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2010–11 PROJECT SEED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS THE ACS COMMITTEE on Project SEED
has announced the winners of its 2010–11 college scholarships. The recipients, all previous participants in ACS’s Project SEED program, receive one-year nonrenewable scholarships of $5,000 to help cover tuition and fees during their freshman year of college. For the 2010–11 academic year, 32 college scholarships totaling $160,000 were awarded with money from several sponsors. Project SEED is ACS’s summer research program that enables economically disadvantaged high school students to conduct hands-on research. Past participants are eligible to compete for scholarships, supported by private corporations and individual donors, that are designed to help them transition from high school to college. For more information about Project SEED, visit www.acs.org/projectseed.
ALFRED & ISABEL BADER SCHOLARS Alfred Bader is one of the founders of Aldrich Chemical, now Sigma-Aldrich. The Baders have supported Project SEED for many years and contributed to the initiation of the Summer II SEED program, which allows students to return for a second summer of more intensive research. Caridad Aguilar is a graduate of Warren County High School, in Warrenton, N.C. Aguilar worked under the direction of Martha McLean Bolton of Duke University School of Medicine on research titled “Central Nervous System Synaptic Formation.” Aguilar is majoring in biomedical engineering and biochemistry at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh. Sharon Arguedas graduated from North Bergen High School, in New Jersey. She worked under the supervision of Marion McClary Jr. of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, N.J., on research titled “Integrative & Comparative Biology.” She is majoring in biochemistry at New Jersey City University, in Jersey City. Jennifer Cabello-Chavez graduated from Sequoia High School, Redwood City, Calif. Under the direction of Nick Cordella
of Stanford University, she worked on research titled “Developing a Lab Curriculum for Young Cancer Patients.” She is majoring in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Marvin Castellon is a graduate of Union City High School, in New Jersey. At Rutgers University, in Piscataway, N.J., he worked under the supervision of Paul Thomas on research titled “Use of Nitrocellulose as a Solid Support in Immunoaffinity Chromatography.” Castellon is majoring in biochemistry at New Jersey Institute of Technology, in Newark. Rosalva Castrejon-Garcia is a graduate of Whiteville High School, in North Carolina. Under the direction of Katherine J. Franz of Duke University, Castrejon-Garcia worked on research titled “Determination of the Binding Affinity of Iron-Chelating Agents.” She attends Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C., where she is majoring in chemistry. Carolina Chavez graduated from East High School, in Des Moines. Under the supervision of Mark Vitha of Drake University, in Des Moines, Chavez conducted research titled “Spectroscopic Characterization of Solvatochromic Dyes.” She attends Iowa State University, in Ames, where she is majoring in chemistry and chemical engineering. Marcel Douglas Jr. is a graduate of Metro Academic & Classical High School, in St. Louis. He worked under the direction of Alicia M. Beatty of the University of Missouri, St. Louis, on research titled “An Entry into Crystal Engineering: Layered Material.” He is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Hendrix College, Conway, Ark. Doris Feng is a graduate of Galileo Academy of Science & Technology, San Francisco. She worked under the direction of Lisa A. Gorski of the
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, Calif., on research titled “Looking for Salmonella in the Environment.” She attends the University of California, Davis, where she is majoring in food science. Elaine Gomez is a graduate of Union City High School, in New Jersey. Under the direction of Edward Konsevick of Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute, Lyndhurst, N.J., Gomez worked on research titled “Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter in the New York Jamaica Bay Region.” Gomez is majoring in environmental and chemical engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Shawn Kamal graduated from Niles West High School, Skokie, Ill. Under the direction of Sandra W. Bishnoi of Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago, Kamal worked on research titled “Toxicology of Gold & Silver Ions & Particles.” He attends the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he is majoring in biochemistry. Manjinder Kandola is a graduate of Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, Jamaica, N.Y. Under the direction of Emmanuel Chang of York College of the City University of New York, Kandola worked on research titled “Computational Analysis of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Substrates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.” Kandola attends Harvard University and is majoring in chemistry. Eryn Lee graduated from John Paul Stevens High School, in San Antonio. Under the supervision of George R. Negrete of the University of Texas, San Antonio, Lee worked on research titled “Novel Asparagine-Derived Lipids & their Application in Liposome.” Lee is majoring in biochemistry at St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas. Hong Li graduated from New Brunswick High School, in New Jersey. Li worked under the supervision of Nandish K. Khanra of Rutgers University, Piscataway, on research titled “Purification of Type III Secretion Proteins, CesFEspF & CesTTir.” Li is majoring in biochemistry at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick.
Alma Marquez is a graduate of East High School, in Des Moines. Marquez worked under the supervision of Mark Vitha of Drake University on research titled “Spectroscopic Characterization of Solvatochromic Dyes.” Marquez is majoring in chemistry and biochemistry at Iowa State University, in Ames. Luis Mendez graduated from Union City High School, in New Jersey. Under the direction of Gordon A. Thomas of New Jersey Institute of Technology, Mendez worked on research titled “Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes.” He attends NJIT, where he is majoring in biomedical engineering and biochemistry. Katherine Morales is a graduate of New Brunswick High School, in New Jersey. Under the direction of David M. Ribnicky of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Morales worked on research titled “Bioaccessibility of Anti-Diabetic Compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. Extract Using the TNO Gastrointestinal Model (TIM).” She is majoring in biochemistry at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick. Thao Phuong Nguyen graduated
from Madison High School, Portland, Ore. Under the direction of Angela Hoffman of the University of Portland, Nguyen worked on research titled “Study of the Biological Activities of Basella alba.” Nguyen attends Lewis & Clark College, in Portland, and is majoring in biochemistry. Danny Palacios is a graduate of Union City High School, in New Jersey. Under the direction of Jose L. Lopez of Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, N.J., Palacios worked on research titled “The Power of Plasma.” He is majoring in chemistry at St. Peter’s. Emma Redd is a graduate of Pocatello High School, in Idaho. She worked under the direction of Caryn Evilia of Idaho State University, Pocatello, on research titled “Metal Affinity of Halophilic Proteins.” She attends Brigham Young UniversityIdaho, Rexburg, where
she is majoring in chemistry and biology. Samantha Smith is a graduate of Pocatello High School, in Idaho. Under the direction of Joshua J. Pak of Idaho State University, Pocatello, Smith worked on research titled “Preparation of Functionalized Phenylacetylenes.” Smith is majoring in pharmacy at Idaho State.
BAYER SCHOLARS The Bayer Foundation has been a major donor for Project SEED, as well as a major contributor to the Project SEED endowment. Walter Echevarria graduated from Union City High School, in New Jersey. He worked under the supervision of Gili Joseph at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, on research titled “Novel Antibacterial Activity from the Leaves of Leea coccinea.” He is majoring in biochemistry at Johns Hopkins University. Lanair Lett graduated from North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, in Durham. Under the direction of Jeffery Tessem of Duke University, Lett worked on research titled “Roles of Prolactin & Fox01 in Pancreatic Beta Cell Growth.” Lett attends Harvard and is majoring in biochemistry.
FOSBINDER SCHOLARS The estate of Elizabeth Ernest Fosbinder, wife of late ACS member Russel J. Fosbinder, has provided an endowment in his name for college scholarships to Project SEED graduates. Eleanor Ojinnaka is a graduate of Irvington High School, in New Jersey. Under the supervision of John R. Sowa Jr. of Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., Ojinnaka worked on research titled “Salt Plates Gone Extinct: A Novel, Reuseable Sample Holder for Routine IR Spectroscopy Using Recycled Plastic Bottle Caps.” She is majoring in chemical engineering at Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J. Shobika Sivaram
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Seton Hall University, Sivaram worked on research titled “Synthesis of Benzylidene Acetals of d-Glucal.” Sivaram is majoring in chemistry at St. Peter’s College.
ULLYOT SCHOLAR Glenn Ullyot was an accomplished chemical researcher who worked for Smith, Kline & French Laboratories. He was a major contributor to the discovery and manufacture of new drugs of critical value to the medical world. His wife, Barbara, had a management career at ACS. Tara Greer graduated from Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, Tenn. She worked under the supervision of Judith Iriarte-Gross of Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, on research titled “Syntheses, IR Analyses & Molecular Modeling Studies of Metal Chloride-Silicon Ethoxide Sol-Gel Materials.” Greer is majoring in chemistry at Middle Tennessee State.
ACS PROJECT SEED SCHOLARS These scholarships are provided through the generosity of ACS friends and members. Victoria Nneji graduated from North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, in Durham. She worked under the supervision of Matthew Redinbo of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, on research titled “Locating the Relaxase Domain on the Tral Protein in Order To Identify Effective Enzyme-Specific Inhibitors.” She attends Columbia University, where she is majoring in chemical engineering. Erika Rivera graduated from North Shore Senior High School, in Houston. Under the direction of Delia Danila of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Rivera worked on research titled “pH-Sensitive Liposomes.” She is majoring in biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. Lizann-Asi Robinson is a graduate of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Summit, N.J. Under the supervision of JiangHong Ye of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, in Newark, Robinson worked on research titled “Glycine Receptors in the Prefrontal Cortex Regulate
Ethanol Drinking.” Robinson is majoring in chemistry at Princeton University. Maritza Rodriguez graduated from Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy, Forest Park, Ill. Under the supervision of Sandra Bishnoi of Illinois Institute of Technology, Rodriguez conducted research titled “Gold Nanoparticles & Daphnia magna: Do Sublethal Concentrations of Au Colloid Effect Daphnia magna Reproduction?” Rodriguez is majoring in chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Johnny Tran graduated from Lincoln High School, Stockton, Calif. With Liang Xue of University of the Pacific, in Stockton, Tran worked on research titled “Solid Phase Synthesis & Purification of Oligonucleotides.” He is majoring in pharmacy at the University of California, Merced. Sonny Van graduated from Galileo Academy of Science & Technology, in San Francisco. Under the direction of Yong Gu and Jiajie Wu of USDA, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, Calif., Van worked on research titled “Sequencing & Characterization of TDNA Flanking Regions in Brachypodium distachyon.” Van attends the University of California, Davis, where he is majoring in biochemistry. Hilary Wright is a graduate of West Hills High School, Santee, Calif. Under Andrew Mercer of Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Calif., Wright worked on research titled “Gene Expression & Epigenetics.” Wright majors in biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California.
CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS SCHOLARS The Ciba Foundation, through the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Scholars Endowment, offers first-year SEED college scholarship recipients scholarships for the remaining three years of their chemical science degree programs. The recipients are Tram Anh N. Dao, a biochemical engineering major at the University of California, Davis; Y Thien Hoang, a chemistry and biochemistry major at the University of Portland; and Trung-Quan Le Tran, a chemistry and chemical engineering major at Oxford College of Emory University, in Georgia.
O F F ICIAL WHIT E HOUSE P HOTO BY P ET E SOUZ A
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EDINBURGH MEDAL TO CARL DJERASSI Carl Djerassi, emeritus professor of
chemistry at Stanford University, has been awarded the prestigious Edinburgh Medal. Given annually during the Edinburgh International Science Festival, the medal honors men and women in science and technology who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding of humanity. Djerassi, who is often referred to as “the father of the Pill,” is renowned for his breakthrough work on the synthesis of the progestin norethindrone, which formed the basis of the first oral contraceptive. This work revolutionized women’s birth control options. Djerassi has received numerous honors for his research, including the National Medal of Science, the National Medal of Technology, the American Chemical Society Priestley Medal, the Wolf Foundation Prize in Chemistry, the Award for the Industrial Application of Science from the National Academy of Sciences, the Erasmus Medal of the Academia Europeae, the Perkin Medal of the Society for Chemical Industry, and the Gold Medal Award of the American Institute of Chemists. Since the late 1980s, Djerassi has also been prolific in the literary world, producing novels, poetry, and plays, many of them based on scientific themes. He is founder of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program near Woodside, Calif., which provides residencies and studio space for artists in the visual arts, literature, choreography and performing arts, and music. Djerassi will present his medal address titled “Science, Sex & Theatre: A Potent Brew” during the science festival, which will be held on April 9–22.
SCIENCE MENTORS RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS Two of the 11 individuals and one of the four organizations selected for this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Mentoring are being honored for developing programs that aid students pursuing degrees
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in chemistry and related sciences. The awards were presented by President Barack Obama at the White House in January. The awards recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields. Each winner receives $10,000 to advance his or her mentoring efforts. Following are the chemistry-related awardees: Anthony Carpi, a professor of environmental toxicology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, was recognized for his work in creating a program at the college that arranges for forensic science majors to work on research projects with faculty members. Carpi started the Program for Research Initiatives for Science Majors in 2006, and several participants have won awards for their work. Carpi’s research focuses on the transport of heavy metals in the environment and the potential effect of environmental change on the global cycling of mercury pollution. Gerard F. R. Parkin, professor of inorganic chemistry at Columbia University, was honored for going above and beyond normal mentoring activities. For example, through shared access to high-tech instrumentation in his lab, he encourages collaborations between his graduate students and faculty at local institutions. He has also created opportunities for underrepresented schoolchildren in the New York City area to use the instructional chemistry labs at Columbia to carry out simple experiments under the guidance of graduate students. Purchase College, State University of New York, was honored for its Baccalaureate & Beyond Community College Mentoring Project. Started in 2000 by Joseph Skrivanek, chemistry professor and director of the project, the program has served
HIGH PRAISE Parkin
is congratulated by President Obama.
more than 300 students, 60% of whom are underrepresented minorities; more than 70% have graduated with a four-year degree. Of the science and mathematics students served to date, 83% have completed associate degrees (compared with 30% nationally) and 71% have completed bachelor’s degrees in science fields. A third of the students are pursuing graduate work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
NICHOLS MEDAL SEEKS NOMINATIONS The ACS New York Section is accepting nominations for the 2012 William H. Nichols Medal. The award is presented annually in recognition of an outstanding contribution in the field of chemistry. It consists of a gold medal, a bronze replica, and $5,000. Those eligible for consideration include investigators who have published a significant and original contribution in any field of chemistry during the past five calendar years. Nominations should include a completed nomination form, biographical and professional data, and seconding letters. Nominations must be received by May 31, and application forms are available from the section’s website at newyorkacs.org.
KING FAISAL PRIZE TO WHITESIDES AND ZARE George M. Whitesides, the Woodford L.
& Ann A. Flowers University Professor at Harvard University, and Richard N. Zare, the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science at Stanford University, are the joint recipients of the 2011 King Faisal International Prize for Science in the category of chemistry. Whitesides revolutionized the field of self-assembly using molecular-scale synthesis to control the macroscopic properties of surfaces. This work and his research in soft lithography, where he developed practical methods to mold complex patterns on surfaces, are characterized by their relevance to diverse fields such as molecular electronics, material science, and biology.
Zare is being recognized for his fundamental contribution to the understanding of molecular dynamics and chemical reactions. He developed the extremely sensitive technique of laserinduced fluorescence and pioneered its application in many fields ranging from analytical chemistry and molecular biology to astrophysics (composition of interstellar media). The King Faisal Foundation awards the King Faisal International Prizes every year in the fields of medicine, science, Islamic studies, service to Islam, and Arabic literature. Nominations for the 2012 award are being accepted. The deadline is May 1.
2011 CINF SCHOLARSHIP FOR SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE SPONSORED BY FIZ CHEMIE BERLIN Graduate students and postdocs in chemical information and related sciences are eligible to apply for scholarships from the ACS Division of Chemical Information (CINF). The scholarships, funded by FIZ Chemie Berlin, recognize scientific excellence and encourage student involvement in CINF. Up to three $1,000 scholarships will be presented at the fall ACS national meeting in Denver. Applicants must be enrolled at a certified college or university, and they will present a poster at the CINF welcoming reception during the national meeting. To apply, submit an abstract to the ACS Program & Abstract Creation System at abstracts.acs.org by April 1 and notify Guenter Grethe, chair of the selection committee, at
[email protected]. In addition, send a 2,000-word abstract to Grethe describing the work to be presented.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR YOUNG INNOVATOR AWARD Analytical Chemistry and the Chemical & Biological Microsystems Society are seeking nominations for the 2011 Young Innovator Award. The award honors the contributions of an individual who has demonstrated exceptional technical advancement and innovation in the field of micro- or nanoWWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG
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fluidics in his or her early career. Nominees must have received their doctorate within the past 15 years. The award will be presented at the µTAS 2011 Conference in Seattle. The award consists of $2,500, a plaque, and up to $1,500 to cover travel expenses to the conference. Nominations should include a nomination letter and up to two seconding letters. Self-nominations are allowed. Nominations should be e-mailed to anchem@ unc.edu by April 1.
MOSHER AWARD TO TOBIN MARKS The ACS Santa Clara Valley Section presented the 2010 Carol & Harry Mosher Award in January to Tobin J. Marks, Charles E. & Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University. The award has been given annually by the ACS Santa Clara Valley Section since 1980 to recognize and encourage outstanding work in chemistry, to advance chemistry as a profession, and to recognize service to ACS. Marks, who is also the Vladimir N. Ipatieff Professor of Catalytic Chemistry and a professor of materials science and engineering, was one of the first researchers to recognize the potential of using actinides and lanthanides in organometallic chemistry and catalysis.
VICTOR SNIECKUS NAMED LAUREATE OF LITHUANIA Victor Snieckus, Alfred Bader Chair
Emeritus in Organic Chemistry at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario, has been named the 2010 Laureate of the Republic of Lithuania in the Field of Physical, Biomedical & Technological Sciences. The honor recognizes lifetime scholarly and research achievements by a Lithuanian scientist working abroad. Snieckus was also cited for significant activities in the field of organic chemistry, which have facilitated communication among various chemical societies. LINDA WANG compiles this section.
Announcements of awards may be sent to
[email protected].
