Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Kinetic In this issue: In a year of unrest and unforeseen change, we are happy to let our community
Fall 2020 know that we are taking it in stride and doing well. Read on to learn about the many awards and opportunities this
year for our students, faculty, and alumni, as well as news about our top events and other matters.
Message from the Department Head Dear Alumni and Friends, It is my pleasure to share with you some of the successes of our department, in this newsletter. The department has seen a significant growth in the number of declared majors this fall, reflecting that incoming students are recognizing the value of the degrees that we offer. It helps that our experienced faculty have risen to the challenges of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, adeptly modifying teaching methods, while also maintaining the high standards that are our hallmark.
Lance Seefeldt
Our faculty continue to find successes with external funding, training of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, and being published in top journals. This year, we recognized two former students from our department with an Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. I hope you enjoy reading their inspiring stories. There is also a story about the inaugural R. Gaurth Hansen Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the first named professorship in the department and in the College of Science. I hope you find inspiration as you read this newsletter and know that we are holding all of you, our friends, in our thoughts as we continue to traverse these trying times. Take Care,
Lance Seefeldt Department Head, Chemistry and Biochemistry
New Faces A New Graduate Student and a New Staff Thom Hallmark grew up in southwest Oregon. While his friends were following football stats, he was fascinated by stories of mad scientists like Henry Jekyll or Herbert West. Hallmark said, “Maybe that’s not the best way Thom Hallmark to answer why chemistry but something about the white lab coat, crazy instruments, and glassware has always been fascinating.” As an undergrad he had the opportunity to participate in student research opportunities and completed an internship at USU. Afterwards, he was sure that research was something he wanted to pursue. “I enjoyed my time at USU and the research that was happening here. I’m thrilled I was accepted to the graduate program,” says Hallmark.
Heather Bird In October, we welcomed Heather Bird as the latest addition to the team. Heather is a Business Assistant for the department and, in that capacity, works closely with the College of Science as well. Heather joined us from the USU, Contracts and Purchasing Services Department where she had been working for 2 ½ years. In her short amount of time with our department, she has already proven herself to be capable and valuable. Heather has lived in the Cache Valley with her husband, Kirk Bird, who also works at USU as the director of housing facilities, and four children for 25 years. She loves yoga and enjoys spending time in the mountains: kayaking, paddle boarding, and snow shoeing. She likes to travel and visit new places.
When he’s not in the lab, he loves observing nature by hiking, running and fishing. He likes to experiment cooking different foods and enjoys reading and quiet moments. Hallmark said, “I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with my overall career but mad scientist is pretty much off the board. Normal scientist is a strong contender though.” Heather and Kirk Bird. Photo courtesy Heather Bird.
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URCO Grants USU’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities (URCO) grant program was established in 1975 to support faculty-mentored undergraduate student research projects. URCO awards provide a $1,000 scholarship directly to the student, and can include a request for up to $1,000 in additional funds for equipment and supplies. The program is competitive, with proposals reviewed and critiqued by teams of faculty members outside the departments of the applicant and mentor. Over the past five years our department is tied with one other for the highest number of applications. The
Thermostability” • Roberston Miles (biology major), Ryan Jackson mentor. Project title: “Solving the Structure of Octahedral VP1 Protein via Three- Dimensional Electron Microscopy Image Algorithms” Spring 2020 • Saul Gonzalez, Nick Dickenson mentor. Project title: “Identification and Characterization of Protein-Protein Interactions between the Shigella T3SS ATPase Spa47 and its predicted regulators MxiN and Spa33” • Abigail Jones, Joan Hevel mentor. Project title: “Transforming a quantitative Protein Arginine Methyltransferase (PRMT) assay into a high-throughput assay”
overall URCO funding rate is about 60%, our department’s success rate over this time period is 65%.
Fall 2020 • Alexander Lake, Lisa Berreau mentor. Project title: “Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Studies of Flavonol Esters as CO Releasing Molecules” • Alex Lyons, Ruyan Jackson mentor. Project title: “Discovering Virally Encoded Proteins that Block Type IV CRISPR Immune Systems” • Tate Shepherd, Joanie Hevel mentor. Project title: “Substrate Purity and its Effect on PRMT1 Activity” • Emily Wilson, Joanie Hevel mentor. Project title: “Investigating the Direct Effect of Phosphorylation on the Oligomeric State and Activity of PRMT1”
Summer 2020 • Arianna Towne, Joan Hevel mentor. Project title: “Investigating the Impact of the Primary Amino Acid Sequence of C. elegans PRMT1 on Enzyme Activity and
The URCO program is not the only undergraduate research funding route open to our students. The College of Science summer minigrant program targets first-time research experiences and provides $1K in funding to
Student in chemistry lab. Courtesy College of Science.
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students to help them financially devote time in the summer to gain research experience. Our undergraduate research students fared well in this program, winning six of the eleven awards for the summer of 2020. Samantha Benovitz, in Kim Hageman’s lab, worked on a project testing the efficiency of a high volume water sampler in retaining organic contaminants. Anthony Peidl, in Joan Hevel’s lab, investigated the binding of S-Adenosyl methionine in the active site of three different PRMT1 constructs harboring mutations linked to cancer. Jeremy Shaw, in Yi Rao’s research group, is studied carbon dioxide reduction of cuprous oxide under electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Josafat Vargas, in the group of Lisa Berreau, is pursued the synthesis of a coumarin flavonol, a molecule that releases carbon monoxide when induced by photoirradiation. Andrew Williams worked in the lab of Ryan Jackson, investigating anti-CRISPR genes that act against CRISPR bacterial immune systems. Another student in the Jackson lab, Olivia Gornichec, investigated the Type IV-B CRISPR system, an immune system found in bacteria. For graduate students, the Graduate Research and Creative Opportunity (GRCO) grants provide $1,000 to support original research, scholarship, or creative work by USU graduate students with the guidance of a faculty member. This program began is a partnership between the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the Office of Research. Graduate students who have an idea for extending their research project into a new area or direction can apply for these awards. In the 2020 funding cycle there were 52 proposals, of which 12 were funded, one from our department. This was awarded to Ruidan Shen, working in the lab of Alvan Hengge, for the project “Broadening the perspective
on mobile loop dynamics regulating catalysis from the protein tyrosine phosphatase family.” Writer: Alvan Hengge, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Student in chemistry lab. Courtesy College of Science.
The overall URCO funding rate is about 60%. Our department’s success rate, over this time period is over 65%.
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Student Awards Abound Our 2020 annual award ceremony, which is held to recognize the undergraduate and graduate award and scholarships recipients, as well as to honor our generous donors that make these awards possible, was cancelled. Here, we recognize the 2020 recipients and congratulate everyone. This list and past recipients may be found at https://chem.usu. edu/about/awardees Thomas M. Farley Chemistry Awards These awards go to the top student in each of the Principles of Chemistry courses (CHEM 1210 and 1220). With these awards, we hope to encourage continued progression from general chemistry into organic chemistry. Nathan Barber Lamija Coric Kenyon Gale Morgan Hart Sam Nasman
Evah Peard Melanie Searle Davis Smuin Abby Wilde Andrew Williams
Irving Condie Frost Awards in Organic Chemistry Awarded to the top majors in the Organic Chemistry series (CHEM 2310 and 2320). Bryce Ferguson Emma Lindley Kamryn Morgan Undergraduate Research Award Awarded to departmental majors who have obtained significant research results in the department. Saul Gonzalez Abigail Jones Alec Lake 6 | Kinetic
Harris O. and Eleanor Y. Van Orden Awards These awards go to the top majors in many divisions: analytical (quantitative or instrumental), biochemistry, inorganic, and physical. Some also have additional recognition from the American Chemical Society. Sidney Von Niederhausern (Analytical) Porter Ellis (Biochemistry) Jacob Fitzgerald (Inorganic) Tiffany Durrant (Physical) Stephen Bialkowski Award in Environmental Chemistry Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate chemistry or biochemistry major for the completion of a specific environmental chemistry project. Nikolay Tkachenko Maeser-Bauer Outstanding Graduating Senior in Biochemistry and Chemistry Awarded to a graduating biochemistry major and a graduating chemistry major, respectively, who have demonstrated outstanding academic abilities and who have made significant contributions as a researcher and as a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry community. Abigail Jones (Biochemistry) Paul Roberts (Chemistry) George H. and Billie Bush Emert Scholarship Given to an outstanding biochemistry major. Bronson Naegle
The American Institute of Chemists ACS-HACH Land Grant Foundation Undergraduate Award Undergraduate Scholarship Awarded to a senior student in recognition of Awarded to a chemistry major with a coma demonstrated record of leadership, ability, mitment to become a high school chemistry character, and scholastic achievement. teacher. Seth Tremayne Alexandra Lish ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Award Awarded to the top graduating senior, marjoring in chemistry or biochemistry, who has demonstrated excellence in organic chemistry. Paul Roberts ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award Created to recognize achievement by undergraduate students in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field.
Seth Tremayne
Kade A. Thornton Garth L. Lee Scholars Awards are given to chemistry and biochemistry majors who have demonstrated outstanding command of chemical science. Jeremy Oliphant Camila Summers Josafat Vargas R. Gaurth Hansen, Ph.D. Endowed Scholarship Awarded to outstanding chemistry majors transitioning from the junior to senior year. Russell Dent Emily Wilson
Thank you to all of our generous donors. You each are the reason our department has the opportunity to give these awards and scholarships to our hard working students.
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Awards Continued Marjorie H. Gardner Teaching Award Awarded to outstanding graduate teaching assistants in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This award is given in memory of Dr. Marjorie H. Gardner. Samuel Barker Ashlie Kinross Early Research Progress in Chemistry Award Awarded to a graduate student in chemistry who has obtained exciting research results prior to completing their oral comprehensive exam. Nikolay Tkachenko
Nikolay Tkachenko
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Outstanding Graduate Student in Chemistry Awarded to a student within their last year of graduate study in chemistry, who has demonstrated outstanding research and academic achievement. Tatiana Soboleva Thomas F. Emery Outstanding Graduate Student in Biochemistry Awarded to a student within their last year of graduate study in biochemistry, who has demonstrated outstanding research and academic achievement. Heather Case
Heather Case
received a Seely-Hinckley Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to science students of superior ability. Nicole Cevering was awarded the Dr. Dennis M. Miller Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding junior or senior Biochemistry major. After the undergraduate awardees were announced, Sean Johnson, Associate Dean, introduced the graduate award recipients. Our department recipients included Hannah Taylor for the Joseph Reuel Harris Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to deserving graduate students in the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Mathematics and Statistics. Writer: Erin Russell, Staff Assistant III
Program cover. Courtesy College of Science.
Additional commendation needs to also be given to the undergraduate and graduate students within our department who have received awards and scholarships from the College of Science. The College of Science gives awards to all of the departments within the college, including: Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics. These students were recognized at the College of Science 2020 Fall Convocation, held October 29, 2020, virtually.
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our award and scholarship recipients. Keep up the good work!!
After a nice welcome by Maura E. Hagan, Dean, Greg Podgorski, Associate Dean announced the undergraduate scholarships. From our department, these included Kaylee Kowallis and Tyler Wallentine, both of whom Fall 2020 | 9
R. Gaurth Hansen Professorship One of the department’s most recent and proud accomplishments is two-fold. First, in June, the R. Gaurth Hansen Professorship was established. It is the first named professorship for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as the College of Science. The department began to seek nominations. The second has been more recent. In November, Lance Seefeldt, Department Head, had the joy of announcing the first recipient of this professorship, Alexander Boldyrev,
accomplished faculty member from current tenured faculty to receive the title, along with a yearly stipend to augment research efforts. The aim of the award is to leverage funding opportunities and thus advance opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Seefeldt said, “On behalf of the selection committee, it is a distinct honor to name Dr. Boldyrev as the inaugural R. Gaurth Hansen Professor. Alex is an exceptional chemist, professor, researcher and mentor, who embodies the spirit and aims of this professorship, the first in the department’s history.” Hansen’s son and USU alum Lars Peter Hansen ’74, HD’12, offered congratulations on behalf of the Hansen Family.
Alex Boldyrev
Professor, Physical Chemistry. The R. Gaurth Hansen Professorship was established as an endowment by the Hansen Family. The professorship honors the memory of the renowned biochemist, who served USU as a senior administrator, professor, and researcher from 1968 to 1994. The professorship provides an exceptionally 10 | Kinetic
“I am very pleased to see the inaugural appointment to the professorship in the name of my father go to Professor Boldyrev, a scholar engaged in such exciting and impactful research,” says the David Rockefeller Distinguished Service Professor at The University of Chicago and Nobel Economics Laureate. “As a personal note, it is great to see USU, and in particular the College of Science, committed to supporting academic excellence.” Dr. Boldyrev was delighted, yet gracious, “I am very honored and humbled by this appointment.” Boldyrev joined USU’s faculty in 1999. “My students and I are very excited about new opportunities this brings for our laboratory.” Boldyrev received the American Chemical Society’s Utah Award in Chemistry in 2008 and the university’s D. Wynne Thorne Career
“Among the goals of the R. Gaurth Hansen Professorship is to foster research innovation, leverage funding opportunities and advance opportunities for our graduate and undergraduate students,” Seefeldt says. “Alex has already demonstrated each of these goals and we look forward to his continued efforts to not only create meaningful learning for our students, but to continue to contribute knowledge to the scientific community.” Writers: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Public Relations Specialist; Erin Russell, Staff Assistant III Eccles Science Learning Center atrium. Photo by Erin Russell.
Research Award, USU’s highest research honor, in 2009. The 2012 Fulbright Scholar is known globally for his pioneering breakthroughs in building a theoretical framework for understanding the bonding properties of inorganic compounds and enabling fellow chemists to predict a number of entirely new classes of species. A prolific research writer, Boldyrev, who has garnered long-standing National Science Foundation support, has an impressive h-index (a measurement of research impact) of 77, and his work has been cited in more than 20,000 papers. Boldyrev’s newest research focus is artificial intelligence (AI). “Our lab plans to apply this tool in chemistry to search for the most stable structures of new molecules and for computational design of new materials,” he says. Boldyrev has supervised and guided many graduate and undergraduate students through their degree programs, mentoring them to go on to jobs at national laboratories and faculty positions in major research universities.
“Alex is an exceptional chemist, professor, researcher and mentor who embodies the spirit and aims of this professorship, the first in the department’s history.” - Lance Seefeldt Fall 2020 | 11
Alumni Achievement Awards After a hiatus, the department is pleased to announce resumption of the Alumni Achievement Award program, with a new development. “In the past, we’ve named one award recipient at a time,” says Department Head Lance Seefeldt, “This year, we’re excited to name a senior award recipient, recognizing an individual who is completing a long and distinguished career, as well as a junior award recipient, who is an emerging leader in our field.”
of Chicago, Associate Professor of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Interestingly, the two were colleagues for a time, as Suh-Lailam completed a postgraduate fellowship at ARUP Labs. Both are now involved, in varying degrees, in the global battle against COVID-19: Suh-Lailam in supervision of testing techniques and Rockwood, as a pioneer in spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is arguably the most important analytical spectroscopic tool of modern times and its ability to characterize a wide variety of biomolecules has revolutionized biological research, along with forensics and drug development. Many advances in “mass spec” can be traced to USU alum Alan Rockwood. Awarded the 2020 Distinguished Contribution Award by the Association for Mass Spectrometry and Advances in the Clinical Lab, Rockwood holds more than 16 patents, has at least eight patents pending and has authored more than 150, often-cited, peer-reviewed papers.
Alan L. Rockwood, Ph.D. Courtesy University of Utah.
2020 recipients are Alan L. Rockwood PhD’1981, Chemistry, Professor Clinical Emeritus, University of Utah School of Medicine, Scientific Director for Mass Spectrometry at ARUP Laboratories and Diplomate American Board of Clinical Chemistry and Brenda B. Suh-Lailam, PhD’2011, Director of Clinical Chemistry and Point-of-Care Testing, Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital 12 | Kinetic
“Mass spectrometry is versatile tool for many challenges,” says Rockwood, who counts E.A. McCullough, Garth Lee, Chris Coray, Karen and Joe Morse and William Moore among his most influential USU mentors. Among Rockwood’s classmates were Carl Wittwer, PhD‘1982, and Ted Mifflin, PhD’1983, who would become life-long colleagues, as well as undergraduate David Bahler, son of USU Biology Professor Tom Bahler, who became a physician.
“I had the privilege of experiencing Utah’s three major universities – BYU as an undergrad, USU as a graduate student and the U during my professional life,” Rockwood says. “Among the three, USU is the most student-oriented.”
current position, in which she oversees multiple areas.
“One of the best decisions I ever made was to join Joanie Hevel’s lab,” says Suh-Lailam. “She made a huge impact on me. She was tough and structured, but allowed us to pursue creativity in research. She introduced us to literature and trained us to be researchers. She pushed us, but gave us important guidance and helped us think about our future careers. I never felt alone at USU.”
“It’s very fulfilling,” she says. “I enjoy trouble-shooting and solving puzzles.”
“My position is tri-fold,” says the board-certified clinical chemist. “I’m director of the hospital’s lab, which includes primary oversight of the lab’s testing, including quality assurance, Suh-Lailam entered USU in 2004, after earn- accuracy, assessing new tests and adhering ing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from to government and accreditation standards.” the University of Buea in Cameroon. With faculty mentor Joanie Hevel, Suh-Lailam studied Suh-Lailam also consults with physicians and protein functions, including an enzyme called teaches medical students, residents, fellows PRMT1 (Protein Arginine Methyltransferase and medical technology students. In addition, I) that plays a role in cardiovascular health. she conducts research.
She says her experiences at USU prepared her well for professional challenges, including the current pandemic. “I’m responsible for making sure our hospital’s testing is accurate and effective, and that means constantly adjusting to changing conditions and techniques,” Suh-Lailam says. “Pediatric patients are different from adult patients and no two tests are the same.” Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Public Relations Specialist
Brenda B. Suh-Lailam, Ph.D., DABCC, FAACC. Courtesy AACC.
Suh-Lailam also credits Hevel with helping her develop important leadership and management skills, which propelled her to her Fall 2020 | 13
Hansen Life Sciences Retreat The 10th annual Hansen Life Sciences Retreat, held Sept. 18-19, was a tremendous success. It was unique this year, not only because it was held 100% virtually but because a Friday evening seminar was incorporated, making it a 2-day event.
a combination of a private, open to participants only, USU Canvas course and Zoom. The Canvas course served as a landing
The mission of the retreat is to bring together faculty and students from diverse departments at USU who are working toward understanding biological processes at the molecular level. It gives students a forum to learn about other research on campus, as well as to network and learn.
Dana Carroll. Courtesy College of Science.
place for participants to view important information including the agenda, recordings, and abstracts. Zoom was used as the virtual meeting room.
Hansen Life Sciences Retreat - 2020 Design
Planning the event was an effort in thinking creatively and creating a vision for unknown territory – how to create a virtual environment where participants could engage with each other in a collaborative yet structured way. The committee rose to the challenge, nothing new for our scientists and decided to use 14 | Kinetic
One participant, Biochemistry graduate student Koleton Hardy said of the event, “I’m glad we found a way to make it happen during the pandemic. As far as a virtual versus in-person retreat, I enjoyed being able to see all of the presentations and not having to fight a crowd or strain to hear presenters.” Highlights were many. One was the Friday evening keynote. Dr. Dana Carroll, Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, University of Utah, School of Medicine spoke on his research, “Genome Editing: A view from the edge.”
On Saturday, the research presentations by students were certainly a highlight. Biology master’s student Sage Frehner says questions posed during the discussion were “challenging,” but “that just made it all the more rewarding.” She went on, “It was a wonderful experience to learn how to present and discuss our research.” The event was attended by 65 faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students. One huge benefit was distance offered no limitation. Guests from Germany, Idaho, and around Utah were able to join and participate in a meaningful way.
Utah State in 1994. The Hansen Retreat is supported by R. Gaurth Hansen’s son and daughter-in-law, Lars Peter Hansen and Grace Tsiang. Writers: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Public Relations Specialist, College of Science and Erin Russell, Staff Assistant III
This gathering honors the memory of renowned biochemist R. Gaurth Hansen (19202002), a gifted scientist, teacher and administrator, who spent much of his career enriching Utah State. A Cache Valley, Utah native, Hansen joined USU’s faculty as an academic vice president in 1968, and was soon promoted to provost. His efforts contributed to a twen-
Matthew Yim, Biochemistry Grad Student. Courtesy College of Science.
ty-fold increase in the university’s research budget. He was named USU Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1985 and retired from
Bringing together faculty and students from diverse departments who are working toward understanding biological processes at the molecular level.
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Above: Widtsoe Hall, Utah State University, Logan Campus. Photo by Erin Russell.
Thank You for Your Support
We, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hope that you and those dear to you are weathering the storms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Though there are many changes and uncertainties on the horizon, our department faculty, staff, and students continue to be ambitious in our efforts to pursue teaching and research to support our community in a meaningful and productive way.
all of our current and future students. With gifts from you, we will work to stabilize and enhance research initiatives for our undergraduate and graduate students to continue to prepare them for the future. Every dollar makes an important difference to the experience our Aggie Scientists have. Make your difference today.
As an alumni, faculty, staff, parent, or friend to our department, your contribution helps us to continue to provide an impactful education to As Aggies, we are resilient. As an Aggie family, we are unstoppable. Lori Hennigan, Director of Development 435-797-0781 lori.hennigan@usu.edu Visit: https://chem.usu.edu/giving/index 16 | Kinetic
Accolades Lisa Berreau was named vice president for research by President Noelle Cockett. Berreau had been serving as interim vice president for research since July 2019. Berreau continues to play an active role as a professor and researcher.
From Top to Bottom: Lisa Berreau, Ryan Jackson, Dick Logsdon. Side: Calvin Luu.
Entrepreneurship & Energy Research Center, Vernal was awarded the Clean Air Person of the Year by the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) “for his continued work into developing solutions to fight Utah’s air pollution problems in the Uintah Basin” wrote Emilie Ryan Jackson, Assistant Wheeler, News Director, Professor, Biochemistry University Marketing and received an Early Stage Communications. Investigator Award (MIRA) from the National Institute of Calvin Luu, undergraduate General Medical Sciences senior, received the 2020 (NIGMS) at the National Society of Environmental Institutes of Health (NIH) for Toxicology and Chemistry, his article, “Determining the Rocky Mountain Chapter’s, Structure and Function of Merit Scholarship. This Newly Discovered Immune scholarship awards funding Systems.” for Luu to continue his research under Dr. Kim Dick Logsdon In response Hageman, Associate to COVID-19 and a need Professor, Environmental for hand sanitizer and and Analytical Chemistry. disinfectant spray, Logsdon, glass blower, rose to the challenge and made large batches for the departemt. Finding disinfectant cleaner and hand sanitizer can be a near imposs ible task these days and having the help of Logsdon to make our own has been a tremendous help towards keeping our faculty, staff, and students safe during the pandemic. Seth Lyman, Research Associate Professor and Director of USU’s Bingham Fall 2020 | 17
Mental Health Committee The Graduate Student Mental Health Committee (MHC) has been busy this year. Members have been thinking creatively about how to organize activities to give students the opportunity to interact with one another and relax outside of a lab or classroom setting. The MHC was formed in 2019 in response to a departmental student survey, where responses highlighted concerns about mental health. It provides support by being a sounding board to hear concerns from fellow students and peers. The committee then brings those concerns to the department. Jenna Bouvang, MHC member, said, “The main goal of the MHC is to be a source of information and support for fellow graduate students, as well as to act as a bridge between the department faculty and the students.” For example, this semester, the MHC has brought to attention the increased workload and strain the teaching assistants (TAs) are experiencing due to COVID-19. This is caused in part from having to TA in new or challenging ways. Events have been organized, such as “Dialogue with the Department Head (DH).” This offers graduate students time to meet directly with the DH to voice concerns or have a friendly interaction. Members of the committee are passionate about mental health and are useful sources of information for students. Writers: Jenna Bouvang, Graduate Student and Erin Russell, Staff Assistant III, erin.russell@usu.edu Contact: usuchemgradstudentsconnect@gmail.com Instagram: @usuchemgradstudents Facebook: USU Chem&Biochem Grad Students Twitter: @USUChem
Three Internships at LANL As a department, we were proud that three of our graduate students: Nikita Fedik, Maksim Kulichenko, and Nikolay Tkachenko, from Dr. Alexander Boldyrev’s lab, had each been accepted to a prestigious internship over the summer at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico.
the internships they were doing did not require work to be done in a traditional laboratory. Inn this case, this was a huge benefit.
As the department helped them prepare, COVID-19 hit and we were unsure the fate of the internships. Spectacularly, LANL contacted Fedik, Kulichenko, and Tkachenko to let them know the internships were not cancelled, just the in-person piece of them.
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Public domain.
Boldyrev lab. Bandelier National Monument. Courtesy USU College of Science.
Boldyrev lab. Bandelier National Monument. Courtesy USU College of Science. The students took the news in stride and prepared to begin their internships remotely, from the Cache Valley. Kulichenko, ever positive, said, “Yes, it was disappointing news, as we all looked forward to being at the historic lab and exploring New Mexico,” Kulichenko says. “But, on the plus side, we would save on rent and travel.” Each student is a theoretical chemists and
With the benefit of the LANL supercomputers the students were able to “develop new techniques for reducing complexity of quantum chemistry calculations on quantum computers,” said Tkachenko. Each student’s work and effort will be published in future papers. Tkachenko is a lead author of a peer-reviewed paper currently in the final stages of review. https://arxiv.org/ abs/2009.04996 Writers: Erin Russell, Staff Assistant III with significant contribution from Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Public Relations Specialist, College of Science. Read the original, published article: https://tinyurl.com/y3e7dzq7 Fall 2020 | 19
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