A University of Utah - Department of Chemistry Publication | 2 0 2 3
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A CENTERING FORCE DEAR FRIENDS OF CHEMISTRY: It has been a while since we published our last issue of the Catalyst. Many things have changed since then–we have new colleagues, lost some of our friends, weathered the complexity of the pandemic, and continued to build the department. What has remained the same is the underlying passion, drive, and excellence that I observe day to day in our faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. I see this while advising and mentoring my own research team and working with my colleagues and our staff to address challenges. Perhaps the clearest view of our culture was on display in October as we recognized our four 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awardees
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
(who will be highlighted in detail in the next issue!). Their message to our current faculty and students was the same: you are providing and receiving an outstanding education that will allow you to lead the next generation of scientists, managers, and students. Their message was inspiring and a grand reminder of why we do what we do every day. In this issue we feature the culture of our department and bring you up to date on several highlights from the last two years. This includes some descriptions of our successful alumni, including the 2020 Distinguished Alumni–Rik Tykwinski, Carrie Wager, and Raymond Price. In addition, a previous Chemistry Distinguished Alumnus, Clifton Sanders, has been recognized in several Universitywide honors, including the 2023 U
Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2023 Hugo Rossi Lectureship. Finally, we do a deep dive into one of our more recent graduates, Rory “Ziggy” Uibel and his adventures in growing a highly successful local instrument company. The issue also highlights faculty and students who have received prominent recognition and have had exciting research accomplishments. While there are many to acknowledge, I would like to give a shout-out to Cindy Burrows (Pauling Medal), Valeria Molinero (Irving Langmuir Award and induction into the National Academy of Sciences), Michael Morse (Distinguished Professorship), and Luisa Whittaker -Brooks (U Presidential Scholar, ACS-WCC 2024 Rising Star Award, and MRS Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award). It is always
rewarding to see our colleagues honored for their excellence! On a sad note, we lost several of our former colleagues, including Laya Kesner, Frank Harris, and Wes Bentrude. I was personally close with Wes as he retired soon after I arrived but remained present for several years while I was building my program. He was such a kind and giving person with an easy smile and great sense of humor. I will also note that his research on
understanding the reactivity of unusual radicals has circled into the mainstream many years after his initial publications. The organic chemistry community is utilizing his insights as the use of radicals has had a renaissance in recent years. As a final note, this is my last year as department chair. This has been a demanding job, and I look forward to passing the reins to my successor. However, I can say
RECOGNITION THE PAULING MEDAL CYNTHIA BURROWS HIGHLY-CITED RESEARCHER PETER STANG
with all honesty that working with such an incredible group of people has been a pleasure. The culture of our department–collaboration, excellence in education and science, and a good sense of humor–has been a centering force through the challenges encountered. Sincerely,
Chair Matt Sigman
Catalyst is the official magazine of the Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, published in partnership with Marketing & Communications, College of Science.
IRVING LANGMUIR AWARD IN CHEMICAL PHYSICS VALERIA MOLINERO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
Associate Director of Marketing &
OF SCIENCE FELLOWS
Communications: Bianca Lyon
VAHE BANDARIAN JENNIFER S. SHUMAKER-PARRY GOLDWATER, KESNER & WATTERS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ALISON WANG
IN MEMORIAM
Writer & Editor: David Pace Designer/Photographer: Todd Anderson Special thanks to Nelly Divricean, Strategic Engagement/Dept. of Chemistry Follow us on social media @uofu_chemistry or @utahchemistry
FRANK E. HARRIS
1929 - 2023 HANNAH LAYA KESNER
1943 - 2022 WESLEY GEORGE BENTRUDE
Contact us at advancement@chem.utah.edu Prefer only a digital version of Catalyst? Send us an email. nellyd@chem.utah.edu
1935-2022
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR | 2023
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LIFE IN THE GAS LANE IND U S T R I A L C HE MIS T Z I G G Y UIB E L P E R F O R M S AT HI G H O C TA NE
OCCASIONALLY, ONE STUMBLES
and shop located in Research Park
handling of petroleum engineers. Its
UPON SOMEONE WHO CONVINCES
southeast of the University of Utah.
featured, online process monitoring provides updates in real time of up to
YOU, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF TRAINING, TENACIT Y AND
Uibel moves about the floor of PI
seventeen different process streams
ENTHUSIASM ON AN EXISTENTIAL
with the wild-eyed energy of a kid
per instrument.
LEVEL , THAT THEY COULD DO OR
in a candy shop. He might as well
BE ANY THING IN THIS LIFE .
be riding inline skates or skiing, two
“We think of ourselves as more of
pastimes of his as a younger man.
an information company than an
Such is the case with Rory “Ziggy”
He is fond of picking up a dense
instrument company,” says Uibel. “A
Uibel, PhD ’03 who recently provided
spectrograph housed in something
refinery with our real-time information
for a select group of non-chemists
to the uninitiated that looks like
will be able to optimize stream
a tour of Process Instruments, Inc.
kryptonite casing and dropping it
blends and reduce giveaway of more
Founded by Lee Smith, Process
with a satisfying thud on the bench to
expensive components,” such as
Instruments (PI) has pioneered Raman
show how shockproof his product is.
octane.
control, primarily for refinery and
It needs to be. A Raman analyzer uses
PI’s optically fast spectrometer and
petrochemical plants at sites that can
a laser to probe molecular vibrations
low-loss sequential optical multiplexer
be environmentally extreme, from
of molecules where a tiny portion of
are paired with sets of fiber optic
arctic to desert and from tropical
the incident radiation is shifted to a
cables for exciting the sample and
climates to off-shore locations.
longer wavelength and produces a
collecting the Raman scattering.
Stokes Raman scattering band. The
At PI, the entire instrument and its
If that sounds arcane, it becomes
wavelength-shifted Raman bands
performance–from computers to
clearly grounded and articulated by
provide a structural fingerprint by
the cooling apparatus and from
the tour guide who leads an X Games-
which molecules in a sample can be
the laser probes to the fiber optic
style stunt-double life as an extreme
identified. PI manufactures Raman
conduits–can all be monitored and
athlete. Even so, he’s categorically in
instruments for not only extreme
maintained remotely. Equipment
his element as a chemist at the office
environments but for the rough
includes back-up components and, if
spectroscopy analysis for process
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
needed, are repaired or replaced on
regulations related to clean air and
his athleticism really shines. In fact,
demand by calling a certain mobile
other considerations. In addition
chemistry did not appeal to him at
phone number at the other end of
to offering gasoline solutions such
all when he was an undergraduate
which is none other than Uibel (“Hi.
as reducing octane loss and the
at the University of Washington in
This is Ziggy!”) who arranges to assess
“giveaway” of Reid vapor pressure
Seattle. Instead, he was infatuated
the situation and then often
with aeronautics, and
travels personally to the site
while taking general
to provide service.
chemistry courses researching a pressure
This kind of customer attention
sensitive paint for wind
is legendary in the sector and
tunnel applications,
has garnered the loyalty of
Uibel worked with
clients who also benefit from rent-
(a common measure of and generic
NASA and Boeing. Over time his
to-own set-ups that would otherwise
term for gasoline volatility), PI helps
interests shifted from aeronautics to
run them $500,000. Most clients see a
optimize jet and diesel fuel. The
spectroscopy.
return on investment within two-to-
company also provides upstream
four months, says Uibel with a grin.
solutions which optimize crude oil and
Uibel wanted to continue his studies
From a modest shop of five employees
offshore solutions. More than a dozen
in spectroscopy for this purpose, and
beginning in 1993, PI has grown to a
streams of samples can be analyzed
after asking around, discovered that
staff of 16 and currently boasts a share
with a single instrument/system.
Joel Harris’s name was at the top of
of 20 percent of all US refineries and six percent of the worldwide market.
everyone’s list. He decided that the Uibel is also keen to talk about
University of
applications outside the fuel industry,
would be
But it isn’t just nerd-out technology
including pharmacology packaging
ideal
that Ziggy’s team offers; it’s clearly
(using a unique Raman spectrometer
location
encased in business acumen that is
to analyze each pill, for example)
for his
innovative and relentlessly hands-
as well as food production and
graduate
on with clients. “We are working on
distribution. The petroleum industry
career. “I can
reaching approximately 60 percent
may be the “low hanging fruit,” says
easily
total penetration with many of the
Uibel, but the company’s Raman
individual refineries having multiple
analyzers are also being used in
(five to ten) instruments. The demand
tracing ppm (parts per million) sulfate
for instrumentation within the
detection in offshore waterflooding
refinery markets has kept us quite
streams and direct determination
busy and, with the limited spare time
of olefin concentrations in motor
we do have, to continue we work on
gasoline (US Patent No. 7,973,926).
additional applications for our Raman
Blood testing is already being done
instruments.”
with handheld Raman systems.
Those applications are numerous—
A Canadian by birth, Uibel has
and always expanding. Petroleum
pretty much always had a dual
products vary broadly from state to
life: one in the lab and one on
state, and nation to nation based on
the streets and the slopes where
Utah the
COVER STORY | 2023
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say that coming to the U of U was one
to Singapore, and from Australia to off
pins to the summit during the winter
of the best decisions of my life,” he
the coast of South America, Uibel has
and bowling in carved-out lanes of
remarks.
racked up a million-plus airline miles
snow “with an automatic return” (i.e.,
in no time—and without knowing
uphill). Stand-by participants who
That’s saying a lot, considering what
he’d done so. This is an unassuming
happen to be on-hand are awarded a
Uibel’s life (and times) looks like these
man who had to fetch his business
tag for their backpacks emblazoned
days, even as he’s entered middle
card when asked what title he had
with “I Striked out on Grandeur Peak.”
age. What started as a seasonal
at PI. (Turns out it’s Applications
gig as a “liftee” at Snowbird turned
Manager or, maybe, Vice President of
“We try not to do it in the summer,”
into a full “gap year” between his
Technology.)
says Uibel. “Don’t want a bowling ball
bachelor’s and graduate school at the
landing downhill on Interstate 80.”
U. Between skiing in the winter and
That’s not to say Uibel is a shrinking
rock climbing all summer near Elko,
violet. As a youth he competed on
Bowling on a mountain peak in
Nevada, he actually thought he would
MTV Sports. He recently completed
the dead of winter? Why not? It’s
eventually find himself in a classroom
the Rage Triathlon in the Lake Mead
consistent with Ziggy Uibel who has
teaching. That changed after earning
National Recreation Area, and he
gone from his ambitions to be an
his doctorate in analytical chemistry
doesn’t stop at donning the Lycra
aeronaut, a teacher, an academic and
and landing a job at PI to design,
for the swimming, bicycling and
researcher, and purveyor of stunt
assemble, test, calibrate, and install
running competitions; he’s famous
double-inspired antics to, these days,
Raman analyzers.
for summiting Grandeur Peak in Salt
an industrial chemist using the latest
Lake Valley not once in a single day
technologies and techniques to
If this sounds like intensive work, it
but a whopping five times (31 miles).
advance everything from petroleum
is. But Uibel is an intense man, and
The Peak has a special place in Uibel’s
refining to blood testing. <
it seems to fit not only his inherent
heart. Following the discovery of a
brio but also to play out and build
“misplaced” brick in his backpack
on his activities outside of work. A
compliments of his jokester friends,
globetrotter with clients from Canada
he started carrying a bowling ball and
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
ALRANICA B ALL E
BA
& BLISS
ANCE
7
by JULIA ST. ANDRE Writer Intern
“AT FIRST, I DIDN’T REALLY
exploration inspired her to advance
shocked that no one was using them
KNOW WHAT YOU COULD DO
her research toward the Space Force
to find aliens.”
WITH A CHEMISTRY DEGREE,”
project’s objective. Ballance explains,
SAYS ARIA BALL ANCE . “BUT I
“They released a Broad Agency
Ballance points to science fiction as
LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT I STUCK
Announcement asking for a proposal
one of her sources of inspiration in
WITH IT, AND IT HAS PAID OFF.
that could enhance the signal of
her work and credits her love of Star
I’M GL AD I FOLLOWED MY BLISS.”
potential extraterrestrial molecules
Trek for inspiring her to apply for
from meteorites. And I thought,
the highly competitive fellowship.
A graduate student in chemistry at the
‘Oh, okay! My nanoparticles could
Additionally, Ballance cites other
University of Utah, Ballance is the recent
probably do something like that.'”
sources of inspiration in her day-
recipient of the National Defense
to-day life, including her fellow lab
Science and Engineering Graduate
Ballance’s current research involves
members, Amy Morren and Anh
Fellowship. Her love for chemistry has
fabricating gold crescent-shaped
Nguyen, and her mentor, Shumaker-
led her to research a wide variety of
nanostructures she refers to as
Parry, for making her experience at
topics, from water-purifying titanium
"nanocrescents." When the nanocrescents
the University of Utah so fulfilling. “Dr.
dioxide clay pots to nanoparticles and
interact with an incident light, they
Shumaker-Parry has given me so many
chiral molecules in Jennifer Shumaker-
create plasmons that she is using to
opportunities and has helped me
Parry’s nanomaterials lab.
try to enhance the molecular signal of
grow exponentially as a scientist. Her
small chiral molecules. She recalls the
incredible work with nanoparticles is
While applying for the fellowship,
exciting moment when she made the
what inspired me to apply to graduate
Ballance made a remarkable
connection: “One of the things they
school and become a chemist.” When
connection between her research
are looking for when searching for
the deadline for the fellowship came
and a US Air Force project focused
extraterrestrial molecules and signs of
around, Ballance was going through
on distinguishing between Earth
life is chirality,” a geometric property
a difficult personal matter and almost
and extraterrestrial molecules.
in which an object or molecule cannot
did not apply. But with the support
Though her research originally
be superimposed on its mirror image.
and encouragement of her mentor,
focused on the medical sphere,
“A lot of nanoparticles are used to
she submitted the application. She’s
Ballance’s curiosity and love for space
enhance molecular signals, so I was
glad she did.
continued...
COVER STORY & STUDENTS | 2023
8
Ballance emphasizes that submitting
person I know and the closest friend I
and art worlds to combine. I think it's
the application even under less-than-
have in the world.”
really important that people go to see
ideal circumstances taught her how
art and performances to spark that
much you can achieve when you let
Growing up in Santa Barbara,
creative energy.”
go of the fear of failure and really
California, Ballance remembers
trust yourself. As a self-proclaimed
her high school years being filled
Drawn to the U by her love for the
overthinker, Ballance points out that
with academic competition and
outdoors and her desire to get
the pressure to do things perfectly
the pressure to perform perfectly.
involved with research, Ballance
the first time can often hold
applied and was accepted
her back. “If I just trust the
into the Research Experience
process, I do better,” she
for Undergraduates (REU)
says before joking, “I think
program in Shumaker-Parry’s
I would’ve done better on
lab after her senior year.
tests in high school if they
Determined to continue
could see all the things I had erased.” For Ballance, embracing imperfection and welcoming the unknown are keys to her success. “There are so many variables in chemistry, science, and life in general that you can change, and it's just not linear. And I really think that people should be making mistakes.” Above all, Ballance feels the most support and love from her mom and younger sister. “My mom raised me and my sister alone and taught us how to love the world around us even when things feel like they may be falling apart.” As for her sister, “she is the bravest, strongest
After deciding to take a summer chemistry course at a local college to fix a mistake in her schedule, she found herself surrounded by adults in a lab filled with chemicals she’d never worked with. “It was terrifying,” Ballance said, “especially the labs, because everyone knew what they were doing. I was scared of that class for so long, but I was determined to finish it. I ended up doing really well and learning more about myself and the course material than I had in any other class.” Her triumph in the class gave her the confidence she needed, and she’s been enamored with the world of chemistry ever since. Along with her undergraduate chemistry degree from Lewis & Clark College, Ballance also completed a minor in theater, discovering a refreshing “balance” between the two fields. “I feel like I can lose a lot of creative energy being in the science world, where you are dependent on repetition of trials and replicating
doing research, she hunted for more experience back home in Santa Barbara before applying to graduate school, and was accepted into the U later that year. Ballance makes the most of her time living in Utah, going backpacking, hiking, climbing, and skiing whenever she can. “I really love the outdoors,” she says. “If I had a dream job it would be working outside and doing chemistry.” Following graduate school, Aria Ballance plans to achieve her dream of living abroad while completing a postdoctoral fellowship. In the meantime, she’ll continue to explore her love of chemistry while she carefully plans her new chapter of adventures. “I haven’t figured out where I’m going to go yet, but my plan is to work hard, not give up, and to follow my bliss.” Right now, her bliss is decidedly a chemical one. <
your experiments. And that’s why I really want to encourage the science
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
Images courtesy of Aria Ballance.
9
U CHEMIST LEADS MATCHUP AGAINST GENETIC DISEASE by L AUREN WIGOD Writer Intern
CARRIE WAGER, PHD’00,
love having a phenomenal team that I
mature RNA, which leaves the nucleus.
RECIPIENT OF CHEMISTRY’S
work with.”
But the process of going from pre-
2020 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD, HAS ALWAYS VALUED TEAMWORK WHETHER ON THE SOCCER PITCH OR IN THE L AB.
While studying at the U, she researched total synthesis of natural products in Gary Keck’s lab and played on an intramural soccer team where she met her husband. Wager is a chemistry midfielder in her career, driven to cover a lot of ground by her passion for working in a fast-paced, team environment. After graduating from the U, she spent 17 years at Pfizer as Senior Principal Scientist, Director of Business Planning, Chief of Staff for Pfizer Medical, and Medical Strategy Lead in Oncology. Then she earned her MBA from MIT in 2017 before joining Ascidian Therapeutics. “I really found the place where my heart belongs, and that’s working in startups,” she says. “In those situations, it’s pretty high risk, but also high reward. The strength of the team is critical, and I really enjoy that part. I’ve always been into team sports. I
EXON-EDITING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
The team Wager currently works with at Ascidian is taking a new approach to gene therapy, influenced by the organisms that the company is named after. Wager says, “We were inspired by what happens with sea squirts or ascidians because they re-engineer the transcriptome. They start as creatures that are free-floating … but then they become these structures after they re-engineer their transcriptome and are fixed on the bottom [of the ocean].” As sea squirts
mRNA to mature RNA is the excision or the cutting out of introns.” The splicesome is the enzyme responsible for removing the introns and leaving the exons which are then joined to form the mature strand of RNA. Ascidian designs molecules to target mutant exons and replace them with a wild-type version. “We use these molecules that are packaged in an adeno-associated virus to gain entry into the nucleus. Then those molecules are built to bind to specific locations in messenger RNA. … The
(Ascidiacea) mature, they self-edit their messenger RNA to change the proteins that are expressed and, ultimately, their structure. Ascidian’s strategy for fixing genetic diseases in humans is different from other existing methods of gene therapy because it works by editing RNA through a process that is already inherent to the cell. “DNA is transcribed into RNA in the nucleus,” Wager explains. “It’s initially transcribed into pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) and pre-mRNA becomes
STUDENTS & ALUMNI | 2023
10
spliceosome machinery comes along
exons. “We can swap out up to 4,000
skills which she attributes to her time
and flips-in our healthy exon that’s
nucleotides. So that allows you to
at the U makes her a valuable addition
packaged in our molecules and
make a difference in diseases that
to the team. Through her training she
removes the mutant components.
have really big gene sizes and genes
“learned how to exquisitely design
Then that [corrected RNA] continues
that have high mutational variants.
and execute research problems in this
on outside of the nucleus into the
With one drug we can cover the
[startup] environment… .”
ribosomes, and you generate the
majority of patients.” If Ascidian’s
healthy protein.”
exon editing idea passes human trials
“I truly believe that my graduate
and FDA approval, the treatment is
training here [the U] has set me up to
The procedure or process can sound
something any ophthalmologist could
be able to do whatever I want. … I’ve
convoluted and dicey–like a well-
do during a half-day clinic.
had a bunch of twists and turns [in]
placed strike by Spain’s Olga Carmona
my career… I didn’t stay in one kind
during the final of the recent FIFA
NO MAGIC BULLET
of role for more than five years. The U
Women’s World Cup. But the stakes
While RNA exon editing is an exciting
just teaches you skills that carry over
are just as high (and even higher for
new strategy for tackling genetic
in everyday life and in your career,
its beneficiaries) for Wager and her
disease, that’s not to say that other
and I really am grateful for how we
team whose exon editing method
tools like
were set up
has many advantages over other
CRISPR-
[early] to do
gene therapies. Since only the RNA
Cas9 aren’t
research.”
is being edited, risks associated with
useful.
DNA editing are reduced. Harnessing
“I’ve been
The extensive
a natural cellular process prevents the
in drug
application
need for bacterial enzymes, which
discovery
of Wager’s
pose an immunological threat, to be
for twenty-three years now,” says
education is a testament to the
introduced to the cell.
Wager. “I don’t think that there is one
quality of the chemistry department’s
type of way to ameliorate disease… .
graduate program, successfully
The most impactful benefit is the
[T]here’s lots of different ways. They
preparing students for careers in
amount of editing that can be done
all have their niche.”
academia, industry, and beyond.
at one time. For example, Ascidian
The Distinguished Alumni Award
is currently focused on addressing
In this way, the multi-faceted dynamic
celebrates Wager’s impressive career
Stargardt’s disease, a genetic retinal
of the fight against genetic diseases
since her time at the U, but really,
disease that causes blindness and
mirrors that of the startup culture
she’s just getting started in her match
stems from mutations in the ABCA4
where Wager excels. “When you find a
against genetic disease. <
gene which codes for the protein
place where it’s not just that you enjoy
involved in clearing vitamin A from
what you’re doing, but you thrive,
the retina. Without the healthy
that’s what the startup environment
protein, toxic compounds begin to
for me is [with] super intelligent
accumulate in the eye, destroying cells
people [who are] super motivated to
and impairing central vision function.
make a difference in patients’ lives.”
Rather than doing “point mutations
Each scientist brings something
or small base insertion,” Wager uses
different to the startup, and Wager’s
technology that replaces whole
expertise along with her technical
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
11
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 2023
2020
2020
FOUNDERS DAY
DISTINGUISHED
DISTINGUISHED
DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNI:
ALUMNI:
ALUMNUS:
RICK T YKWINSKI
RAYMOND PRICE
CLIFTON SANDERS
When Rick
Price graduated
Sanders arrived in Salt Lake City
Tykwinski, PhD ’94, now Professor of
from the University of Utah magna
from Baltimore via the University
Chemistry, University of Alberta, is
cum laude in 1983 and then from
of Michigan in 1977. During his
asked what his graduate-student self
Harvard Medical School. He has co-
appearance as the featured speaker
would be most surprised about with
directed or directed the graduate
at the Hugo Rossi Lecture Series on
his current career, he says, “That I got
surgical education program in
March 15, Sanders detailed what
this far.” Many students, he continues,
the state for hundreds of surgical
it was like to be one of very few
expected graduate school to be all
residents and medical and physician
Black residents in Utah when he
about the laboratory (“how many
assistant students.
arrived. Even so, his experience in U
molecules do I need to graduate?”). As
Chemistry was generally a positive
he looks back, however, the lab was
His areas of interest include advanced
experience. Sanders recently retired
only a small part of it.
laparoscopy, surgical oncology, as
as the Provost for Academic Affairs
well as endocrine and trauma surgery.
and Chief Academic Officer of Salt
“I’ve always been able to solve
He has spent his career expanding
Lake Community College, where he
problems,” he says, “but I never
the role of surgery in public health,
oversaw the education of more than
considered myself to be overly
and has participated in or led surgical
61,000 students annually.
creative, especially as a graduate
expeditions to Asia, Latin America,
student. I was very fortunate at all
and Africa. He co-founded The Center
A saxophonist like his father, Sanders
points in my undergraduate, graduate,
for Global Surgery at the U. He also
has been called “a musician trapped
and post-doctoral education to
currently directs graduate surgical
in a scientist’s body.” “I look at playing
have had mentors that allowed me
education at Intermountain Medical
music almost as a research program,
to be independent and develop my
Center.
just like a scientist would,” Sanders
creativity, giving me just enough
says. “There are little experiments you
creativity to get by.”
do and in the craft you figure out …
He has served with the World Health Organization and is the author of
how to make it work.” Recently, he’s
Tykwinski accepted a position in
numerous peer-reviewed articles,
back with his sax, appearing locally
Canada in 1997 then left to chair
books and chapters in books.
with the George Brown Quintet
Organic Chemistry in Erlangen,
known for its unpretentious, “killin’
Germany before returning to Alberta
Price and his wife have maintained
straight ahead” jazz.
where he is currently chair of the
their home in the Beehive State with
Department of Chemistry.
their seven daughters and one son.
ALUMNI & RECOGNITION | 2023
12
2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDEES
Amy Barrios, BS'95, currently Professor
Mitchell Johnson, PhD'00 (with Joel
in Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate
Miller), currently is the Executive
Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs at the
Vice President at General Plastics
University of Utah
Manufacturing Company
Zlatko Bačić, PhD'81 (with Jack Simons),
Roger Leach, PhD'84 (with Joel Harris),
currently professor at the Department
recently retired from DuPont where he
of Chemistry, New York University
was the Technical Senior Manager and Leader of the Science & Innovation Core Analytical Sciences organization <
ACCESS SCHOLARS DAY 2023 ON JUNE 29 THE DEPARTMENT
a vast network of over 800 program
Professor Gina Frey and chemistry
OF CHEMISTRY AND ITS
alumni.
students performed experiments and
STUDENTS AND FACULTY
engaged the new upcoming students
WELCOMED FUTURE SCIENTISTS
Gina Frey, the Ronald and Eileen
to perform fascinating chemistry
WHO ARE PART OF THE
Ragsdale Professor of Chemical
experiments.
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S ACCESS
Education, noted, “I am so excited
SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
to be the Chemistry liaison to the
Professor Kaci Kuntz, assistant
College of Science ACCESS Program.
professor (lecturer) of chemistry,
ACCESS Scholars encompass
It is an amazing program that provides
developed and facilitated the
individuals from diverse backgrounds,
women and individuals of all identities
students in conducting exciting
including women and people
who exemplify gender equality with a
food experiments. They started the
representing various dimensions
supportive cohort-based, first-year
conversation with ACS Chemistry
of diversity. The program offers a
experience in STEM. I enjoyed meeting
Student Chapter and a “roses
unique introductory year encounter
and talking with this year’s cohort of
experiment.” Then joined in to make
that enlightens scholars about their
women ACCESS scholars during this
ice cream, homemade root beer, and
academic and professional aspirations
two-week summer event. These
Sprite and root beer popping boba
from the very beginning. It boosts
scholars are from all over the nation
(basically, the fanciest root beer float
their social awareness, brings a
and are so passionate about learning
imaginable!) <
community of peers who share similar
science. I look forward to getting to
goals together, and connects first-year
know and mentoring them throughout
science students with mentors and
this coming academic year.”
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WORKSHOP EACH YEAR THE CHEMISTRY
Allen received a monetary award,
of the late Professor Ron Ragsdale,
DEPARTMENT HONORS A
certificate, and a “silver flask” made
Allen was also cited for bringing
REGIONAL HIGH-SCHOOL
by the department’s own in-house
science to all students in his high
TEACHER SELECTED FOR THEIR
glassblower Jeff Statler.
school by giving large-scale chemical
EXEMPLARY TEACHING.
demonstrations to enhance general Allen was cited at the event for
interest in science. Eileen Ragsdale,
The Ron and Eileen Ragsdale
his dedication and enthusiasm for
Ron’s widow, was hosted at the event
High School Teaching Award was
teaching, including using varied
as a special guest. <
presented March 18 to Marc Allen
teaching methods and taking the
from Woods Cross High School during
initiative to continually adapt new
the department’s semi-annual High
ideas to improve the success of all his
School Teachers Workshop.
students. Following in the footsteps
KECK FOUNDATION AWARD U CHEMISTS MICHAEL
chemistry. The group aims to create
the crystal structure favored by
GRÜNWALD, RYAN LOOPER,
a set of tools to help other chemists
thermodynamics, this process instead
AND RODRIGO NORIEGA
select the crystal structures they
follows crystallization pathways that
RECEIVED A $1 MILLION
want and produce them quickly and
are favored kinetically, essentially
GRANT FROM THE W.M. KECK
purely, leading to more accurate
choosing the fastest one.
FOUNDATION, FUNDING
models and faster development of
STUDIES OF CURRENTLY
new pharmaceuticals and industrial
Continues Looper, “The Keck
UNPREDICTABLE ASPECTS
materials. Rather than predicting
Foundation’s support of our research
OF THE PROCESS OF
the crystal structure favored by
is essential to provide new evidence
CRYSTALLIZATION.
thermodynamics, this process instead
to convince scientists to think a
follows crystallization pathways.
different way.” <
The interdisciplinary team brings together expertise from diverse
“The idea that thermodynamics might
branches of chemistry: Grünwald
not accurately predict crystallization
in chemical theory, Noriega in
is quite controversial in the field,”
spectroscopy, and Looper in medicinal
says Looper. Rather than predicting
This article is an abbreviated version of an @TheU article by Paul Gabrielsen. Longer versions of many of the articles in Catalyst can be accessed at chem.utah.edu
RECOGNITION & OUTREACH | 2023
13
14
TAMING THE VINYL CARBOCATION
by BETHANY HALFORD
IN THE REALM OF REACTIVIT Y,
only react to form one of two possible
The chemists think the area is still
THE VINYL CARBOCATION IS A
enantiomers in a C–H insertion
rich for exploration. Sigman, who is
BEAST SO FLEETING, SO KEEN
reaction. The chemists liken the
currently chair of the Department
TO COMBINE OR REARRANGE,
catalyst to an enzyme in that it is able
of Chemistry at the U, says the
THAT MANY HAVE DOUBTED
to exert stereocontrol over a highly
information they’ve gleaned could
THAT IT CAN BE TAMED TO
reactive intermediate.
help their team redesign the catalysts to be more practical. The chemists
CREATE MOLECULES IN A
Houk and Sigman then modeled the
would also like to expand their
behavior computationally to verify
substrates. In this work, the C–H
But by confining a vinyl carbocation
that the reaction is indeed going
insertion was an intramolecular
within a bulky catalyst, chemists
through the vinyl carbocation.
transformation, in which the vinyl
have now shown they can coax this
“Now that chemists know
cation and the C–H bond were
wildly reactive intermediate to insert
these intermediates
in the same molecule. They’d
itself into a carbon-hydrogen bond
can be harnessed,”
like to see the work extended
in which one enantiomer of a chiral
Sigman says, “they
to intermolecular reactions—in
product is preferentially produced.
can be creative
which the vinyl cation
about what
and the C–H bond
The enantioselective insertion comes
kind of
it inserts into are on
from the collaboration of researchers
molecules
different molecules. <
in Hosea M. Nelson’s group at the
they make
California Institute of Technology,
with this
Matthew S. Sigman’s group at the
type of
University of Utah, and K. N. Houk’s
reaction.”
STEREOSELECTIVE WAY.
group at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"The idea that carbocations
Excerpted with permission from Chemical & Engineering News. Copyright ©2022 by the American Chemical Society. The article, “Chemists tame the vinyl carbocation,” was first published in C&EN on December 8, 2022 and appeared in Volume 100, Issue 44.
After screening dozens of catalysts,
as reactive as unstabilized vinyl
the chemists found a family of what’s
cations could be engaged in highly
Image credit: Science; Confined to an organic
called imidodiphosphorimidate
enantioselective reactions would have
catalyst (space-filling model), this vinyl
organocatalysts designed by its
seemed unlikely until recently," says
carbocation substrate (stick model) is poised to
developer to serve as general
Harvard University's Eric N. Jacobsen,
react stereoselectively.
catalysts for a variety of asymmetrical
who also develops new reactions. The
transformations. This family was
work represents "a significant advance
able to create and confine the vinyl
in asymmetric catalysis with highly
cation in such a way that it would
reactive intermediates."
CATA LYST
| Department of Chemistry
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR MICHAEL D. MORSE His research focuses on spectroscopic
he has graduated twenty-five PhD
studies of small molecules that
and four MS students. Additionally,
contain transition metals, lanthanide
he has mentored twenty-seven
metals, or actinide metals. These
undergraduates working in his group
are, chemically, highly important
who have been co-authors on almost
but fiendishly complicated species.
as many papers.
Morse's work on these molecules is
IN JULY, MORSE WAS APPOINTED TO THE RANK OF DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY.
frequently the first to be reported in
His professional service to funding
the literature and is always definitive.
agencies has resulted in his being
Among his many prior awards he
listed in the top twenty reviewers for
is recipient of the 2019 William F.
the Journal of Chemical Physics in 2011.
Meggers Award by the Optical Society
He has also received a Certificate of
of America.
Reviewing Excellence in 2013 from the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy. <
Morse is also the recipient of numerous teaching awards. To date,
U PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR LUISA WHITTAKER-BROOKS REFERRED TO AS A
to support scholarship and enrich
“TRAILBL AZING ROLE MODEL ,”
research activities.
Whittaker-Brooks focuses on, among other things, the synthesis of organic
“I am so proud of the work these
and inorganic materials for energy
scholars are doing in the classroom,
conversion and storage. She was
and in their field of study,” said Interim
recognized this year as a U Presidential
Senior Vice President for Academic
Scholar which honors excellence and
Affairs Martell Teasley. “As educators
achievement for faculty members at
at the U, they are positioned to guide
the assistant or associate professor
their students and impact our whole
level. The award comes with $10,000
community. I’m excited to see what
in annual funding for three years
the future holds.” <
RESEARCH & RECOGNITION | 2023
15
T
hank you to our alumni and
If you’d like to support our efforts,
Please feel free to reach out with any
friends who contribute to the
please consider making a gift to one
questions you might have.
Dept of Chemistry. Your support
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enables us to provide exceptional education, conduct groundbreaking
CHEMISTRY SCHOLARSHIPS -
research, and prepare the next
Supporting Student Education
generation of leaders in our discipline. CURIE CLUB - Supporting Inclusion
in Science Nelly Divricean
Visit our Giving Page chem.utah.edu/give
We appreciate your investment in
Director of Strategic Engagement
our students, faculty, and staff. We’d
nellyd@chem.utah.edu
love to hear from you or have you
801-585-7896
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