James Madison University

Ten Chemistry Department students presented posters at the 8^th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on October 15, 2005.  The students and their project titles were:  Steve Andrews, "A Radical Mediated Cyclopropane Fragmentation Approach to Heterocycle Synthesis"; Adam Baird, "CO Adsorption on Supported Ruthenium Catalysts in the Presence of Water"; Coby Benson, Synthesis of Novel Amphiphilic [2] Catenanes"; Andrew Blanchard, "Synthesis of Medium-Sized Heterocycles via Cyclopropane Fragmentation", Daniel Bloss, "Preliminary Water Chemistry Evaluation, Smith Creek, Virginia"; Ashleigh Borges and Karolina Roszak, "Synthetic Progress towards a New Molecular Scaffold"; Jonathan Brunn, "pH Sensitive Luminescent Compounds"; Kristen Donnelly, "Synthesis and Examination of a Novel Biscationic Amphiphile"; and Dustin Reese, "Purification and Characterization of the SH3 Domain of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase".  Andrew Blanchard and Jonathan Brunn received awards for their posters.  (10/20/05)

---

Chemistry students, Adam Baird and Katherine Kross, won one of the five poster awards given in the Division of Colloid and Surface Science at the 230th ACS National Meeting in Washington D.C. on Monday, August 29.  Their poster was based on their research project, "CO Adsoprtion on Supported Ruthenium Catalysts in the Presence of Water".  Adam and Katherine conduct undergraduate research under the direction of Dr. Kathryn Layman. (9/1/05)

Congratulations to Dr. Brian Augustine on the birth of his daughter.  Ruth was born on May 8.  (5/9/05)

Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Reisner on the birth of her son.  Owen Tompkins was born on May 2.  (5/4/05)

Congratulations to Dr. Scott Lewis for his promotion to associate professor. (5/2/05)

Eleven students from the Chemistry Department presented their research projects at the 19th National Conference on Undergraduate Research held April 21-23, 2005 in Lexington, VA.  The students and their project titles were:  James Anderson, "Mercury in Fish Tissue and Otoliths from the North Fork Holston River"; Antoinette Bonhivert, "The Effect of pH on Electro-Osmotic Flow in Microchips"; David Crizer, "Novel Amphiphilic [2]Catenanes"; Pamela Dopart, "Thermal Decomposition of Calcium Copper Acetate"; Kasey Fisher, "Synthesis of a Mixed-Metal Alkoxide Containing a Crown Ether Moiety"; Amanda Holland, "Investigating the Formation of ϐ-Sheet Structure in the L2 Peptide"; Seth Kingree, "A Cyclopropane Fragmentation Approach to Heterocycle Synthesis"; Rozine Lindamood, "Fabrication of Polymeric Microfluidic Devices"; Kerry O'Neill, "A Cyclopropane Fragmentation Approach to Heterocycle Assembly"; Ashley Rose, "Palladium and Lanthanide Salt Complexes of Ph₂PCH₂CH₂P(O)Ph₂"; and Stuart Williams, "Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Polymer Biodegradation."(4/25/05)

The Chemistry Department Awards reception was held April 6.  Juniors receiving awards are Michael Peretich, R. D. Cool Award; Eric Stang, J. W. Chappell Scholarship and David Crizer, Donna S. AmentaAward.  Seniors  receiving awards were:  Amanda Anderson, Service Award; Stuart Williams, ACS/Merck Award; Nikole Morrow, American Institute of Chemists Award; Peder Brakke, Degesch America Award; Antoinette Bonhivert, Hypercube Scholar; and Andy Boryan, J. W. Chappell Award. (4/12/05)

Dr. Tom Devore has been selected as the first recipient of the College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Service Award.  (1/10/05)