Dr. Michael Best selected as Quest Scholar of the Week

June 4, 2010 by chemweb

Michael Best, an assistant professor of organic chemistry, recently received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation. The award includes a 5-year, $580,000 grant to support his laboratory research on the molecular mechanisms by which proteins bind to lipids presented on the surfaces of cellular membranes. Such events control many biological processes and are aberrant in numerous disease states, including cancer. Better understanding of these interactions and the defects associated with them is important to determining the underlying causes of diseases.

Best’s research involves synthesizing derivatives corresponding to important lipids and applying them as probes so the details of cell surface protein binding events can be characterized at the molecular level. The CAREER Award is the NSF’s most prestigious award for young faculty members early in their careers.

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Dr. George Schweitzer publishes book “The Aqueous Chemistry of the Elements”

June 2, 2010 by chemweb

Elements

Co-Author: George K. Schweitzer
Co-Author info: Professor of Chemistry
Publication Date: January 2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Synopsis: Most fields of science, applied science, engineering, and technology deal with solutions in water. This volume is a comprehensive treatment of the aqueous solution chemistry of all the elements. The information on each element is centered around an E-pH diagram which is a novel aid to understanding. The contents are especially pertinent to agriculture, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biology, biomedical science and engineering, chemical engineering, geochemistry, inorganic chemistry, environmental science and engineering, food science, materials science, mining engineering, metallurgy, nuclear science and engineering, nutrition, plant science, safety, and toxicology.