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August 2013

Archives for August 2013

Recent Grad Publishes Two Papers in PRL

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April 2013, Professor Musfeldt (second from left)'s group in front of 45T Hybrid Magnet System they used in research. Tatiana Brinzari (second from right). Their host/collaborator in NHMFL: Steve McGill (third from right).

April 2013, Professor Musfeldt (second from left)’s group in front of 45T Hybrid Magnet System they used in research. Tatiana Brinzari (second from right). Their host/collaborator in NHMFL: Steve McGill (third from right).

Tatiana Brinzari, a recent Ph. D. graduate from Professor Musfeldt’s group, published two papers Quantum critical transition amplifies magnetoelastic coupling in Mn[N(CN)2]2 and Electron-phonon and magnetoelastic interactions in ferromagnetic Co[N(CN)2]2 in Phys. Rev. Lett (PRL) that emanate from her thesis work.

Brinzari grew up in Chisinau, Moldova and 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-optical spectroscopy of multifunctional molecule-based materials and novel oxides. Brinzari published a dozen papers in journals such as PRL, Inorg. Chem, and Phys. Rev. B during her time at UT.

Professor Musfeldt, Brinzari’s mentor, enjoyed working with her. “Tanea is a very gifted young lady, and it has been my pleasure to work with her during her PhD. These publications in PRL are very much deserved.” said Musfeldt.

Graduated with a Ph.D. degree last December, Brinzari is now a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Summer of science: Harrison, Tenn., teen one of 8 selected for prestigious program at UT

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Harrison, Tenn., teen one of 8 selected for prestigious program at UTBy Dylan Platz (2013 REU participant)

Humming hymns and talking himself, Brandon Hambrick lets his photographic memory take him step by step through a process known as polymerization.

In the science experiment, the 18-year-old from the Harrison area is creating a chain of large molecules by combining smaller ones — kind of like linking many small Legos to create a big one.

Unlike most students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Hambrick is still on campus for the summer, one of eight students selected by the school for this year’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program in chemistry, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. Having just finished his freshman year at UT, he’s the youngest student selected for this year’s program, at least 3 years younger than almost every other participant.

Read full article here

Professors Long and Best Received eVOL10 Service Awards

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Professors Michael Best (first from left) and Brian Long (first from right) with eVOL10 students at awards ceremony

Professors Michael Best (first from left) and Brian Long (first from right) with eVOL10 students at awards ceremony

Chemistry Professors Brian Long and Michael Best recently received Service Awards from the College of Engineering for their participation in the Engineering Volunteers for Tenth Graders (eVOL10) Program 2013, a program designed to introduce tenth graders to applied sciences and raise their awareness of careers in STEM disciplines including chemistry and engineering.

A total of 32 students participated in this year’s program. Long and Best provided the participating students Chemistry 101 session, graduate student support, instruction, and walked them through Chemical Car Design Projects. For the project, students designed and built their own vehicles that were propelled through the combination of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid. A competition was held at the end of the program, and impressive distances of travel above 35 feet were attained  by student groups. In the program feedback survey, all of the students considered the experience was “fun” and “rewarding”.

Professor Brian Long mentoring students during Chemical Car Design Project

Professor Brian Long mentoring students during Chemical Car Design Project

Evolved from a previous program: Introduction of Sophomores To Engineering Principles (INSTEP), eVOL10 is a one-week summer program started in 2013. It introduces participants to applied sciences and ACT math preparation, and provides opportunities for them to compete in challenges involving the interplay between chemistry and engineering, and tour an engineering industrial plant. The program was provided to students at no major cost and is projected to continue in future years.

Chemistry BoV Chair is Official Candidate for ACS President-Elect

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Diane SchmidtDr. Diane Grob Schmidt, an UT Chemistry alumna and the Chair of the Chemistry Department Board of Visitors, is offically entered as a Candidate for the American Chemical Society President-Elect, 2014.

With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society, and a non-profit organization, whose members represent professional at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry and sciences that involve chemistry. Since 1876, over 120 individuals have been identified with the title of President of the ACS.

Currently a Section Head in R&D at The Procter & Gamble Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, Schmidt received the prestigious ACS Henry Hill Award in 2012, and has been serving an active leadership role in ACS for over twenty years. She has chaired or served on more than 20 ACS task forces and working groups that have helped advance the profession. In addition she was elected to the ACS Board of Directors [2002-2010] and the ACS Board Executive Committee.Schmidt currently serves as a Director-at-Large of the Board of Directors at the Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

Schmidt’s name will appear on the fall ballot. You can look for her Candidate statement in the Sept. 16 issue of C&EN. The ballots will be mailed to ACS members on Oct. 4. Please vote for a “Vol Chemist”!