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ORGANIC DIVISION AWARDS FELLOWSHIPS Pharma supports 15 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY students THE ACS DIVISION of Organic Chemistry
has awarded fellowships to 15 outstanding third- and fourth-year graduate students in organic chemistry. Awardees are selected on the basis of their research accomplishments and a short original essay. The fellowship stipend for 2007–08 is $24,000, and fellows will travel to the 2009 National Organic Symposium to present posters on their work. The fellows are the following: Aaron E. Albers is a
fourth-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, working in Christopher J. Chang’s laboratory. His essay is titled “Fluorescent Probes for Imaging Intracellular Nitric Oxide.” Sponsor: Troyansky Fellowship Brian M. Andresen is a fourth-year student at Stanford University working under Justin Du Bois. His essay is titled “Four- and SixElectron Oxidations of Olefins: Mechanism, Analysis, and Application.” Sponsor: Wyeth Keith M. Gligorich is a
fourth-year student at the University of Utah working in the laboratory of Matthew S. Sigman. His essay is titled “Cis- or Trans-Oxypalladation and Aminopalladation: Implications for Asymmetric Catalysis.” Sponsor: Sanofi-Aventis Jeremiah Johnson is a fourth-year stu-
dent in Nicholas J. Turro’s laboratory at Columbia University. His essay is titled “Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cy-
cloaddition for the Functionalization of Dendrimers.” Sponsor: Schering-Plough
Developments in Methodologies Utilizing Silylboranes.” Sponsor: Organic Syntheses, Nelson J. Leonard Fellowship Andrea L. Nold is a
fourth-year student at Scripps Research Institute working in K. C. Nicolaou’s laboratory. Her essay is “Recent Approaches toward Dimeric Natural Products via Biomimetic-Type Couplings.” Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline Kimberly S. Petersen
Vincent Lavallo is a
third-year student in Guy Bertrand’s group at the University of California, Riverside. His essay is titled “Stable Cyclic Carbenes: Similarities and Differences.” Sponsor: Pfizer Barbara Jane Morgan is a fourth-year
student at the University of Pennsylvania working in the laboratory of Marisa C. Kozlowski. Her essay is titled “Rapid Access to Seven-Membered Rings: Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Intramolecular [5+2] Cycloadditions.” Sponsor: Organic Syntheses Kay A. Morris is a
fourth-year student working with Daniel Romo at Texas A&M University. Her essay is titled “Recent Advances in Catalytic Enantioselective Radical Reactions for C–C Bond Formation.” Sponsor: Eli Lilly & Co. Jaclyn M. Murphy is a fourth-year student working in John F. Hartwig’s laboratory at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign. Her essay is titled “Recent WWW.C E N- ONLI NE .ORG
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is a fourth-year student in the laboratory of Gary H. Posner at Johns Hopkins University. Her essay is titled “Toward Synthesis of Icetexane (±)-Komaroviquinone.” Sponsor: Genentech Troy E. Reynolds is working in Karl A. Scheidt’s laboratory at Northwestern University. His essay is titled “Transition-MetalCatalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling Reactions.” Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb Clinton R. South is a fourth-year student at Georgia Institute of Technology working in the laboratory of Marcus Weck. His essay is “Mobility of Olefin Metathesis in Templated Synthesis.” Sponsor: Novartis Benjamin Robert Taft is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, working in the laboratory of Bruce H. Lipshutz. His essay is titled “Enantioselective Construction of Spirocycles Containing All-Carbon Quaternary Centers.” Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim
Nicole S. White is a
fourth-year student working in the laboratory of Larry E. Overman at the University of California, Irvine. Her essay is “CobaltCatalyzed CrossCoupling Reactions.” Sponsor: Organic Reactions Stephan J. Zuend is a fourth-year student at Harvard University working in the laboratory of Eric N. Jacobsen. His essay is titled “Small-Molecule-Catalyzed Stereoselective Functionalization of Nearly Unbiased Substrates.” Sponsor: Roche ■
LERMAN GARNERS GEORGE BROWN AWARD
LINDA WANG/C&EN
ZAFRA M. LERMAN, distinguished professor of science and public policy and head of the Institute for Science Education & Science Communication at Columbia College Chicago, has received the George Brown Award for International Science & Technology Collaboration from the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation. The award, named in honor of the late U.S. congressman, recognizes individuHONOREE Lerman als for their work (center) poses with to promote crossBrown’s widow, border science Marta, and John collaboration. H. Moore of the Lerman’s deCivilian Research cades-long efforts & Development in engaging and Foundation.
encouraging scientists in the pursuit of peace, cooperation, and cultural understanding have taken her to Russia, Cuba, China, and many of the former Soviet nations. Most recently, she has focused on connecting scientists in the Middle East to begin building a basis for cooperation and communication. She has organized a series of conferences held in Malta called Frontiers in Chemical Sciences: Research & Education in the Middle East—A Bridge to Peace. These were the first meetings to bring together scientists from 12 Middle Eastern countries to identify collaborative solutions to critical regional problems. “The success of these conferences proves that science can contribute to understanding and cooperation between scientists from countries that are hostile toward each other,” Lerman says. Brian E. Tucker, founder and president of the nonprofit organization GeoHazards International, also received the George Brown Award for his work bringing civil engineering principles to impoverished countries in earthquake-prone areas.
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY AWARDS NOMINATIONS ARE still being accepted for the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics. The annual program recognizes outstanding chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use and that have been or can be used by industry in achieving their pollution prevention goals. The program is open to individuals, groups, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, academia, and industry. One award will be made in each of five categories: academic; small business; and industry sponsors for technologies in greener synthetic pathways, greener reaction conditions, and the design of greener chemicals. The nominated technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years (for example, it must have been researched, demonstrated, implemented, applied, or patented) and been a significant component within the WWW.C E N- ONLI NE .ORG
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U.S. Self-nominations are allowed and expected. To apply, visit: www.epa.gov/green chemistry/pubs/pgcc/presgcc.html. Nominations are due Dec. 31, and awards will be presented next summer in Washington, D.C.
GEORGE BRAUDE AWARD TO BASSAM SHAKHASHIRI; CALL FOR NOMINATIONS BASSAM Z. SHAKHASHIRI, professor
of chemistry and William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, is the winner of the 2007 George L. Braude Memorial Award for his scientific work and commitment to chemical education. The award is given by the ACS Maryland Section in memory of Braude, who had served as chair and councilor for the section. The award includes a plaque and a $1,000 grant. Shakhashiri is internationally recognized for his leadership in promoting excellence in science education and for his development and use of demonstrations in teaching chemistry in the classroom as well as in less formal settings such as museums, convention centers, shopping malls, and retirement homes. He puts on an annual program called “Once upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri,” which airs on PBS and cable television stations throughout the country. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 George L. Braude Award. Submissions should include a nomination letter that illustrates the accomplishments, creativity, and independence of the nominee; a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae containing educational background and experience; and any other information that documents the special achievements of the candidate. Seconding letters are welcome but not required. Nominations must be submitted by May 1, 2008, to Charles F. Rowell, 900 Randell Rd., Severna Park, MD 21146. Nominations may also be sent electronically to
[email protected].
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COU RTESY OF R I C HA R D S PONTA K
SUMIO IIJIMA WINS BALZAN PRIZE FOR NANOSCIENCE SUMIO IIJIMA, a professor at Meijo Uni-
versity, in Nagoya, Japan, is among the winners of the 2007 International Balzan Prize, founded in 1957 to promote culture, the sciences, and the most meritorious initiatives in the cause of humanity, peace, and brotherhood. The awarded subjects vary each year, making it possible to encourage specific fields of study that are new or not recognized by other international awards. Iijima earned the Prize for Nanoscience for his discovery of carbon nanotubes and in particular the discovery of single-walled carbon nanotubes and the study of their properties. He shares the prize with Jules Hoffmann of the French Academy of Sciences and Bruce Beutler of Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., who garnered the Prize for Innate Immunity; Michel Zink of the College of France, who won the Prize for European Literature (1000–1500); Rosalyn Higgins of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, who won the Prize for International Law since 1945; and Karlheinz Böhm, founder of the charity Menschen für Menschen, who won the Prize for Humanity, Peace & Brotherhood among Peoples. Each winner receives 1 million Swiss francs (approximately $900,000 U.S.). At least half of the award money must be used for further research projects.
CELEBRATORY Paul Walther (from left), president of the German Society for Electron Microscopy, presents the prize to Jinnai, Midgley, and Spontak.
pioneering new capabilities of electron microscopy as a scientific technique through innovative instrumentation or novel methods of basic and general interest. It is named after the late Ruska, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986. Jinnai, Midgley, and Spontak are being recognized for their efforts to introduce electron tomography as an analytical method to study nanostructured materials. They received the award in September during a ceremony at the Microscopy Conference 2007 in Saarbrücken, Germany.
ARI HELENIUS AWARDED BENOIST PRIZE ARI HELENIUS, professor of biochemistry
JINNAI, MIDGLEY, SPONTAK SHARE ERNST RUSKA PRIZE THE GERMAN SOCIETY for Electron Microscopy has named the winners of its 2007 Ernst Ruska Prize. They are Hiroshi Jinnai, associate professor of macromolecular science and engineering at Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan; Paul A. Midgley, professor of materials science and director of the electron microscopy facility at the University of Cambridge; and Richard J. Spontak, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering at North Carolina State University. The Ernst Ruska Prize is awarded for work carried out by younger scientists
at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, has been awarded the 2007 Marcel Benoist Prize for his groundbreaking research in biochemistry. Valued at 100,000 Swiss francs (approximately $90,000 U.S.), the award is regarded as the Swiss Nobel Prize. It has been given annually since 1920. The award honors scientists working in Switzerland who have made scientific discoveries in disciplines that are of significance for human life. Helenius is best known for his pioneering research on viruses and determining how they gain entry into cells. It was previously believed that viruses invaded cells through fusion with the plasma membrane. Instead, Helenius found that the viruses are carried by a cellular mechanism to an internal location in the cytoplasm where the lower pH value WWW.C E N- ONLI NE .ORG
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promotes penetration into the cytosol and eventually the nucleus. Helenius is also credited with discovering the endosome. Another area of his research involves the quality-control system that newly synthesized proteins, such as hormones and enzymes, have to pass before they are deployed by the cell to perform their function. Helenius and his colleagues from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich recently founded a biotech company to develop new strategies for antiviral drugs.
COON, VENTON PICKED FOR YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD JOSHUA COON, assistant professor of
chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Jill Venton, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Virginia, are the recipients of the annual Young Investigator Award presented by the Analytical Chemistry Academic Contact Committee of Eli Lilly & Co. This award is presented to new professors who have quickly distinguished themselves as leaders in the field of analytical chemistry. It is an unsolicited, unrestricted grant of $50,000 per year, renewable for a second year. Coon is developing and applying new mass spectrometrybased proteomic technologies to examine, with unprecedented chemical detail and sensitivity, the molecular events that commit human Coon embryonic stem cells to exit the pluripotent state. Venton is developing analytical techniques to measure neurochemical changes. She is also developing rapid capillary electrophoresis separations for Venton analyzing brain fluid samples. The development of new analytical tools will enable a better understanding of neurotransmission, facilitating the development of new treatments for neurological disorders. ■
