Department of
Chemistry and Physics

Volume 3                                                                                                                  January 2002
M. Draganjac, Newsletter Editor

Faculty and Staff
Thank you
Alumni News
Department News
Other News
Scholarly Activity
Grants
Publications
Presentations
Student News
Society of Physics Students
Student Affiliates, American Chemical Society
Volume 1, January 2000 Issue
Volume 2, January 2001 Issue

Chair's Comments:
The department has had another very productive year for both faculty and students as can be seen by the figures for new funding, articles published and presentations made. Our increased productivity over the past few years has created the need for additional staff. We are, therefore pleased to welcome Ms. Lisa Templeton to the department office.

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Sustich, who was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences this past summer! Andy will continue to teach a physics course every semester, but, in addition, Dr. Edsel Ammons (Ph.D. University of Illinois) has joined the physics faculty. Dr. Ann Ross, who has been teaching our science education courses and supervising student teachers, has taken a tenure-track position in the College of Education. Mr. Tillman Kennon, who is a Milken Educator Award winner, has taken a leave from Cross County High School to handle these important functions this year.

I am pleased with the alumni news section and with the alumni egroup. I hope that reading these will encourage more of you to respond and to join the egroup.

Once again, I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Mark Draganjac for compiling and editing this, the third annual Newsletter.

Paul M. Nave, Chair
Current Faculty and Staff:
 

Edsel Ammons - Physics
Katie Burns - Physical Science
William Burns - Physical Chemistry
Mark Draganjac - Inorganic Chemistry
Gary Emmert - Analytical/ Environmental Chemistry
Robyn Hannigan - Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry
David Jimerson - Inorganic Chemistry
Bruce Johnson - Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics
Tillman Kennon - Science Education
Bao-An Li - Nuclear Physics
Paul Nave - Organic Chemistry
Mike Panigot - Organic Chemistry
Scott Reeve - Chemical Physics
Jon Russ - Analytical/ Geochemistry
Andy Sustich - Nuclear Physics
Norman Trautwein - Analytical Chemistry
William Wyatt - Physical Chemistry
Bin Zhang - Nuclear Physics

Betty Pulford - Secretary
Lisa Templeton - Secretary
Ben Rougeau - Research Assistant/ Stockroom Manager
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Thank You

The Chemistry faculty would like to thank all of you that have contributed to the Department. With your contributions, we have supplemented the NSF Grant (see below) for an HPLC in order to have a  fluorescence as well as a UV detector and to pool with additional funds from Biology, Environmental Science, the Graduate School, the College of Arts and Sciences and the ASU administration to purchase additional HPLC's.

From the Physics Foundation, some of the contributions were used to purchase copies of Dr. Li's book, "Isospin Physics in Heavy-Ion Collisions at Intermediate Energies" for distribution to other physicists in the field.
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Alumni News:
We would like to hear from you.  Tell us what you are doing now and we'll include it in the newsletter.  Write, call or e-mail us.

Department of Chemistry and Physics
P.O. Box 419
State University, AR 72467
Attn: Newsletter

Office:  (870) 972 -3086
Fax:  (870) 972 -3089

mdraganj@astate.edu

Alumni eGroup - Thanks to the efforts of Allen Goad, we now have an Alumni eGroup that current and former students can join to keep up with Department News and keep in touch with fellow alumni.  The web address is: http://www.egroups.com/group/ASU_Chemistry_Alumni
Please let us know what you have been doing.  We currently have 25 members in the eGroup.  Others that sent letters or e-mails are:

Bob Clark - Bob graduated in 1968 with a BS in Chemistry (Physical) and a minor in Math
from ASU.  He sold technology from Xerox and Computer Sciences Corporation before becoming an engineering/technology recruiter 25 years ago.  Bob just completed an assignment staffing up the new product avionics division of Honeywell Aerospace (Air Transport Flight Safety Systems, Radar and RF technology being one of my specialties).  Four months ago Bob accepted a position with the Server Group of Compaq Computer, doing new product development staffing!  He telecommutes from his estate in Kirkland, WA, while reporting to Houston. Bob wants us to know that his education has served him well and he particularly owes a lot to Dr. Ed Bennett.  Dr. Bennett's physical chemistry class became the basis of the knowledge Bob has acquired about very advanced RF systems.

Chris Duty - Chris (BS, MS) is currently attending Pharmacy School at UAMS.

C. E. Gerdes - C.E. is still at Mary Kay in Dallas. His title is Scientist-Q.C. Analytical.  One of the responsibilities of his group is to test raw materials as they are received from the vendors.  They are tested before they are used in the products they make.  His major responsibilities are in testing bulk products and troubleshooting batches that do not conform to specification.  C.E. investigates the possible causes.  Then once the root cause is determined, he documents the cause, and any  corrective action taken to ensure the deviation does not happen again.  He also attempts to recommend a course of action to "save the batch", if possible.  If not, the batch of product is destroyed (not something the higher-ups like to do).  He and his wife have two children, Morgan and Parker.

Tim Hightower - Tim has made a big change in careers. He is now an Assistant Professor at Black Hills State University. He says he is really enjoying it so far, but he is having to put in "mucho"
hours.

Yunyu Hu - Yunyu is a senior technologist doing research in the Department of Experimental Hematology for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Mainly she does cell culture, strain selection, mini and maxi preparation of plasmids, purification of viruses and determines the concentration and function of viruses. During this year one important thing happened - she had a baby boy. He (William) was born on July 2, 2001, 7 lb 3 oz and 20 inches long. He is healthy and growing well.

Zhaohui Liao - Zhaohui (MS) passed all of her entrance exams and has been admitted to the the Ph.D. program at Arizona State University.

Mariah McMasters - Mariah is attending graduate school at Louisiana State University and has
joined IGERT in the Inhibiting Alzheimer's group.  You can read about it at http://igert.lsu.edu/
or http://russo.chem.lsu.edu/igertweb/.  She is mainly working for two people: Dr. Paul Russo and Dr. Robin McCarley.

Sean Puckett - Sean (BS, MS) didn't mention it--but the word is he made the highest score on his analytical entrance exam. He is in the Ph.D. program at Miami University.

Wiley Stanley - Wiley is a pharmaceutical sales representative for Andrx Laboratories, covering the Northeast Arkansas area.

Tony Tortorich - Tony is a 1979 graduate of ASU, and after leaving ASU, He completed his Dental degree at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences.  He then
completed his training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has been in private practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Little Rock since 1986. Tony and his wife, Torre, reside in Little Rock with their five children.

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Department News:

Welcome: If you have called the Department of Chemistry and Physics recently, you may not have recognized the voice answering the phone.  We are pleased to welcome Ms. Lisa Templeton to our Department. Lisa is a native of Arlington VA, and prior to coming to our office, she worked in the CESL (Center for English as a second language) program office.  Lisa is married (husband, Thomas) and has three children (2 sons, 1 daughter).  Her primary responsibilities include Office Receptionist, handling student schedules and enrollment, and class and room schedules.
 

Other news:
Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI)
In the Fall of 2001, Arkansas State University became a charter member of the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) (http://www.cuahsi.org/).   CUAHSI currently has 43 member universities throughout the US as well as several affiliate members (domestic and foreign).  CUAHSI is designed to provide infrastructure for the scientific and educational goals of hydrologic scientists.  ASU currently has a significant research effort in hydrologic sciences including aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, water chemistry and geochemistry.  Membership in the organization has already provided many new research funding opportunities as well as the growth of collaborative partnerships with other institutions. Dr. Hannigan currently serves as ASU's campus representative to CUAHSI as well as one of two regional representatives for the southern US.  As CUAHSI grows and its mission comes to fruition ASU can look forward to amazing opportunities for interdisciplinary research and education/training across disciplinary boundaries.  Keep your eyes open for more news and please check out CUAHSI on-line or contact Dr. Hannigan about CUAHSI any time.

Dr. Bao-An Li,  Co-organizer with Prof. W.G. Lynch of Michigan State University, (HIRMEC 2001), International Workshop on Heavy-Ion Reactions and Matter under Extreme Conditions, National Superconducting Laboratory, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, Nov. 15-18, 2001

Dr. Robyn Hannigan, Assistant Professor of Geology, has been named as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Education and Outreach for the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc. Dr. Hannigan has also been named Chair of the Exhibits and Sponsors committee for the Southeast Geological Society of America meeting in 2003 to be held in Memphis TN.

Dr. Robyn Hannigan was awarded an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellowship in February 2001.  Additionally Dr. Hannigan was awarded a grant through the Moldovan-U.S. Bilateral Grants Program to work in collaboration with Dr. Oleg Bogdevich of the Institute of Geophysics and
Geology at the Moldova Academy of Sciences.  This grant funds research examining the impact of Selenium on agricultural crops in Moldova and Arkansas.

Promotions:

Dr. Andrew Sustich was promoted to Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.   Dr. Jon Russ was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and Dr. Paul Nave was promoted to Professor.

Department Seminar Series: The 2001 calendar year had a diverse group of presentations.  The Department Seminar Series featured Dr. Robert Engelken, Arkansas State University, Dr. James Cox, Miami University, Dr. Robert Curley, The Ohio State University, Dr. Fran Bagenal, University of Colorado, Dr. Christer Aakeröy, Kansas State University, Dr. Betty Tsang, Michigan State University, Dr. Susan E. Walden,  University of Oklahoma, Dr. Carlos Bertulani, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Dr. Patrick Desrochers, University of Central Arkansas.  Dr. Robert Engelken  and Dr. Susan E. Walden are ASU graduates.

Scholarly Activity:

During the past year, the Department of Chemistry and Physics has published 14 articles in national/international journals and state/regional journals. In addition 58 scholarly presentations have been made at state, regional, national and international  meetings. Many of these papers have been presented by students who participated in the research. Over 26 students have been involved in the research and presentation.

The department has received or will receive over $470,000 in funding from outside sources and may receive additional funding from grants which are now in review.

Grants:  Several of the Faculty have received grants this year.  Funding helps support research and teaching ef forts in the department.  Grants include:

Grants Pending: top

Publications: The Department has been active in publishing their research.  The publications include:

Publications accepted/submitted: top

Presentations: The faculty and the students of the Department of Chemistry and Physics have made numerous presentations over the past year.  These include:

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Student News:

Congratulations:

Congratulations to Matt Tilley (1st place, Undergraduate Physical Sciences), Andy Thornton, Jr. (Honorable Mention, Undergraduate Physical Sciences) and Emily Rickman (2nd Place, Undergraduate Poster) for winning awards at the 85th Arkansas Academy of Science in April, 2001. Matt worked with Drs. Bao-An Li, Andrew Sustich and Bin ZhangAndy's research was directed by Dr. Mark Draganjac and Emily worked under the direction of Dr. Robyn Hannigan.

MS Degree Awarded / Thesis Completed:

Liao, Z., Development of a Supported Capillary Membrane Sampler-Gas Chromatograph with Pulsed Discharge Detector and Applications to Environmental Analysis. Master of Science Degree in Chemistry conferred 8/01. (Advisor: Dr. Gary Emmert)
Puckett, S., Applications of Flow Injection Analysis to Environmental Analysis. Master of Science Degree in Chemistry conferred 8/01. (Advisor: Dr. Gary Emmert)
McCallum, M., Optimization of Extraction Techniques for Bound Lipids in Pictograph Paints.  Master of Science Degree in Chemistry conferred 8/01. (Advisor: Dr. J. Russ).
Moore, S., HPLC Analysis of Lichen Acids in a Biogenic Rock Coating.  Master of
Science Degree in Chemistry conferred 12/01. (Advisor: Dr. J. Russ).
Charles Blaine Buckman, Elimination of DAP in a Polyester Coating. (Advisor: Dr. M. Panigot).
Shang-U Kim, The Synthesis of C-Glycosides and Coupling to Polyhalogenated Arenes to form Dendrimers. (Advisor: Dr. M. Panigot).
Alan Ford, Rotationally Resolved Infrared Spectrum and DFT Study of Jet Cooled Iron Pentacarbonyl. (Advisor: Dr. Scott Reeve).

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Completed:

Jennifer L. Faulkner,  Steps Toward the Synthesis of Stereoselectively Beta-Deuterated Histidine. (Advisor: Dr. M. Panigot).
Amanda Wroble, Novel Organometallic Ruthenium-Sulfur Complexes: Synthesis of Thioxane and Di-Mercaptan Complexes. (Advisor: Dr. M. Draganjac).

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Society of Physics Students: Contact Joshua Buckley for details of upcoming events.  Dr. Bruce Johnson is the faculty advisor to SPS. (870)972-3087 ext.262.

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Student Affiliates, American Chemical Society:  Under Dr. Michael Panigot, the 2000/2001 Student Affiliates chapter received an Honorable Mention Award from the National ACS.  Congratulations to all who made the ACS group a success. Dr. Mark Draganjac  took over the advising duties in the Fall of 2001 from Dr. Michael Panigot.  Fall activities included a BBQ  to start the semester, several speakers: Dr. Trey Gardner (UAMS), Dr. Henry Kurtz (University of Memphis) and Dr. Robyn Hannigan (Arkansas State University) and a Chem Magic show for Halloween. For more information, see the ACS Student Affiliate web page

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