University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
http://www.umn.edu/

Go to chemistry home page.


February 22, 2012

Reineke honored for contributions to gene and cell therapy
Department of Chemistry Professor Theresa Reineke has received a 2012 Outstanding New Investigators Award from the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. Read More

February 22, 2012

Pierre receives National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Professor Valerie Pierre has received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to support her research to develop and promulgate novel luminescent sensors for the study of alkali ions in neurons. Read More

February 17, 2012

William Pomerantz joins Department of Chemistry faculty
William “Will” Pomerantz, Ph.D., is joining the Department of Chemistry as an assistant professor. Since 2009, he has been a National Institute of Health National Research Service Award postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan. Read More

February 1, 2012

Lodge receives 2012 Minnesota Award for his polymer research
Professor Timothy Lodge has been chosen for the 2012 Minnesota Award of the Minnesota Section of the American Chemical Society. This award honors a section member for outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences. Lodge is being honored for his scientific achievements in polymer science research. Read More

February 1, 2012

Stein identified as one of the top materials scientists
Professor Andreas Stein was identified as one of the world's top 100 materials scientists in 2011. Of the 100 scientists listed in the Thomson Reuters data, Stein was 27th. Read More

January 26, 2012

Interest grows in department's green chemistry expertise
From videos on green chemistry on think tank websites to serving as panelists on green chemistry forums, interest is growing on the department's multifaceted green chemistry expertise. Read More

January 25, 2012

Kolthoff Lectureship features Professor Michael Graetzel, Feb. 6-8
The Department of Chemistry hosts Professor Michael Graetzel from the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, February 6-8, for its Kolthoff Lectureship in Chemistry. Read More

January 19, 2012

Department creates new doctoral thesis excellence award
The Department of Chemistry has created a new award that will honor an outstanding graduate student for doctoral thesis excellence. The deadline to apply is the last Friday in January. Read More

January 4, 2012

Alumna’s book profiles African American women chemists
Jeannette Brown, a University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry alumna, has written a book profiling the accomplishments of African American women chemists. A meet-and-greet is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 17, and a meet-and-greet and book signing are planned for Wednesday, January 18. Read More

December 15, 2011

Energy and U brings 4,500 students to campus in January
With additional presenters and shows, reorganized demonstrations, new music, and extended outreach to students in the seven-county metro area, the popular Energy and U program explodes, January 9-13, with more than 4,500 students expected on campus. Read More

December 14, 2011

Students propose solutions to current analytical problems
Twenty-six students recently proposed solutions to current analytical problems on a variety of topics, including environmental chemistry, biomedicine, agriculture, food science, polymers, and renewable energy. Their work culminated in a poster session. Read More

December 12, 2011

Professor Cramer featured in article on research for the military
A Minnesota Daily article on Department of Defense research projects features Professor Christopher Cramer and his study of chemical weapons and his work on the university's Openness in Research policy. Read More

December 9, 2011

Guided inquiry transforms chemistry laboratories
Cookbook-style labs with students following step-by-step instructions for experiments are out for general chemistry courses. In their place are guided-inquiry laboratories where students design and conduct their own experiments, discover what works and what doesn’t, make adjustments based on those discoveries, and try again. Read More

December 9, 2011

Experienced teaching assistants help transform laboratories
This past summer, four experienced teaching assistants—David Boyce, Amanda Maxwell, Kaustubh Mote, and Emily Pelton—played pivotal roles in transforming general chemistry laboratories from verification to guided-inquiry experiences. Read More

December 8, 2011

Chemistry focuses on being green; however, it is not easy
From research to classroom courses and laboratories, and scientific experiments, it is important to be green; however it is not easy. More and more, green chemistry is becoming a priority for the Department of Chemistry. Read More

December 8, 2011

Researchers form Center for Analysis of Biomolecular Signalling
Scientists with bioanalytical expertise have formed the Center for Analysis of Biomolecular Signalling to explore and define biomolecular signalling at the tissue, cell, and subcellular levels. Read More

December 5, 2011

Researchers create bonds between two unlikely pairs
A joint paper, recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, showcases a new type of bonding between aluminum(III) ions and transition metal elements. Read More

December 1, 2011

University partnership with Dow Chemical benefits chemistry
The University of Minnesota has finalized an agreement with Dow Chemical Company that will result in the University receiving nearly $17 million over the next five years. Almost $2.3 million per year over the next five years will go to chemical engineering and materials science, chemistry, and mechanical engineering researchers. Read More

November 30, 2011

Conference room naming honors legacy of renowned scientists
The Department of Chemistry's recently renovated faculty/staff meeting rooms, 117/119 Smith Hall, are being renamed the Kate & Michael Bárány Conference Room, honoring the parents of Professor George Barany and his brother Professor Francis Barany. Read More

November 15, 2011

New type of copper-oxygen intermediate reacts with C-H bonds
Researchers report the preparation, spectroscopic and theoretical characterization, and initial reactivity studies of a new copper-oxygen intermediate in JACS article. Read More

November 11, 2011

Two doctoral students receive Overend Award
Two Department of Chemistry doctoral students—Brynna Jones and Hannah Leverentz—have received the 2011 Overend Award for Graduate Research in Physical Chemistry. The award honors outstanding physical chemistry graduate student researchers. Read More

November 11, 2011

Million-fold improvement in selectivities with carbonate sensors
A need for measurements in blood plasma arises in clinical chemistry since they are used to detect and monitor electrolyte imbalances. Researchers have developed electrochemical sensors for carbonate that reduce the interference from chloride and salicylate by two and six orders of magnitude, respectively. Read More

November 10, 2011

Professor highlights research at Outburst Mini-Symposium
Department of Chemistry Professor Marc Hillmyer is participating in the Institute on the Environment's Outburst Mini-Symposium, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, in R380 Learning & Environmental Sciences. Read More

November 10, 2011

Chemistry outreach featured at family fun fair
Chemistry's Outreach Program with two tables of hands-on experiments and demonstrations, and two Energy and U shows are featured highlights of this year's Math & Science Family Fun Fair, Saturday, November 19. Read More

November 4, 2011

Alumnus receives national award
Alumnus Thomas Guggenheim, Ph.D., received a prestigious award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Guggenheim earned his doctorate in chemistry in 1983, under the tutelage of Paul Gassman. Read More

October 13, 2011

University features Distinguished Teaching award recipient
The University of Minnesota has written and posted on its website a feature on Professor Christopher Cramer. He is one of the 2010-11 Morse Alumni Award recipients. Read More

October 3, 2011

Mass spectrometry lab director receives innovation recognition
Waters Corporation has honored University of Minnesota's Joseph Dalluge, Ph.D., and the Department of Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Laboratory with its Center of Innovation Recognition. Read More

September 30, 2011

Alumnus Patrick Gruber receives Outstanding Achievement Award
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has honored Patrick R. Gruber, Ph.D., with an Outstanding Achievement Award, which honors graduates who have attained unusual and noted distinction in their chosen fields, professions or public service, and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership. Read More

September 30, 2011

Professor Reineke featured in C&EN theranostics article
Professor Theresa Reineke is featured in a Chemical & Engineering News article on personalizing nanomedicine. Reineke talked about "theranostics," which is any material that can diagnose and treat a disease, and possibly monitor the efficacy of the therapy. Read More

September 15, 2011

2010-11 Outstanding teaching assistants honored
The 2010-11 outstanding teaching assistants (TAs) are Wonder Chang, David Hanna, and Zahra Sohrabpour. All three were honored for their outstanding contributions to the teaching of chemistry. Read More

September 15, 2011

Chemistry alumnus presents department and college lectures
Chemistry alumnus Patrick Gruber, Ph.D., will present a Bayer Lecture in Sustainability & Special Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry seminar, Wednesday, September 28, and a College of Science & Engineering Public Lecture, Thursday, September 29. Read More

September 13, 2011

Excellence in Graduate Studies Fellowships awarded
This year's Department of Chemistry's Excellence in Graduate Studies Fellowship honorees are teaching assistants Sijie "Andy" Luo, Charuta Palsuledesai, and Alireza Shokri. Read More

September 9, 2011

CSP gets major grant for environment-friendly plastics research
Research on creating more environment-friendly, cost-efficient plastics from natural and renewable materials got a boost with a $1.5 million grant over three years from the National Science Foundation Centers for Chemical Innovation program to the University’s Center for Sustainable Polymers. Read More

September 8, 2011

Penn named Institute on the Environment resident fellow
Associate Professor of Chemistry R. Lee Penn has been named a resident fellow of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment (IonE). Read More

September 8, 2011

Green chemistry featured in fall edition of IonE's Momentum
The fall 2011 edition of Momentum, the Institute on the Environment's magazine, features an article on green chemistry, Chemistry Goes Green, which highlights a green chemistry course taught by Professors Marc Hillmyer and William Tolman. Read More

September 8, 2011

Research assistant receives Baxter Young Investigator Award
Chad Satori, a Department of Chemistry research assistant in the lab of Professor Edgar Arriaga, has received a Baxter Young Investigator Award 2011, which honors researchers focused on the development of therapies and medical projects that save and sustain patients' lives. Read More

August 30, 2011

Pierre honored as outstanding young investigator
Assistant Professor Valerie Pierre has been honored as an outstanding young investigator in the field of biological inorganic chemistry. She has been named the Edward I. Stiefel lecturer for the 2012 Metals in Biology Gordon Research Conference. Read More

August 26, 2011

Tradition of chemistry excellence continues for alumni
The tradition of excellence in chemistry continues for Department of Chemistry alumni Li Li and Lushi Tan. Their son Elmer Huaihan Tan recently earned a silver medal in the International Chemistry Olympiad. Read More

August 25, 2011

Chemistry participates in University on the Prairie
The Department of Chemistry's outreach hit the road with faculty and students participating in University on the Prairie. Assistant Professor Aaron Massari and members of his research group led about 60 young people from southwest Minnesota in chemistry experiments and demonstrations. Read More

August 19, 2011

Chemistry is at the Minnesota State Fair
From an Eco Experience display on sustainable polymers to chemistry exhibits, hands-on experiments, and demonstrations, the Department of Chemistry and its faculty and students will have a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fair. Read More

August 1, 2011

Professor Lodge featured in ACS how-to video
Professor Timothy Lodge is one of four American Chemical Society journal editors featured in a video, "Publishing Your Research 101: Selecting Peers to Suggest as Reviewers." Read More

July 28, 2011

Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast, Tuesday, August 30
If you are planning on attending the fall 2011 American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting in Denver, please join us for the University of Minnesota Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 30, at the Colorado Convention Center. Read More

July 28, 2011

Graduate students receive poster awards at WATOC Congress
Graduate students Peng Zhang and Michael Mazack were each awarded a Best Poster Award from the 2011 Congress of the World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists. Their posters were selected from 649 presentations. Read More

July 26, 2011

Truhlar's research unlocks Grubbs catalysts reactivity differences
The research of a team of international researchers, led by Professor Donald Truhlar, is featured as one of this week's highlights in C&EN News. The research encompasses an advanced computational method that unlocks the mystery of reactivity differences between Grubbs catalysts. Read More

July 22, 2011

Chemistry Day huge success for students of all ages
Chemistry Day—an afternoon of demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and a CSI-like mystery to solve—was a huge success at Saint Paul's West 7th Community Center. It was a fun afternoon for the children and Department of Chemistry faculty and students. Read More

July 19, 2011

Gassman family creates graduate student travel fund
In addition to the Paul G. Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry, the family of the late Professor Gassman has established a new fund to support the Department of Chemistry—the Paul G. and Gerda Ann Gassman Graduate Student Travel Fund. Read More

July 19, 2011

Article features work of high school researcher
In the research article just published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, graduate student Eric Olson and co-workers, including Teng Xiong who was a high school student at the time the research was conducted, describe the interaction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) with aliphatic amines. Read More

July 19, 2011

Chemistry researchers receive IREE large grant
Department of Chemistry scientists, Associate Professor Philippe Buhlmann and Professor Andreas Stein, have received a IREE large grant to work on high energy density, nanostructured supercapacitors for electrical energy storage. Read More

July 15, 2011

Chemistry Day outreach engages youth in science
For the sixth consecutive year, Associate Professor Christy Haynes and students are conducting Chemistry Day—an afternoon of demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and a mystery that the older youth must use chemistry to solve—at Saint Paul's West 7th Community Center. Read More

July 14, 2011

Massari group's polyaniline research featured on journal cover
Research by Assistant Professor Aaron Massari and his group is featured on the cover of the July 14 edition of The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. The article highlights the work of graduate students Audrey Eigner and Brynna Jones, and undergraduate Bryce Koprucki. Read More

July 12, 2011

Regents Professor Que elected American Chemical Society Fellow
Regents Professor Lawrence Que Jr. has been elected a 2011 Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This designation honors those who have distinguished themselves in multiple areas, including promoting the science and the profession of chemistry, and service to the ACS. Read More

July 12, 2011

Haynes receives 2012 Pittsburgh Conference Achievement Award
Associate Professor Christy Haynes has been chosen to receive the 2012 Pittsburgh Conference Achievement Award from the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Read More

June 30, 2011

Professors receive grant for international research
Professors Laura Gagliardi and Christopher Cramer have received an International Collaborations in Chemistry grant. They will assess factors affecting binding and recognition in the aqueous host-guest chemistry of organic molecules inside self-assembling, metal-templated cages. Read More

June 27, 2011

Outstanding teaching assistant honored
Victoria Chemistruck was chosen as a 2010-11 Outstanding Teaching Assistant by undergraduate students during the College of Science & Engineering’s CSE Week. She is a graduate student working with Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas. Read More

June 23, 2011

Truhlar receives alma mater's Distinguished Alumnus Award
Regents Professor Donald Truhlar receives the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater—Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona—during its 2011 homecoming activities, Saturday, June 25. Read More

June 23, 2011

Research article highlighted in German publication
Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas' article, which was published in the February 2011 edition of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, was recently highlighted in the German equivalent of Chemical & Engineering News—Nachrichten aus der Chemie. Read More

June 17, 2011

Researchers receive funds for state-of-the-art microscope
College of Science & Engineering professors, including Associate Professor R. Lee Penn, receive University research investment funds to acquire a new generation, state-of-the-art, aberration-corrected, high-resolution analytical scanning and transmission electron microscope. Read More

June 13, 2011

Two professors serve on new science publication editorial team
Two Department of Chemistry professors, Timothy Lodge and Theresa Reineke, will be on the editorial team for a new American Chemical Society publication, ACS Macro Letters. Read More

June 7, 2011

July workshop focuses on inquiry-driven labs
Associate Professor Jane Wissinger, Department of Chemistry Organic Laboratory director, is co-leading a workshop entitled, Teaching Guided-Inquiry Organic Chemistry Labs, July 10-15. The workshop includes two seminars, which are open to the public, on July 11. Read More

June 7, 2011

Reineke joins Department of Chemistry faculty, June 20
Professor Theresa M. Reineke joins the Department of Chemistry faculty, Monday, June 20, 2011. She is an expert and a world leader in polymer science and gene therapy and diagnostics. Read More

May 27, 2011

Seven doctorate students receive fellowship awards
Seven of the Department of Chemistry's top doctorate students—Zahid Ertem, Meng Jing, Yu-Shen Lin, Melissa Maurer-Jones, Sarah Page, Bo Wang, and Ligeng Yin—received 2011-12 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship program awards. Read More

May 27, 2011

Douglas receives DuPont Young Investigator award
Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas has been awarded a 2011 DuPont Young Investigator award, which will support his ongoing work on discovering new small molecules for application in organic photovoltaic cells.
Read More

May 27, 2011

Professor Barany to speak at stamp dedication ceremony
Professor George Barany has been asked to speak at the official first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for commemorative stamps honoring American scientists Melvin Calvin, Asa Gray, Maria Goeppert Mayer, and Severo Ochoa.
Read More

May 20, 2011

Two professors receive Royal Society of Chemistry honors
Two Department of Chemistry professors—Associate Professor Christy Haynes and Regents Professor Lawrence Que Jr.—have received prestigious awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry. Read More

May 20, 2011

High school researcher wins international science fair award
Anushua Bhattacharya, a high school student who worked in Associate Professor Christy Haynes' lab last summer and will be doing so again this year, received a third place award in the Medicine and Health Sciences category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Read More

May 20, 2011

Energy and U introduces 2,700 students to science
With explosions, flames, flying pop bottles, rock music, and screaming gummy bears, 2,700 students from metro area schools and home schools were introduced to the science at this May's Energy and U shows. Read More

May 18, 2011

Graduate Student Research Symposium honors
This year's "Beaker and Bunsen" award winners at the Graduate Student Research Symposium are Joshua Speros, Bess Vlaisavljevich, and Christopher "Kit" Zall. Read More

May 13, 2011

What's new on Facebook and other social media
We just updated our Facebook group page, making it easier for group members and others to comment on our posts, and to upload photo albums. Click on the Facebook icon on the right-hand side of our home page. Read More

May 13, 2011

CSE features associate professor's cancer vaccine research
Associate Professor T. Andrew Taton is featured in the May 12 edition of Physics & Nanotechnology Matters, an electronic newsletter published by the College of Science & Engineering. Read More

May 13, 2011

Undergraduate student's proposal receives award
Jack Doenges, an undergraduate student working in the laboratory of Professor Edgar Arriaga, received the Minnesota Chromatography Forum 2001 Undergraduate Award. Read More

May 13, 2011

Young chosen as crystallography congress delegate
Victor Young Jr., X-ray facility director, has been named a National Academy of Sciences delegate to the International Union of Crystallography 22nd Congress and General Assembly. Read More

May 13, 2011

Two alumni promoted to professors at Macalester
Two Department of Chemistry alumni—Paul Fischer and Rebecca Hoye—have been promoted from associate professors to professors at Macalester College. Read More

May 13, 2011

Alumnus honors Professor Ellis with scholarship
Steven Hentges, Ph.D., a 1976 graduate, has endowed a scholarship in honor of Professor John Ellis, called the Professor John E. Ellis Scholarship. Read More

May 9, 2011

Department of Chemistry honors graduates & scholars
The Department of Chemistry honored graduating seniors and scholarship recipients at a recognition reception, Friday, May 6, before the College of Science & Engineering's annual commencement ceremony. Read More

May 6, 2011

Graduate Student Research Symposium, Tuesday, May 17
Thirty-five third-year graduate students from the Department of Chemistry will be participating in the 10th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, Tuesday, May 17. Read More

May 6, 2011

May Energy and U shows ignite students' interest in science
About 3,000 students from metro area elementary and middle/junior high schools, online schools, and home schools are expected to Energy and U shows at the University of Minnesota, Monday, May 16, through Friday, May 20. There will be two shows each day—one at 10 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.
Read More

May 5, 2011

Cool Chemistry 2011 engages girls in science
Fifty-five girls in 7th grade through 9th grade enjoyed a day of hands-on chemistry workshops and demonstrations, Saturday, April 30. Read More

May 5, 2011

Graduating graduate students honored
Thirty-one Department of Chemistry graduates students earned their master’s degrees, and 33 graduate students earned their doctorate degrees in 2010-2011. Read More

April 28, 2011

Library exhibit honors the work of chemistry scientists
Chemistry is critical for solving society's most important problems. A Walter Library exhibit highlights research accomplishments from throughout the history of the Department of Chemistry. Read More

April 22, 2011

Graduating senior honored for research and course work
Nardine Abadeer, a senior chemistry major who will be graduating this May, has received a number of awards for her coursework and research. Read More

April 20, 2011

Undergraduate commencement with recognition reception, May 6
The College of Science and Engineering's undergraduate commencement ceremony is Friday, May 6. Before the ceremony, the Department of Chemistry will honor all graduating seniors and scholarship recipients at a Recognition Reception. Read More

April 20, 2011

Undergraduate student receives oral presentation award
Alex M. Schrader, a junior and an undergraduate research assistant, won a best oral presentation prize at the Minnesota Academy of Science 78th Annual Meeting & 23rd Winchell Undergraduate Symposium. Read More

April 20, 2011

Earth Day news release features degradable plastics research
University's Earth Day news release highlights the work of Professor Marc Hillmyer and other University of Minnesota researchers to develop a portfolio of degradable plastics derived from renewable resources. Read More

April 19, 2011

Department welcomes Professor Yamamoto for Gassman Lectureship, April 25-28
Professor Hisashi Yamamoto from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago is the featured lecturer for the Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry, from Monday, April 25, through Thursday, April 28.  Read More

April 18, 2011

Professors honored by students for their teaching
Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas and Distinguished Teaching Professor Kenneth Leopold have received the 2010-11 Outstanding Professor Award in Chemistry from the College of Science and Engineering. Read More

April 13, 2011

16 graduate students participate in commencement, April 29
Sixteen Department of Chemistry graduate students are participating in the Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Commencement Ceremony, Friday, April 29. Read More

April 12, 2011

Cool Chemistry 2011 engages girls' interest in science
A series of hands-on workshops, explosive demonstrations, and even a liquid nitrogen ice cream break are part of Cool Chemistry 2011, Saturday, April 30. Read More

April 8, 2011

Graduate Student Research Symposium, Tuesday, May 17
The Department of Chemistry's 10th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, featuring research presentations by third-year graduate students will be conducted, Tuesday, May 17. Read More

April 6, 2011

Distefano receives Distinguished McKnight University Professorship
Professor Mark Distefano has received the University of Minnesota's 2011 Distinguished McKnight University Professorship. He is one of four university professors to receive this prestigious honor this year. Read More

April 6, 2011

Five chemistry students receive research fellowships
Four Department of Chemistry graduate students and one undergraduate student—Victoria Chemistruck, Christopher Roberts, Stephanie Roe, Katherine Stevens, and William Wolf—have received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program honors. Read More

March 31, 2011

Your voice is needed: Join legislative advocacy efforts
The impact of current state budget discussions on the University of Minnesota is being described as "dire," "serious, "unprecedented," and "horrific." Join the university's legislative advocacy efforts. Read More

March 30, 2011

Professor Cramer receives Morse Alumni Award
Professor Christopher Cramer has been chosen to receive the 2011 Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. He will be honored at an award ceremony, Monday, April 25. Read More

March 30, 2011

Doctoral Research Showcase features four graduate students
Four Department of Chemistry research assistants, who are among the top doctoral students at the university, are participating in the fourth annual Doctoral Research Showcase. The showcase—free and open to the public—is set for noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in the Great Hall at the Coffman Union. Read More

March 24, 2011

Two chemistry professors honored for teaching excellence
Department of Chemistry Professors Ken Leopold and Kent Mann have been selected as co-winners of the Brasted Award for Excellence in College Chemistry Teaching from the Minnesota Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS MN). They will be honored at an awards ceremony, Monday, May 16. Read More

March 23, 2011

Chemistry research leads to top honors for high school student
Anushua Bhattacharya, a high school student who worked in Associate Professor Christy Haynes' lab last summer and will be doing so again this year, has been selected to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Read More

March 23, 2011

Research assistant earns summer fellowship honor
Research Assistant Melissa Maurer-Jones has received a Summer American Chemical Society-Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship award sponsored by the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Read More

March 21, 2011

Graduates studies presentation broadcast live, April 2
Learn about our graduate program by watching a live video stream of the department’s Graduate Studies in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota presentation, which will be broadcast at 9 a.m. (CST) Saturday, April 2. Read More

March 21, 2011

Professor Lodge chosen for prestigious visiting professorship
Professor Timothy Lodge is the 2011 Turner Alfrey Visiting Professor at the Michigan Molecular Institute (MMI), May 16 through May 19, Lodge is a leading researcher in understanding and controlling nano- and micro-structures that result from combining dissimilar polymer materials in new ways. Read More

March 10, 2011

Research assistant receives travel grant to major conference
Melissa Maurer-Jones, a research assistant in Associate Professor Christy Haynes' group, received a Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry Student Travel Award to present her work at the Pittcon Conference & Expo 2011. Read More

March 9, 2011

Research News Online features Professor Hillmyer
Professor Marc Hillmyer is featured in Research News Online published by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR). Read More

March 3, 2011

Chemistry alumnus receives national emerging leader award
Dwight Stoll, an assistant professor of analytical chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College, has been awarded the LCGC 2011 Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award. Stoll earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Read More

March 3, 2011

Join alumni, faculty, and friends at ACS national meeting
Please join us at the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast, Tuesday, March 29, at the spring 2011 American Chemical Society national meeting in Anaheim. Meet with faculty, alumni, and friends. Read More

March 2, 2011

Department of Chemistry alumnus receives prestigious award
Christopher Exstrom, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), has been awarded the prestigious Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Award. Exstrom earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1995. Read More

March 2, 2011

Kinetic isotope effects predicted for an enzymatic reaction
A mixed centroid path integral and free energy perturbation method has been used to investigate the primary carbon and secondary hydrogen kinetic isotope effects in the amino acid decarboxylation of L-Dopa catalyzed by the enzyme L-Dopa decarboxylase along with the corresponding uncatalyzed reaction in water. Read More

February 15, 2011

Kolthoff Lectureship, Feb. 21-24, features Professor Joseph Hupp
The Department of Chemistry hosts Professor Joseph Hupp from Northwestern University, Feb. 21-24, for its Kolthoff Lectureship in Chemistry. Hupp will present three lectures, and will meet with faculty and students during his visit. Read More

February 11, 2011

Chemistry professors honored at Celebrating Innovation event
Six professors from the Department of Chemistry were honored at a Celebrating Innovation event sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research. Celebrating Innovation honored researchers whose work has been patented, licensed to a company, or used to form a start-up company. Read More

February 9, 2011

Kinetic isotope effects predicted correctly for a mass ratio of 36
The research of Department of Chemistry Regents Professor Donald Truhlar and Research Associate Steven Mielke—kinetic isotope effects predicted correctly for a mass ratio of 36—is generating a lot of interest in the scientific community, including the production of a YouTube video. Read More

February 7, 2011

Million-fold activation of the [Fe<sub>2</sub>(µ-O)<sub>2</sub>] diamond core for C–H bond cleavage
Regents Professor Lawrence Que Jr.'s research group has been investigating the chemistry of a crystallographically characterized complex that has an [FeIIIFeIV(µ-O)2] diamond core. Read More

February 4, 2011

Renewable, tough, and transparent plastics
Research on renewable, touch, and transparent plastics focuses on utilizing rubber toughening to create more mechanically robust polylactide-based materials. Read More

February 4, 2011

Spectroscopic techniques that only produce signals from sample interfaces
Field-effect transistors are at the heart digital electronic devices. There is a strong drive to replace the heavy, expensive, active materials in those transistors with cheap, lightweight, carbon-based semiconductors. Read More

February 3, 2011

Research + Education + Public Policy = Change
Economic development, the environment, public policy, education, and scientific discovery form the foundation of the Center for Sustainable Polymers' mission. Read More

February 1, 2011

Arriaga group participates in Amantes de la Ciencias
Members of Professor Edgar Arriaga's research group participated in the Science Museum of Minnesota's outreach event Amantes de la Ciencias (Lovers of Science). Read More

January 28, 2011

Theresa Reineke joins Department of Chemistry as professor with tenure
Theresa M. Reineke, Ph.D., is joining the Department of Chemistry as a professor with tenure in September 2011. With expertise in polymer science and gene therapy and diagnostics, Reineke is a world leader in the area of polymer/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanostructures for medical applications. Read More

January 25, 2011

Creation of successful online course not an easy task
Time, energy, creativity, and personal commitment are keys to the success of the Department of Chemistry’s only online course. Read More

January 20, 2011

Today’s scientists reach out to the next generation
Science is fun, interesting, and important—and something that you, too, can do! Those are the central themes of the Department of Chemistry's outreach programs, which reach thousands of young people and their parents and teachers each year. Read More

January 18, 2011

Journal publishes research on protein kinase dynamic activation
The work of the Veglia Research Group, looking at a structural analysis of protein kinase A (PKA), was one of the featured articles in the October issue of Nature Chemical Biology journal. The researchers analyzed the substrate recognition process of PKA, finding that entropy and protein dynamics play a prominent role. Read More

January 14, 2011

Energy and U shows ignite students' interest in science
More than 1,300 students from metro area elementary and junior high schools attended Energy and U shows at the University of Minnesota, Wednesday, January 12, and Friday, January 14. With an educational slide show set to music, and some demonstrations that include loud explosions, bright flashes and flames, Energy and U tries to ignite students' interest in science. Read More

January 10, 2011

Tolman shares insights into green chemistry
William Tolman, chair of the Department of Chemistry, shares his insights into "green chemistry" with Minnesota 2020—a public policy think tank. He talks about the importance of and the philosophy behind "cradle to cradle" green chemistry for scientists at the University of Minnesota interested in seeking solutions to today's environmental issues. Read More

January 10, 2011

Chemistry Outreach Program engages homeschoolers
As part of its ongoing outreach efforts, the Department of Chemistry hosted about 60 home schooled young people, ages 7 and older, and their parents for two hours of chemical demonstrations and hands-on experiments, Thursday, January 13. Read More

January 7, 2011

Sustainable polymers researchers featured at green chemistry forum
Professors Marc Hillmyer and William Tolman, leading researchers in the development of polymers (plastics) made from sustainable, renewable resources, were part of the Adding Value Through Green Chemistry Forum. Read More

January 6, 2011

Breakthrough polymer research featured in Chemical & Engineering News
Professor Hillmyer's group has created a group of polymers (plastics) that can be used as functional, nanoporous membranes for a variety of applications such as drug delivery, water filtration, and separation applications. Read More

December 10, 2010

MURI grant research critical to development of hypersonic vehicles
Department of Chemistry Regents Professor Donald Truhlar is part of a $1.5 million Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) grant project, conducting research critical to the development of hypersonic vehicles. Read More

December 10, 2010

Grant for CyberMULE enhances access to ultrafast spectrometer
Professors William Tolman and Aaron Massari have been awarded a $470,000 National Science Foundation grant that will provide scientists from throughout the country access to an ultrafast spectrometer. Read More

December 10, 2010

Research assistant receives grant to study cryogenics in Israel
Nathan Burrows, a research assistant in Associate Professor R. Lee Penn's research group, has been awarded an International Thesis Research Grant from the Graduate School. Read More

December 10, 2010

Research assistant earns poster session award at expo
Li Chen, a research assistant in the Associate Professor Philippe Buhlmann's research group, has received a poster session award at the 9th Annual LifeScience Alley Conference & Expo. Read More

December 3, 2010

Student receives research fellowship
Julian Castro Lo, an undergraduate chemistry major, has received a Pfizer-LaJolla Academic and Industrial Relations (AIR) Diversity in Chemistry Research Fellowship, which will enable him to continue his research with Professor Thomas Hoye. Read More

December 3, 2010

Chemistry professor invents sensor technology
Associate Professor Philippe Buhlmann has invented a sensor technology that detects and measures ions found in chemical solutions. Read More

December 2, 2010

Truhlar research group receives INCITE award
Regents Professor Donald Truhlar's research group has received a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE) award, giving it access to a national supercomputer, which is essential for energy research. Read More

November 22, 2010

Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas receives Cottrell Scholar honor
The Research Corporation for Science Development has honored Assistant Professor Christopher Douglas as a Cottrell Scholar. This award honors third-year physical science professors who excel in both teaching and research. Read More

November 18, 2010

Two students receive Overend Award
Two Department of Chemistry doctoral candidates—Mehmed Zahid Ertem and Bo Wang—have received the 2010 Overend Award for Graduate Research in Physical Chemistry. The award honors outstanding physical chemistry graduate-student researchers. Read More

November 18, 2010

Research assistant receives symposium honor
Zhifeng Bai's research paper has been selected to be presented at the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium. Selection to this symposium is an honor and recognition among the polymer research community. Read More

November 10, 2010

KARE-11 highlights Energy and U & Math & Science Family Fun Fair
Energy and U, a popular Department of Chemistry outreach program, is featured at the Math & Science Family Fun Fair on Saturday, November 13. KARE-11 television highlights Energy and U and previews the fair at 6:20 a.m. Friday, November 12. Read More

November 4, 2010

Memorial service planned for former chemistry department professor
Paul F. Barbara, a prominent scientist and teacher and former Department of Chemistry faculty member, died on Sunday, October 31, due to complications following a cardiac arrest. A memorial service will be conducted on Sunday, December 12. Read More

October 18, 2010

Professor Hillmyer receives Creative Polymer Chemistry Award
Professor Marc Hillmyer has received the prestigious 2011 Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc. Read More

October 14, 2010

Driessen receives Access Achievement Award
Michelle Driessen receives an Access Achievement Award for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. Read More

October 13, 2010

Lecture programs, Oct. 21-22, honor female scientists
Two lecture programs honor the contributions of female scientists. Kristi Kiick will present the Department of Chemistry's Margaret C. Etter Memorial Lecture in Materials Chemistry and the College of Science & Engineering's Distinguished Women Scientists and Engineers Lecture. Read More

October 6, 2010

Analytical Coarse-Graining (ACG) of Macromolecules
Recent ACG research paves a way to use physics-based simulations to study macromolecular interactions and assembly in biological cells. Read More

September 30, 2010

Department of Chemistry fares well in national assessment of doctorate programs
The Department of Chemistry's graduate program performed well in a National Research Council assessment. Read More

September 26, 2010

DFT and multi-configurational quantum chemical calculations
DFT and multi-configurational quantum chemical calculations to investigate the geometry and electronic structure of several recently synthesized polymetallic uranium nitride and azide complexes. Read More

September 24, 2010

Photo exhibit features four Chemistry faculty members
Four Department of Chemistry faculty members are featured in a College of Science & Engineering photography exhibit, Inventive Women.
Read More

September 24, 2010

Ultrafast Structural Motions in Semiconducting Polymers
The results of this study corroborate theoretic predictions that low frequency ring-ring torsional motions could be particularly detrimental to charge conduction. Read More

September 21, 2010

Academic Moment at football game features Center for Sustainable Polymers
The Center for Sustainable Polymers is featured as a University of Minnesota Academic Moment during halftime at the football game, Saturday, September 25. Read More

17 September 2010

Research News thumbnail
Kolthoff Lectureship in Chemistry features Professor Van Duyne
The Department of Chemistry hosts Professor Richard P. Van Duyne from Northwestern University, Monday, September 20, through Wednesday, September 22, for its Kolthoff Lectureship in Chemistry.     Read More

19 August 2010

Research News thumbnail
Computations Clarify Oxidation Pathways
A computational study of the reaction between a hydroxyl radical and a vinyl alcohol molecule shows that the reaction likely proceeds by one pathway at low temperature and a quite different pathway at high temperature Read More

26 June 2010

Research News thumbnail
Prof Gao receives IBM Faculty Award
Professor Jiali Gao has received an IBM Faculty award for his research contributions in the development of novel quantum mechanical methods. Read More

15 July 2010

Research News thumbnail
Elusive high-spin Fe=O complex crystallized
Understanding how iron enzymes activate O2 to break strong C-H bonds on the substrate.
Read More

30 June 2010

Research News thumbnail
Three Chemistry Faculty elected 2010 ACS Fellows
Three faculty have been elected to the 2010 class of ACS Fellows. Congratulations to Professors Tim Lodge, Chris Cramer, and Bill Tolman!

27 July 2010

Research News thumbnail
UMN Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast Meeting
If you are attending the Fall 2010 ACS National Meeting in Boston, MA, please join us for the U of MN Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast!
Read More

18 May 2010

Research News thumbnail
U of Minnesota study finds rising levels of dioxins from common soap ingredient in Mississippi River sediments
Dioxins in general decreasing, but those derived from triclosan increasing.
Read More

01 May 2010

Research News thumbnail
Prof Leopold receives IT Week Faculty Award
In recognition to Ken Leopold for distinquished record of scholarship, teaching, and service to the college and the University, voted upon by the undergraduates in the Institute of Technology.

05 May 2010

Research News thumbnail
Profs Lu and Massari awarded IREE Grants
Two of our junior faculty, Profs. Lu and Massari, have been selected to receive Early Career Grants from the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE). Read More

30 April 2010

Research News thumbnail
Impacts of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Size, Pore Ordering, and Pore Integrity on Hemolytic Activity
Systematic study of hemolytic activity of nonporous and porous silica nanoparticles... Read More

21 April 2010

Research News thumbnail An Old Plastic with a New Structure: Nanoporous Linear Polyethylene

New strategies to functionalize this ubiquitous plastic are continually sought to improve the applicability to more technologically advanced products.
Read More

16 April 2010

Prof Truhlar elected chair of APS division

Don Truhlar has been elected as a future chairperson of the Chemical Physics Division of the American Physical Society. In 2011 he becomes Chair-Elect, and in 2012 he becomes Chair.

16 March 2010

Prof Hillmyer selected as McKnight Professor

Prof. Marc Hillmyer has been selected as a recipient of the University of Minnesota's special mid-career faculty award, the Distinguished McKnight University Professorship. Read more.

09 March 2010

Profs. Blank and Siepmann recognized with outstanding teaching awards

Congratulations to two of our faculty who have been chosen to receive prestigious awards for their contributions to education. Read More.

26 February 2010

Chemistry Alum receives Giddings Award

Congratulations to an esteemed alum from the department, Lawrence Potts (Professor at Gustavus Adolphus for 40+ yrs), who has just received the Giddings Award for Excellence in Education.

18 February 2010

Prof. Haynes selected as an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow

This is an extraordinarily competitive award, involving nominations from the US and Canada, to recognize the achievements of scholars in science, mathematics, economics and computer science.

17 February 2010

How many atoms can Th coordinate?

Both the X-ray and neutron diffraction results show that thorium forms bonds with fifteen hydrogen atoms; accordingly, this is the first crystallographically characterized complex with a Werner coordination number of 15. Read More

12 February 2010

Online Chemistry course featured by University News Service

Dr. Michelle Driessen's new online course in introductory chemistry was recently featured in an article for the UMN home page. Read More

09 February 2010

UMN Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast Meeting

If you are planning to attend the Spring 2010 ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA, please join us for the U of MN Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast! Read More

10 February 2010

Nobel Laureate Prof. Robert Grubbs to present Honeywell Nobel Initiative Lecture

The Department of Chemistry is pleased to host to our second Honeywell Nobel Initiative Lecture, March 2-3, 2010. Read More

09 February 2010

Oriented Aggregation: Formation and Transformation of Mesocrystal Intermediates Revealed

Oriented aggregation is a special case of aggregation in which nanocrystals self-assemble and form new secondary single crystals. Read More

01 February 2010

Simulations of an RNA Enzyme Molecular Switch

Recently, researchers have used large scale molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the dynamical hinge points of the L1 ligase all-RNA synthetic molecular switch. Read More

22 January 2010

Micro Free Flow Electrophoresis Analysis of Mitochondria

This technique is well suited for microscale preparative separations allowing further analysis of mitochondria sub-populations. Read More

20 January 2010

Inventive Women: Portraits of Scientists and Engineers at the U of M

A photography exhibit featuring women faculty in IT at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, featuring chemistry Professors Gagliardi, Haynes, Lu, and Penn. Read More

14 January 2010

Voltammetry at the Ultimate Limit of Low Polarity

The Buhlmann groups reports the first example of electrochemistry with a fluorous solvent.
Read More

08 January 2010

Off-target (side effects) drug effects identified by computational techniques and confirmed by experimental methods

The Distefano lab has investigated the off-target inhibition of protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase) by commercial drugs. Read More

29 December 2009

Prof Hillmyer named Fellow to AAAS

Marc A. Hillmyer: for outstanding contributions to the field of biorenewable polymers, particularly for using block copolymers to control properties and structure on the nanoscale. Read more.

23 December 2009

2009 Chemistry Newsletter

Evidence for the health and vitality of the department is plentiful in this issue of ChemNews, which features items on recent student and faculty awards, research, education innovation, and alumni achievements. Read More

18 December 2009

Mechanism of Water Oxidation for the Ru-Hbpp Catalyst

This water oxidation step is the key bottleneck currently associated with the development of commercial light harvesting devices for the photo-production of H2 from water. Read More

01 December 2009

Department of Chemistry is ranked 15th in US

The 2009 Academic Rating of World Universities in Chemistry has placed the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry as 22nd in the world, 15th in the U.S., and 3rd in the Big Ten. Read More

29 November 2009

Prof. Douglas chosen "Journal Awardee"

Congratulations to Prof Chris Douglas! Synlett and Synthesis has chosen him as a "Journal Awardee" in 2010. Individuals are defined as promising young professors at the beginning of their career.

25 November 2009

Prof. Truhlar awarded honorary degree

Congratulations to Professor Don Truhlar, who has been awarded an honorary degree ("Doctor honoris causa") from the Technical University of Lodz, Poland. The degree will be conferred at a formal ceremony in Lodz in the spring, 2010.

16 November 2009

Temperature-dependent phase transition observed between polymorphic crystals

Victor Young, Chemistry's X-ray Facility Director is featured on the cover Crystal Structure Communications Publication. Read More

05 November 2009

A New Paradigm for Biomolecular Simulations

Our research will focus on developing a novel computational approach that represents a paradigm change in the way intermolecular interactions are described Read More

02 November 2009

Recipients of Department Professorships.

Congratulations to professors Hoye, Cramer, and Gao, the newest recipients of named Chemistry Department Professorships.
Read More

15 October 2009

Green Chemistry at the U of MN Highlighted on Minnesota Public Radio

Jane Wissinger, Director of Organic Laboratories, hightlighted the important safety and energy benefits that can be gleaned from moving chemical synthesis in a Green direction. Read More

05 October 2009

Prof. Carr awarded the Martin Medal

Please join me in congratulating Prof. Pete Carr, who was just awarded the Martin Medal by the Chromatographic Society in the UK.
Read More

05 September 2009

A human diiron enzyme that controls cell growth

A non-heme diiron active site has been demonstrated for DOHH, a human enzyme involved in regulating cell proliferation. Read More

27 August 2009

Prof. York edits new book

"Multi-scale Quantum Models for Biocatalysis: Modern Techniques and Applications", edited by Darrin York and Tai-Sung Lee, explores various molecular modelling ... Read More

24 August 2009

Prof. Lodge receives ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry

Congratulations to Professor Timothy P. Lodge on being selected to receive the ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry. Read More

15 August 2009

Prof. Tolman named chair of Department of Chemistry

Professor William Tolman has been named chair of the Department of Chemistry succeeding Professor Jeffrey Roberts. Read More

07 August 2009

Stringing up nanobeads

Spherical colloids with diameters of a few hundred nanometers are useful building blocks for self-assembly into functional structures.
Read More

29 July 2009

Prof. Truhlar, Prof. Crawford and two alumni named ACS Fellows.

Congratulations to Regents Prof Don Truhlar and Prof Emeritus Bryce Crawford who have been selected as Fellows of the American Chemical Society. Read More

24 July 2009

Intermediates in Reactions of Copper(I) Complexes with N-Oxides

In a paper featured on the cover of the Inorganic Chemistry, the Tolman group reports new results of the reactions of copper(I) complexes... Read More

23 July 2009

Prof. Massari receives NSF CAREER Award

Aaron Massari has received a CAREER Award from the NSF to support his research employing 2D-IR VES to understand how the molecular motions within conducting polymers... Read More

15 July 2009

Prof. Truhlar awarded 2009 Herschbach Medal

Don Truhlar received the medal at the Conference on the Dynamics of Molecular Collisions "for bold and architectural work, inspiring and empowering..."
Read More

13 July 2009

UMN Chemistry Alumni & Friends Breakfast Meeting

If you are planning to attend the Fall 2009 ACS National Meeting in Washington DC, join us for the U of MN Chemistry Breakfast Meeting. Read More

25 June 2009

Prof. Que Named Regents Professor

Lawrence Que has been named a Regents Professor by the University's Board of Regents. The designation is the highest level of recognition given to faculty by the university. Read More

17 June 2009

Making Modern Materials by the Metathesis Manipulation of a Monoterpene

The research teams recently demonstrated the controlled polymerization of a cyclic diene prepared from the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of myrcene... Read More.  

29 May 2009

Crystal structure of octabromoditechnetate and a study of the quadruply bonded dimers

Understanding the properties of compounds that contain metal-metal bonds is fundamental to...
Read More.

22 May 2009

More Consistent van der Waals Radii

Theoretical method yields atomic radii for all the main-group elements, a benefit for molecular modeling. Read More.
 

17 May 2009

Former IT Dean H. Ted Davis passes away

H. Ted Davis, a U of MN Regents professor of chemical engineering and materials science and former dean of the University's Institute of Technology, died suddenly on May 17, 2009.
Read More.     (Visitation and Funeral information)

30 Apr 2009

'U' launches Center for Sustainable Polymers

The U of MN has launched the Center for Sustainable Polymers aimed at developing a new generation of environment-friendly products with Prof. Marc Hillmyer as Director. Read More.

28 Apr 2009

Prof. Truhlar Elected to NAS

Don Truhlar has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and is one of 72 new members and 18 foreign associates to be recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Read More

28 Apr 2009

Prof. Haynes named Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar

Christy Haynes has been named a 2009 Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar which recognizes Christy's considerable body of scientific accomplishments and her dedication to education in the chemical sciences.

24 Apr 2009

A Structural Resolution Cryo-TEM Study of the Early Stages of MFI Growth

A cryo-TEM study on precursor sols prior to and during the early stages of MFI formation. Cryo-TEM images with structural resolution yielded new insights in MFI growth... Read More.

16 Apr 2009

Prof. Blank receives IREE's 2009 seed grant

The U of MN's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment selected David Blank's project "Next Generation Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells"
Read More.

14 Apr 2009

Breaking Strong C-H and O-H Bonds with a Diiron(IV) Complex

Electrochemical generation of a (μ-oxo)diiron(IV) complex making this the highest Fe potential experimentally determined to date. Read More.

07 Apr 2009

Prof. Truhlar named a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry

This honor recognizes Don's many "contributions to the advancement of chemical science."

30 Mar 2009

Prof. Penn receives Taylor/ITAS Award for Distinguished Teaching

The Taylor/ITAS for Distinguished Teaching was established to recognize outstanding contributions to undergraduate or graduate teaching.

25 Mar 2009

Chemistry alumnus receives Myser Award

Prof. Gina Mancini-Samuelson, chair of the Chemistry Department at the College of St Catherine's, received her PhD from the U of MN in 1996; her advisor was Marian Stankovich.
Read More

19 Mar 2009

Prof. Leopold receives Morse Alumni Award

Doreen Leopold received a 2009 Horace T. Morse U of MN Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergrad Education. With this award, Doreen will be inducted into the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

2 Mar 2009

Manipulating Crystal Orientation in Nanopores

Investigators at the U of MN's and NYU's MRSEC have reported the growth of glycine nanocrystals inside aligned cylindrical nanopores of a polymer monolith... Read more

17 Feb 2009

Reduction of Nitrous Oxide to Dinitrogen by a Mixed Valent Tricopper-Disulfido Cluster

The greenhouse gas N2O is converted to N2 under mild conditions by μ-sulfido-tetracopper Read more

10 Feb 2009

Shape-Selective C–H Oxidation

Mimicking a unique feature of an enzyme active site with a simple model complex.
Read More.

15 Jan 2009

Bio-inspired iron-catalyzed cis-dihydroxylation of an arene

This research effort is aimed at developing oxidation catalysts with economical and environmentally friendly metal centers. Read More.

22 Dec 2008

Sheep in Wolves Clothing: T-Cell Decoys from Nanoparticles

The research team of Prof. Andrew Taton was recently highlighted in the IT's "Inventing Tomorrow" publication for their work toward a cancer vaccine based on nanoparticles. Read more.

19 Dec 2008

Prof. Lodge receives 2008 AAAS Fellowship

American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship awarded "for distinguished contributions to the field of polymer science, especially in polymer dynamics and in the phase behavior of block copolymers."

11 Dec 2008

Prof. Penn awarded McKnight Fellowship

Lee Penn who has been named a McKnight Presidential Fellow of the University of Minnesota. McKnight Presidential Fellowships are awarded to the University's most promising faculty upon tenure and promotion to associate professor.

21 Nov 2008

Thermoreversible Micelle Shuttle Between an Ionic Liquid and Water

This "micelle shuttle" should enable the facile delivery or extraction of non-polar reagents to or from an ionic liquid reaction medium Read more.

21 Nov 2008

Department of Chemistry Fall 2008 Newsletter

The leaves are changing, the U's parking ramps are full, with and Kolthoff Halls are packed with newly arrived chemistry majors and graduate students. This fall's newsletter is full of news. Read More.

19 Nov 2008

Multi-photon Ionization of Neat Solvents Yields Neat Results

A team of University researchers has demonstrated the unique behavior of isooctane when it is photoionized by multiple photons. Read More.

5 Nov 2008

One monomer, two polymers

This new material could be useful applications that require higher thermal stability than that offered by PLA. Read more.

7 Oct 2008

Prof K. Leopold receives IT's Taylor Distinguished Professorship

These Taylor Professorships were created to encourage and recognize the college's best and most dedicated undergraduate educators.

22 Sept 2008

Prof. Haynes receives $1.5 million NIH New Innovator Award

She is the first U of MN faculty to win this award for her research to build a cell-by-cell human immune system to identify therapeutic approaches for treating allergic reactions and asthma. Read more.
Check out the FOX-9 Video!!

20 Sept 2008

Chemistry Outreach program in the News

Outreach coordinator Professor Ken Leopold and Eric Olson are featured in KARE11 news video about the Science and Math Fun Fair. Read more.

10 Sept 2008

CEMS/Chem student receives prestigious award

Apollo 15 Astronaut Col. Al Worden presented senior Andrew Jones with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). News articles: MNDaily and UMNnews release.

9 Sept 2008

Professor Pete Carr to receive the 2009 ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry.

It recognizes outstanding contributions to the science of analytical chemistry, pure or applied, carried out in the United States or Canada.

6 Sept 2008

Chemistry Professor's research featured in two U of MN research bulletins

Professor Darrin York's research is featured in the MSI's summer research bulletin and BICB's summer/spring research bulletin.

4 Sept 2008

Outstanding Graduate TA Awards

The winners of the Wayland E. Noland and Robert L. Ferm Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant awards for the 2007-2008 Academic Year are Susan Brown and Yu-Shen Lin. Read more.

1 Sept 2008

Does Electrospray Ionization Produce Gas-Phase or Liquid-Phase Structures?

Professor Steven Kass, Chemistry, U of MN was recently featured in an C&E article, "Mass Spec Ion Structure Controlled By Solvent Effects" Read more.

20 August 2008

Cell Penetrating Peptides

Currently researchers in the Distefano lab have discovered other interesting properties of prenylated molecules. Read more.

04 August 2008

Chemistry Profs in the News

Check out the article on the toxicological properties (or lack thereof) of nanoparticles in the Star Tribune. Andy Taton and Christy Haynes are quoted extensively. Read more.

31 July 2008

Electrochemical Eavesdropping: Listening to a Single Cell

The Haynes group has used an analytical chemistry technique, to characterize chemical messenger secretion from individual blood platelets. Read more

25 July 2008

Regent's Prof Truhlar receive Herschbach Award

Don Truhlar receive the 2009 Dudley R. Herschbach Award for Excellence in Research in Collision Dynamics. The award recognizes work that is "bold and architectural... inspiring and empowering."

10 July 2008

Methyl Anion Dethroned as the Most Basic Species

After decades as the champion of proton acceptors, the methyl anion is finally playing second fiddle to the gas-phase lithium monoxide anion. Read more.

25 June 2008

Highly Selective Receptor-Based Chemical Sensors With Picomolar Detection Limits

Ion-selective electrodes based on receptor-doped polymeric membranes are routinely used for well over a billion measurements per year. Read more.

10 June 2008

Fe/Mn Swap in Dioxygenase Active Sites

Profs. Que/Lipscomb report an observation that the metal centers of a pair of iron- and manganese- dependent dioxygenases can be swapped without affecting the catalytic parameters... Read more.

04 June 2008

30 Billion Pounds and Counting

Professor Hillmyer's research is highlighted in Inventing Tomorrow, a publication of the Institute of Technology. Follow link for an expanded article. Read more.

28 May 2008

Extreme Separations

Research from the lab of Prof. Peter Carr was recently featured in the April 28, 2008 cover story of C&E News about exciting new approaches to liquid chromatography. Read more.

14 May 2008

Fluidic and air-stable supported lipid bilayer and cell-mimicking microarrays

As drug delivery, therapy, and medical imaging are becoming increasingly cell-specific, there is a critical need for high fidelity... Read more.

21 April 2008

Solvent Structure and Ribozyme Catalysis

Cover Story in Chemistry & Biology, from the group of Prof. William Scott (UC Santa Cruz) in collaboration with Prof. Darrin York (UMN)
Read more
.

02 April 2008

What makes a mineral?

In this article, the authors review how many nanominerals and mineral nanoparticles have properties that are size dependent within the nanoscale size range. ... Read more.

31 March 2008

David Blank received Charles E. Bowers Award

The Charles E. Bowers Faculty Teaching Award recognizes an outstanding IT professor who has demonstrated exceptional interest and commitment to teaching. Read more.

26 March 2008

Interaction of Nanoparticles with Biological Cells

Nanoscale materials are facilitating novel biomedical applications in the areas of therapeutics and assay development. Read more.

06 March 2008

Andreas Stein selected as Distinguished McKnight University Professorship.

The Distinguished McKnight Professorship is the University of Minnesota's special mid-career faculty award. Read more.

03 March 2008

Force Fields for Complex Reactions

Combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods have provided powerful means for studying chemical reactions in condensed phases such as... Read more.

29 February 2008

Kris McNeill receives Horace T. Morse Award

Horace T. Morse Alumni Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. With this award, Kris will be inducted into the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Read more.

25 February 2008

Glimpses into the mechanisms of RNA catalysis revealed by molecular simulations

An area of intense experimental and theoretical research effort has been concentrated on elucidating how RNA molecules are ... Read more.

12 February 2008

Understanding Retention in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

Using efficient Monte Carlo algorithms and accurate force fields, the Siepmann group has elucidated the molecular-level details of retention in... Read more.

15 January 2008

Lee Penn receives Taylor Career Development Award

The Taylor Career Development Award recognizes exceptional contributions to teaching by a candidate for tenure during the probationary period. Read more.

27 December 2007

The first synthetic complex with a FeIV2(μ-O)2 diamond core

Larry Que reports the characterization of the first example of a synthetic diiron(IV) complex with an Fe2(μ-O)2 diamond core. Read more.

13 December 2007

Tough Nanoporous Membranes with a 3-D pore structure

Controlled fabrication of nanoporous polymer membranes has attracted growing interest due to their applicability as... Read More

3 December 2007

Fan Li receives Graduate Student Silver Award

Fan Li, a Ph.D. student in Professor Andreas Stein's research group received a Graduate Student Silver Award at the Fall 2007 Meeting of the Materials Research Society Read more.

28 November 2007

Storable Sources of Atomic Fe-, Nb-, Ta- and other Wonders of Transition Metal Chemistry

Unprecedented polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon stabilized sources of atomic Fe-, Nb-, and Ta- provide the first well-defined homoleptic 1,3-butadienemetalates. Read more.

15 November 2007

Up in the air

Silicon nanoparticles have many potential applications, for instance in photovoltaic cells.
Read more.

7 November 2007

A Copper-Oxo Intermediate from O2?

Understanding the properties of synthetic copper-oxygen intermediates is important for evaluating mechanisms of oxidation by enzymes and other catalyst. Read more.

1 November 2007

FeV=O in Bio-inspired Olefin Epoxidation Catalysis.

Nearly quantitative conversion of cyclooctene to its epoxide (200 turnovers) can be obtained within one minute... Read more.

26 October 2007

Jeff Roberts elected as AAAS Fellow

Jeffrey T. Roberts has been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow.  Election as a Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. Read More

22 October 2007

Playing Rubik's Cube with Nanoparticles

Colloidal crystals are of great interest in the growing field of photonics, where they may be used to manipulate the propagation or emission of light. Read more.

3 October 2007

Green Thermoplastic Elastomers

The development of new polymeric materials from renewable resources is gaining considerable attention. These materials can act as environmentally friendly... Read more.

27 September 2007

IT to host Nobel Laureate

Dr. Roderick MacKinnon is the featured Nobel laureate for the Honeywell-Nobel Initiative event on October 1-2 at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Read more.

25 September 2007

Nanocrystal Growth by Oriented Aggregation

Oriented aggregation is an important, nonclassical crystal growth mechanism by which nanocrystals grow... Read more.

12 September 2007

Peeking inside an organic transistor

Charge transport at or across interfaces is central to the operation of a wide variety of molecule-based devices... Read more.

7 September 2007

Edgar Arriaga awarded Fesler-Lampert Chair

Created in 1999 with support from Graduate School and the generosity of David and Elizabeth Fesler. The chair funds researchers and scholars who are conducting research in a project related to the subject of aging.

7 September 2007

Transforming a pollutant from bad to worse

Recent research by graduate student Jeff Buth shows that chlorination of a commonly used heartburn drug found in wastewater leads to unexpected products. Read more.

30 August 2007

Analysis of subcellular structures isolated from single cells

In order to maintain cellular function, subcellular structures (organelles) have a complex organization... Read more.

22 August 2007

Lawrence Que is awarded the 2008 Alfred Bader Award

The Bader Award recognizes significant accomplishments that are at the interface between biology and organic or inorganic chemistry. Read more.

14 August 2007

New Chemistry Faculty Member:
Andrew Harned

Research in our lab focuses on devising new methods for the stereoselective synthesis of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds Read more.

8 August 2007

Photoionization of Isooctane and n-Octane in Intense Laser Fields

Effect of Irradiance on Ionization Rates
Read more
(PDF).

7 August 2007

New Chemistry Faculty Member:
Valerie Pierre

Our group studies the role of metal ions in biological systems and design metal complexes as biological and medical probes. Read more.

31 July 2007

New Chemistry Faculty Member: Christopher Douglas

Research in our group focuses on the development of new synthetic methods and on finding solutions to a variety of synthesis problems. Read more.

24 July 2007

Computer Simulations Show that the Hydrogen Radical Transfer Reaction Catalyzed by Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase and Coenzyme... Read more.

13 July 2007

Watching an electron digging its own grave in two-dimensions

Injecting an electron into a crystalline solid of many materials can induce local distortion of the lattice... Read more.

30 June 2007

Transition state analysis of the chemical and enzymatic prenylation reactions.

The observation that inhibition of Ras farnesylation arrests the growth of tumor cells... Read more.

25 June 2007

University Community Saddened by Death of Professor Marian Stankovich

The Department of Chemistry and the University community was saddened to learn of the death of Professor Marian Stankovich on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Read more.

8 June 2007

A nano-tumbleweed

Tumbleweeds grow in the Spring and Summer and break away from their roots in Autumn "tumbling" in the desert...
Read more

24 May 2007

Receptor-Based Chemical Sensors With Three-Dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Carbon Contacts

Recent Research from Professor Philippe Buhlmann
Read More.

9 May 2007

Chemistry Alum wins Graduate School Award

Please join us in congratulating Nate Schultz, who is the 2007 winner of the University of Minnesota Graduate School’s “Best Dissertation Award” in the Physical Sciences and Engineering.

16 April 2007

Correlated ultrafast exciton relaxation in conducting polymers

Poly-3-hexylthiophene, or P3HT, is one of the most commonly used organic conductors in opto-electronic research. Read more.

4 April 2007

Prof. Hillmyer receives Taylor award

Marc Hillmyer has been awarded a George Taylor Award for Distinguished Research from the Institute of Technology. Established in 1982, the Taylor Award recognizes younger faculty members who have shown outstanding ability in research. Read more.

27 March 2007

Leopold group research featured in C&E News

U of M Chemistry professor Doreen Leopold and current and former group members Steve Miller, Tim Marcy and Evan Millam have established that ethylene is cyclized to benzene by gas-phase niobium. Read more.

26 March 2007

Low-Flow Fume Hood Safety Presentation

Orientation to Proper Use of Your Kewaunee Dynamic Barrier Low-Flow Fume Hood
(PowerPoint 28Mg | PDF 1.2Mg)
Read More.

28 February 2007

Quantum Chemical Characterization of the Bonding of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes to Cp2MI Compounds M = Ce(III), U(III)

Professor Christopher Cramer Read more.

28 February 2007

Chemistry Professor awarded Alumni Award

Please join me in congratulating Tom Hoye, who has is to receive one of this year's Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. With this award, Tom will be inducted into the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Read More.

13 February 2007

Chemistry Alum awarded the Grainger Prize

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Abul Hussam, has been awarded the Grainger Challenge Prize Gold Award... Read more.

2 February 2007

Great Lakes Regressors win Best-in-Show Award

We are pleased to announce that U of M chemistry graduate students Jake Rafferty and Neeraj Rai, Professor Ilja Siepmann... Read more.

19 January 2007

Insight into the role of Mg(II) in hammerhead ribozyme catalysis from X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulation

The hammerhead ribozyme is an archetype system to study RNA catalysis.
Read more.

9 January 2007

2007 McKnight Land-Grant Professorship awarded to Dr. Christy Haynes

The winners were chosen for their potential for important contribution to their field; the degree to which past achievements and current ideas demonstrate originality, imagination, and innovation; the potential for attracting outstanding students; and the significance of the research. Read more.

3 January 2007

Molding Porous Nanoparticles

Within the last few years, nanoparticles have transitioned from scientific curiosities to becoming essential components in applications such as sensing, nanoelectronics, catalysis and other uses. Read more.

22 December 2006

U of M Chemistry alum recognized in 2006 “Scientific American 50”

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Robert Hammer, an alumnus of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota has been named to the 2006 “Scientific American 50”. Read more.

20 December 2006

Structural Dynamics and Topology of Phospholamban in Oriented Lipid Bilayers using Multi-Dimensional Solid-State NMR

Professor Gianluigi Veglia and his research group... Read more.

12 December 2006

Professors Gladfelter and Tolman elected as fellows to the AAAS

We are proud to announce that Wayne Gladfelter and Bill Tolman have been elected as Fellows to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Read more.

6 December 2006

Optimizing Band Width and Resolution in Micro-Free Flow Electrophoresis

Bryan Fonslow and Michael Bowser have recently described the sources of band broadening in micro-free flow electrophoresis (μ-FFE) devices. Read more.

22 November 2006

Mesoporous Membranes Templated by a Polymeric Bicontinuous Microemulsion

Professor Tim Lodge, Frank Bates, and their co-advised student Ning Zhou have demonstrated a new and versatile route to porous materials, with typical channel dimensions between 50 and 200 nanometers. Read more.

20 November 2006
U of M student Katie Lee named Rhodes Scholar

Katie N. Lee, an honors senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in biochemistry and chemistry, has been named one of 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars for 2007.
Read more.

8 November 2006
Structural and Functional Model of the Rieske Dioxygenases

Professor Larry Que and his research group report the first structural and functional model of Rieske dioxygenases. This research will appear in an upcoming issue of Angewandte Chemie.
Read more.

2 November 2006
Noland 80th Birthday Event Pictures!

Here are some of the pictures collected that were taken during Professor Noland's 80th Birthday Event. The shots are arranged as a automatic slideshow, so choose the first one and sit back and enjoy the show!
Link to Slideshow

31 October 2006
Two of the recent Hottest Papers!

The Thomson ISI©‚Äôs Essential Science Indicators recognizes 244 total Hot Papers in chemistry, the Truhlar Group has two of them.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A Link
Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation Link

31 October 2006
ChemNews Crossword answers

Answers to the ChemNews Crossword puzzle.
Link to Answers

22 May 2006
Stuart W. Fenton

(April 29, 1922-February 4, 2006)

Stuart W. Fenton devoted 35 years of his life to serving students at the University of Minnesota.  He was a friend we shall miss, and he will live on in the appreciation of his many students.  He passed away on February 4, 2006 from heart valve complications. Link

29 October 2006
Fall 2006 Issue of ChemNews

ChemNews Fall 2006 Issue

Link to ChemNews

17 October 2006
Renovation Continues On Kolthoff Hall

After approval by the legislature, the $28.6 million Kolthoff renovation project continues.

Link to Renovation Site

14 October 2006

The Noland Bobblehead is Sold!

The winning bid came from Bill Gleason, Associate Professor of Lab Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota. Proceeds will support the Wayland Noland Fellowship Fund. Thanks to all who cast bids, and congratulations to Bill Gleason.
Link to Bill Gleason

19 July 2006
National Awards For Two Graduate Students

Dwight Stoll and Paul Boswell were awardees of fellowships from the American Chemical Society's Division of Analytical Chemistry.
Link to Awards

19 July 2006
Truhlar Appointed Regents Professor

Donald Truhlar has just been appointed Regents Professor of Chemistry, the University’s highest faculty honor.

Link to Award Announcement
Link to Regents Biography

1 July 2006
New Faculty Member

Aaron Massari joins the department.

Link to Profile

15 May 2006
McKnight University Professors

Karin Musier-Forsyth and Ilja Siepmann receive distinguished McKnight University Professors.

Links to Award Announcement

1 May 2006
Renovation Begins On Kolthoff Hall

After approval by the legislature, the $28.6 million Kolthoff renovation project begins.

Link to Renovation Site