明星黑料

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• Congratulations to our 2023-2024 graduates! Biochemistry: Nikolas Guerriero, Jack Kloecker, and Della Mamani; Chemistry: Mia Ambuski, Alexis Bruscemi, Sergey Chikunov, Kristin Jozefczyk, Quentin Kunath, Karley Lewis, and Madison Rhine.
• Jack Kloecker and Mia Ambuski are recipients of 明星黑料 Founders' Day Awards in biochemistry and chemistry, respectively. Congratulations!
• Congratulations to the following students who were recognized by the Department and the American Chemical Society with Division Undergraduate Awards: Della Mamani (biochemistry), Quentin Kunath (analytical chemistry); Kristin Jozefczyk (ethics and safety); Madison Rhine (inorganic chemistry); Karley Lewis (organic chemistry); Mia Ambuski (physical chemistry).
• Congratulations to senior chemistry major Nicholas Guerriero! He was selected as this year's recipient of the College Chemistry Award sponsored by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh.
• 明星黑料 student Elizabeth Kibler received the Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Award from the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the general chemistry sequence.
• Chemistry and Biochemistry students Quentin Kunath and Emily Schueren along with research advisor Dr. Ria Betush presented their research “Modifications of Fmoc-Phe hydrogel variants with different cargo interactions” at the 267th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, LA.
• Chemistry and Biochemistry students Mia Ambuski, Nikolas Guerriero, Karley Lewis, and Devin Williams along with research advisors Drs. Christine Saber, Gary Vanderlaan, and Prasad Dalvi presented their research “To kill an ancient killer: Synthesizing a putative anti-mycobacterial drug” at the 267th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, LA.
• 明星黑料 students Amy Poole and Sydney Govoni along with research advisor Dr. Matthew Heerboth presented their research “Determination of titratable acidity in beer: An acid-base titration experiment for the general chemistry laboratory at the 267th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, LA.
• The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry sends our best wishes and thanks to Ms. Cynthia Willis who retires at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year.
• Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Heerboth who was recently recognized for 15 years of service 明星黑料!

• Congratulations to Dr. Betty Jo Chitester who was named the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society Outreach Volunteer of the Year.

• Congratulations to Dr. Kellie Brosius-Jircitano who was named the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society Member of the Year.
• Congratulations to Drs. Ria Betush and Keith Krise who were awarded a 2024 Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grant. These funds will be used to purchase equipment to enhance the analytical and organic chemistry laboratory.

See what's new! Follow the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a glimpse of what our faculty, staff and students are up to.

• Congratulations to the 明星黑料 American Chemical Society Student Chapter on achieving an Honorable Mention Student Chapter Award for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. The  selects  to receive recognition on the basis of their programs and activities, as described in their annual chapter reports.
• Welcome to our Department’s new faculty and staff: Dr. Kellie Brosius-Jircitano (Assistant Teaching Professor), Dr. Aaron Fields-Forbes (Assistant Professor), and Mr. Jerry Phelps (Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator and Adjunct Lecturer)!
• Drs. Betty Jo Chitester, Weslene Tallmadge, and Keith Krise recently travelled to San Francisco, CA to participate service to the Committee for Community Activities meeting as part of the 266^th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition.
• Dr. Keith Krise had an article, “” published in the National Chemistry Week 2023 Celebrating Chemistry magazine. Celebrating Chemistry helps children ages 9-12 (Grades 4-6) develop an interest in chemistry as they learn about its relevance to their lives, connection to what they are learning in school, and role in the issues they care about. 
• The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry sends our best wishes and thanks to Dr. Timothy Laher who retires at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year after 34 years at 明星黑料!
• Olympia Otulakowski and Devin Williams are recipients of 明星黑料 Founders' Day Awards in biochemistry and chemistry, respectively. Congratulations!
• Congratulations to the following students who were recognized by the Department and the American Chemical Society with Division Undergraduate Awards: Olympia Otulakowski (analytical chemistry); Haley Shepard (inorganic chemistry); Jana Thomas (organic chemistry); Devin Williams (physical chemistry).
• Congratulations to senior chemistry major Jana Thomas! She was selected as this year's recipient of the College Chemistry Award sponsored by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh.
• 明星黑料 student Paige Siener received the Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Award from the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the general chemistry sequence.
• Congratulations to Dr. Christine Saber for being selected as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Excellence in Advising Award for the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
• Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Nogaj, principal investigator, and other 明星黑料 faculty and staff members who were recently awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence 3 Grant.
• Congratulations to Dr. Christine Saber who was awarded a Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh College Equipment Grant. These funds will be used to enhance spectroscopy in the organic chemistry laboratory.
• Congratulations to Ms. Cindy Willis who was recently recognized with the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences Outstanding Adjunct Award.
• Congratulations to Dr. Ria Betush who was selected to attend a service learning conference "Chemistry for the Community” at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine.
• Congratulations to Drs. Matthew Heerboth, Varun Kasaraneni, and Lisa Nogaj who were awarded a Hirtzel Foundation Grant to purchase a new Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) that will serve 明星黑料 and regional institutions. 
• Drs. Weslene Tallmadge and Betty Jo Chitester organized a Chemists Celebrate Earth Day event at the Trinity Center Bethesda Lutheran Services. Department faculty, staff, and students performed activities around this year’s theme “The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae”.
• Dr. Matthew Heerboth is leading a 明星黑料 T.R.A.V.E.L. course.
• Olympia Otulakowski, a senior biochemistry major, presented her research on the analysis of antioxidants in plants with Drs. Betty Jo Chitester and Weslene Tallmadge at the 265th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in Indianapolis, IN.
• Devin Williams, Jana Thomas, and Haley Shepard, senior chemistry majors, presented their research on developing a novel glucose monitoring laboratory exercise for the Department’s physiological chemistry course with Dr. Keith Krise at the 265th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in Indianapolis, IN.
• Drs. Betty Jo Chitester, Kevin Burridge, Matthew Heerboth, Timothy Laher, Lisa Nogaj, Weslene Tallmadge, and Keith Krise presented a poster on the redesign of the Department’s physiological chemistry laboratory course at the 265th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in Indianapolis, IN. 
• 明星黑料 recently hosted the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society's annual awards banquet that also celebrated the Section's centennial. Dr. Lisa Nogaj served as the banquet coordinator. Several other 明星黑料 faculty serve on the executive committee of the Erie Local Section including Drs. Natalie Stano (Vice Chair), Betty Jo Chitester (Councilor), Christine Saber (Secretary), Matthew Heerboth (Alternative Councilor/National Chemistry Week Co-Coordinator), Weslene Tallmadge (Chemists Celebrate Earth Week Coordinator), and Keith Krise (National Chemistry Week Co-Coordinator/Centennial Committee Chair).

Congratulations to our 2024-2025 graduates! Biochemistry: Brenna Cassidy, Ryan Fisher, Alexander Hurtado, and Jillian Sullivan; Chemistry: Rocco Knauss, Margaret (Maggie) Lenda, Tien Luu, Emily Schueren, and Carson Whiteman.

Ryan Fisher and Tien Luu are recipients of 明星黑料 Academic Excellence Awards in biochemistry and chemistry, respectively. Congratulations!

Congratulations to the following students who were recognized by the Department and American Chemical Society with Division Undergraduate Awards: Ryan Fisher (biochemistry), Tien Luu (analytical chemistry); Ryan Fisher (ethics and safety); Margaret Lenda (inorganic chemistry); Emily Schueren (organic chemistry); Tien Luu (physical chemistry).

Congratulations to senior biochemistry major Jillian Sullivan! She was selected as this year's recipient of the College Chemistry Award sponsored by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh.

明星黑料 student Emily Huber, first-Year biochemistry major, received the Outstanding First-Year College Chemistry Award from the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the general chemistry sequence.

Congratulations to Dr. Chritine Saber who was named the Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society Outreach Volunteer of the Year.

Congratulations to the 明星黑料 American Chemical Society Student Chapter on achieving an Commendable Student Chapter Award for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. The  selects  to receive recognition on the basis of their programs and activities, as described in their annual chapter reports.

Congratulations  to Drs. Christine Saber and Keith Krise who were recently recognized for 10 years of service to 明星黑料 and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Chemistry and Biochemistry student Emily Schueren along with research advisor Dr. Ria Betush presented their research “Modifications of Fmoc-Phe hydrogel variants with different cargo interactions” at the 269th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA.

Chemistry and Biochemistry students Moira Stanisch and Grace Ochs along with research advisor Dr. Matthew Heerboth presented their research “Determination of titratable acidity in beer: An acid-base titration experiment for the general chemistry laboratory” at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh, PA.

Chemistry and Biochemistry student Tien Luu along with research advisor Dr. Ria Betush presented their research “Investigation of cationic fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl phenylalanine hydrogels with different C-terminus linkers” at the 54th Annual Central Regional Meeting (CERM) of the American Chemical Society in Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Weslene Tallmadge had an article, “” published in the Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) 2025 Celebrating Chemistry magazine. Celebrating Chemistry helps children ages 9-12 (Grades 4-6) develop an interest in chemistry as they learn about its relevance to their lives, connection to what they are learning in school, and role in the issues they care about. Dr. Tallmadge also served as the CCEW 2025 Theme Team Co-Chair.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty continue their active involvement with the American Chemical Society (ACS) at the local and national levels. Drs. Ria Betush, Matthew Heerboth, Keith Krise, and Christine Saber were elected to positions on the executive committee of the Erie Local Section in October 2024. Dr. Betty Jo Chitester was appointed as a full member of the national ACS Committee on Community Activities.

Dr. Keith Krise, with collaborator Dr. Scott Williams from Rochester Institute of Technology, had an article, “” published in the National Chemistry Week 2024 Celebrating Chemistry magazine. Celebrating Chemistry helps children ages 9-12 (Grades 4-6) develop an interest in chemistry as they learn about its relevance to their lives, connection to what they are learning in school, and role in the issues they care about.