Micah Abrams is one of four individuals named as HP Outstanding Junior Faculty for 2008. The award is presented by Hewlett-Packard and the ACS Division of Computers in Chemistry (COMP) and provides $1,000 in travel funds for each of four junior faculty to present their research work to a COMP symposia at the spring ACS National Meeting. Micah will present his work on “Determination of absolute configuration in solution”
Dr. Patrick Desrochers and Dr. Richard Tarkka of the UCA Department of Chemistry were recently awarded a three year RUI research grant from the National Science Foundation totaling $ 252,041. This represents the largest pure research award ever received by UCA from NSF. The project combines the expertise of both labs including nickel coordination chemistry (Desrochers) and polymer/combinatorial methods (Tarkka). It will develop new polystyrene-based anchors for nickel so that the unique properties of this metal can be utilized in applications that include protein purification, sensors for amino acids and ammonia, and catalytic processes. These anchored nickel materials will be reusable and therefore recyclable, improving their utility and reducing their operating cost. This award is also funding the acquisition of state-of-art research equipment, including an oxygen/moisture-free glove box and an ultraviolet/visible diffuse reflectance attachment (DRA). In addition to allowing light absorption measurements on the solids developed for this project, the DRA can also record light absorption properties of other solids like leaf surfaces, cell cultures, and paintings. The DRA makes the measurements without damaging the sample. Another significant outcome of this work will be the training of the UCA undergraduates in chemical research, a tradition for this department, making these students competitive in graduate science programs nationwide.
Fifteen students presented the results of their research efforts at the ACS National Meeting in Chicago (spring, 2007). The students (faculty sponsors) presenting were Nick Gleason (Rick Tarkka), Leah Thompson (Rick Tarkka), Akhil Mehta (Nolan Carter), Amanda MacMillan (Karen Steelman), Ashley Evans (Rick Tarkka), Emily Malcolm (Melissa Kelley), Tori Green (Nolan Carter), Adam Phelan (Rick Tarkka), Lindsay Read (Kyle Felling), Jake Smith (Nolan Carter), Jacque Dupriest (Karen Steelman), Tamara Binyon (Rick Tarkka), Tori O'Bannon (Lori Isom), Mikaela Stewart (Lori Isom), and Chris Sutton (Patrick Desrochers)
Biochemist Lori Isom was named the recipient of the UCA Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for the 2005-2006 academic year. The plaque and a cash award were presented to Lori at the annual UCA Service Awards Ceremony. Lori joins the following UCA chemistry faculty who have received faculty excellence awards in the past.
Teaching Excellence Award: Michael Rapp (1990), Paul Krause (1995) and Patrick Desrochers (2002)
Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award: William Taylor (2001) and Patrick Desrochers (2004)
Public Service Award: Michael Rapp (1997) and Jerry Manion (1999)
Lance Bridges will join the department in the Fall, 1006 as Assistant Professor. His teaching responsibilities will be primarily in the area of biochemistry. Lance grew up outside of Fort Smith, AR and received a B.S. degree in chemistry from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR. Lance received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is currently on a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Virginia Health System. Lance's research interests involve cell recognition which he studies by measuring cell adhesion to stationary substrates.
Micah Abrams recently accepted a position in our department as Assistant Professor. Micah, a 2001 UCA graduate, is a theoretical chemist and will teach freshman classes as well as advanced classes in physical and computational chemistry. Micah received his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and has spent the past year as a post-doctoral fellow at Virginia Tech under Prof. T.D. Crawford.
Dr. Don Perry is the Principal Investigator for an National Science Foundation-ILI grant that has allowed the department to purchase a Varian Saturn 2200 model GC-MS. The instrument, which cost in excess of $100,000, will be used by students in analytical, organic and environmental chemistry classes.
Dr. Conrad Stanitski, Professor and Department Chair for the past 13 years, announced his retirement at the end of the 2004-05 academic year. Dr. Stanitski has a national reputation as a chemical educator and served as Chair of the ACS Division of Chemical Education in 2002. Conrad is the author of a number of best-selling textbooks in general chemistry and chemistry for general education. Conrad and his wife, Barbara, have settled in Lancaster, PA where he is currently a temporary faculty member at Franklin and Marshall College.
Dr. George Paul was a fixture in the Chemistry Department for 40 years retired at the end of the 2004-05 academic year. Dr. Paul taught Physical Chemistry and Advanced Inorganic Chemistry in addition to freshman chemistry classes. Dr. Paul was feted by the department at a retirement party at the Conway Country Club. He was presented with an engraved watch and a retirement plaque with a chemistry motif that was hand-made by Pat Desrochers. George and his wife, Patsy, remain in Conway during retirement.
Dr. Kyle Felling joined the chemistry faculty in the fall, 2005 semester. Dr. Felling , who was raised in Benton, AR, received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Hendrix College and his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Texas. Kyle completed a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Alabama and then joined the faculty at South Dakota State University. Kyle's research specialty is fluorine chemistry.
Dr. Lori Isom has received a Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) grant from the National Science Foundation. The award of approximately $150,000 will allow Lori and her students to study the effect of metal ions on the structure of DNA.
Dr. Bill Taylor has accepted the position as Chair of the UCA Department of Chemistry effective July 1, 2005. Dr. Taylor, who is currently Professor of Chemistry, has been a UCA faculty member since 1990.
Three finalists were interviewed for the positon as Chairman of the Chemistry Department. In addition to Dr. Tayler they were:
Dr. Rose McConnell
Dr. McConnell is currently a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Arkansas, Monticello
Dr. Way Fountain
Dr. Fountain is currently an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the US Military Academy.