Castañeda group leads studies of molecular causes of ALS
Chemist Designs Diabetic Treatment Minus Harmful Side Effects
Understanding the ‘hunger hormone,’ ghrelin
The hormone ghrelin is how our stomachs tell our brains to eat. Understanding how ghrelin works may lead to new therapies for diabetes and obesity, or a treatment for a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome. James Hougland, PhD, an associate professor of chemistry at Syracuse University and an adjunct professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Upstate, is at the center of this research. Listen to the podcast produced by Upstate Medical University HealthLink on Air, an organiziation that explores health and medical issues of interest to Central New Yorkers.
Carlos Castañeda Receives ALS Grant
Chemistry Department Summer 2017 Newsletter
SU Chemistry Department launches search to hire Assistant Professor of Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the areas of organic chemistry with a leading interest in bioorganic, medicinal, or polymer/materials chemistry starting in the fall of 2018, with the possibility of an earlier start date. The Chemistry Department of Syracuse University, within the College of Arts and Sciences, is committed to exceptional core education in the liberal arts and excellence in research and scholarship. Many resources, facilities, and collaboration opportunities exist within the Department, College, University, and neighboring institutes, including the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Cornell University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse VA Medical Center, and SUNY-ESF.
A Ph.D. in Chemistry or related area and relevant postdoctoral experience is required for consideration.
Successful candidates are expected to establish an active, externally funded research program and to demonstrate excellence in graduate and undergraduate teaching, particularly in organic chemistry-related courses. For full consideration, candidates must complete an online application and electronically attach a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a description of research interests, a statement of teaching philosophy and contact information for three processional references.
To apply, go to www.sujobopps.com (job #073404). Review of applications will start on October 16, 2017. Please direct questions to chair of the search committee, Professor Yan-Yeung Luk (yluk@syr.edu). Syracuse University was part of the 2010 NSF-ADVANCE cohort and maintains its commitment to diversity and excellence in STEM and across the University. The department seeks candidates whose research, teaching, or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education.
Check back for summer news updates
Summer News?
A new 3-year grant from the United States Department of Education will help Syracuse University strongly recruit women and minorities into the the field of chemistry.
Chemistry undergraduate student Albanie Hendrickson-Stives, class of 2017, has been awarded the Sam and Arlene Straight Chemistry Scholarship. Established in 2012 to help high-achieving chemistry majors pay for their Syracuse University education, the Straights want current chemistry students to make the most of their academic opportunities at Syracuse by engaging with an outstanding community of chemistry professors. The scholarship is for current chemistry majors going into their final year of their undergraduate education. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Nominations were solicited from members of the Chemistry Department.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Ivan Korendovych, assistant professor of chemistry, a Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award to study catalytic activity in neurodegenerative diseases, drug resistance and new antimicrobial therapies.
Researchers Awarded Grant to Develop, Implement Strategies for New Antibiotics
Anthony Garza
Nerve cells, or neurons, found in the nervous system
Nerve cells, or neurons, found in the nervous system
A researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences has been awarded grants from The ALS Association and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) to support his study of protein biosynthesis.
Carlos A. Castañeda, assistant professor of biology and chemistry, is the University’s inaugural recipient of a one-year, $50,000 starter grant from the ALS Association, a nonprofit organization that seeks to find a cure for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Castañeda will use the award to investigate the effects of a protein called Ubiliquin-2 (UBQLN2) on ALS.
Castañeda also is the recipient of ORAU’s 2016 Ralph E. Power Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, whose $5,000 prize is being matched by the University. He will use the grant to study Ufm1, a protein that regulates the cellular stress response of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and is linked to diabetes, migraine, breast cancer and other diseases. ORAU is a national consortium of more than 100 major institutions, committed to groundbreaking research in science, education, security and health. Read the full article at SU News.
Syracuse Chemists Add Color to Chemical Reactions
Dr. Tennyson Doane (left) and Kevin Cruz '18 hold perovskites of different colors
Measuring the Elasticity of Poly-l-Proline Helices with Terahertz Spectroscopy. Tim Korter, professor and chair of chemistry, is featured in an article in Chemical & Engineering News (American Chemical Society, 2016) for his groundbreaking work in polymer elasticity and crystallization.
Ceremony Today to Honor New Meredith Professors
Professor Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle, professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Peter Wilcoxen, professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will be named as the 2016-19 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professors of Teaching Excellence at a ceremony on Thursday, April 14, at 4 p.m. in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center. Read more at SU News.
Chemists Combine Biology, Nanotechnology to Create Alternate Energy Source
Three of the researchers involved in the lighting research. They are, from left: Liliana Karam, Mathew Maye and Tennyson Doane.
Chemists in the College of Arts and Sciences have made a transformational advance in an alternate lighting source—one that doesn’t require a battery or a plug.
Associate Professor Mathew Maye and a team of researchers from the University, along with collaborators from Connecticut College, have recently demonstrated high-efficiency energy transfer between semiconductor quantum rods and luciferase enzymes. Quantum rods and luciferase enzymes are nanomaterials and biomaterials, respectively. When combined correctly, these materials produce bioluminescence—except, instead of coming from a biomaterial, such as a firefly enzyme, the light eminates from a nanomaterial, and is green, orange, red or near-infrared in color.
The findings are the subject of a recent article in ACS Nano (American Chemical Society, 2016).
“Think of our system as a design project," Maye says. "Our goal has been to build a nanobiosystem that's versatile enough to teach us a lot, while allowing us to overcome significant challenges in the field and have practical applications. The design involves materials from our chemistry and biology labs, as well as various nanoscience and self-assembly tools. It's a true team effort with multiple collaborations.”
Read the full article at SU News.
New Medicinal Chemistry Track
ChemMedChem journal cover
The new Medicinal Chemistry Track incorporates the principles of chemistry and the biological sciences to help students develop an understanding of the design, synthesis, evaluation, and optimization of pharmaceutically relevant small molecules and biologics. This program provides a strong background for employment as a B.S.-level medicinal chemist in industry, government laboratories and other venues. Download the informational flyer.
Rachael Burke - Best Capstone
ACS Journal of Chemical Theory and Computations Cover
ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
Tools of the Trade
Chemistry professor Tara Kahan with one of the department's new spectrometers
Winter 2015 edition of C.U.S.E.news
New Edition of C.U.S.E.news published.
The Winter 2015 edition of C.U.S.E.news, our department newsletter has been published highlighting the recent discoveries, news, and student achievements over the past semester.