Professor Williams Retired After 53 Years of Service

May 29, 2014 by chemweb

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 chemweb

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 chemweb

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 chemweb

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 chemweb

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.

Chemistry Department Held 2014 Honors Day

April 24, 2014 by chemweb

Chemistry Department held 2014 Honors Day on Thursday, April 24 in Buehler Hall 555. Gerald DeVault, Project Manager for Technology at Y12 Uranium Processing Facility, also an alumnus of the Department, gave an invited speech before the awards ceremony. Following is a list of this year’s awardees.

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

• CRC Press General Chemistry Award – Allison S. Poget
• C. W. Keenan Outstanding General Chemistry Student Award – William C. Hoskins
• Dr. Lucy E. Scroggie Scholarship – Brittany L. Skyberg
• C. A. Buehler Chemistry Scholarship – Russell T. Smith
• East Tennessee Section, ACS, Award – Desta Bume
• Hach Foundation Scholarship – Madilynn McCollum, Brittany Ramsey
• Melaven-Rhenium Scholarships – Desta D. Bume, Brittany L. Skyberg, James R. Smith, Russell T. Smith, Benjamin T. White
• Honors Chemistry Recognition – Christopher R. Barnes, Jack W. Bell, Rebecca E. Fong, Margaux J. Joe, Reagan E. Long,Sahba Seddighi, Donna Vo

STAFF AWARDS

• Outstanding Service Award – Jillian E. Bodenheimer, Sherri H. Dugger
• Carol Moulton ACGS Service Award – Eddie Farrell Bishop
• James F. Green ACGS Service Award – James W. Gurley

GRADUATE AWARDS

• Second Year Candidacy Award – Alexis C. Dale, Samuel I. Mattern-Schain, Nada Mehio
• Outstanding Teaching Awards – Adam J. Carr, Lena Elenchin, Philip D. Simmons Jr.
• Keenan Teaching Awards – William C. Anderson
• Judson Hall Robertson Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry – Jennifer J. Charlton
• Graduate Fellowship for Achievement in Inorganic Chemistry – Brianna C. Hughes
• Jerome Eastham Fellowship in Organic Chemistry – Shahrina Alam
• Eugene John Barber Fellowship in Physical Chemistry – Ashleigh L. Barnes
• Burchfield Burridge Warner Fellowship in Polymer Chemistry – Fei Fan
• Gleb Mamantov Graduate Chemistry Scholar – Christopher R. Murdock
• East Tennessee Section, ACS, Graduate Fellow – Steven A. Cramer
• NSF Graduate Fellowship – Derek Mull
• Joint Institute of Neutron Sciences Fellowships – Seth C. Hunter, Brian F. Morgan, Nicholas A. Strange
• Eastman Chemical Company Fellowship Award – Weiyu Wang (2013); Hobbie Turley (2014)
• Winners of the Board of Visitor’s Poster Competition – Yundi Gan, Teresa B. Kirchner

FACULTY AWARDS

• Joe Johnson Lifetime Service Award – George K. Schweitzer
• New Faculty – Tessa R. Calhoun
• Retiring Faculty – T. Ffancon Williams
• 1100+ Publications – Georges A. Guiochon
• Gleb Mamantov Professorship in Chemistry – Dr. David Jenkins
• Ziegler Professor Announcement – Dr. Mark Dadmun

Chancellor’s Honors

• Alumni Public Service Award – Al Hazari
• Research and Creative Achievement – Professional Promise – Jon Camden
• Extraordinary Professional Promise – Jonathan K. Fong, Andrew P. Moss

Shelby Stavretis Admitted to NSNXS

April 24, 2014 by chemweb

Shelby Stavretis, first year graduate student in Professor Xue’s group, was recently admitted to the National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering after a nationwide competition. The school is a Department of Energy program and only selected students in physics, chemistry, materials science, or related fields across the country are admitted.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Stavretis went to Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) for her undergraduate degree in chemistry. In 2013, Stavretis joined the UT Chemistry Department, pursing PhD studies in inorganic chemistry under Professor Xue.​ Her research currently focuses on the determination the zero field splitting parameters of metalloporphyrins by Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS). Xue group is using the Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“I’m excited to have hands on experience with the sophisticated instrumentation at Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories so early in my graduate career.”  Stavretis said. “I plan on using the techniques and analysis tools I learn to assist my current research and to devise future research goals.”

Chemistry Faculty and Students Lauded at Chancellor Honors Banquet

April 23, 2014 by chemweb

The Chancellor’s Honors Banquet is held each spring to recognize students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University of Tennessee for their extraordinary achievements. The 2014 banquet was held April 23^rd at the University Center. Following are the chemistry faculty and students who received this year’s honors.

2014 Alumni Public Service Award

AL HAZARI
Science is for students ages two to 102 — that’s the motto of Al Hazari. A lecturer and director of the undergraduate chemistry laboratories, Hazari is a champion for science. His chemistry “magic shows” have been enjoyed by countless kids and adults for over twenty-two years. It started with grant from the American Chemical Society, which allowed him to visit local schools to demonstrate hands-on activities. Since then, hundreds of people of all ages have flocked to see Hazari demonstrate the wonders of chemistry. The real magic in the shows comes from his presentation, which brings an element of fun and excitement that many people would not associate with a scientific lecture. A fixture in the Knoxville community, Hazari has presented for schools, museums, civic organizations, assisted-living facilities, and organizations reaching underserved groups. The American Chemical Society has recruited him for their national speaker tour, so he now presents throughout the United States.

2014 Research and Creative Achievement—Professional Promise

JON CAMDEN
Jon Camden, assistant professor of chemistry, is pioneering plasmon imaging studies of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, or SERS, a technique that enhances light-particle scattering either by molecules adhering to rough metal surfaces or by nanostructures. In this rapidly expanding field, his research is providing solid connections between experiment and theory, which will advance fundamental understanding of SERS enhancement mechanisms. He has developed a comprehensive research program, and his group has imaged structures with single molecule SERS activity and, through experiment and electrodynamic calculations, established conditions of electron activation of SERS hot spots.

Extraordinary Professional Promise – Jonathan K. Fong, Andrew P. Moss

Hobbie Turley Received Eastman Fellowship

April 21, 2014 by chemweb

Hobbie Turley, a chemistry graduate student in Professor Camden’ group received 2014 Eastman Chemical Company Fellowship Award. Established in 2001, the fellowship was designed to assist students in their research as well as help Eastman identify top performers who are in the early stages of their graduate careers.

Each year, selected universities are requested to submit nominations of students and encourage them to apply. A team of scientists from Eastman then rank all of the received applications and award either travel grant or full fellowship to several applicants.

“Hobbie was selected as a fellowship winner because the team was impressed with his track record in his graduate studies at UT.” Dr. Peter Chapman, Eastman Principal Chemist commented, “The team also understood the high degree of difficulty presented by his current research project. Members of the team felt that Hobbie has a promising career as a scientist ahead of him.”

“I was both thrilled and honored to find out they had selected me.” Turley said, “I deeply appreciate their support, but I can’t forget that I couldn’t have done it without the help of my advisor Jon Camden and my fellow lab mates.”

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Turley attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After he graduated in 2011 with a B.S. in chemistry, Turley returned to Tennessee to pursue a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at UTK under Professor Jon Camden. His current research is focused on developing a nonlinear surface-enhanced spectroscopy (Surface-Enhanced hyper-Raman or SEHRS) for ultrasensitive detection. Since Turley joined the Department, his reserch has rendered two publications. The first was a second author for his contributions to the first observation of single-molecule SEHRS. The second was a first author for his work on exploring these of SEHRS with short-wave IR (SWIR) excitations. Turley also recently presented the SWIR work in a talk at the ACS meeting in Dallas.

Previous recipients of Eastman Chemical Company Summer Fellowship from UT

• 2008 –  Michael Gilbert    Full Fellowship  (Dr. Frank Vogt)
• 2011 –  Rebecca Horton   Travel Grant  (Dr. Frank Vogt)
• 2012 –  Christ Bennett      Travel Grant   (Dr. Jon Camden)
• 2013 –  Weiyu Wang       Full Fellowship  (Dr. Jimmy Mays)
• 2014 – Hobbie Turley       Full Fellowship  (Dr. Jon Camden)

Professor Long Received Army Research Office Young Investigator Award

April 14, 2014 by chemweb

Assistant professor of chemistry Brian Long has received the Army Research Office (ARO) Young Investigator Award in March 2014. The ARO Young Investigator Program was designed to attract “outstanding young university faculty members, to support their research, and to encourage their teaching and research careers.” The award is highly competitive and considered prestigious among young faculty members.

Professor Long plans to utilize these funds “to further elucidate the role that redox activity plays in olefin polymerization catalysis, thereby enhancing fundamental understanding of olefin polymerization activity, selectivity, and stability. Furthermore, those catalysts will be used to synthesize polymers with tailored architectures and microstructures.”

Professor Long obtained his B.S. degree in chemistry from North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia) in 2003 and his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. After graduating, he moved to Ithaca, NY to pursue his postdoctoral studies at Cornell University. Prof. Long joined the UTK faculty in 2011, and his group’s research has focused on the development of olefin polymerization catalysts, functional polyolefin-based materials, and catalytic biomass conversion. A portion of the Long group’s work in the field of olefin polymerization catalysis was recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, pp 16316–16319).

Professor Long and the Long group would like to thank the ARO for their generous support of our research.