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Arlene Garrison Named 2014 ACS Fellow

July 15, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Dr. Arlene Garrison, an alumna and a member of Board of Visitors of the department of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, was named 2014 American Chemical Society Fellow along with other 98 members.

Garrison received her Bachelor’s degree in college scholars in 1975 and earned her Ph.D. in chemistry in 1981 both from UTK. In her 40 years of experiences as a scientist and educator, Garrison served as the associate vice president of research at UT, a program director for the National Science Foundation assigned through an interagency agreement with UT, and was appointed as the vice president of university partnerships at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) in May, 2010.

View full press release on ORAU web site

Cameron Lee Received TN-SCORE Best Poster Award

July 3, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Cameron Lee, a fourth year graduate student in Dadmun’s group, received one of three best poster awards from the annual TN-SCORE conference for his titled work “Conditions for the Formation of P3HT Organogel During Spin-Coating: Tuning Electrical Properties of Thin Films.” Lee was presented the award along with a $1000 travel stipend.

Lee’s poster highlighted research and results from a novel static light scattering instrument used to monitor the in situ onset and morphological evolution of a low bandgap, conjugated polymer used in organic photovoltaics and organic electronics, poly(3-hexylthiophene), during spin coating. Using this novel apparatus, specific processing conditions, such as solvent choice and composition, were correlated to the formation of organogel aggregates, aggregate size, and resultant electronic properties of the final film.

Lee’s research funding comes from TN-SCORE (Tennessee Solar Conversion and Storage using Outreach, Research and Education), a National Science Foundation EPSCoR RII Track I Research Infrastructure award. The program goal is to provide competitive research initiative to smaller undergraduate institutions in the state of Tennessee, but more importantly to provide a culture of collaboration among smaller schools and flagship schools like Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The research is themed around three main thrusts: Advanced Solar Conversion, Devices for Energy Storage and Conversion, and Nanostructures for enhancing Energy Efficiency.

Lee was raised in the rural Appalachian town of Romney, West Virginia, a region known for its apple orchards and rolling hills. He earned his B.S. in chemistry at Wheeling Jesuit University, also receiving scholarship money to compete as a NCAA Division II multi-events athlete on the track and field team. Lee continued his interest in the sport after he joined UT chemistry department in 2010. He is now volunteering on the Vol and Lady Vol track and field team in his spare time. Enjoying all Knoxville has to offer, he has moved out of traditional housing, deciding instead to reside on a houseboat on the Tennessee River. After joining the Dadmun’s Group in 2011, Lee’s research has focused on the structure-property relationships of conjugated polymers for use in organic photovoltaics and electronic devices.

Chemistry Professors Participated in eVOL10 Program

June 13, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Chemistry Professors Michael Best and Brian Long participated in a high school outreach program eVOL10. They mentored students to design, build and test vehicles that were propelled through the combination of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid. The final runs of the cars were held on Thursday, June 12 at the Buehler Hall loading dock at 8:30 am. A total of 32 students participated in this year’s eVOL10 program. 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. This is the second year that Best and Long participated. They both received eVOL10 Service Awards after last year’s program.

Professor Emeritus Lee Magid Became NSSA Fellow

May 30, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Lee Magid, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was selected as one of 2014 Neutron Scattering Society of America Fellows, for her “outstanding leadership in cold neutron research on complex fluids and critical service to the neutron field.”

Magid received her PhD degree in chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1973, and joined the faculty that same year. She retired in 2006.

In her research she studied the structure and dynamics of organized assemblies such as micelles and polyelectrolytes via (among other techniques) small-angle neutron scattering, neutron spin-echo spectroscopy and neutron reflectivity. She served as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Arts and Sciences from 1987 to 1990, and as Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, 1990-91; she was Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Kentucky from 1991 to 1994. She also served as Executive Officer and Science Advisor in the National Science Foundation’s Chemistry Division from 2004 to 2006.

Magid has held several short-term research appointments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zuerich, and the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and chaired the Solid State Sciences Committee of the National Academies/National Research Council. She also led or participated in numerous studies and planning activities for the Spallation Neutron Source and for a planned European spallation source.

Biology Across the Disciplines

May 29, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Researchers interested in systems biology now have a new resource on campus that provides novel bioanalyses. The Biological Mass Spectrometry Center provides state-of-the-art capabilities in metabolomics and lipidomics, which allow simultaneous detection of thousands of metabolites and lipids. This facility engages a number of faculty from the colleges of Arts and Sciences; Engineering; Education, Health, and Human Sciences; and Veterinary Medicine at UT, as well as the UT Institute of Agriculture and the UT Medical Center. Although the center is only a few years old, data generated from this effort has already been incorporated into several successful proposals to the National Science Foundation and has led to joint publications with faculty from the departments of Microbiology; Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Nutrition; Animal Science; and Food Science, as well as the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Shawn Campagna, associate professor of chemistry, directs the program with the assistance of an eight-member advisory council of faculty representatives from the participating units. The center also engages undergraduate junior and senior chemistry majors through mentored research. Currently, the facility employs and provides tuition waivers for two graduate students who help maintain the instrumentation and execute experiments. The center also acts as a managed user facility that provides training on the use of and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation for graduate students from a number of departments.

Article from Higher Ground 2013 Annual Report. Picture by Jeremy Hughes.

Professor Williams Retired After 53 Years of Service

May 29, 2014 by Kayla Lang

The Chemistry Department held a party for Professor Williams on May 17, 2014 at the University Visitors Center to celebrate his retirement after 53 years of services to the University.

Williams joined the Department in 1961 as an Assistant Professor. His tenure at the University and continuous funding from the Department of Energy for almost 40 years have allowed Williams the chance to do what he loves most – research. He has also been active in teaching, however, and was the recipient of the Student Associates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) Outstanding Chemistry Professor Award in both 2009 and 2010.

Williams has been engaged in research on various aspects of radiation chemistry and intermediate species in chemical reactions for over 60 years. One of his most-proud-of research projects was conducted in the 1970s. He was the first one to demonstrate quantum-mechanical tunneling and “all-or-nothing” deuterium isotope effects in hydrogen-transfer reactions at low temperatures. Williams has generated more than 200 journal articles, among which many are cited for more than 100 times.

During his years at UT, Williams has directed 18 Ph.D. dissertations and 7 M.S. theses. He has received numerous awards and honors, including being a National Science Foundation Visiting Scientist, which allowed him to conduct research in Kyoto University, Japan; and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow, a fellowship that nowadays seems “almost impossible to get” with 4,000 applications each year for some 200 awards. He has also chaired the Gordon Research Conferences on Radiation Chemistry (1971) and Radical Ions (1984).

Chemistry Graduate Students Won Top Fundraising Team Award

May 1, 2014 by Kayla Lang

A group of chemistry graduate students won Top Fundraising Team Award given by the American Cancer Society during the 2014 Tennessee Relay for Life event held on April 11th in Circle Park on the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus.

Chemistry team members include: Amanda Clune, Sam Mattern-Schain, Nolan Mitchell, Sam Rosolina, Jonathan Fong, Tess Kirchner, Amber Moody, Matt Dembo, Alexis Dale, Tanei Ricks, Eric Barrowclough, and Adam Carr.

“I want to stress that we had a lot more people than that come out to walk with us, and we had over 100 individual monetary donations to our team.” Rosolina, a third year graduate student in Xue’s Group and the Community Service Chair of Association of Chemistry Graduate Students said.

The chemistry team raised over $6,000 for the American Cancer Society which put them into third place out of forty teams for amount of money raised for the event. Out of a total of 1221 participants, Amanda Clune, a first year graduate student in Musfeldt’s Group, received the honor of top individual participant for most money raised. Overall, the entire event raised over $65,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Larese Group News Highlights

April 30, 2014 by Kayla Lang

1. Nick Strange, second year graduate student in the Larese’s Group, participated in the 10th Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) School on Neutron Scattering January 6-15. The school focused on materials in extreme environments.
2. Members of the Larese group gave presentations at the American Physical Society (APS) meeting in Denver, CO March 3-7. Larese discussed work in, inelastic neutron scattering (INS) studies of hydrogen spillover on pure and Pd decorated metal oxides. Strange presented work on Thermodynamic Studies of Decane on Boron Nitride and Graphite Substrates Using Synchrotron Radiation and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Larese and Strange also presented a poster presentation titled “New Approaches for Understanding of Hydrogen Interaction with Graphene, Graphene Hydroxide, and Lithiated Graphene.”
3. The Larese’s Group presented a poster presentation on the thermodynamics and molecular dynamics of alkanes on boron nitride at the Materials Research Society meeting in San Francisco, CA April 21-25.

Larese Group Hosted Science Olympiad High School Students

April 30, 2014 by Kayla Lang

The Larese’s group at the UT Chemistry Department prepared the chemistry examination for the Tennessee State Science Olympiad on Saturday, April 12. High school students from all across Tennessee came to UTK and were challenged experimentally with a reaction set in which the oxidation state of manganese was altered, as well as chromatography of fountain pen inks. The students were then given a set of advanced questions in various aspects of chemical reactions.

The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. High school students participate in pre-designed events in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computers and technology to develop their teamwork and problem solving skills.

This was the second consecutive year the Larese’s group has organized this event. Previous years, other chemistry research groups such as the Camden’s Group also participated in preparation of Science Olympiad.

Derek Mull Received NSF Fellowship

April 25, 2014 by Kayla Lang

Derek Mull, a first year graduate student in the Jenkins’ Group, received National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Mull is one of the three students at the University of Tennessee Knoxville received the GRFP Fellowship this year.

The GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. Mull was selected because of his “outstanding abilities and accomplishments”, as well as his “potential to contribute to strengthening the vitality of the US science and engineering enterprise”, stated by his award email.

“I was thoroughly surprised and delighted.” Mull said, “I had spent the previous month keeping my hopes down by enumerating the reasons why I probably wouldn’t get it…so it was very much an ‘I can’t believe it’ moment.”

Mull received his BS in chemistry and BS in biology from the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, in 2011. He interned at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) from January to August 2011 through the Higher Education Research Experience program through Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), before relocating to Los Angeles in September​ of that year to join the research group of Prof. Omar Yaghi. Prior to commencing his graduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Derek worked in the nonprofit and healthcare sectors in Tampa, FL.