her for a month and live in a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Prior to this trip I had never intended to go abroad, in fact I feared it! But Jasmine was persuasive and I ended up in India. The experience was, to say the absolute least, incredible. I fell so in love with India and the children that I couldn’t think about much else until I returned in June. While the experiences were vastly different, the daily activities were similar. Here’s a snapshot of my most recent trip.

Each day started as late as possible, usually around 9:30 AM. Once I was up I walked to one of the other homes to help with special education classes. At different points I worked with different children, but most of my students had autism and several were blind. After two hours of class, I would return to Rescue Home to play with two of the older boys who suffer from a chronic illness as well as some emotional and behavioral issues. After about an hour we would break for lunch and a much needed nap. At 3 PM therapy time began, working with either the toddlers at Rescue with cerebral palsy or the boys at Courage Home with developmental delays. Evening brought me home for dinner with the boys and some late-night shenanigans including Netflix, Uno, and sometimes a trip to the store or the closest Starbucks.

tyler Kennedy and his cousin Kendyl Brown in traditional indian clothing


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While these days could seem monotonous or plain after months of repetition, each day felt like an adventure. And, as with all great adventures, my time taught me some valuable lessons. The first is common amongst world-travelers: humility. Amidst such extreme poverty and brokenness, I obviously learned to appreciate what I had, but that wasn’t all. If anything, India taught me that I couldn’t do everything. There were children that I couldn’t help and jobs that I lacked the skills or time to accomplish. I wanted to travel to make a difference, but what I really did was learn that making a difference is hard. Next I learned that my culture is neither the only one nor the best. While Indian culture undoubtedly has its flaws, there is so much in it that I wish I saw more of in America. And finally I learned that there are people in real need. It’s easy to know this intellectually, but it took meeting them for me to actually understand it deep down. And while it was hard to accept what their need actually meant, I am a better person because of it.

Lauren Koch—University of Arizona

Hello, my name is Lauren Koch, and I am a junior dual majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. After I graduate in May 2017, my current goal is to become an optometrist and perhaps also pursue a PhD in ophthalmology. For now, though, I am interested in participating in research and volunteer work on campus. I had my first experience with research this summer in a lab studying lung diseases, and I look forward to continuing and expanding my knowledge through scientific research.

As an out-of-state student from Detroit, Michigan here at the University of Arizona, this was my first summer in Tucson. While it has been the hottest summer of my life, it was more than worth it thanks to what I’ve learned from my principal investigator, Dr. Kwang Chul Kim. Dr. Kim’s research has implications for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the third leading killer in the United States with no known treatment. Another relevant application of Dr. Kim’s research is fibrosis, predominantly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which also has no known cure.

I am not a member of the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) through the University; however, Dr. Kim created his own new personal laboratory program. As a part of his new program, I took on a project in which I tested fibroblast cells for gene and protein expression of MUC1, an anti-inflammatory lung mucin whose overexpression or under-expression may play a role in the development of these lung diseases. Three other students participated in the program as well: two worked on a similar project with macrophage and inflammasome cells, and the other worked to test small molecules that work to inhibit MUC1 expression for future potential drug development. The Kim lab hopes to hire more student researchers in the future to continue this research and develop new projects.

Overall, my summer research experience was very rewarding. I was able to get a glimpse at the research world and how scientific thinking actually works. I love my courses in both Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, but some things cannot be taught in a lecture hall or a structured lab course. I developed many laboratory techniques and learned how to conduct research and ask questions. I’m thankful to have been given this opportunity and look forward to continuing research and learning new techniques, skills and approaches to scientific thinking.

the Kim Summer lab Group. Back row from left to right: dr. Rick Chen (postdoc), dr. Kosuke Kato (postdoc), Alec hanss, Kevin Granger. Front row from left to right: dr. Kwang Chul Kim, Audriana hurbon, me, nicole Morgan.

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Carline Newmann and Global Medical Brigade—Panama

This spring break I joined U of A’s Global Medical Brigade’s [“GMB”] chapter on a trip to Cocle, Panama. I had never been out of the country, so this was a leap of faith for me as my family has always been a little skeptical about international traveling. Thankfully, GMB is an incredible organization that does everything in its power to ensure their travelers have safe and memorable experiences, and they definitely accomplished their goal.

Over the course of our six-day trip, we had jam-packed days full of preparation, clinic days, and an adventure day so we could explore. The purpose of our trip was to go into a small, rural community and provide basic healthcare to its residents. With us came three doctors (two were Panamanian), a dentist and a paramedic.

The clinic was set up in their town’s elementary school where they had canceled school for three days due to our arrival. The clinic was organized as any standard American clinic would be. Patients would go from intake to triage to consult and finally to the pharmacy. There were also three supplemental stations, dental, adult charla and kids charla. The purpose of the charla rooms was to try to teach the citizens about proper hygiene, in this case oral health. All of the 34 brigaders had the opportunity to work in every station. Personally, my favorite station within the clinic was consult. In consult, students were able to watch the doctor diagnose and treat patients while also being able to interact.

Although most of us undergrads who were there didn’t have much experience or qualifications, we were still able to do some basic procedures such as listening to the heart or taking blood pressure. In the kids charla station we taught the children how to brush and floss their teeth, how to use mouthwash, and then we would apply a fluoride treatment for them. This was an intimate, but fun way to interact with some of the locals. The three days spent at the clinic went by so quickly but it was an invaluable experience for which I couldn’t be more thankful.

Carline newmann


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For the many CBC students who are hoping to go in to some form of health care after graduation, I would highly suggest taking a trip like the one Global Medical Brigades offers. It provides a true representation of what it means to provide service, especially to those who have nothing to give in return except appreciation. Although my trip was brief, the inspiration I brought home with me was unparalleled and reminded me what the long nights at the library and virtually non-existent social life are for. Given the opportunity, I would embark on another Brigade or medical service trip in a heartbeat, and I would hope my CBC peers would seize the opportunity too!

The Chemistry and Biochemistry students that were in Panama for the Global Medical Brigades during Spring Break 2015 included Rushabh Daulat, Kelechi Abarikwu, Shaina Hasan, Joseph Marshalek, Carline Neumann and Ashley Oesterle.

Elizabeth Nguyen—Aramco Research Center, Houston

This summer, I worked with the Research and Development department of Aramco Services Company (Aramco Research Center - Houston) as a summer intern for nine weeks in Houston, TX. During this time, I worked my mentor, Dr. Oliverio Alvarez, in the Sensors Development team to assist in experimental design and performing high-quality data acquisition for microwave characterization of reservoir fluids. I expanded my learning opportunities throughout the summer by participating in a hazardous waste presentation for the team with our safety personnel, improving the safety in our team’s lab, collaborating with neighboring scientists, attending seminars, and presenting my experimental developments to the company. In this process, I learned about the measurement of different electrical properties of brines, geochemistry and its applications of analytical characterization as well as the development of drilling fluids. Throughout this experience, I was able to apply the practical knowledge I had gained from my previous research experience with the Hruby group as well as research projects from chemistry lab courses.

Outside of the internship, I explored most of Houston and Austin every other weekend to go on mini-foodie and downtown adventures. I was also able to briefly meet up with fellow CBC ambassador and good friend Lucy Hyatt in Austin during one trip to visit food trucks and explore the town.

Overall, my internship experience was enriched by active communication, taking the initiative to participate in side experiments in addition to my major project, and taking advantage of every second I had to learn from others. This was all made possible by the recommendations from Dr. Aspinwall and Dr. Belle-Oudry. I was able to improve as a scientist and a leader through Dr. Oliverio Alvarez as well as team leads and researchers from neighboring groups.

Elizabeth nguyen

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Front row: Christie nguyen, Stephanie navarro, Adrianna Pulver, and Priscilla Riveria. Middle row: Vanessa Fernandez, Brian ortega, Benton Anderson, Adrian Falco, and Greg lyons. Back row: lindsay hansen (oiA), Chris Chan, and dr. Andrew hausrath.

Blastoff! uA Chemistry Club

Visiting Scholars Group

dr James hazzard, Christina Kelso, and Melissa harnois at Blastoff!

2014–15: 1 Katie durham, 2 leo hamerlynck, 3 Matthew Posnansky, 4 Sara harrow, 5 Justin lopez, 6 taylor Szyszka, 7 Ron Gonzalez, 8 Sara herman, 9 ivan Garcia, 10 Christy Warner, 11 Anmol Singh, 12 destinee ogas, 13 Mark delaney, 14 Sona Avetian, 15 leah homad, 16 Matthew Chuang, 17 Matthew Porter

BECuR award recipients dr. Matt Cordes, Cheryl Cheah and dr. Bill Montfort at BECuR

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2015 Commencement

(left to right) Kaitlyn Griffin, John heydorn, Katie Burrell and William Bahureska, assisting at 2015 Commencement

2015 – 2016 CBC Graduating Students

Current and Graduating Ambassadors

sCrapBooK, Cont.

2015 CBC Welcome Event Chemistry Presentation

laura lustro and Beth Vinson serving ice Cream Sara herman and Sona Avetian

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CBC Breakfast

Keith olson and dr. Pascale Charest

(left to right) Kara Saunders, Mark Burton, Sara Zachritz, Meghan talbot, Kayla Bates, James

Siegenthaler, Kristen Watts and Alicia Swain at White Coat Ceremony

CBC Ambassadors

(back row, left to right) Ron Gonzalez, Clay Arrington, dago Robles, and Kristie Mgbara. (midde row, left to right) Elise Munoz, Bailey lahtinen, Cheryl Cheah and Ambjorn Brynell. (front, left to right) Karla Peralta, Guadalupe davila, Summer Gardner, Brittany Forte and Ali icenogle

2015 CBC undergraduate Poster Fair2015 CBC Research Symposium Poster Fair Winners

Christopher Gomez, nathaniel napierski and Si’Ana CogginsJessica Wales, Maggie Scavello, lindsay Guzman and Mahsa Ghaffari

the catalyst - cbc.arizona.eduas a full page announcement of two exciting initiatives coming from...

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