Tatiana Brinzari Receives ISMMM Poster Prize

March 31, 2011 by newframe

Chemistry Graduate Student Tatiana Brinzari (picture left) from Dr. Musfeldt’s group received a poster award during International School & Symposium on Multifunctional Molecule-based Materials (ISMMM) held in Argonne National Laboratory from March 13 to 18, 2011.

Brinzari’s winning poster “Magneto-elastic coupling in molecular-based materials: M[N(CN)₂]₂ (M = Mn, Co) and [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]₃[Cr(CN)₆]” discussed evidence of a strong relationship between crystal structure and magnetic properties in molecular frameworks, where a flexible metal local environment is ready to accommodate a new magnetic state. Jia Liu (picture right) from North Carolina State University is a coauthor on this project and performed electronic structure calculations.

Tatiana valued the opportunity of attending the symposium. “It provided me with unique opportunity to listen to tutorials and research talks and to communicate and discuss science with leading researchers from over the world in the field of molecule-based materials”, she said.

Tatiana also felt hornored winning this prize and would like to thank her advisor, “I was pleased to present our research and receive recognition of its importance and originality…Jan (Dr. Musfeldt) supports me and helps me in everything I do”.

Born and grown up in Chisinau, Moldova, Tatiana received her undergraduate degree of inorganic chemistry from Moldova State University (MSU) in 2005. Upon obtaining her master’s degree in chemistry from MSU, Tatiana joined Dr. Musfeldt’s group in 2007. Since then, her research focused on Magneto-infrared and magneto-optical spectroscopy of multifunctional molecule-based materials and novel oxides.

Originally held in Europe and Japan, the ISMMM is designed to  teach, train, and encourage young researchers and students with interest in crystalline electronic materials. The symposium consists of conference-style talks highlighting research in contemporary scientific disciplines including chemistry, physics, theory and materials science. It also provides about ten tutorial talks by experts in the field.

Professor Mays Receives Herman Mark Senior Scholar Award

March 21, 2011 by newframe

Professor Jimmy Mays is selected as one of the three 2011 recipients of the Herman F. Mark Scholar Awards of the Polymer Chemistry Division of ACS. The Awards will be given during 2011 ACS Annual Meeting in Denver, CO this August.

The Awards were established in 2006 and are sponsored by Elsevier, the publishers of the journal Polymer. It is founded to recognize excellence in basic or applied research and leadership in polymer science by scientists of all ages. The awards are usually presented biennially at the Fall meeting of the Polymer Chemistry Division.

Professor Mays is internationally recognized as a leader in synthesis of polymers and copolymers having tailored architectures. He is presently involved in synthesis of tailored polymers for such diverse applications as new and improved rubbers, low cost fuel cell membranes, and improved polymer-based batteries.

Professor Mays received his B.S. degree in polymer science from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Ph.D. degree in polymer science at the University of Akron. He then worked in industry for five years with Hercules, Inc., prior to joining the chemistry faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Mays moved to Tennessee in 2002 to accept a joint appointment at the University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“The late Herman Mark was one of the pioneers of polymer science, and it is a great honor to receive this prestigious award that bears his name.” While feeling hornored to be given this award, Professor Mays expressed his gratitude towards those whom he has collaborated and worked with, “In reality this award does not so much recognize my personal contributions to polymer science as it recognizes those of the numerous students, postdocs, and collaborators that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. I also thank Professor Mark Dadmun for nominating me for this award”.

The award consists of a plaque and an honorarium of $1000, which may be used to support travel expenses to the ACS Meeting including the Herman F. Mark Symposium, where each Mark Scholar is expected to present a lecture.

Michael Peretich Gives Seminar Talk at JMU

March 1, 2011 by newframe

Chemistry Graduate Student Michael Peretich from Dr. Barnes‘ group was invited to give a seminar talk at James Madison University (JMU), his Alma Mater, on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.

Michael’s talk “Targeted Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Nanostructured, Single-Site, Heterogeneous Catalysts Containing Isolated W(VI) or Zr(IV) Centers” discussed one challenge facing the catalysis community — the design and controlled synthesis of specific catalytically active sites. Peretich’s work focuses on the targeted synthesis and characterization of two types of materials: (1) nanostructured silicate supports and (2) nanostructured, single site, heterogeneous catalysts that contain isolated W(VI) or Zr(IV) centers.

Hosted as part of JMU’s regular semimar series, Michael’s talk was attended by approximately 60 people including JMU Chemistry faculty, the dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, and JMU Chemistry majors.

Michael was excited to be invited back to his Alma Mater, “I set a goal when I was an undergraduate at JMU that I would give a seminar at JMU towards the end of my graduate studies” said Michael. He also considered this a good opportunity to prepare for future job interviews. “Most jobs require each candidate to give a seminar during the interview process, so I used this opportunity to refine my presentation.  It also helped me organize parts of my dissertation, which I’m in the process of writing”.

Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Michael graduated from Stafford Senior High School in 2002 and completed his B.S. in Chemistry (ACS certified) and Mathematics from JMU in 2006. His honor thesis was selected as one of the top honors theses at JMU and received the Phi Beta Kappa Award for Outstanding Honors Project.  Prior to joining Dr. Barnes’ group in 2006, Michael completed a summer research internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee in 2004, and worked with Dr. R. Gregory Downing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) the following summer. At UT, Michael conducted research under the direction of Prof. Craig Barnes, studying the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of nanostructured, single site, heterogeneous catalysts and nanostructured supports.

This semester, Michael successfully defended his dissertation “Targeted Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Silicate Building Block Supports and Heterogeneous Catalysts with Tungsten(VI) or Zirconium(IV) Centers”.

After graduation, Michael will be working as a chemist in the Fuels and Lubricants Chemistry Lab, a civilian position with the United States Navy, specifically the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), in Patuxent River, MD.