Catalyst 2023

A University of Utah - Department of Chemistry Publication | 2 0 2 3

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A CENTERING FORCE DEAR FRIENDS OF CHEMISTRY: It has been a while since we published our last issue of the Catalyst. Many things have changed since then–we have new colleagues, lost some of our friends, weathered the complexity of the pandemic, and continued to build the department. What has remained the same is the underlying passion, drive, and excellence that I observe day to day in our faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. I see this while advising and mentoring my own research team and working with my colleagues and our staff to address challenges.

Perhaps the clearest view of our culture was on display in October as we recognized our four 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awardees

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

(who will be highlighted in detail in the next issue!). Their message to our current faculty and students was the same: you are providing and receiving an outstanding education that will allow you to lead the next generation of scientists, managers, and students.

Their message was inspiring and a grand reminder of why we do what we do every day.

In this issue we feature the culture of our department and bring you up to date on several highlights from the last two years. This includes some descriptions of our successful alumni, including the 2020 Distinguished Alumni–Rik Tykwinski, Carrie Wager, and Raymond Price. In addition, a previous Chemistry Distinguished Alumnus, Clifton Sanders, has been recognized in several Universitywide honors, including the 2023 U

Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2023 Hugo Rossi Lectureship.

Finally, we do a deep dive into one of our more recent graduates, Rory “Ziggy” Uibel and his adventures in growing a highly successful local instrument company.

The issue also highlights faculty and students who have received prominent recognition and have had exciting research accomplishments. While there are many to acknowledge, I would like to give a shout-out to Cindy Burrows (Pauling Medal), Valeria Molinero (Irving Langmuir Award and induction into the National Academy of Sciences), Michael Morse (Distinguished Professorship), and Luisa Whittaker -Brooks (U Presidential Scholar, ACS-WCC 2024 Rising Star Award, and MRS Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award). It is always

rewarding to see our colleagues honored for their excellence!

On a sad note, we lost several of our former colleagues, including Laya Kesner, Frank Harris, and Wes Bentrude. I was personally close with Wes as he retired soon after I arrived but remained present for several years while I was building my program. He was such a kind and giving person with an easy smile and great sense of humor. I will also note that his research on

understanding the reactivity of unusual radicals has circled into the mainstream many years after his initial publications. The organic chemistry community is utilizing his insights as the use of radicals has had a renaissance in recent years.

As a final note, this is my last year as department chair. This has been a demanding job, and I look forward to passing the reins to my successor. However, I can say

RECOGNITION THE PAULING MEDAL CYNTHIA BURROWS HIGHLY-CITED RESEARCHER PETER STANG

with all honesty that working with such an incredible group of people has been a pleasure. The culture of our department–collaboration, excellence in education and science, and a good sense of humor–has been a centering force through the challenges encountered.

Sincerely,

Chair Matt Sigman

Catalyst is the official magazine of the Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, published in partnership with Marketing & Communications, College of Science.

IRVING LANGMUIR AWARD IN CHEMICAL PHYSICS VALERIA MOLINERO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT

Associate Director of Marketing &

OF SCIENCE FELLOWS

Communications: Bianca Lyon

VAHE BANDARIAN JENNIFER S. SHUMAKER-PARRY GOLDWATER, KESNER & WATTERS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ALISON WANG

IN MEMORIAM

Writer & Editor: David Pace Designer/Photographer: Todd Anderson Special thanks to Nelly Divricean, Strategic Engagement/Dept. of Chemistry Follow us on social media @uofu_chemistry or @utahchemistry

FRANK E. HARRIS

1929 - 2023 HANNAH LAYA KESNER

1943 - 2022 WESLEY GEORGE BENTRUDE

Contact us at advancement@chem.utah.edu Prefer only a digital version of Catalyst?

Send us an email. nellyd@chem.utah.edu

1935-2022

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR | 2023

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LIFE IN THE GAS LANE IND U S T R I A L C HE MIS T Z I G G Y UIB E L P E R F O R M S AT HI G H O C TA NE

OCCASIONALLY, ONE STUMBLES

and shop located in Research Park

handling of petroleum engineers. Its

UPON SOMEONE WHO CONVINCES

southeast of the University of Utah.

featured, online process monitoring provides updates in real time of up to

YOU, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF TRAINING, TENACIT Y AND

Uibel moves about the floor of PI

seventeen different process streams

ENTHUSIASM ON AN EXISTENTIAL

with the wild-eyed energy of a kid

per instrument.

LEVEL , THAT THEY COULD DO OR

in a candy shop. He might as well

BE ANY THING IN THIS LIFE .

be riding inline skates or skiing, two

“We think of ourselves as more of

pastimes of his as a younger man.

an information company than an

Such is the case with Rory “Ziggy”

He is fond of picking up a dense

instrument company,” says Uibel. “A

Uibel, PhD ’03 who recently provided

spectrograph housed in something

refinery with our real-time information

for a select group of non-chemists

to the uninitiated that looks like

will be able to optimize stream

a tour of Process Instruments, Inc.

kryptonite casing and dropping it

blends and reduce giveaway of more

Founded by Lee Smith, Process

with a satisfying thud on the bench to

expensive components,” such as

Instruments (PI) has pioneered Raman

show how shockproof his product is.

octane.

control, primarily for refinery and

It needs to be. A Raman analyzer uses

PI’s optically fast spectrometer and

petrochemical plants at sites that can

a laser to probe molecular vibrations

low-loss sequential optical multiplexer

be environmentally extreme, from

of molecules where a tiny portion of

are paired with sets of fiber optic

arctic to desert and from tropical

the incident radiation is shifted to a

cables for exciting the sample and

climates to off-shore locations.

longer wavelength and produces a

collecting the Raman scattering.

Stokes Raman scattering band. The

At PI, the entire instrument and its

If that sounds arcane, it becomes

wavelength-shifted Raman bands

performance–from computers to

clearly grounded and articulated by

provide a structural fingerprint by

the cooling apparatus and from

the tour guide who leads an X Games-

which molecules in a sample can be

the laser probes to the fiber optic

style stunt-double life as an extreme

identified. PI manufactures Raman

conduits–can all be monitored and

athlete. Even so, he’s categorically in

instruments for not only extreme

maintained remotely. Equipment

his element as a chemist at the office

environments but for the rough

includes back-up components and, if

spectroscopy analysis for process

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

needed, are repaired or replaced on

regulations related to clean air and

his athleticism really shines. In fact,

demand by calling a certain mobile

other considerations. In addition

chemistry did not appeal to him at

phone number at the other end of

to offering gasoline solutions such

all when he was an undergraduate

which is none other than Uibel (“Hi.

as reducing octane loss and the

at the University of Washington in

This is Ziggy!”) who arranges to assess

“giveaway” of Reid vapor pressure

Seattle. Instead, he was infatuated

the situation and then often

with aeronautics, and

travels personally to the site

while taking general

to provide service.

chemistry courses researching a pressure

This kind of customer attention

sensitive paint for wind

is legendary in the sector and

tunnel applications,

has garnered the loyalty of

Uibel worked with

clients who also benefit from rent-

(a common measure of and generic

NASA and Boeing. Over time his

to-own set-ups that would otherwise

term for gasoline volatility), PI helps

interests shifted from aeronautics to

run them $500,000. Most clients see a

optimize jet and diesel fuel. The

spectroscopy.

return on investment within two-to-

company also provides upstream

four months, says Uibel with a grin.

solutions which optimize crude oil and

Uibel wanted to continue his studies

From a modest shop of five employees

offshore solutions. More than a dozen

in spectroscopy for this purpose, and

beginning in 1993, PI has grown to a

streams of samples can be analyzed

after asking around, discovered that

staff of 16 and currently boasts a share

with a single instrument/system.

Joel Harris’s name was at the top of

of 20 percent of all US refineries and six percent of the worldwide market.

everyone’s list. He decided that the Uibel is also keen to talk about

University of

applications outside the fuel industry,

would be

But it isn’t just nerd-out technology

including pharmacology packaging

ideal

that Ziggy’s team offers; it’s clearly

(using a unique Raman spectrometer

location

encased in business acumen that is

to analyze each pill, for example)

for his

innovative and relentlessly hands-

as well as food production and

graduate

on with clients. “We are working on

distribution. The petroleum industry

career. “I can

reaching approximately 60 percent

may be the “low hanging fruit,” says

easily

total penetration with many of the

Uibel, but the company’s Raman

individual refineries having multiple

analyzers are also being used in

(five to ten) instruments. The demand

tracing ppm (parts per million) sulfate

for instrumentation within the

detection in offshore waterflooding

refinery markets has kept us quite

streams and direct determination

busy and, with the limited spare time

of olefin concentrations in motor

we do have, to continue we work on

gasoline (US Patent No. 7,973,926).

additional applications for our Raman

Blood testing is already being done

instruments.”

with handheld Raman systems.

Those applications are numerous—

A Canadian by birth, Uibel has

and always expanding. Petroleum

pretty much always had a dual

products vary broadly from state to

life: one in the lab and one on

state, and nation to nation based on

the streets and the slopes where

Utah the

COVER STORY | 2023

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say that coming to the U of U was one

to Singapore, and from Australia to off

pins to the summit during the winter

of the best decisions of my life,” he

the coast of South America, Uibel has

and bowling in carved-out lanes of

remarks.

racked up a million-plus airline miles

snow “with an automatic return” (i.e.,

in no time—and without knowing

uphill). Stand-by participants who

That’s saying a lot, considering what

he’d done so. This is an unassuming

happen to be on-hand are awarded a

Uibel’s life (and times) looks like these

man who had to fetch his business

tag for their backpacks emblazoned

days, even as he’s entered middle

card when asked what title he had

with “I Striked out on Grandeur Peak.”

age. What started as a seasonal

at PI. (Turns out it’s Applications

gig as a “liftee” at Snowbird turned

Manager or, maybe, Vice President of

“We try not to do it in the summer,”

into a full “gap year” between his

Technology.)

says Uibel. “Don’t want a bowling ball

bachelor’s and graduate school at the

landing downhill on Interstate 80.”

U. Between skiing in the winter and

That’s not to say Uibel is a shrinking

rock climbing all summer near Elko,

violet. As a youth he competed on

Bowling on a mountain peak in

Nevada, he actually thought he would

MTV Sports. He recently completed

the dead of winter? Why not? It’s

eventually find himself in a classroom

the Rage Triathlon in the Lake Mead

consistent with Ziggy Uibel who has

teaching. That changed after earning

National Recreation Area, and he

gone from his ambitions to be an

his doctorate in analytical chemistry

doesn’t stop at donning the Lycra

aeronaut, a teacher, an academic and

and landing a job at PI to design,

for the swimming, bicycling and

researcher, and purveyor of stunt

assemble, test, calibrate, and install

running competitions; he’s famous

double-inspired antics to, these days,

Raman analyzers.

for summiting Grandeur Peak in Salt

an industrial chemist using the latest

Lake Valley not once in a single day

technologies and techniques to

If this sounds like intensive work, it

but a whopping five times (31 miles).

advance everything from petroleum

is. But Uibel is an intense man, and

The Peak has a special place in Uibel’s

refining to blood testing. <

it seems to fit not only his inherent

heart. Following the discovery of a

brio but also to play out and build

“misplaced” brick in his backpack

on his activities outside of work. A

compliments of his jokester friends,

globetrotter with clients from Canada

he started carrying a bowling ball and

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

ALRANICA B ALL E

BA

& BLISS

ANCE

7

by JULIA ST. ANDRE Writer Intern

“AT FIRST, I DIDN’T REALLY

exploration inspired her to advance

shocked that no one was using them

KNOW WHAT YOU COULD DO

her research toward the Space Force

to find aliens.”

WITH A CHEMISTRY DEGREE,”

project’s objective. Ballance explains,

SAYS ARIA BALL ANCE . “BUT I

“They released a Broad Agency

Ballance points to science fiction as

LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT I STUCK

Announcement asking for a proposal

one of her sources of inspiration in

WITH IT, AND IT HAS PAID OFF.

that could enhance the signal of

her work and credits her love of Star

I’M GL AD I FOLLOWED MY BLISS.”

potential extraterrestrial molecules

Trek for inspiring her to apply for

from meteorites. And I thought,

the highly competitive fellowship.

A graduate student in chemistry at the

‘Oh, okay! My nanoparticles could

Additionally, Ballance cites other

University of Utah, Ballance is the recent

probably do something like that.'”

sources of inspiration in her day-

recipient of the National Defense

to-day life, including her fellow lab

Science and Engineering Graduate

Ballance’s current research involves

members, Amy Morren and Anh

Fellowship. Her love for chemistry has

fabricating gold crescent-shaped

Nguyen, and her mentor, Shumaker-

led her to research a wide variety of

nanostructures she refers to as

Parry, for making her experience at

topics, from water-purifying titanium

"nanocrescents." When the nanocrescents

the University of Utah so fulfilling. “Dr.

dioxide clay pots to nanoparticles and

interact with an incident light, they

Shumaker-Parry has given me so many

chiral molecules in Jennifer Shumaker-

create plasmons that she is using to

opportunities and has helped me

Parry’s nanomaterials lab.

try to enhance the molecular signal of

grow exponentially as a scientist. Her

small chiral molecules. She recalls the

incredible work with nanoparticles is

While applying for the fellowship,

exciting moment when she made the

what inspired me to apply to graduate

Ballance made a remarkable

connection: “One of the things they

school and become a chemist.” When

connection between her research

are looking for when searching for

the deadline for the fellowship came

and a US Air Force project focused

extraterrestrial molecules and signs of

around, Ballance was going through

on distinguishing between Earth

life is chirality,” a geometric property

a difficult personal matter and almost

and extraterrestrial molecules.

in which an object or molecule cannot

did not apply. But with the support

Though her research originally

be superimposed on its mirror image.

and encouragement of her mentor,

focused on the medical sphere,

“A lot of nanoparticles are used to

she submitted the application. She’s

Ballance’s curiosity and love for space

enhance molecular signals, so I was

glad she did.

continued...

COVER STORY & STUDENTS | 2023

8

Ballance emphasizes that submitting

person I know and the closest friend I

and art worlds to combine. I think it's

the application even under less-than-

have in the world.”

really important that people go to see

ideal circumstances taught her how

art and performances to spark that

much you can achieve when you let

Growing up in Santa Barbara,

creative energy.”

go of the fear of failure and really

California, Ballance remembers

trust yourself. As a self-proclaimed

her high school years being filled

Drawn to the U by her love for the

overthinker, Ballance points out that

with academic competition and

outdoors and her desire to get

the pressure to do things perfectly

the pressure to perform perfectly.

involved with research, Ballance

the first time can often hold

applied and was accepted

her back. “If I just trust the

into the Research Experience

process, I do better,” she

for Undergraduates (REU)

says before joking, “I think

program in Shumaker-Parry’s

I would’ve done better on

lab after her senior year.

tests in high school if they

Determined to continue

could see all the things I had erased.” For Ballance, embracing imperfection and welcoming the unknown are keys to her success.

“There are so many variables in chemistry, science, and life in general that you can change, and it's just not linear. And I really think that people should be making mistakes.”

Above all, Ballance feels the most support and love from her mom and younger sister. “My mom raised me and my sister alone and taught us how to love the world around us even when things feel like they may be falling apart.”

As for her sister, “she is the bravest, strongest

After deciding to take a summer chemistry course at a local college to fix a mistake in her schedule, she found herself surrounded by adults in a lab filled with chemicals she’d never worked with. “It was terrifying,” Ballance said, “especially the labs, because everyone knew what they were doing. I was scared of that class for so long, but I was determined to finish it. I ended up doing really well and learning more about myself and the course material than I had in any other class.” Her triumph in the class gave her the confidence she needed, and she’s been enamored with the world of chemistry ever since.

Along with her undergraduate chemistry degree from Lewis & Clark College, Ballance also completed a minor in theater, discovering a refreshing “balance” between the two fields. “I feel like I can lose a lot of creative energy being in the science world, where you are dependent on repetition of trials and replicating

doing research, she hunted for more experience back home in Santa Barbara before applying to graduate school, and was accepted into the U later that year.

Ballance makes the most of her time living in Utah, going backpacking, hiking, climbing, and skiing whenever she can. “I really love the outdoors,” she says. “If I had a dream job it would be working outside and doing chemistry.”

Following graduate school, Aria Ballance plans to achieve her dream of living abroad while completing a postdoctoral fellowship. In the meantime, she’ll continue to explore her love of chemistry while she carefully plans her new chapter of adventures.

“I haven’t figured out where I’m going to go yet, but my plan is to work hard, not give up, and to follow my bliss.”

Right now, her bliss is decidedly a chemical one. <

your experiments. And that’s why I really want to encourage the science

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

Images courtesy of Aria Ballance.

9

U CHEMIST LEADS MATCHUP AGAINST GENETIC DISEASE

by L AUREN WIGOD Writer Intern

CARRIE WAGER, PHD’00,

love having a phenomenal team that I

mature RNA, which leaves the nucleus.

RECIPIENT OF CHEMISTRY’S

work with.”

But the process of going from pre-

2020 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD, HAS ALWAYS VALUED TEAMWORK WHETHER ON THE SOCCER PITCH OR IN THE L AB.

While studying at the U, she researched total synthesis of natural products in Gary Keck’s lab and played on an intramural soccer team where she met her husband.

Wager is a chemistry midfielder in her career, driven to cover a lot of ground by her passion for working in a fast-paced, team environment.

After graduating from the U, she spent 17 years at Pfizer as Senior Principal Scientist, Director of Business Planning, Chief of Staff for Pfizer Medical, and Medical Strategy Lead in Oncology. Then she earned her MBA from MIT in 2017 before joining Ascidian Therapeutics. “I really found the place where my heart belongs, and that’s working in startups,” she says. “In those situations, it’s pretty high risk, but also high reward. The strength of the team is critical, and I really enjoy that part.

I’ve always been into team sports. I

EXON-EDITING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

The team Wager currently works with at Ascidian is taking a new approach to gene therapy, influenced by the organisms that the company is named after. Wager says, “We were inspired by what happens with sea squirts or ascidians because they re-engineer the transcriptome. They start as creatures that are free-floating … but then they become these structures after they re-engineer their transcriptome and are fixed on the bottom [of the ocean].” As sea squirts

mRNA to mature RNA is the excision or the cutting out of introns.” The splicesome is the enzyme responsible for removing the introns and leaving the exons which are then joined to form the mature strand of RNA. Ascidian designs molecules to target mutant exons and replace them with a wild-type version. “We use these molecules that are packaged in an adeno-associated virus to gain entry into the nucleus. Then those molecules are built to bind to specific locations in messenger RNA. … The

(Ascidiacea) mature, they self-edit their messenger RNA to change the proteins that are expressed and, ultimately, their structure.

Ascidian’s strategy for fixing genetic diseases in humans is different from other existing methods of gene therapy because it works by editing RNA through a process that is already inherent to the cell.

“DNA is transcribed into RNA in the nucleus,” Wager explains. “It’s initially transcribed into pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) and pre-mRNA becomes

STUDENTS & ALUMNI | 2023

10

spliceosome machinery comes along

exons. “We can swap out up to 4,000

skills which she attributes to her time

and flips-in our healthy exon that’s

nucleotides. So that allows you to

at the U makes her a valuable addition

packaged in our molecules and

make a difference in diseases that

to the team. Through her training she

removes the mutant components.

have really big gene sizes and genes

“learned how to exquisitely design

Then that [corrected RNA] continues

that have high mutational variants.

and execute research problems in this

on outside of the nucleus into the

With one drug we can cover the

[startup] environment… .”

ribosomes, and you generate the

majority of patients.” If Ascidian’s

healthy protein.”

exon editing idea passes human trials

“I truly believe that my graduate

and FDA approval, the treatment is

training here [the U] has set me up to

The procedure or process can sound

something any ophthalmologist could

be able to do whatever I want. … I’ve

convoluted and dicey–like a well-

do during a half-day clinic.

had a bunch of twists and turns [in]

placed strike by Spain’s Olga Carmona

my career… I didn’t stay in one kind

during the final of the recent FIFA

NO MAGIC BULLET

of role for more than five years. The U

Women’s World Cup. But the stakes

While RNA exon editing is an exciting

just teaches you skills that carry over

are just as high (and even higher for

new strategy for tackling genetic

in everyday life and in your career,

its beneficiaries) for Wager and her

disease, that’s not to say that other

and I really am grateful for how we

team whose exon editing method

tools like

were set up

has many advantages over other

CRISPR-

[early] to do

gene therapies. Since only the RNA

Cas9 aren’t

research.”

is being edited, risks associated with

useful.

DNA editing are reduced. Harnessing

“I’ve been

The extensive

a natural cellular process prevents the

in drug

application

need for bacterial enzymes, which

discovery

of Wager’s

pose an immunological threat, to be

for twenty-three years now,” says

education is a testament to the

introduced to the cell.

Wager. “I don’t think that there is one

quality of the chemistry department’s

type of way to ameliorate disease… .

graduate program, successfully

The most impactful benefit is the

[T]here’s lots of different ways. They

preparing students for careers in

amount of editing that can be done

all have their niche.”

academia, industry, and beyond.

at one time. For example, Ascidian

The Distinguished Alumni Award

is currently focused on addressing

In this way, the multi-faceted dynamic

celebrates Wager’s impressive career

Stargardt’s disease, a genetic retinal

of the fight against genetic diseases

since her time at the U, but really,

disease that causes blindness and

mirrors that of the startup culture

she’s just getting started in her match

stems from mutations in the ABCA4

where Wager excels. “When you find a

against genetic disease. <

gene which codes for the protein

place where it’s not just that you enjoy

involved in clearing vitamin A from

what you’re doing, but you thrive,

the retina. Without the healthy

that’s what the startup environment

protein, toxic compounds begin to

for me is [with] super intelligent

accumulate in the eye, destroying cells

people [who are] super motivated to

and impairing central vision function.

make a difference in patients’ lives.”

Rather than doing “point mutations

Each scientist brings something

or small base insertion,” Wager uses

different to the startup, and Wager’s

technology that replaces whole

expertise along with her technical

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

11

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 2023

2020

2020

FOUNDERS DAY

DISTINGUISHED

DISTINGUISHED

DISTINGUISHED

ALUMNI:

ALUMNI:

ALUMNUS:

RICK T YKWINSKI

RAYMOND PRICE

CLIFTON SANDERS

When Rick

Price graduated

Sanders arrived in Salt Lake City

Tykwinski, PhD ’94, now Professor of

from the University of Utah magna

from Baltimore via the University

Chemistry, University of Alberta, is

cum laude in 1983 and then from

of Michigan in 1977. During his

asked what his graduate-student self

Harvard Medical School. He has co-

appearance as the featured speaker

would be most surprised about with

directed or directed the graduate

at the Hugo Rossi Lecture Series on

his current career, he says, “That I got

surgical education program in

March 15, Sanders detailed what

this far.” Many students, he continues,

the state for hundreds of surgical

it was like to be one of very few

expected graduate school to be all

residents and medical and physician

Black residents in Utah when he

about the laboratory (“how many

assistant students.

arrived. Even so, his experience in U

molecules do I need to graduate?”). As

Chemistry was generally a positive

he looks back, however, the lab was

His areas of interest include advanced

experience. Sanders recently retired

only a small part of it.

laparoscopy, surgical oncology, as

as the Provost for Academic Affairs

well as endocrine and trauma surgery.

and Chief Academic Officer of Salt

“I’ve always been able to solve

He has spent his career expanding

Lake Community College, where he

problems,” he says, “but I never

the role of surgery in public health,

oversaw the education of more than

considered myself to be overly

and has participated in or led surgical

61,000 students annually.

creative, especially as a graduate

expeditions to Asia, Latin America,

student. I was very fortunate at all

and Africa. He co-founded The Center

A saxophonist like his father, Sanders

points in my undergraduate, graduate,

for Global Surgery at the U. He also

has been called “a musician trapped

and post-doctoral education to

currently directs graduate surgical

in a scientist’s body.” “I look at playing

have had mentors that allowed me

education at Intermountain Medical

music almost as a research program,

to be independent and develop my

Center.

just like a scientist would,” Sanders

creativity, giving me just enough

says. “There are little experiments you

creativity to get by.”

do and in the craft you figure out …

He has served with the World Health Organization and is the author of

how to make it work.” Recently, he’s

Tykwinski accepted a position in

numerous peer-reviewed articles,

back with his sax, appearing locally

Canada in 1997 then left to chair

books and chapters in books.

with the George Brown Quintet

Organic Chemistry in Erlangen,

known for its unpretentious, “killin’

Germany before returning to Alberta

Price and his wife have maintained

straight ahead” jazz.

where he is currently chair of the

their home in the Beehive State with

Department of Chemistry.

their seven daughters and one son.

ALUMNI & RECOGNITION | 2023

12

2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDEES

Amy Barrios, BS'95, currently Professor

Mitchell Johnson, PhD'00 (with Joel

in Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate

Miller), currently is the Executive

Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs at the

Vice President at General Plastics

University of Utah

Manufacturing Company

Zlatko Bačić, PhD'81 (with Jack Simons),

Roger Leach, PhD'84 (with Joel Harris),

currently professor at the Department

recently retired from DuPont where he

of Chemistry, New York University

was the Technical Senior Manager and Leader of the Science & Innovation Core Analytical Sciences organization <

ACCESS SCHOLARS DAY 2023 ON JUNE 29 THE DEPARTMENT

a vast network of over 800 program

Professor Gina Frey and chemistry

OF CHEMISTRY AND ITS

alumni.

students performed experiments and

STUDENTS AND FACULTY

engaged the new upcoming students

WELCOMED FUTURE SCIENTISTS

Gina Frey, the Ronald and Eileen

to perform fascinating chemistry

WHO ARE PART OF THE

Ragsdale Professor of Chemical

experiments.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S ACCESS

Education, noted, “I am so excited

SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

to be the Chemistry liaison to the

Professor Kaci Kuntz, assistant

College of Science ACCESS Program.

professor (lecturer) of chemistry,

ACCESS Scholars encompass

It is an amazing program that provides

developed and facilitated the

individuals from diverse backgrounds,

women and individuals of all identities

students in conducting exciting

including women and people

who exemplify gender equality with a

food experiments. They started the

representing various dimensions

supportive cohort-based, first-year

conversation with ACS Chemistry

of diversity. The program offers a

experience in STEM. I enjoyed meeting

Student Chapter and a “roses

unique introductory year encounter

and talking with this year’s cohort of

experiment.” Then joined in to make

that enlightens scholars about their

women ACCESS scholars during this

ice cream, homemade root beer, and

academic and professional aspirations

two-week summer event. These

Sprite and root beer popping boba

from the very beginning. It boosts

scholars are from all over the nation

(basically, the fanciest root beer float

their social awareness, brings a

and are so passionate about learning

imaginable!) <

community of peers who share similar

science. I look forward to getting to

goals together, and connects first-year

know and mentoring them throughout

science students with mentors and

this coming academic year.”

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WORKSHOP EACH YEAR THE CHEMISTRY

Allen received a monetary award,

of the late Professor Ron Ragsdale,

DEPARTMENT HONORS A

certificate, and a “silver flask” made

Allen was also cited for bringing

REGIONAL HIGH-SCHOOL

by the department’s own in-house

science to all students in his high

TEACHER SELECTED FOR THEIR

glassblower Jeff Statler.

school by giving large-scale chemical

EXEMPLARY TEACHING.

demonstrations to enhance general Allen was cited at the event for

interest in science. Eileen Ragsdale,

The Ron and Eileen Ragsdale

his dedication and enthusiasm for

Ron’s widow, was hosted at the event

High School Teaching Award was

teaching, including using varied

as a special guest. <

presented March 18 to Marc Allen

teaching methods and taking the

from Woods Cross High School during

initiative to continually adapt new

the department’s semi-annual High

ideas to improve the success of all his

School Teachers Workshop.

students. Following in the footsteps

KECK FOUNDATION AWARD U CHEMISTS MICHAEL

chemistry. The group aims to create

the crystal structure favored by

GRÜNWALD, RYAN LOOPER,

a set of tools to help other chemists

thermodynamics, this process instead

AND RODRIGO NORIEGA

select the crystal structures they

follows crystallization pathways that

RECEIVED A $1 MILLION

want and produce them quickly and

are favored kinetically, essentially

GRANT FROM THE W.M. KECK

purely, leading to more accurate

choosing the fastest one.

FOUNDATION, FUNDING

models and faster development of

STUDIES OF CURRENTLY

new pharmaceuticals and industrial

Continues Looper, “The Keck

UNPREDICTABLE ASPECTS

materials. Rather than predicting

Foundation’s support of our research

OF THE PROCESS OF

the crystal structure favored by

is essential to provide new evidence

CRYSTALLIZATION.

thermodynamics, this process instead

to convince scientists to think a

follows crystallization pathways.

different way.” <

The interdisciplinary team brings together expertise from diverse

“The idea that thermodynamics might

branches of chemistry: Grünwald

not accurately predict crystallization

in chemical theory, Noriega in

is quite controversial in the field,”

spectroscopy, and Looper in medicinal

says Looper. Rather than predicting

This article is an abbreviated version of an @TheU article by Paul Gabrielsen. Longer versions of many of the articles in Catalyst can be accessed at chem.utah.edu

RECOGNITION & OUTREACH | 2023

13

14

TAMING THE VINYL CARBOCATION

by BETHANY HALFORD

IN THE REALM OF REACTIVIT Y,

only react to form one of two possible

The chemists think the area is still

THE VINYL CARBOCATION IS A

enantiomers in a C–H insertion

rich for exploration. Sigman, who is

BEAST SO FLEETING, SO KEEN

reaction. The chemists liken the

currently chair of the Department

TO COMBINE OR REARRANGE,

catalyst to an enzyme in that it is able

of Chemistry at the U, says the

THAT MANY HAVE DOUBTED

to exert stereocontrol over a highly

information they’ve gleaned could

THAT IT CAN BE TAMED TO

reactive intermediate.

help their team redesign the catalysts to be more practical. The chemists

CREATE MOLECULES IN A

Houk and Sigman then modeled the

would also like to expand their

behavior computationally to verify

substrates. In this work, the C–H

But by confining a vinyl carbocation

that the reaction is indeed going

insertion was an intramolecular

within a bulky catalyst, chemists

through the vinyl carbocation.

transformation, in which the vinyl

have now shown they can coax this

“Now that chemists know

cation and the C–H bond were

wildly reactive intermediate to insert

these intermediates

in the same molecule. They’d

itself into a carbon-hydrogen bond

can be harnessed,”

like to see the work extended

in which one enantiomer of a chiral

Sigman says, “they

to intermolecular reactions—in

product is preferentially produced.

can be creative

which the vinyl cation

about what

and the C–H bond

The enantioselective insertion comes

kind of

it inserts into are on

from the collaboration of researchers

molecules

different molecules. <

in Hosea M. Nelson’s group at the

they make

California Institute of Technology,

with this

Matthew S. Sigman’s group at the

type of

University of Utah, and K. N. Houk’s

reaction.”

STEREOSELECTIVE WAY.

group at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"The idea that carbocations

Excerpted with permission from Chemical & Engineering News.

Copyright ©2022 by the American Chemical Society. The article, “Chemists tame the vinyl carbocation,” was first published in C&EN on December 8, 2022 and appeared in Volume 100, Issue 44.

After screening dozens of catalysts,

as reactive as unstabilized vinyl

the chemists found a family of what’s

cations could be engaged in highly

Image credit: Science; Confined to an organic

called imidodiphosphorimidate

enantioselective reactions would have

catalyst (space-filling model), this vinyl

organocatalysts designed by its

seemed unlikely until recently," says

carbocation substrate (stick model) is poised to

developer to serve as general

Harvard University's Eric N. Jacobsen,

react stereoselectively.

catalysts for a variety of asymmetrical

who also develops new reactions. The

transformations. This family was

work represents "a significant advance

able to create and confine the vinyl

in asymmetric catalysis with highly

cation in such a way that it would

reactive intermediates."

CATA LYST

| Department of Chemistry

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR MICHAEL D. MORSE His research focuses on spectroscopic

he has graduated twenty-five PhD

studies of small molecules that

and four MS students. Additionally,

contain transition metals, lanthanide

he has mentored twenty-seven

metals, or actinide metals. These

undergraduates working in his group

are, chemically, highly important

who have been co-authors on almost

but fiendishly complicated species.

as many papers.

Morse's work on these molecules is

IN JULY, MORSE WAS APPOINTED TO THE RANK OF DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY.

frequently the first to be reported in

His professional service to funding

the literature and is always definitive.

agencies has resulted in his being

Among his many prior awards he

listed in the top twenty reviewers for

is recipient of the 2019 William F.

the Journal of Chemical Physics in 2011.

Meggers Award by the Optical Society

He has also received a Certificate of

of America.

Reviewing Excellence in 2013 from the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy. <

Morse is also the recipient of numerous teaching awards. To date,

U PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR LUISA WHITTAKER-BROOKS REFERRED TO AS A

to support scholarship and enrich

“TRAILBL AZING ROLE MODEL ,”

research activities.

Whittaker-Brooks focuses on, among other things, the synthesis of organic

“I am so proud of the work these

and inorganic materials for energy

scholars are doing in the classroom,

conversion and storage. She was

and in their field of study,” said Interim

recognized this year as a U Presidential

Senior Vice President for Academic

Scholar which honors excellence and

Affairs Martell Teasley. “As educators

achievement for faculty members at

at the U, they are positioned to guide

the assistant or associate professor

their students and impact our whole

level. The award comes with $10,000

community. I’m excited to see what

in annual funding for three years

the future holds.” <

RESEARCH & RECOGNITION | 2023

15

T

hank you to our alumni and

If you’d like to support our efforts,

Please feel free to reach out with any

friends who contribute to the

please consider making a gift to one

questions you might have.

Dept of Chemistry. Your support

of two funds below.

enables us to provide exceptional education, conduct groundbreaking

CHEMISTRY SCHOLARSHIPS -

research, and prepare the next

Supporting Student Education

generation of leaders in our discipline.

CURIE CLUB - Supporting Inclusion

in Science Nelly Divricean

Visit our Giving Page chem.utah.edu/give

We appreciate your investment in

Director of Strategic Engagement

our students, faculty, and staff. We’d

nellyd@chem.utah.edu

love to hear from you or have you

801-585-7896

stop by campus for a visit. You are always welcome here at the University of Utah!