CONTENTS
State of the Chemistry Department 2014-2015
Faculty and Staff Update
Seminars and Special Events
Course Enrollments
Declared Majors/Minors
Honors
Honors at Graduation
Honor Societies
Departmental Awards
Student Research Presentations
Midstates Symposia
Beloit College International Symposium
Beloit College Annual Student Symposium
The Beloit Biologist
Student Experiences
Majors & Minors - Class of 2015
Alumni News and Notes
Email Addresses and Web Pages
Back
STATE OF THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
Chairs George Lisensky (fall semester) and Kevin Braun (spring semester)
Rama Viswanathan retired this year after thirty-two years of service to the department and college. He is now pursuing a new business venture in California with his son Rajeev. Their first product is Get@app. More information can be found at www.getatapp.com or the app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store (search getat). At graduation, Rama received Emeritus status (see below.)
Kristin Labby joined us as a Visiting Assistant Professor for two years. She received her PhD at Northwestern University and then did postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. Kristin has been a great addition to the department! See her faculty update below.
Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Dale Williams fund and the Norval Meyers fund, the department received a new Bruker Fourier III - 300 MHz NMR spectrometer. The instrument significantly expands our capabilities not only in the classroom/laboratory but also in research. Prof. Labby has been using the instrument extensively in her research on antibiotic resistance. In the fall, a section of Chem 225 Instrumental Analysis will be dedicated to using the instrument. The addition of this superconducting instrument brings us in line with our peer institutions and permits increasesd resolution and sensitivity in chemical analysis.
It is a great time to be a scientist at Beloit and many students seem to agree. The department’s courses continue to overfill while the number of majors continues to grow.
In the last ten years, student enrollment in chemistry courses has increased 60%, and the number of chemistry and biochemistry majors has doubled. Four percent (2011-2014) or five percent (2013-2016) of the graduating class major in our department. By comparison, nationally the number of graduates with degrees in chemistry is approximately 0.75% of all graduates. The increased student demand currently exceeds available seats.
Though daunting, the growth of the department has been exciting. With the surge in interest along with recent retirements, the department will be conducting a national search for a tenure track position in general and organic chemistry during the 2015 academic year. Please share this information with anyone you feel would be a strong candidate for the position. As always we love to hear from alums so please keep in touch.
Rama Viswanathan Emeritus Citation
Rama Viswanathan has had a unique impact on Beloit College as both a professor of chemistry and a professor of computer education, combining these roles successfully over more than three decades as he brought rapidly developing new technologies to his students, colleagues, and the campus. From the Commodore Vic20 computers of the 1980s to today’s Raspberry Pi computer-on-a-card, he has challenged his students to use new technology creatively, helped campus colleagues with laboratory and instructional innovation, and collaborated locally and internationally on projects ranging from bioinformatics to low-cost solar-powered “village school” computers for developing countries. In chemistry, his ability to integrate technology into education, from laser spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy to 3D scanners and printers, has kept his students current, and so has his dedication to developing new curricular models and interdisciplinary computer labs for molecular and data visualization and modeling. In addition to teaching, he has served as director of academic computing, helping to guide the campus as it joined the Internet age, and he was recognized with the Phee Boon Kang Prize for Innovation in Technology-based Instruction at Beloit. Rama’s enthusiasm for each new endeavor is infectious and serves as a model for engaged liberal education.
As a symbol of our deep appreciation and abiding respect, we now present him with this scroll and welcome him to the honored ranks of professors emeriti of Beloit College.
Kevin Braun '99
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.S. (chemistry) and B.A. (anthropology) Beloit College
Ph.D. University of Arizona
At Beloit since 2007
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/braun
With the close of another term, I look back on what was an exciting year. In my courses, I have begun to get into a standard rotation, which now includes Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry. This course reconnects me with my classical training in graduate school and has been a joy to teach on a regular basis. I also had the opportunity to serve on the Committee on International Education and learn more about how the study abroad program supports the college’s mission statement in addition to serving as Department Chair while George was on sabbatical. Last but surely not least, this summer my wife, daughter, and I will welcomed the arrival of our newest member, Mina.
Last summer, George and I welcomed nineteen professors from institutions across the United States to our third Chemistry Collaborations, Workshops, and Community of Scholars (cCWCS) program on renewable energy. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the weeklong workshop engages participants in renewable energy-based activities and laboratories. This year’s installment brought faculty from institutions across the United States including Mt. San Antonio College (CA), Thiel College (PA), Xavier University (OH), and Seward County Community College (KS). Hosting the workshop continues to be rewarding and I look forward to teaching it again next summer. Alumni interested in participating in the workshop can find more information on the cCWCS website (www.cCWCS.org).
As noted two years ago, I collaborated in the publication of the ChemConnections Activity Workbook. This year saw me give three talks, two workshops, and a poster in support of the book.
- H. Mernitz, K. L. Braun, S. Anthony, “Using the ChemConnections Workbook.” Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Allendale, MI, Aug 2014. (Two sessions)
- K. Braun, H. Mernitz, S. Anthony. “Teaching general chemistry in context using the ChemConnections Activity Workbook.” 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 2015.
- K. L. Braun, “Would you Like Fries with your Reduced Air Pollution from Automobiles?” Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Allendale, MI, Aug 2014.
- K. L. Braun, H. Mernitz, S. Anthony, “Workbook activities for active and contextual learning in class and lab.” Two-Year College Chemistry Consortium, Menasha, WI, May 2014. (Co-presentation and laboratory demonstration)
- K. Braun, H. Mernitz, S. Anthony. “Teaching general chemistry in context using the ChemConnections Activity Workbook.” 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting (Invited poster at Sci-Mix CHED), Denver, CO, March 2015.
With continued promotion of the workbook, there has been a steady growth in institutions using the resources. Overall, it has been incredibly rewarding to promote many of the great activities, resources, and laboratories developed here at Beloit College.
Last summer and through the school year, I conducted research with Clare Harper ’17 and Maddie Barron ’17 on forensic document analysis using capillary electrophoresis and algae based biodiesel. Results from the research were presented at the spring national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Denver, CO.
- C. Harper, K. Braun. “Forensic analysis of commercial color and black inkjet inks by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.” 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 2015. (Poster)
- M. Barron, K. Braun. “Optimization of algae-derived biodiesel for use in undergraduate chemistry laboratories.” 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 2015. (Poster)
Though the school year, Zach Paquin ‘17 also conducted research in my laboratory on intracellular glutamate detection using capillary electrophoresis.
Clare has continued her research this summer through gracious funding from the Norris Research Fund. We have also expanded in a new direction thus summer and are developing a laboratory on pottery residue analysis for use in my archaeological instrumentation course. Our next step will be to refine the technique such that we can begin analyzing pottery samples from the Logan Museum.
The year, though busy, has been outstanding. With the arrival of our second child, next year should be even more exciting. It is a great time to be a Beloiter!
Ted Gries
Assistant Professor
B.A. Indiana University
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin
At Beloit since 2010
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/gries
Kristin Labby
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.S. Universityof Wisconsin
Ph.D. Northwestern University
At Beloit since 2014
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/braun
I began my first semester at Beloit by teaching one section of CHEM117-General Chemistry, and one section of CHEM230-Organic Chemistry I. I was welcomed by supportive colleagues, helpful TAs and eager students. After attending a summer POGIL workshop, I jumped right in teaching Organic Chemistry alongside Prof. Parmentier using this guided inquiry approach, quite the contrast to my previous experience lecturing organic chemistry to hundreds of students at the University of Michigan! During the Fall, I also learned a lot about active learning pedagogy (as well as climate change!) teaching a section of CHEM117 with Profs. Lisensky and Gries. Highlights certainly include the synthesis of aspirin (and therefore taking 25 NMR spectra of aspirin), synthesis of biodiesel, and the lead project.
With Prof. Lisensky on sabbatical Spring semester, I became the instructor for two sections of CHEM117. I was fortunate to have the aide of Prof. Braun’s 117 wisdom and the assistance of five fabulous and dedicated TAs. With the help of some new colored pens and Trader Joe’s ginger cat cookies, we managed to grade the 50 student lab notebooks each week. We incorporated a new lab exploring the effects of ocean acidification on calcite-based marine life!
In March, I attended the ACS national meeting in Denver, CO to present my research work on Acyl Protein Thioesterases (protein de-palmitoylases) from my post-doctoral work in the Martin Lab at the University of Michigan. During the Spring semester, I also got started with some medicinal chemistry research work (and a journal club!) in the area of antibiotic resistance with three Beloit biochemistry majors. We are working to synthesize potential inhibitors of AAC(6’)-Ib, a bacterial enzyme that contributes to resistance of aminoglycoside antibiotics. My work in this area will continue at Beloit during the summer of 2015 with the BioMed Scholars Research Program.
George Lisensky
Professor and Chair
B.A. Earlham College
Ph.D. California Institute of Technology
At Beloit since 1980
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/lisensky
In the fall of 2014 George taught Solid State Chemistry (250) and Chemistry 117. He again organized Beloit’s annual fall International Student Symposium. He participated in Masterwork’s Chorus, and was a member of the North Atlantic Music Ensemble.
In the spring of 2015 George was on sabbatical in the University of Lund, Sweden, working with Dr. Ebbe Nordlander (Beloit, ’84), doing electrochemical analyses of proton reduction catalysts for hydrogen production and teaching Scientific Glassblowing. He sang in several choirs, including at Lund Cathedral that was built in the 1100s.
- Meetings
- Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), June 22-27, 2014, Grand Valley College, Michigan
- Midwest Association of Chemistry Teachers at Liberal Arts Colleges (MACTLAC), November 25, 2014, Alverno College, Wisconsin
- Nanoscale Science and Engineering Conference, December 11-12, 2014, Washington, DC
- Nordic Catalysis Conference, March 11, 2015, Lund, Sweden
- Swedish Chemical Society inorganic chemistry symposium (Oorgandagarna), June 15-17, Visby, Sweden
- Talks and Workshops
- At the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Grand Valley College, Michigan, June 22-27, 2014, George presented a workshop on “Hands on Models for Solids” that featured several model kits he developed. He also organized a symposium reflecting back on 20 years of Chemlinks and presented a talk on “Solids in the Foundation: Blu-Ray to Lighting.”
- “Nanoscale Video Lab Manual” poster presentation at the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Conference, December 11-12, 2014, Washington DC
- “New Teaching Experiments for Inorganic Chemistry,” Oorgandagarna Conference, June 15-17, Visby, Sweden
- We continue to host NSF-funded week-long workshops for chemistry faculty from around the country to come to Beloit and learn how we teach. In 2014 the subject was renewable energy and in 2015 the subject was materials science and nanochemistry.
- Publications
- Web of Science shows 1,914 publications cite George’s published papers (February 2015).
- Mainak Mitra, Hassan Nimir, Serhiy Demeshko, Matti Haukka, Julio Lloret-Fillol, Franc Meyer, Albert Shteinman, Wesley Browne, David Hrovat, Michael Richmond, Miquel Costas, Ebbe Nordlander, Satish Bhat, George Lisensky, Sergey Malinkin, “Non-heme Fe(IV) Oxo Complexes of Two New Pentadentate Ligands and their Hydrogen- and Oxygen-Atom Transfer Reactions,” accepted for publication in Inorganic Chemistry.
- Erik Ekengard, Lotta Glans, Irwin Cassells, Thibault Fogeron, Preshendren Govender, Tameryn Stringer, Prinessa Chellan, George Lisensky, William H. Hersh, Isa Doverbratt, Sven Lidin, Carmen de Kock, Peter J. Smith, Gregory S. Smith, Ebbe Nordlander, “Antimalarial activity of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene complexes with mono- and bidentate chloroquine analogue ligands,” submitted to Dalton Transactions.
Laura E. Parmentier
Professor
B.S. Northland College
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin - Madison
At Beloit since 1991
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/parmentier
Brock Spencer
Kohnstamm Professor of Chemistry
B.A. Carleton College
Ph. D. Univ. California-Berkeley
At Beloit since 1965
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes/spencer
Sarah Stariha’12 gave a seminar “Non-PGM Membrane Electrode Assemblies for PEMFCs: Optimization for Performance”.
Alicia Hoffman, Cate Rubin, Matt Sherrell, Rachel Mackenzie, Ryan Daly, Estiaque Shourov, and George Lisensky attended talks at the International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, October 9.
Larkin Miers, Zachary Paquin, Megan Young, Li Wan, Xinchen (Alison) Deng and George Lisensky did Materials Science demonstrations at the Wisconsin Science Festival, University of Wisconsin Madison, on October 17.
Becky Clow, Dominic Dill, Ted Gries, Willow Macy, Rachel Monroe, Jaili Shi, and Brock Spencer visited the Alliant Energy gas-fired combined-cycle electric generating plant north of Beloit on October 23.
FALL
| 117 | Chemistry (3 sections) | 64 |
| 225 | Scanning and Probe Microscopies | 13 |
| 230 | Organic Chemistry I (2 sections and 3 labs) | 48 |
| 245 | Molecular Modeling, Visualization and Computational Chemistry | 10 |
| 250 | Solid State Chemistry | 10 |
| 300 | DNA and Protein Biochemistry | 10 |
| 375 | Advanced Topics: Medicinal Chemistry | 10 |
| 380 | Chemistry Seminar | 9 |
| 381 | Chemistry Seminar (L2) | 2 |
| 385 | Senior Thesis | 9 |
| 390 | Special Projects (2 sections) | 7 |
| 395 | Teaching Assistant | 1 |
| Total | 193 |
SPRING
| 117 | Chemistry (2 sections) | 49 |
| 220 | Environmental, Analytical, & Geochemistry (1 section & 2 labs) | 38 |
| 235 | Organic Chemistry II (1 section & 2 labs) | 34 |
| 240 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 18 |
| 260 | Nutrition & Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms | 24 |
| 280 | Professional Tools for Scientific Careers | 15 |
| 370 | Advanced Topics: Mining in Wisconsin | 16 |
| 380 | Chemistry Seminar | 12 |
| 381 | Chemistry Seminar (L2) | 2 |
| 385 | Senior Thesis | 7 |
| 390 | Special Projects | 2 |
| 395 | Teaching Assistant | 4 |
| Total | 221 |
DECLARED MAJORS IN
CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Spring 2015
| Mohammed | Abbed | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| April | Apfelbaum | 2017 |
Chemistry minor |
| Madeline | Barron | 2017 |
Chemistry minor |
| Trina | Capelli | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Meghan | Caves | 2016 |
Chemistry minor |
| Yuwei | Chen | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Zachary | Cole | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Chelsea | Cribben | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| William | Dace | 2017 |
Chemistry |
| Ryan | Daly | 2016 |
Chemistry |
| Noah | Forrey | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Christopher | Freeman | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| Daniel | Freitag | 2017 |
Chemistry |
| Nathaniel | Froikin | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| Martin | Garcia | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Benjamin | Gentile | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| George | Gray | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Heather | Gustat | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Han | Han | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Clare | Harper | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Madeleine | Hart | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Joseph | Hunhoff | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Scott | Jones | 2017 |
Chemistry |
| Dennis | Kariuki | 2016 |
Chemistry |
| Lincoln | Kavinsky | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Emma | Koenig | 2016 |
Chemistry |
| Carolyn | Kramer | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| David | Lafayette | 2017 |
Applied Chemistry |
| Alex | LeRoy | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Geniene | Lettman | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Eden | Maack | 2015 |
Chemistry |
| Jacob | Manthe | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Megan | McCabe | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Kina | McCombs | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| Kathleen | McKenna | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Leah | Mellett | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| Larkin | Miers | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Cheyenne | Moffatt | 2017 |
Chemistry minor |
| Kathryn | Morrice | 2018 |
Biochemistry |
| Shaunte | Moss | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Timon | Mueller | 2016 |
Chemistry |
| Xhild | Ndoci | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Weltha | Ondik | 2017 |
Chemistry |
| Zachary | Paquin | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Andreina | Patilliet | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Tyler | Peacock | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Riley | Pearson | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Grace | Reynolds | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Jacob | Rieker | 2018 |
Biological Chemistry |
| Brandon | Russom | 2017 |
Chemistry minor |
| Brandon | Seiler | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Mithil | Shah | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Jiali | Shi | 2016 |
Applied Chemistry |
| Miranda | Simes | 2017 |
Biochemistry |
| Chandler | Stevenson | 2016 |
Biological Chemistry |
| Preston | Stover | 2018 |
Chemistry |
| Lukeson | Versulien | 2016 |
Biological Chemistry |
| Danni | Zhu | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| Andrew | Zielonka | 2016 |
Biochemistry |
| SUMMA CUM LAUDE | Alicia Hoffman Namoonga Mantina Joshua Smith Alexa Sughroue |
| MAGNA CUM LAUDE | Xinchen (Alison) Deng Eden Maack Hannah Richter Megan Young |
| CUM LAUDE | Donald Dominic Dill Michael Molway Johnson Saba Collin Spencer |
| DEPARTMENTAL HONORS | Xinchen (Alison) Deng - Applied Chemistry, Physics Alicia Hoffman - Chemistry, Anthropology Namoonga Mantina - Health & Society Michael Molway - Applied Chemistry Hannah Richter - Biochemistry Johnson Saba - Biochemistry Joshua Smith - Biochemistry Collin Spencer - Psychology Alexa Sughroue - Biochemistry Megan Young - Biochemistry |
| Mortar Board | Namoonga Mantina Hannah Richter Joshua Smith Collin Spencer Alexa Sughroue |
| Phi Beta Kappa | Alicia Hoffman Joshua Smith Alexa Sughroue |
| Psi Chi | Collin Spencer |
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AWARD,
sponsored by the Division of Analytical Chemistry, recognizes a student who displays an aptitude for analytical chemistry.
Jian “Alex” Cheong’17
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry recognizes outstanding work in the introductory organic chemistry course.
David Lafayette’17
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
sponsored by the Division of Inorganic Chemistry, recognizes undergraduate achievement in inorganic chemistry.
Emma Koenig’16
FIRST YEAR CHEMISTRY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
recognizes outstanding work by a first-year student.
Kendra Weinrich’18
EDWARD C. FULLER AWARD in CHEMICAL EDUCATION
was established by the majors of the Class of 1982 in honor of Professor Fuller and is given to a junior or senior who has done outstanding work as a teaching assistant.
Alicia Hoffman’15
EDWARD STEVENS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP for research supplies.
Johnson Saba’15
JOHN H. NAIR AWARD
honors an alumnus (Class of 1915) and provides membership in an appropriate professional society.
Alicia Hoffman’15, Michael Molway’15, Hannah Richter’15, Johson Saba’15, Alexa Sughroe’15, Megan Young’15, and Xinxhen (Alison) Deng’15
WILLIAM J. TRAUTMANN ENDOWED PRIZE IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY recognizes chemistry students for outstanding work in physical chemistry courses.
Dominic Dill’15 and Megan McCabe’16
Other Awards
ANN M. VERVILLE SCHOLAR'S AWARD in Biology
presented to an upper class biology major chosen by the biology department faculty as the outstanding student of the year.
Alexa Sughroue’15
ELIZABETH W. SOUTER AWARD recognizes outstanding scholarship and the potential for research in Biology.
Meagn Young’15
J. CARL WELTY HONOR AWARD in BIOLOGY awarded to students whose services or accomplishments most enhance the department.
Joshua Smith’15
FERWERDA MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS are awarded to science majors who have established a record of academic excellence in their chosen field.
Emma Koenig’16, Carolyn Kramer’16, David Lafayette’17, Zach Paquin’17
MARTHA PETERSON PRIZE awarded to a student who best exemplifies Beloit’s liberal arts traditions.
Namoonga Mantina’15
JAMES E. LOCKWOOD ENDOWED ANTHROPOLOGY PRIZE awarded to an outstanding student in anthropology.
Alicia Hoffman’15
GERTRUDE E. SWEET presented to a biology student who is committed to serving others and demonstrates leadership in confronting societal issues related to the life sciences.
Joshua Smith’15
CLAUDETTE CUMMINGS PRIZE in COMMUNITY HEALTH awarded to an outstanding student with a major or minor in health and society who is deemed likely to contribute to community public health and social justice.
Namoonga Mantina’15
BARBARA & JEFFREY BARTLETT PRIZE in PHILOSOHY recognizes superior scholarship in philosophy.
Hannah Richter’15
FLORENCE YATES SCOBIE ENDOWED PRIZE awarded to one or more senior class members of Theta Pi Gamma who have demonstrated scholarship and active participation in both the campus community and the sorority.
Namoonga Mantina’15
WEISSBERG HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP awarded TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE, IN THEIR TIME AT Beloit College, demonstrated a commitment to human rights and international understanding.
Namoonga Mantina’15
STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
2014 Midstates Consortium for Math and Science
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science
October 31-November 1, 2014 at Washington University
April Apfelbaum’17 – “Some FPGS Isoforms are Necessary for the Plant Immune Response” – based on work done at Beloit College with Amy Briggs
Biological Sciences & Psychology
November 7-8, 2014 at the University of Chicago
April Apfelbaum’17 – “Some FPGS Isoforms are Necessary for the Plant Immune Response” – based on work done at Beloit College with Amy Briggs
Beloit College 13th International Symposium
November 19, 2014
American Chemical Society National Meeting
Denver, Colorado – March 21-25, 2105
Maddie Barron‘17 – “Forensic analysis of commercial color and black inkjet inks by micellar electrokenetic chromatography,” based on work done at Beloit College with Kevin Braun
Clare Harper‘17 – “Forensic analysis of commercial color and black inkjet inks by micellar electrokenetic chromatography,” based on work done at Beloit College with Kevin Braun
Beloit College 39th Annual Student Symposium
April 16, 2015
April Apfelbaum’17 – “Investigating the Role of FPGS on the Plan Immune System” – Sponsor: Amy Briggs
Maddie Barron’17 and Clare Harper’17 – “Forensic Document Analysis of Pen Inks Utilizing Capillary Electrophoresis” – Sponsor: Kevin Braun
Sam Gartzman’16 – “Ocean Acidification: Carbon Dioxide Exchange in New Zealand Waters” – Sponsor: Kevin Braun
Emma Koenig’16 – “Synthesis of a Diphenylpiperidone Analogue Series for Improved Activity in Visceral Leishmaniasis” – Sponsor: Kevin Braun
Carolyn Kramer’16 – “Finding Protein Interactions of PIPKIg in the Basal Body of Primary Cilia” – Sponsor: Ted Gries
Zach Paquin’17 – “The Impact of Family Discovery Night on the Beloit Community and College Campus” – Sponsor: Katie Johnson
Joshua Smith’15 – “Analysis of Women in Science at a Liberal Arts Institution” – Sponsor: Kathleen Greene
Collin Spencer’15 – “Perceptual Frameshift: An Exploration of the Perceptual Effects of “Miracle Fruit’” – Sponsor: Alexis Grosofsky
Alexa Sughroue’15 – “Invasive Ability of Breast Cancer Cells is Enhanced by Decreased SIN3A Expression” – Sponsors: Kevin Braun and Yaffa Grossman
Megan Young’15 – “Studying Hemoglobin as a Model Protein in Biochemistry” – Sponsor: Ted Gries
Larkin Miers’17 with Ousia Whitaker-DeVault’15, Siiri Rikala’15, Emma Peterson’18, Yaodan Zhang’18, Maggie Cress’15, Claire Metzli Ramos’18, Fabiola Candela Hernandez’16, and Gariel Schaffner’18 – “Borderlands: Moments of Reflection on the No More Deaths Spring Break Trip” – Sponsor: Carol Wickersham
The Beloit Biologist, Volume 34, 2015
Hannah J. Richter’15 – “Mechanism by Which Statin Use Lowers Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Still Unknown”
Joshua A. Smith’15, April A. Apfelbaum’17, and Amy G. Briggs – “FPGS1 is Required for Elicitation of an Effective Immune Response in Arabidopsis Thaliana”
Megan K. M. Young’15 and Ted Gries – “A New Apparatus for Examining the Hill and Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) Models for Hemoglobin Cooperative Binding”
Hannah Richter’15 has accepted admission to the University of Pennsylvania's graduate program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and started June 1st.
Emma Koenig’16 set a new Beloit College record in the women’s outdoor 5000 meter run at the season-opening Knox College Outdoor Open last Saturday. Her time of 18:13.72 erased the previous Beloit record of 18:27.72 set in 1999.
Among those selected to participate in the 2015 Beloit Biomedical Scholar Program are Madeline Barron’17, George Gray’16, and Miranda Simes’17.Among those selected to participate in the 2015 Sustainability Fellows Program are Sam Gartzman’16 and Emily Vogelhuber’16.
Biochemistry and Chemistry Majors and Minors - CLASS OF 2015
Michelle Álvarez-Chávez – Chicago, Illinois
Biochemistry Major
Spanish Major
History Minor
Xinchen (Alison) Deng – Guiyang, China
Applied Chemistry Major
Physics Major
History Minor
Xinchen has always been in love in science, and she wanted to pursue a career in science and use her knowledge of science to do something beneficial to more people. She greatly enjoyed chemistry and physics classes at Beloit, and she eventually completed two majors in Applied Chemistry and Physics. Xinchen also completed two research internships, one at Duke University and the other at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She loved all the friends she made in college, including classmates, faculty, and community members. After finishing an Honors Term, she is headed to a graduate program in Medical Physics. The program will be held partially in China, and partially at Duke University in the US. She is very excited to start the new chapter of her life!
Donald Dominic Dill – Rockport, Maine
Applied Chemistry Major
Physics Major
Alex Hade – Kenosha, Wisconsin
Biochemistry Major
Alicia Hoffman – Cumberland, Maine
Chemistry Major
Anthropology Major
Lizzie Jenkins - Beloit, Wisconsin
Applied Chemistry Major
English Minor
As a freshman at Beloit, Lizzie was planning to be an English major. In the spring, she took Chem 117 on a whim, and found herself balancing oxygen combustion reactions in the margins of her notebook during a poetry class. It was then Lizzie decided to declare a major in Chemistry (while maintaining her English interests by continuing English classes and ultimately declaring it her minor.) During her time at Beloit, Lizzie was an active member of Beloit Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (BSFFA), Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, and spent two semesters as a DJ for WBCR. Her thesis is entitled "Revisiting SSRIs and the Biochemical Model of Depression" using the psychology aspect of her applied chemistry major. After spending this, her fifth summer, at Girl Scout camp in Iowa, she hopes to find a job in a laboratory setting for organic synthesis.
Sofia Jurado – Las Vegas, Nevada
Chemistry Major
Gordon Andrew Kane – Oxford, Ohio
Biochemistry Major
William Kubetin – Takoma Park, Maryland
Biochemistry Major
Eden Maack – Wichita, Kansas
Chemistry Major
Eden knew that she loved chemistry from her first semester of chemistry class in high school. At Beloit College, she tried several other fields, but came right back to chemistry. In the summer of 2014, she worked in a biochemistry lab at Wichita State University with Professor Jim Bann on an organic synthesis of 3-fluoroproline for use in fluorine NMR of an anthrax toxin protein. There, Eden decided that she wanted to do further work in protein biochemistry and organic synthesis. In fall of 2014, she studied abroad in Lancaster, England at Lancaster University. She realized that she could graduate a semester early in December 2015 and resolved to do so. The next semester, Eden became a TA in biometrics for Yaffa Grossman. During her first three years at Beloit, Eden was a tutor with the Writing Center and also tutored Chem 117, Chem 230, and Econ 199. Eden will graduate in December 2015 after one more semester at Beloit College. Afterward, she hopes to find a semester long internship and then attend a PhD program in biochemistry. She hopes to have a career teaching undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry.
Namoonga Mantina – Lusaka, Zambia
Health and Society Major
Chemistry Minor
Biology Minor
Michael Mollway – Johnsburg, Illinois
Applied Chemistry Major
Physics Major
Spencer Moore – Greencastle, Indiana
Biochemistry Major
Cate Rubin – Tucson, Arizona
Chemistry Major
Classical Civilization Minor
Hannah Joy Richter - Indianapolis, Indiana
Biochemistry Major
Philosophy Major
Hannah has always had a variety of academic and extracurricular interests; Beloit allowed her to both find a path and expand her horizons as a double major in Biochemistry and Philosophy. She was a member of the Swimming & Diving Team all four years (minus a semester abroad at University College London). She held executive positions in student government and clubs. Hannah also lifeguarded; tutored Organic and Analytical Chemistry; TA'd for Genetics and Logic; and helped with GWIS and Family Discovery Night. Summer 2012 was spent at Northwestern working in the Disterhoft lab with alumna Dina Simkin, where she found a passion for scientific research. She further pursued this interest through the Jackson Laboratory's Summer Student Program in summer 2014, working in the Howell lab. In this thread, Hannah will be starting the University of Pennsylvania's Ph.D. program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics just weeks after graduation. She hopes to continue her love of philosophy through reading, conversation, and classes in Penn's Bioethics program.
Johnson (Jason) Saba – Chicago, IL
Biochemistry Major
Jason came to Beloit with a strong interest in biology. In his time here, he had significant research experience as a Biomedical Research Scholar and a McNair Scholar. As a Biomedical Research Scholar in the summer of 2013, he worked at Rush University Medical Hospital under Dr. Zloza investigating murine tumor immunology. His contribution there resulted in a co-authorship on a published poster in the Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. He presented his research at the Midstates Science and Math Consortium Undergraduate Research Symposium in the fall of 2013. As a McNair scholar in the following summer, Jason conducted enzyme kinetics research at Beloit College under Professor Ted Gries. Results were presented at 2014 Beloit College Summer Symposium. He continued his research with Ted during the 2014-2015 academic year. Jason also showed a heavy interest in chemistry, eventually taking all but two major courses offered by the department. In addition, he served as a TA for Nutrition & Metabolism and for DNA & Protein Biochemistry. Jason’s capstone thesis was titled, “The Various Roles of Divalent Cations in the Mechanism of DNA Polymerase I from Escherichia Coli”. He certainly has developed a passion for teaching and for biochemistry. Jason is currently searching for a research assistant position and hopes to enter a PhD program in the future to pursue a career as a professor.
Matthew Sherrell – Ridgewood, New Jersey
Chemistry Major
Physics Major
Joshua Smith- Downers Grove, IL
Biochemistry Major
Science Education Minor
Josh has always loved science, teaching, and the mashing of these two passions. He entered Beloit hoping to become a HS science teacher, but now leaves to pursue a career in medicine. A four-year letter winner in Cross Country and Track/Field, as well as a two-year captain for both teams, Josh enjoyed every run that was given to him. He was quick to declare a Biochemistry major, and later declared a self-designed minor in Science Education in his junior year. He began conducting research his sophomore year with Demetrius Gravis on chemotherapeutic reagents, and this continued into the 2013 summer when he performed research with Amy Briggs on innate plant immune system through the Biomedical Scholars program. This plant-based research continued for the remainder of Josh's time at Beloit, culminating in two research symposia and a thesis in the Beloit Biologist, as well as a paper published in BURJ. Josh has been a teaching assistant, tutor, resident assistant, tour guide, and president of the senior honor society during his time at Beloit. He looks forward to medical school in the fall, always fondly remembering his time at Beloit.
Collin Spencer – Libertyville, Illinois
Psychology Major
Biochemistry Major
Alexa Sughroue – Roscoe, Illinois
Biochemistry Major
Spanish Major
Health and Society Minor
Thomas Edward Szamocki – Green Bay, Wisconsin
Biochemistry Major
Megan Young – Brattleboro, Vermont
Biochemistry Major
Haoda Zhong – Beijing, China
Biochemistry Major
Economics Major
Leah Kelly’09 will be defending her dissertation, Electronic Structure and Dynamics at Organic Semiconductor/ Inorganic Semiconductor Interfaces, at the University of Arizona in July.
Ben Dahl’11 will be starting Law school at George Washington University in the Fall.
Elise Wall’11 has been accepted into the Pollution Prevention and Remediation master's program at University of California–Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Sciences and Management. She is currently a project manager with Pace Analytical in Minneapolis, supervising client projects in Environmental Health and Safety.
Kiera Hayes’12 has been accepted into medical school at the University of Rochester. She recently completed her MSc degree in the Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she worked in London and India on a project to evaluate new diagnostic tests for visceral leishmaniasis.
Aaron Joiner’12 has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for 2015. These are highly competitive fellowships, with more than 16,000 applicants for 2,000 fellowships this year. Aaron is in the Biochemistry Ph.D. program at Cornell University.
James Lazarcik’14 is working on a Masters in Earth Sciences at the University of New Hampshire. His research focuses on the how the surface Albedo of the snowpack changes with time.
Joshua Litofsky’14 and Rama Viswanathan have had an article published in the Journal of Chemical Education, “Introduction to Computational Chemistry: Teaching Hückel Molecular Orbital Theory Using an Excel Workbook for Matrix Diagonalization,” in the February 2015 issue (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed500376q).
Joe Poshepny’14 has begun a new position at Sigma-Aldrich in Madison.
Our alumni email network has been tremendously helpful to our present students for finding mentors, summer research positions, and post-graduate opportunities. The Beloit College Alumni office now maintains an email directory that can be accessed at https://www.beloit.edu/alumni/. Please send email addresses and changes to alumni@beloit.edu.
Chemistry faculty
braunk@beloit.edu
griest@beloit.edu
labbyk@beloit.edu
lisensky@beloit.edu
parmentr@beloit.edu
spencer@beloit.edu
Department Web page
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/classes
(Previous issues of the Annual Newsletter dating back to 1993 are available on-line via the home page!)
ALUMNI, PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH!! Please send your news and notes to any of the Chemistry faculty.