Fall 2016 Honor Roll

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Congratulations to our Fall 2016 Honor Roll Students!

Albrecht, Amy
Aldous, Tanner
Anderson, Jordan
Ansari, Surfyan Ahmed,
Aponso, Savinda
Ash, Kaitlyn
Austin, Molly
Bahro, Christopher
Bali, Meghan
Bierman, Jeffrey
Bryant, Natalie
Coddington, Nathan
Conroy, Jocelyn
Day, Blake
Devine, Sarah
Ferguson, Janet
Fried, Zachary
Fuller, Duncan
Gonzales, Seth
Hanson, Erin
Hargrave, Haily
Hoag, Morgan
Hochstetler, Cory
Hoffman, Zachary
Humphreys, Hunter
Kim, Maya
Koga, Kenneth
La Jeunesse, Jesse
Lachance, Jon-Luke
Lafave, Derek
Lee-Rouille, Taylor
Lew, Cassandra
Lindermann, Makayla
Liu-May, Rachel
Malone, Alexandra
Marshall, Stephanie
Matlapudi, Susmitha
Moore, Kohlson
Naas, Kayla
Ocel, Duncan
Palmiter, James
Pina, Jasmine
Potter, Kristin
Rear, Henry
Renaud, Richard
Reynolds, Tyelor
Richards, Maxson
Rist, Benjamin
Ruark, Collin
Ryu, Jennifer
Sandwisch, Jason
Simpson, Avery
Stout, Kenneth
Tully, Sara
Turner, Allison
Vergis, John
Walker, Mesa

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2016 – Nathan Coddington

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Recently, Department Chair, Rich Carter sat down with Chemistry Undergraduate, Nate Coddington to discuss what brought him to OSU, why Chemistry, and how he feels about being named one of the Fall 2016 Undergraduates of the Quarter.

Nate grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where he attended Willamette High School in the Bethel school district. Nate participated in Willamette’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program.  Nate reported that the difference between AP and IB is breadth vs depth. AP teaches the surface of many topics, while IB intensively teaches a few select topics.  Nate spent his sophomore through senior years in high school participating in their honors and IB chemistry courses.

Nate chose OSU because he did not want to go to an out-of-state school, and because his brother was already here, studying Nuclear Engineering.  He moved to Corvallis to live with his brother while he was transitioning into college life – commenting “it was great having someone who understood his sense of humor while relating to the struggles of college life.”  While Nate admits he started as a BB major to support his goal of ultimately becoming a dentist, upon entering the program it quickly became apparent to him that Chemistry was the better choice for his interests and his career path.  So, he re-declared, with the premed option, and never looked back.

Nate told us that his favorite class was, hands down, Organic Chemistry.  “It was just so full of great professors,” he said.  But the teacher that resonates the most for him was Dr. Vince Remcho.  “Dr. Remcho taught my Honors Gen Chem class,” Nate said.  “He was always so happy when teaching.”

Currently, Nate is doing research in Dr. Sandra Loesgen’s lab.  Her research group focuses on natural products, specifically bio-active compounds like penicillin.  Nate’s research is a spin-off of Dr. Loesgen’s PhD thesis on epigenetic modifications.  He’s hoping his research will result in unlocking new genes to produce previously unseen compounds.  He’s hoping to be able to obtain some usable results very soon so he can start writing his honors thesis on this topic.

Nate still plans to enroll in dental school after graduation.  His mother is a hygienist and he says he loves working with and helping people.  Dentistry, he says, has always just clicked with him.  “It’s so revered in our culture and I’ve always just thought, ‘I want to be this.’”  He would like to do some job shadowing before graduation but says it is been difficult finding a slot due to doctor/patient confidentiality.  He is not giving up yet though.

In his spare time, Nate is the President of the OSU Chapter of the National Society for Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), a community service and professional development based society that is currently working toward being recognized as an Honor Society.

Students like Nate are part of what makes our Department so great.  We could not be more proud of him and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors!

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2016 – Jason Sandwisch

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Chemistry Major, Jason Sandwisch, the newest Fall 2016 Undergraduate of the Quarter recently sat down with Department Chair, Rich Carter to discuss what brought him to OSU, his favorite parts of the program and his plans for the future.

Jason was born in Vancouver, Washington. He then moved briefly to Colorado with his parents, but ultimately grew up in the small town of Banks, Oregon. He attended Liberty High School where he immersed himself in the sciences with the help of his freshmen biology teacher and swim coach Paul Hanson. Hanson would go on and recruit Jason to the swim team, where he spent the next four years competing.

Jason was very enthusiastic about biology and others sciences.  He decided to pursue a Chemistry Major coming out of high school because of his senior year AP chemistry course.  The class was small which resulted in a good amount of student/teacher interaction.  The class focused mainly on class work and book work, but not a lot of time was spent doing laboratory work.  Due to the lack of lab experience in high school, he decided a university with a good undergraduate research would be important for his educational goals.

While attending an Oregon State Fall Preview, Jason was impressed by how many people spoke to him about undergraduate research.  He was already leaning toward matriculating here as his brother also attended OSU.  “It’s nice to know someone where you’re going.”  During Jason’s first term, Dr. Neal Sleszynski mentored him and suggested that he pursue the URSA Engage undergraduate research grant, which led him to conduct research for Dr. Kenneth Hedberg. Throughout this experience, he studied gas phase electron diffraction on 1,1,3,3-tetramethylcyclobutane. More recently, he studies spiropentane alongside Dr. Joseph Nibler and his undergraduate researcher, Blake Erickson (Winter 2016 UGQ).

During the summer of 2015, Jason also did research in Dr. John Simonsen’s lab in the College of Forestry. He worked with Johnny Hergert (Fall 2015 UGQ), conducting research on new polymer blends using cellulose nanocrystals.  Other research projects with Prof. John Simonsen included Jason working for a local start-up called EcNow Tech. Here, Jason helped develop plant-based plastic material. His favorite part of all his various research has been being able to apply physical chemistry principles and problems solving aspects. “I took physical chemistry last year and before that I was working with all these experimental instruments such as FTIR, but never realized the basis for how they actually worked.”

Jason says he doesn’t have a favorite professor, “I enjoyed all my chemistry classes.” Overall, he really enjoyed taking Organic Chemistry from both Dr. Paul Blakemore and Dr. Chris Beaudry. He also loved the challenge of CH 464, taught by Dr. Chong Fang.  His favorite class was CH 421 – Analytical Chemistry taught by Dr. Sean Burrows.  “He’s just a great person.  He was funny, understanding and really wanted you to learn the material.  He didn’t make it hard, but stressed the important points.  Being taught Analytical chemistry by him was an awesome experience.”

After graduation, Jason wants to pursue a Ph.D. in physical chemistry by studying excited state chemistry. He is interested in the University of Washington due to the broad selection of potential faculty focused in his area of interest.  He is also excited about the wide array of options that are available to him after graduate school. His summer internship with EcNow Tech really opened his eyes to what’s available after school. “At this point, I’m unsure about my specific career path, but four years ago I wasn’t sure about my major I just want to go to graduate school and then find my path.”

Students like Jason are a huge part of what makes our Department so great.  We wish him well with graduation, graduate school and beyond.

Faculty Vacancy: State University of New York, Department of Chemistry

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF FACULTY VACANCY
Assistant Professor
Renewable Materials/Organic Chemistry
Department of Chemistry

The State University of New York

College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY-ESF
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, New York  13210

November 8, 2016

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRYhttp://www.esf.edu/chemistry/  at The State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) invites applications for an academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Renewable Materials/Organic Chemistry. The Department is seeking a candidate with interests broadly associated with the teaching and research activities of the existing focus areas of Natural Products and Polymer Science and in the newly established Renewable Materials Science Major at SUNY-ESF.  Candidates must have a Ph.D. and record of research accomplishments as well as innovative research and teaching plans. We are particularly interested in candidates with a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.

Responsibilities: SUNY-ESF is seeking unique teacher-scholars committed to excellence in both teaching and research. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an extramurally funded and internationally recognized research program in the area of materials derived from renewable sources, polysaccharides (synthesis, modification or characterization) or chemoenzymatic synthesis.  A strong interest in developing collaborative research with others in the Department of Chemistry, as well as within the College overall is vital. Teaching responsibilities will include courses in the sequence of Organic Chemistry and associated labs, and development of a graduate level course in their area of expertise. The candidate shall also participate in the Renewable Materials curriculum. Advising and mentoring undergraduate students in the Chemistry and Renewable Materials Programs, and mentoring graduate students at the Masters and Doctoral level are integral to the position. Professional and public service is also expected, as is significant interaction with colleagues and students in other disciplines at the College and the broader academic community.

Required Qualifications:

·        A Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Chemistry of Natural and/or Synthetic Polymers, or a related discipline

·        A demonstrated interest in research in the broad area of Chemistry of Renewable Materials and/or Organic/Polymer Chemistry

·        A strong interest in teaching and outreach

Preferred Qualifications:

·        Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience

·        Demonstrated ability to secure funding for research

Application Procedure:  Application is online only. Visit our websitehttp://www.esf.edu/hr/ click on Current Vacancies to find Assistant Professor Renewable Materials/Organic Chemistry.  Applications should include: (1) a cover letter summarizing qualifications and why they are interested in the position, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of research interests and experience, and (4) a statement of teaching philosophy and experience. The cover letter, research statement, and teaching statement should not exceed two pages each. Complete application packages must be submitted as a single document in PDF format with “Renewable Materials Faculty Search” as the subject line.  Three letters of reference should also be submitted independently.

Application Deadline: Although applications will be accepted until the position is filled, candidates should submit their application by December 31, 2016 to assure optimal consideration.

The College: With a total enrollment of about 1,700 undergraduates and 600 graduate students, SUNY-ESF provides an intimate small-college atmosphere with a low student/faculty ratio that allows for personal attention and assistance for students.  ESF has over 400 scientists and staff dedicated to solving environmental problems through research, teaching, and service. Integration of research and teaching is emphasized and the college has a strong undergraduate research program where advanced undergraduate students regularly work with graduate students and faculty.  In addition, the ESF campus is contiguous with that of Syracuse University and in close proximity to SUNY Upstate Medical University, giving students and faculty the added resources of a larger institution of higher education, including a wide array of courses, computer and library facilities, sports, and health services.  Cornell University, with its additional facilities, is located within a 60 minute drive of the ESF campus.

Research facilities on-campus at SUNY-ESF include: (1) The Edwin C. Jahn Laboratory for Chemical Research, a well-equipped polymer, environmental, natural products and biochemical research facility, including thermal analysis equipment, such as a DSC / HiRes TGA and  a TGA / IR-NIR / GC/MS. (2) Analytical and Technical Services (ATS) (http://www.esf.edu/ats/), operates and maintains a wide variety of instrumentation including a 300 MHz NMR equipped with Solids State capabilities, 600 and 800 MHz NMR equipped with cryo probes, GC-MS, LCMS, MALDI-TOF/TOF and ICP-OES, ICP-MS with Laser Ablation capabilities; and (3) The Center for Ultrastructural Studies within ATS that is equipped with light microscopes and new (Jan 2017) scanning and transmission electron microscopes.  (4) Additional resources at neighboring institutions include SUNYMAC (http://www.upstate.edu/sunymac/), and the Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry core facilities (http://www.upstate.edu/proteomics/index.php) at SUNY Upstate Medical University with cores that specialize in high-throughput sequencing, proteomics and genotyping analysis. SUNY-ESF also has more than 25,000 acres of field and forest properties at seven experimental field stations, offering abundant opportunity for field-oriented research in aquatic and terrestrial environments.  The Syracuse Center for Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (http://www.syracusecoe.org/) is located nearby, facilitating collaborative research with a number of local industries and universities in the areas of Green Infrastructure and Renewable Resources.  The Biotechnology Accelerator Facility (http://www.upstate.edu/accelerator/) offers opportunities for migrating technologies started in the lab into commercial ventures.

Location: The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is located in Syracuse, New York, a dynamic and diverse community with plentiful natural, cultural, and civic opportunities. “The Places Rated Almanac” ranks Syracuse among the top 10 percent of “Best Places to Live.” Located on the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes, Syracuse is within a five-hour drive of New York City, Toronto, and the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains. SUNY-ESF is one of eight colleges and universities located in Onondaga County. The Syracuse University campus is immediately adjacent to SUNY-ESF, and SUNY Upstate Medical University is located within easy walking distance.

The ESF campus provides a rich array of curricular and co-curricular experiences with our main Syracuse campus just southeast of downtown Syracuse and our regional campuses stretching from southern Onondaga County to the Adirondacks.  The Syracuse area, location of our main campus, is home to many cultural events, museums, state and local parks and numerous festivals throughout the year along with a growing downtown in the city of Syracuse.  Onondaga County provides a variety of neighborhoods including urban, rural and suburban with strong schools, affordable housing and supportive communities.

Central New York is also home to numerous hospitals and medical facilities including SUNY Upstate Medical University, the St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, the VA Hospital of Syracuse and Crouse Hospital with all providing unique specialty areas to support the needs of the community.

Whatever one’s interests area, one is sure to find a great community not just as SUNY-ESF but in the surrounding areas as well.

For More Information:  Contact Dr. Fran Webster, Renewable Materials Search Committee Chair, SUNY-ESF; e-mail: fwebster@esf.edu; Telephone: 315-470-6863.

In accordance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site: http://www.esf.edu/univpolice/crimereports/

SUNY-ESF is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applications for PCOSW Scholarships and Event Co-sponsorships

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The President’s Commission on the Status of Women provides funding to women faculty, students, and staff who are pursuing professional development or conducting research, outreach, or creative projects related to women’s issues. Scholarships average $500. Applications are due Friday, Oct. 28, with notification in Week 7.  Please visit http://leadership.oregonstate.edu/pcosw/awards-scholarships for detailed guidelines and application link.

Susan G Komen Inflammatory Breast Cancer Request for Applications

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Here are RFPs with upcoming deadlines:

Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research
Bridge Funding Program – Deadline November 10th
The Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer is announcing funds for up to one Bridge Funding Award based on scientific merit. The purpose of Bridge Funding is to allow researchers to produce data needed to substantiate their proposal resubmission to federal funding agencies for a promising new research project. The Rivkin Center provides interim funding of up to $30,000 to researchers who have submitted an R01, R21, K08, K23, or K99 proposal to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or an original proposal to the Department of Defense (DoD) pertaining to ovarian cancer and who have not received, but were close to, a fundable score. Investigator-initiated projects in all areas of ovarian cancer research are eligible. Special consideration will be given to research that has clinical applicability. Funds are for direct costs only; institutional overhead and indirect costs will not be included in the award.

Cancer Research Institute
Technology Impact Award – Deadline November 15th (LOI)
The Cancer Research Institute is proud to announce its Technology Impact Award, a new program designed to challenge the world’s leading scientists and out-of-the box thinkers to create a research plan and assemble a research team that will develop a new technology platform with the potential to transform the field of cancer immunotherapy.

The grant aims to support the development of highly innovative technologies that can ultimately be adopted by the research community at large and that will enable researchers to develop the next generation cancer immunotherapies that can be effective and personalized for each patient. Technologies may facilitate our understanding of the antigenic profile, cellular interplay, and mechanistic pathways within the tumor microenvironment that are essential for an effective anti-tumor response.

To that end, CRI is seeking letters of intent from single investigators for projects that address the technological barriers currently faced in the field of cancer immunotherapy. One grant of up to $1,000,000 is available, payable over a maximum of three years.

American Association for Cancer Research
Career Development Award for Pediatric Cancer Research – Deadline November 15th
The AACR-Aflac, Inc. Career Development Award for Pediatric Cancer Research represents a joint effort to encourage and support junior faculty to conduct pediatric cancer research and establish a successful career path in this field. The research proposed for funding may be basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological in nature and must have direct applicability and relevance to pediatric cancer. Grant amount: $100,000.

Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award – Deadline November 22nd
The AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award represents a joint effort to encourage and support tenure-eligible junior faculty. The research proposed for funding must focus on research in cancer etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention and may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature.

The recipient of the 2017 AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award is required to give a presentation of their research in a minisymposium at the AACR Annual Meeting 2018. (Travel support will be provided, separate from this grant, for the grant recipient to attend the 2018 meeting.) Grant amount: $75,000.

Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation-AACR Grant – Deadline December 13th
The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation-AACR Grant represents a joint effort to promote and support innovative cancer research. This grant is available to independent junior and senior investigators to develop and study new ideas and innovative approaches that have direct application and relevance to neuroendocrine tumors. Proposed research may be in any discipline of basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological cancer research.

Applications are invited from researchers currently in the field as well as investigators with experience in other areas of cancer or biomedical research who have promising ideas and approaches that can be applied to neuroendocrine tumor research. Grant amount: $250,000.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Translational Research Grant – Deadline December 1st
The 2017 Translational Research Grant will fund high priority pancreatic cancer research that is poised for important translational next steps in order to help move discovery to application in patients. The grant provides $300,000 over two years for a translational research project that has as its endpoint the development of a pancreatic cancer assessment, prevention or treatment modality. For purposes of this grant, translational research is defined according to the framework conceived by the Translational Research Working Group, created under the auspices of the U.S. National Cancer Advisory Board.

To be eligible for a Translational Research Grant, the scientific validation of the proposed modality must already exist, and the project proposed for funding should represent a practical application of this knowledge. Fundamental discovery or basic science research projects are not eligible for funding through this grant mechanism.

The type of project that will qualify for funding will typically benefit from the inclusion of cross-disciplinary expertise. Therefore, applications can include one contact principal investigator (PI) or a contact PI and a co-PI. If there are two PIs, they should include a basic scientist and a clinician. It is anticipated that five 2017 Translational Research Grants will be awarded.

2017 Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Program

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The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) hosts a 9-week summer internship that is designed to provide research experience and mentorship for undergraduate students of rising senior status.  We would appreciate your help promoting the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) among students at Oregon State University.  I have attached an informational brochure that offers an overview of the program, including eligibility criteria, compensation, travel and housing, and how to apply.

Please encourage your students to visit the SURP website for more comprehensive information.

An online application for the 2017 SURP will be available via the SURP website in mid-November 2016.

The application deadline is midnight Pacific Standard Time (PST) on Friday, January 13, 2017.  Letters of recommendation for up to two references are due by midnight Pacific Standard Time (PST) on Friday, January 20, 2017.
The 2017 SURP will run from Monday, June 12 ??? Friday, August 11.
Other Biomedical Research Internships
I also wanted to share with you a resource that my colleagues and I developed, which is a catalog of biomedical research internships offered nationwide for high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and first-year medical students.   Feel free to share this resource with faculty and students.

Thanks for your help promoting the SURP at the Fred Hutch and other internship opportunities nationwide!

Best,

Marilyn Drennan
Program Assistant,
Thompson Studies & Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98109-1024
Phone: 206-667-4226

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