Chemistry

CMSE department has recognized Megan Hill as the 2015 recipient of the Butler Polymer Research Award. Professor George & Josephine Butler established this award to recognize excellence in graduate student research and education related to polymer chemistry. Competition for the award is quite strong and extends beyond The Butler Polymer Research Laboratory. Candidates are selected from all Department of Chemistry PhD students carrying out their research in polymer chemistry.

“Dr. Ken Wagener has been selected for the 2016�American Chemical Society�Polymer Division�Paul J. Flory Polymer Education Award. The award, which is presented to one polymer scientist in the nation every other year, recognizes extraordinary contributions to polymer science and engineering. Wagener also is being honored for outstanding achievements in promoting undergraduate and graduate polymer education. The award is named for distinguished American chemist Paul J. Flory, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1974 for his research achievements in the physical chemistry of macromolecules.”

“Nico Omenetto, right, receives the Winter Conference Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry from Lothar Rottman of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the award’s sponsor.”

“We had 15 students receive the Ph.D. in Chemistry this fall and 13 attended commencement at the O?Connell Center on Friday, December 18, 2015.? Here they are with their escorts just before getting in line for the processional.? Congratulations to our fall, 2015 Doctoral class!”

“Leslie Murray was named as one of 17 emerging investigators in the field of bioinorganic chemistry in the ACS Select Virtual Issue published online in the journal,�Inorganic Chemistry. All investigators from this list received their doctoral degrees since 2004, have published their work and ACS journals mostly in 2014 or 2015. The editorial by the Associate Editor Professor Janet Morrow (SUNY Buffalo) highlights work in Murray?s group on tricopper and triiron clusters as models of cofactors in metalloenzymes.”

“The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Townes R. Leigh Prizes for outstanding achievement by first year graduate students.�This award recognizes excellence in coursework, teaching, research, and written qualifying examinations. The recipients from the 2014-15 Ph.D. class are, pictured from left to right, John Cain, Robin Kemperman, Michael Sims, Juliette Experton, Emily Gill, Vinicius Cruzerio, Steven Shen, Steven Locicero, and Xiang Gao.”

“Congratulations to Lauren McCarthy who has been named the recipient of the 2015 Keaffaber Scholar Award.� The award has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Jeffrey Keaffaber, a longtime friend and supporter of the Department of Chemistry.� Dr. Keaffaber received his Ph.D. from the Department in 1989 (with Prof. William Dolbier) and pursued a career in industry, entrepreneurship, and consulting; he has worn many hats since his return to the Department in 2003 including as a senior lecturer, undergraduate advisor, and pioneer of new teaching initiatives.”