Winthrop Chemistry Department Awarded Contract with North Carolina Division of Air Quality (9/3/00)

Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are the two primary precursors for summertime ozone production.  While state and federal agencies have focused recent efforts on controlling nitrogen oxides, there is less known about the effect of hydrocarbon concentrations on ozone production. A recent study published by Sonoma Technology Inc. provides evidence that ozone production in this region may be driven more by hydrocarbons than by nitrogen oxides.

In a report issued by the American Lung Association in June 2000, the Rock Hill-Charlotte-Gastonia metropolitan area was identified as the 8th worst U.S. urban region for summertime production of ground-level ozone.  Ozone adversely affects respiratory health.  In the Carolinas, a large number of emergency room visits for respiratory difficulties are directly attributable to high ozone levels that occur during the summer.  In April, 2000, the Charlotte Observer identified summertime ozone production as the most critical environmental issue facing the Central Carolinas region.  Summertime ozone levels have significantly risen over the past five years.  In a research presentation by Winthrop chemistry student Jenny Perry to the NC DAQ last August, the rise in ozone production was correlated with increases in traffic and growth in the region. Jenny also found that, over the past decade in this region, there has been surprisingly little difference in summertime ozone weekday/weekend levels.

 Winthrop Chemistry Students Experience Summer 2000 Research Fellowships (9/02/00)

Melissa Backman, a junior chemistry major, was awarded and completed a radiology research  fellowship at Washington University.

Michael Bagwell, a senior chemistry major, earned an NSF REU fellowship from Clemson University and conducted research in spectrophotometry.

Warren Dukes, a senior chemistry major, was awarded a research fellowship and studied computational chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.

Lauree Jensen, a sophomore chemistry student, was awarded an NSF REU research fellowship from Clemson University and investigated the effects of solvents on liquid crystal structures that have long-term potential for molecular wire applications.

Terry McAlister, a senior chemistry major, was awarded a second NSF REU fellowship from Clemson University and developed chemical educational software.

Laura McDuffie, a senior chemistry minor, earned a summer 2000 research fellowship and investigated cellular signal transduction at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Hilary Siders, a senior chemistry major, was awarded both Spring 2000 and Summer 2000 research fellowships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  She conducted research is in the field of electrospray mass spectrometry.

Dan Zwiefel, a senior chemistry major,  was awarded an NSF REU research fellowship by Clemson University and conducted extensive research in the field of nanotechnology.
 

Winthrop Chemistry Students Obtain Summer 2000 Industrial Internships (9/2/00)

Professional experience is a critical component of undergraduate education.  Winthrop's location within an economically booming region provides a multitude of opportunities for chemistry students to find relevant job experience to further their professional development.  These chemistry students are to be congratulated for their summer 2000 work.

Jacob Bradford, a senior chemistry major, obtained a position with Bowater Paper.

Derek Elgin,  a junior chemistry major, obtained a position with Atotech Corporation, an international manufacturer of electroplating chemicals headquartered in Rock Hill, and worked in the Research Chemistry Division.

Danielle Ezell, a junior chemistry major, obtained a position with an orthodontist practice.

Stephanie Koester, a senior chemistry major, earned a summer position as a chemistry intern with Sherman Williams in Cleveland, Ohio.  The internship position is part of the nationally advertised experiential opportunities in chemistry published by the American Chemical Society.

Faith Roberts, a senior chemistry major, obtained a position with Atotech Corporation, an international manufacturer of electroplating chemicals headquartered in Rock Hill and worked in the Analytical Services Division.

Jason Simmons was awarded a summer internship working in the quality control lab with Harrell Industries.

Jayne White, a sophomore chemistry major, obtained a laboratory position with Energy Recovery Resources.
 

Winthrop Chemistry Graduate Kelley Dwyer Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Fellowship (5/5/00)

Dr. Patricia Bossart-Whitaker Wins Spring 1999 Cottrell College Science Research Award (4/28/99)

Research Corporation, the only U.S. philanthropic foundation wholly dedicated to the advancement of science and technology, has just awarded Dr. Patricia Bossart-Whitaker, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Winthrop University, a two year Cottrell College Research Award for initiating the three-dimensional molecular structure determination of a biomedically important protein using novel X-ray diffraction techniques. Undergraduate chemistry and biology students are intimately involved in all aspects of the project. Outside collaborators include researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and Yale University Medical School.

Research Corporation  was established in 1912 by Frederick Gardner Cottrell, a young university professor turned philanthropist who endowed it with patent rights to his valuable invention: the electrostatic precipitator for controlling industrial air pollution. Research Corporation supports research in physics, chemistry, and astronomy at U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities.

The foundation makes between 200 and 300 awards annually totaling $5 to $7 million under a number of programs that encourage beginning faculty members, original ideas, and the involvement of students in scientific investigations. The foundation's programs have aided early inquiries by roughly 15,000 scientists, 27 of whom have won Nobel Prizes. Hundreds of other grantees have received the awards of the American Chemical or Physical Societies, and are members of such bodies as the National Academy of Sciences.

For this year's Cottrell College Science program, there were over 175 proposals submitted and approximately 50 awards are being made.  Dr. Bossart-Whitaker's research was one of the few awards given to a "first-time" submission.

Cottrell Research grants are extremely competitive awards given to faculty at some of the finest non-Ph.D. granting Universities in the U.S. and Canada.  Among last year's recipients were faculty from Amherst College, Barnard College, Bucknell University, Carleton College, College of the Holy Cross, College of William and Mary, Davidson College, Fordham University, Furman University, Haverford College, Hope College, James Madison University, John Carroll University, Mount Holyoke College, Occidental College, Otterbein College, Smith College, Stetson University, United States Air Force Academy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Winnipeg, Whitman College, Williams College, and Xavier University.

Winthrop Chemistry Students Awarded Research Fellowships (4/21/99)

A number of Winthrop University's chemistry students have been awarded summer 1999 research fellowships.  In nearly all cases, these research positions were nationally advertised and competitively selected--for some, there were over 10 applications for each opening--Congratulations to these individuals and good luck this summer!!! 

April Atkinson, a junior who is majoring in chemistry and psychology at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 Howard Hughes fellowship with the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh.  She will be conducting research involving neurodegenerative diseases. Upon graduation from Winthrop in May 2000, April plans to enroll in a Ph.D. Neuroscience program.

Rebecca Coppins, a junior chemistry major at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship at Wellesley College.  She will be studying near-infrared spectroscopy of tuberculostatic hydrazines and their derivatives under the direction of Michael J. Hearn, Chair of the Chemistry Department at Wellesley College.  Upon completion of her degree from Winthrop, Rebecca plans to enroll in a Ph.D. graduate program in chemistry.

Warren Dukes, a sophomore chemistry major at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship to study molecular modeling and computational chemistry with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.  This summer, Warren will be working with a set of 25 high-end computers configured to work together in a parallel processing mode for computational analysis of molecular properties. Warren's long-term plans are to complete a Ph.D. in computational chemistry.

Aliesha Gilliard, a junior chemistry major at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 Research Fellowship with the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in Berkeley, California.  Aliesha's research will focus on atmospheric chemistry.  Upon graduation, Aliesha intends to enter pharmacy school or a Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Science program.

Kate Malone, a junior majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry at Winthrop University, has been awarded a fellowship by DOE to work at the Global Warming Data Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  After her graduation from Winthrop, Kate plans to attend graduate school in an environmental science.

Terry McAlister, a sophomore chemistry major who is also minoring in education at Winthrop University has been awarded a summer 1999 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship to work with Dr. Melanie Cooper at Clemson University.  Dr. Cooper is one of the leaders in chemical education in the U.S.; this summer, Terry will be developing instructional tools.  Upon graduation in May 2001, Terry plans to complete a Ph.D. in chemical education..

Lisa Miller, a junior majoring in chemistry and biology at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 research fellowship to investigate the three-dimensional molecular structure determination of a biomedically important protein using novel X-ray diffraction techniques under the direction of Dr. Patricia Bossart-Whitaker at Winthrop University. After her graduation in May 2000, Lisa plans to complete a Ph.D. program.

Katey Sellers, a junior majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry at Winthrop University, has been awarded a summer 1999 research fellowship to investigate the three-dimensional molecular structure determination of a biomedically important protein using novel X-ray diffraction techniques under the direction of Dr. Patricia Bossart-Whitaker at Winthrop University. After her graduation in May 2000, Katey plans to complete a Ph.D. in a biomedical science.

Winthrop Chemistry Major Honored by the Piedmont Section of the American Chemical Society (4/20/99)