Bayer School of Natural & Environmental Sciences Fall 2010 ......mately 400 environmental...

B a y e r S c h o o l o f N a t u r a l & E n v i r o n m e n t a l S c i e n c e s

F a l l 2 0 1 0

Duquesne emerges as Center for Excellence in Mass Spectrometry

BiggerScience

2 Spectrum | Fall 2010 Spectrum | Fall 2010 3

Spectrumis published for the alumni and friends of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

Duquesne University600 Forbes AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15282412-396-4900www.duq.edu/science

InsideForensic Science and Law program

“wins the case” for accreditation . . . . . . . . . 3

CERE evolves with

new leadership team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Carbon footprint shrinks even

as campus grows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2009 Rachel Carson Conference

explored endocrine disruptors . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Bayer Scholars increase

diversity of future scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chemistry welcomes

Wheeler as chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Bigger Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What is the Center for Excellence

in Mass Spectrometry? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

In memory of Dr. Mitch Johnson . . . . . . . . 9

New fluorescent lead sensor

discovered at Duquesne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Reflections of China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

New professors join the science team . . . . 12

Physics student’s career takes

flight with NASA internship . . . . . . . . . . 13

Faculty Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Dean’s MessageResearch experiences, always a lynchpin of our graduate students’ education,

have become an increasingly integrated component of our undergraduate students’ education.

We completed our 13th annual Summer Undergraduate Research Program in 2010, culminating in our annual symposium with over 110 student participants from institutions across western Pennsylvania. Our faculty continue to forge strong interdisciplinary partnerships in their research and outreach. The tandem mission of teaching and research at the Bayer School means that excellence in research translates directly into richer learning experiences for our students.

With this issue of Spectrum comes the sad news that we have lost one of our great teacher-scholars, Dr. Mitch Johnson, following a heroic struggle with pancreatic cancer. Mitch and his colleagues shared a vision of providing students with training in the latest generation of scientific instrumentation, which inspired the Center for Excellence in Mass Spectrometry (page 8). As a member of the Bayer School family of alumni and friends, you now have the opportunity to make a gift that will give life to this vision.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask that you consider ways in which you can support our students so that they can become the scientific leaders of tomorrow. Your support provides invaluable discretionary funds to meet critical needs, address emerging priorities, and enable capital enhancements across the School. The contributions of alumni and friends like you support undergraduate research students in the form of stipends, supplies, and travel to scientific meetings. You are invited to make a gift that provides opportunities for underprivileged students to gain scientific experience they otherwise could not realize and opportunities for our students to reach out into our surrounding communities, the nation, and the global community.

Your support provides our students with experiences that change their lives and, in turn, change the lives of others. Much more important than the amount you can contribute is your willingness to add your name to the growing list of alumni and friends who take pride in their science education at Duquesne and who want to support our students in becoming tomorrow’s scientific leaders.

I hope that you are proud to read this issue of Spectrum to learn just some of the remarkable things our faculty and students are accomplishing. If you have not been to campus recently, I extend a personal invitation to visit and witness firsthand how education and research in the Bayer School are contributing to a better society.

Dr. David W. SeybertDean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

Spectrum | Fall 2010 3

Duquesne University’s Master of Science degree program in Forensic Science and Law (FSL) has joined

an elite group of forensic programs. The five-year FSL program was granted accreditation effective March 1, 2010. There are only 25 accredited forensic pro-grams across the country. In Pennsylvania, Duquesne now has one of only four accred-ited forensic programs and is the only accredited program at the master’s level.

The accreditation process began in January 2008 with an in-depth self-study that required seven months to complete. The purpose of the self-study was to pro-vide information about Duquesne’s pro-gram as it relates to industry standards set by the forensic field’s accrediting body, the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), which is sponsored by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). Based on FEPAC’s review of documenta-tion and an on-site audit, the FSL program was granted conditional accreditation in 2009.

The accreditation board convened at the AAFS national conference in February 2010 and voted to grant full accreditation to Duquesne University. Dr. Frederick Fochtman, the FSL program director, recognizes that an accredited program may be more appealing to both faculty and student recruits. However, he believes that Duquesne’s FSL curriculum speaks for itself and feels fortunate to be involved with such a quality program.

He noted that the effort needed to maintain accreditation is ongoing and would not be possible without the support of Dr. David W. Seybert, dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. In addition, the accreditation is supported by the excellent resources found in the Pittsburgh forensic community for internship sites, assistance with research projects, and general collaboration.

An immediate benefit of achieving accreditation was realized by two of Duquesne’s FSL students. Julia Patterson and Alexis Smith were awarded an NIJ/

FSF Forensic Science Student Research Grant for their project, “Collection of DNA from Spent Shotgun Shells Using dcDOP-PCR.” The peer-reviewed award, which is funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Forensic Sciences Foundation, is only available to students in FEPAC-accredited programs.

Attaining accreditation was not the only significant event for Duquesne at the 2010 AAFS national conference. While Duquesne typically has a proportionally high number of students attending the annual event, for the second year in a row, students from Duquesne also made presentations to their peers in the scientific community. AAFS attendees may present research through a poster session or a platform session, which includes a 15-minute oral presentation made during the standard scientific session.

Duquesne students were involved in the platform session for the first time in 2009. This year, Duquesne students made six presentations at the national conference on topics such as recovery of compromised DNA from charred bone remains, the effects of plastic storage systems on DNA degradation of blood evidence, the evaluation of individualization of shoe wear patterns, and visualizing fingerprints from fired casings for DNA extraction.

“It is rewarding to see Duquesne students command respect from the scientific community through their quality presentations,” said Fochtman. “The level of professionalism demonstrated through the presentations is a testament to the quality of the program offered by Duquesne.” Fochtman believes that both the caliber of the students and increased community collaboration will raise Duquesne’s forensic program to the level of national and international prominence. n

Forensic Science and Law program “wins the case” for accreditation By Pamela Gibeau

Nine FSL students made platform presentations at the 2010 AAFS Annual Meeting.

N ew leadership was appointed to the Center for Environmental Research and Education in 2009, bringing

experience that builds on the unique strength of its academic program—the integration of science with policy, law, and management. Dr. John F. Stolz, professor of biological sciences, has been named direc-tor, and Dr. Stanley J. Kabala, longstanding CERE faculty member, has been named associate director.

Stolz has been teaching courses for the Environmental Science and Management program since its inception in 1992. A full-time faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences, his extensive research efforts focus on unique microbes that metabolize metals and minerals, including arsenic, chromium, and selenium.

Kabala was a member of the original advisory board that developed the ESM program. Since joining the faculty in 1997, he has facilitated several outreach efforts to help local governments improve storm-water management in southwestern Pennsylvania. He also coordinated the first campus-wide greenhouse gas inventory, an ongoing project that has continued under his guidance (see article below).

After months of gathering information and interpreting data, three graduate students at the Center for Environmental Research and Education completed the second biennial inventory of Duquesne’s greenhouse gas emissions. The accompanying report, released in 2009, quantified the university’s success in reducing its environmental impact, and charted a course for further progress.

Dr. Stanley J. Kabala, the associate director of CERE, coordinated the project with funding from The Heinz Endowments. Under his leadership, Rebecca Day, Jacob Levine, and Gretchen Sterba compiled data from 2008 on heating and cooling, electricity, commuting patterns, campus fleet and other potential contributions to Duquesne’s carbon footprint. The team sorted through the relevant numbers and entered them into a software program, provided by the nonprofit group Clean Air-Cool Planet, which converts commonly measured campus statistics into an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

The findings showed that Duquesne produced 40,557 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent during calendar year 2008—approximately 4.0 tons per student. Despite a growing student population and the opening of the Power Center, Duquesne reduced its greenhouse gas emission since

the inventory’s first installment, which measured 46,800 tons (4.6 per student) in 2006. The 2008 total ranked Duquesne among the lowest polluters of participating schools nationwide, and was the best figure of any Atlantic 10 university.

Most of the improvement since 2006 stemmed from Duquesne’s decision to purchase all outside electricity through wind-power certificates, according to the research team. The team also noted that the university’s cogeneration plant, which supplies heat and electricity by using cleaner-burning natural gas, dramatically lowered Duquesne’s overall footprint, producing 21,000 fewer tons of emissions than utility purchases alone.

With the success of its greenhouse gas inventories, CERE has begun to export the concept to some local municipalities. The department has received further grant funding from the PA Department of Environmental Protection to work with nearby Penn Hills, Forest Hills and Wilkins Township. CERE has contracted with them to conduct inventories of their own and implement emissions-reductions strategies on the municipal level. n

4 Spectrum | Fall 2010

By Lisa Mikolajek Barton

Carbon footprint shrinks even as campus grows

Stolz and Kabala both recognize that the unique curriculum of the graduate program, which integrates science with policy, law and management, has been the foundation of its success. The program was developed to address a very specific need in the field for environmental professionals with scientific expertise, management skills, and a working knowledge of policy and law.

The ESM program continues to meet this objective, having trained a cadre of approxi-mately 400 environmental professionals over the past 18 years. The B.S. in Environmental Science was developed later as a model for the strong scientific preparation that would benefit students entering the ESM program, and sever-al undergraduate students have taken advan-tage of this connection with the five-year dual degree program.

By Jacob N. Levine, M.S. in ESM ’10

Stolz works with collaborators at Duquesne and beyond to raise awareness about the environmental challenges posed by natural gas drilling.

CERE evolves with new leadership team


By Jacob N. Levine, M.S. in ESM ’10

A student from Ghana is congratulated by Kabala (left) and Dr. Dorothy Bassett (center) after completing the program for emerging environmental leaders. Kabala partnered with Bassett, Dean of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement, on a U.S. State Department grant to fund the program. Kabala wears a Ghanaian print shirt presented to him as a gift from the students.

2009 Rachel Carson Conference explored endocrine disruptors

Moving forward, CERE’s new leaders recognize that the program must continue to adapt to significant changes within the field. According to Kabala, what began as “waste management” and matured to “pollution prevention” has evolved into “sustainability.” As Stolz said, “The field has matured and the issues have changed.”

One of the most pressing issues to emerge in the Pittsburgh region over the past few years is the interest in natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale Formation. Bringing their complementary skills to bear on the issue, Stolz and Kabala have worked with collaborators at Duquesne and beyond to raise awareness about the environmental challenges posed by drilling and the implications for policymakers:

n In April 2010, CERE hosted Calvin Tillman, Mayor of DISH, a small town in northwestern Texas. Tillman has traveled across the northeastern United States to address communities in the Marcellus Shale region with a straightforward account of his own experiences with natural gas drilling.

n In May 2010, Duquesne University and the Pittsburgh Environmental Council co-hosted a Marcellus Shale Policy Conference at the Power Center. Approximately 300 partici-pants from industry, government, non-profit agencies, and academia conferred on establishing guidelines for regulation.

n In summer 2010, Duquesne University welcomed its first class of emerging environmental leaders from Ghana. The group spent four weeks in the U.S. learning about responsible resource extraction vis-a-vis the lessons learned from natural gas drilling and mountaintop removal in the Appalachian region.

n Stolz was awarded a grant from The Heinz Endowments to participate in a baseline biological inventory of Ten Mile Creek in order to assess the impact of future drilling. Drs. Brady Porter, Kyle Selcer, and Sarah Woodley in the biology department are collaborators on the grant. By increasing its outreach activities,

CERE is taking a leadership role that enriches the experience of students, who are becoming increasingly aware of the larger environmental landscape and their professional responsibilities in addressing such issues. n

Political leaders from around the world assembled in downtown Pittsburgh for the G-20 Summit in September 2009, where the global recession was the foremost topic. At the same time, environmental leaders from across the region gathered at the Bidwell Training Center just a mile down the Ohio River to discuss a very different kind of threat to the well-being of people around the world.

Despite road closures and other challenges, approximately 200 scientists, regulators, advocates, and students met to discuss the nascent topic of endocrine disruptors as part of the 2009 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference. The Rachel Carson Homestead Association, with support from Duquesne University’s Center for Environmental Research and Education, organized the event. Various experts presented their research and opinions throughout the day, their talks organized around four topics: endocrine disruptor science, hazard abatement technology, environmental justice, and regulatory options.

2010 Rachel Carson Legacy ConferenceChallenging Marcellus Shale: The Science, Consequences and Alternatives

n September 24, 2010 n Pittsburgh, PA

n For more information, visit www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org

Endocrine disruptors, a class of chemicals that mimic hormones in the human body, can adversely affect wildlife and—scientists increasingly suspect—humans. The chemicals are used in everything from pesticides to everyday products like water bottles and canned food. Experts especially worry about the potential of EDCs to interfere with reproductive and developmental processes.

The morning session centered on background science and risk management, and underlined the urgency of the issue. In the afternoon, speakers focused on the social implications and legislative imperatives that EDCs engender.

Hailed as the “mother of the environmental movement” for publishing Silent Spring in 1964, Carson warned, “For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with harmful chemicals from the moment of conception until death.” Nearly 50 years later, Carson’s legacy continues to inspire scientists and policymakers to address these critical concerns.


Bayer Scholars increase diversity of future scientistsBy Philip Clarke

When Emilee Renk toured the facilities of Bayer MaterialScience in her junior year of high school, she pictured herself working there as a researcher one day. With recent statistics showing that women are under-represented in the sciences, however, the odds were not in her favor.

Moving into the second decade of the 21st century, the scientific community is still striving to increase the diversity of future scientists. Duquesne University’s Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences has taken a leadership role in these efforts by introducing the Bayer Scholars program, which is helping Renk and other students from under-represented populations launch their research careers. This initiative is a partnership between the Bayer School, Duquesne University and Bayer MaterialScience, which is a research-based subgroup of Bayer USA. This unique program allows for under-represented incoming freshmen to earn full academic scholarships and provides opportunities in undergraduate research and internships throughout the four years of study in chemical sciences. Along with Renk, Chantelle DeLozier, Emily Litzenberger,

Camille Pottinger and Elizabeth Roeske became the first Bayer Scholars to be admitted to this prestigious program in the 2009-10 school year.

Bayer Scholars major in chemistry, environmental chemistry or environmental science, with a concentration in chemistry. After matriculation, students must maintain a 2.75 grade point average

in math and science. Outside the classroom, they are mentored by faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and attend presentations and meetings with Bayer MaterialScience employees either at Duquesne or at Bayer’s campus.

“My initial reaction of being accepted to the Bayer Scholars Program was excitement and appreciation to be a part of an exclusive program at Duquesne that advocates the advancement of scientific research for females and persons of color, since there is a lack in the field currently,” explained Pottinger, a chemistry major from Glenn Dale, Md.

Students participate in the summer Undergraduate Research Program after the freshman and sophomore years, then work as interns at Bayer MaterialScience following junior and senior years. They also present their research at the regional and national American Chemical Society meetings.

Dr. Ellen Gawalt, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the mentor to the Bayer Scholars Program. “I meet monthly with the Bayer Scholars to discuss their growth in academics, science and career development,” Gawalt explained. She also connects them with research mentors both at Duquesne University and Bayer MaterialScience. “Given their consistent participation in original research, we expect the Bayer Scholars to present it at the university and at regional and national meetings, representing Duquesne University and the Bayer Foundation extremely well,” Gawalt said.

Dr. David W. Seybert, dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, approached Bayer USA, headquartered in Pittsburgh, to consider the idea of providing scholarship opportunities to under-represented students who are studying the in the fields of chemical sciences at Duquesne University. The proposal was accepted by Bayer Corporation, and the Bayer Scholars Program was conceived.

The Bayer Scholars were in attendance when Bayer President and CEO, Greg Babe, visited campus to make a presentation in October 2009.

Greg Babe, President and CEO of Bayer Corporation


Chemistry welcomes Wheeler as chair

“Bayer has an interest in increasing diversity and promoting under-represented students in the fields of chemical and material sciences,” Seybert stated.

As a multi-national corporation, there is a series of core values to which Bayer Corporation is committed, which states: “We respect and value the ethnic and cultural diversity of all the people who work for Bayer, mindful that our success is founded on their skills and their commitment.”

This particular core value relates to the mission statement of Duquesne University, which elaborates on the commitment to excellence in liberal and professional education, through the maintenance of an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity.

“This is a reflection of the collaborative relationship with Bayer, and we greatly value this,” said Seybert.

“The number of academically talented prospective freshmen who hoped to participate exceeded the number of program slots, even in the first year of the program,” said Paul-James Cukanna, director of admissions and associate vice president of academic affairs. “Interest will increase dramatically as more high-achieving science students learn about the opportunity and decide that they, too, want to compete for the academic, research, internship and funding opportunities associated with this academically demanding program.”

Duquesne University has placed a strong emphasis on attracting the best and brightest students. Competition

The 2010-11 academic year opened with an exciting transition for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. While Dr. Jeffry Madura stepped down after 10 years of superb leadership, the department welcomed a new chair, Dr. Ralph A. Wheeler, who promises to build on the accomplishments of his predecessor.

“Dr. Wheeler brings a wealth of research and teaching experience, as well as significant administrative experience, to his new position,” noted Dr. David W. Seybert, dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Wheeler comes to Duquesne from the University of Oklahoma, where his 20 years of stellar service culminated in his appointment as a Presidential Professor as well as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.

Wheeler graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in 1982, earned his Ph.D. in Applied Theoretical Chemistry from Cornell University in 1988, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the NIH working under Professor Andy McCammon at the University of Houston. His research interests include developing new computational methods for calculating condensed-phase molecular vibrations for battery applications, modeling the structures of peptides and proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, and modeling ligand binding sites important for energy storage by photosynthetic and energy use by respiratory proteins.

Seybert believes that Wheeler will continue Madura’s track record of balancing a flourishing research program and inspired teaching with administrative skill. “The chairmanship of a basic science department is not an easy task, particularly when your goal is to take that program or department to progressively higher levels,” he noted. n

for the most talented and motivated students is a very intense process. Along with scholarship, these students look for amenities such as robust career development and experiential education programs.

“Much of the focus of the Bayer Scholars Program is to provide a basis of research from the beginning of our time here at Duquesne and ultimately to use research to guide us toward determining what interests us in the chemistry world,” said Emily Litzenberger, one of the Bayer Scholars from Kintnersville, Pa. “That is the most important thing for me as a student and a Bayer Scholar. It will help me to not only get more lab experience, but to think critically and establish specific interests, which, in turn, will prepare me for my future career.” n

Chantelle DeLozier, sophomore chemistry major, is making calibration curves for primary fatty acid amides. She said her early experiences in the program have already increased her confidence in a research setting.

Babe congratulates the first class of Bayer Scholars to enter the program (from left): Elizabeth Roeske, Camille Pottinger, Emilee Renk and Emily Litzenberger.


Molecules are too small to be seen, but they can be known by the measure of their mass. In a mass

spectrometer, molecules become ionized particles that are accelerated through a

series of chambers in the instrument. Electromagnetic fields then guide them through the mass discriminator and to the detector based on their mass-to-charge ratio. The resulting data—the mass spectra—are like molecular fingerprints for

the contents of the samples in question. They are used to identify unknown compounds, quantify those that are known, and elucidate the chemical structure of molecules.

This powerful tool for detection has become a mainstay for research and teaching in the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Under the leadership of Dr. Mitchell E. Johnson and Dr. H.M. “Skip” Kingston, both professors of chemistry and biochemistry, the school has forged a partnership with Agilent, one of the world’s leading suppliers of mass spectrometers. As a result, Agilent has designated Duquesne University as a Center for Excellence in Mass Spectrometry.

“The bulk nitrogen tank was a much-needed improvement to the existing facilities, and it was essential for the new equipment,” said Gregory Fuhrman (left), project manager for Facilities Management. According to Daniel Bodnar (center), manager of instrument maintenance, the 1,180 gallon tank now services 10 laboratories in Mellon Hall and will service more in the future. Ian Welsh (right), the chemistry department technician, is responsible for oversight of the tank.

Dr. Jana Patton-Vogt (center) discusses findings made on the mass spectrometer with Andrew Bishop (right), a third-year doctoral student in biology, and Tao Sun (left), a fourth-year doctoral student in chemistry.Science

Duquesne emerges as Center for Excellence in Mass Spectrometry

Bigger

By Lisa Mikolajek Barton


The center will serve as Agilent’s regional showcase for the latest technologies in this rapidly developing field, with the spotlight on three new instruments, funded altogether by nearly $1 million in NSF grants. Describing the impact of the new equipment, Johnson said, “The difference between what we can do now and what we could do before—it’s incredible. It’s moved us into an entirely new echelon of research that is now possible at Duquesne.”

Building an expertiseWhen the mass spectrometer began

to emerge as the instrument of choice for analytical chemistry in the 1990s, Johnson and Kingston were new to Duquesne. “There was no mass spec I could use when I arrived in 1991,” Kingston noted. “My first task was to write a grant and get one so that I could get to work!” He achieved his goal within a year. Johnson, arriving a few years later, brought in the second modern mass spectrometer (MS) in 1999. From these modest beginnings, the number of MS instruments on campus has grown to 11 at this publication.

From 2004 through 2007, Kingston acquired his NSF grant to purchase a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS), the first high-resolution MS at Duquesne. The instrument he purchased was so advanced that it only existed in theory; it was shipped in pieces until it became fully operational. “To say we were on the cutting edge would be putting it mildly,” Kingston remarked.

In 2008, Johnson was PI on the grant he used to acquire a quadrupole time-of-

flight tandem mass spectrometer (QTOF MS/MS) and a triple quadrupole tandem MS (TQ MS/MS) with LC and nanospray system. The Agilent partnership also included a complete upgrade to the 2007 TOF-MS, effectively rendering it a 2009 model, and the prestigious designation as a Center for Excellence.

“‘The Center for Excellence’ with capital letters is new, and it is focused on these three highly sophisticated instruments,” Johnson explained, “but in a larger sense, we’ve been building an expertise in mass spectrometry for the past 15 years. The instruments we’ve been bringing in, the research and the grant funding that has resulted, and the teaching that we do, constitute a ‘center of excellence’ in the broad sense. Forging the partnership with Agilent is just the latest development.”

When scientists work togetherThe blueprint for the mass

spectrometry building plan has always included other departments and schools. Johnson and Kingston credit the Bayer School department chairs and their dean, Dr. David W. Seybert, for facilitating a high level of collaboration that is uncommon in academia; the structure of the tenured faculty system can more often engender competition than collegiality.

However, “colleague” is a word that these two professors use frequently when talking about the new Center for Excellence, and their research initiatives demonstrate their philosophy. Johnson’s NSF grant includes three co-PIs: fellow chemists Kingston and Dr. Partha Basu, together with Dr. Jana Patton-Vogt,

What is the Center for Excellence in Mass Spectrometry?

n It is a partnership between Agilent Corporation, a leading manufacturer of instrumentation for chemical analysis, and Duquesne University. It consists of people and instrumentation, and is manifested in advanced research and teaching.

n It is equipment: four mass spectrometers with attendant liquid chromatographs housed in newly renovated “clean room” laboratories.

n It is expertise: most of the instrumentation and expertise is available for use by a consortium consisting of research groups in Duquesne University science departments as well as colleges, universities, and hospitals in Western Pennsylvania.

n It is a showcase site for Agilent, where interested researchers can see the best Agilent equipment in regular use, solving real problems.

n It is collaboration between Duquesne and Agilent, where new applications are developed and new ideas are tested, leading to important advances in life sciences, biomedicine, bioengineering, materials science, etc.

n It is a unique educational environment for Duquesne and Western Pennsylvania undergraduate and graduate students.

(Continued on Page 10)

Dr. Mitchell E. Johnson welcomed administration, faculty, students and visitors who attended the dedication for the new Center for Excellence in Mellon Hall on March 10, 2010.

In memory of Dr. Mitch Johnson

Dr. Mitchell E. Johnson, associate professor of chemistry and

biochemistry, passed away shortly before the publication of this

issue. While the Bayer School mourns his untimely death, we

celebrate the establishment of the Center for Excellence at

Duquesne University as the crowning achievement of his life’s

work. His dedication to teaching and research will continue to

benefit students for generations to come. Congratulations, Mitch!


New fluorescent lead sensor discovered at Duquesne

associate professor of biological sciences. In addition to independent lines of research, the new instruments are advancing the joint study of the metabolism of signaling phospholipids begun by Johnson and Patton-Vogt. The high resolution and high sensitivity made possible by the new instrumentation enables the team to determine the exact molecular identity of phospholipase B (PLB) substrates and metabolites in the plasma membrane of yeast.

Likewise, Basu’s proteomic investigation of the metabolism of arsenicals is part of his ongoing collaboration with Dr. John F. Stolz, professor of biological sciences. The new instrumentation furthers their efforts to characterize the proteins involved in the bacterial reduction of Cr(VI), which can aid in the development of strategies for bioremediation.

As Johnson noted, this kind of inter-departmental collaboration is one of the unique characteristics of the Bayer School’s research enterprise that makes its proposals attractive to funding agencies: “We have a definite purpose in continuing to improve our facilities, not just for ourselves, but also for our colleagues.

It makes us better, but it also makes the school better, because these are resources everybody can use.”

Kingston summarized the institu-tional growth that results from personal excellence in scholarship. “By developing ourselves as scientists,” he explained, “we have developed our department, we have helped develop other departments, and that, in turn, develops things for the

Dr. Peter Chovanec, a postdoctoral research fellow, analyzes data for Drs. John F. Stolz and Partha Basu. The sample yielded this “heat map” (right), a graphic expression of proteins harvested from bacteria under three different growth conditions. After the proteins are digested by an enzyme, the polypeptide fragments are identified according to their mass.

While she was an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Partha Basu’s laboratory, Lauren Marbella was first author on an article that published their discovery of a novel lead sensor.

Photo courtesy of Justin Merriman | Tribune-Review

In science, some of the most interesting discoveries are made while look-ing for something else, when the keen observations of the researcher lead to an exciting application in a related area. This was the case when Dr. Partha Basu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was searching for compounds that could help him understand the role of molybdendum

in biological processes. What he found in the process was a highly selec-tive substance that is extremely sensitive to lead.

Under Basu’s leadership, Lauren Marbella, then an undergraduate in the Forensic Science and Law program, and post-doctoral research asso-ciate Dr. Barbara Serli-Mitasev developed a new sensor that they named “Leadglow.” It can detect lead in concentration as little as 10 parts per billion, far exceeding the EPA standard of lead in drinking water, which is currently 15 parts per billion.

The patented compound, which bears a resemblance to dried onion flakes, glows violet under a fluorescent light when lead has been detected. The project became the focus of an honors thesis for Marbella, who grad-uated from Duquesne University with her B.S. in Biochemistry in May 2009. Marbella, currently pursuing doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, was the first author on an article published in the prestigious German Chemical Society journal Angewandte Chemie (volume 48, 2009).

The new compound shows great potential for consumer use, because it does not require sophisticated instruments for testing. Students in the Biotechnology master’s program developed a prize- winning marketing plan for the product. Basu continues to explore the market feasibility of Leadglow with a $25,000 grant from Innovation Works, in partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University. n

whole school.” For example, Kingston has trained one of the students in his research group to run more than 100 samples for colleagues each year, including those in the Mylan School of Pharmacy. “This isn’t just about what is happening in chemistry,” he said. “It’s about what is growing at Duquesne. It’s about what happens when scientists work together.”

(Continued on Page 16)

Spectrum | Fall 2010 1 1

Students who travel to China have the unique opportunity to design their own research projects that combine academic investigation with cultural discovery. For example, Kourtney Krohn (left), a 2009 graduate of the Biology/Pre-Medical program, conducted a blood pressure lab that taught her Chinese friends about physiological homeostasis. Joshua Seither (above), currently a fifth-year student in the Forensic Science and Law program, tested different water sources in China for mercury concentration.

ChINaREFLECtIoNS oF

“During my visit I had the opportunity to visit several traditional Chinese medical hospitals and clinics.The holistic healing approach embodies my personal belief that a patient should be treated as a whole individual rather than a single disease or illness.Through this trip I was able to fully realize the power of holistic medicine.”

— KOURTNEY KROHN BIOLOGY/PRE-MED 2009

“As we performed the labs with the Chinese students, I realized that we have several of the same concerns regarding the environment. Seeing my own reflection in the Chinese students was absolutely incredible—we were able to cross a wide cultural barrier to come together on various issues that were pertinent to all of us.”

— BRYAN SEYBERT CHEMISTRY 2010

“Reading material in books or watching it on film could never convey the things I was able to experience in real life. This truly is the best way to learn. I will never forget any of the people who I met on this trip because they all became my teachers as well as my friends.”

— KATELYN BOONE BIOLOGY 2010/ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT 2011

The next Environmental Science Experience in China is tentatively scheduled for August 2011! Want to learn more? Contact Mr. Edward Schroth at [email protected]. Deposits are due December 1, 2010.

About Banpo Neolithic Museum, built directly over a 6,000-year-old village that represents the beginnings of the agricultural revolution: “To visit one of the first sites where ancient man succeeded in taming his environment was profound … If we would like to be here 6,000 years in the future, we are going to have to change our priorities very quickly, and we are going to need China to change with us.”

— KATHLEEN KOENITzER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT 2010

“After visiting China I realized that science is more of a global issue. We need to work together to overcome the obstacles that we currently face. Both the United States and China have ideas that could benefit each other. The dialogue between the two countries is very important for the future.”

— JOSH SEITHER FORENSIC SCIENCE AND LAW 2011

Duquesne University hosted its fourth Chinese Cultural Experience in August 2009, a unique study-abroad opportunity that is tailored to meet the needs of students in the sciences. The program is coordinated by Edward Schroth, an instructor in the Bayer School since 1999. Schroth launched the program in 2004 as a unique exchange of scientific ideas with Chinese students that would foster international understanding between two world powers. In this academic adventure, the Duquesne “ambassadors” journey with their Chinese peers to cultural landmarks as well as facilities like hospitals, schools, and factories. They also conduct scientific experiments and present research topics to colleagues in Chinese universities.

Below are just some of the impressions of students who made the journey…


New professors join the science team

“It is exciting to know that I am part of something bigger at Duquesne”

By Pamela Gibeau

The Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences welcomed two new faculty members last year.

Michael Cascio, Ph.D., joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as a tenure-track associate professor. Prior to coming to Duquesne, Cascio spent 15 years in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, where his laboratory correlated the structure and function for membrane protein receptors and channels, primarily neuroreceptors. Cascio received his Ph.D. in Molecular

Biophysics and Biochemistry from Columbia University in 1988 and conducted post-doctoral research at Scripps Research Institute and Yale University. Cascio is thrilled to be a part of the Duquesne community, and his enthusiasm is apparent. “I love to teach and have been energized by being on campus. It is exciting to know that I am part of something bigger at Duquesne,” said Cascio.

“Dr. Cascio adds another dimension of experience and collaboration, both to the chemistry department and to the Bayer School,” said Dr. Jeffry Madura. Madura, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was chair when Cascio joined the department. In addition to Cascio’s biophysics experience, his extensive biochemistry and molecular biology background were of particular interest. With the addition of Cascio, the department looks forward to a strengthened biochemistry program, as well as increased research activity and funding. However, there has been a benefit of Cascio’s presence that is unrelated to teaching and research: “Dr. Cascio has raised Team Chemistry to a whole new level on the basketball court,” Madura revealed.

Charles Welsh, Ph.D., joined the Department of Biological Sciences as a non-tenured assistant professor with expertise in the areas of human anatomy and physiology, as well as ornithology. Welsh earned his Ph.D. in Biology at that University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and has taught at Allegheny, La Roche and community colleges. Complementing his lecturing ability, Welsh has also authored a human biology laboratory manual, which has been in publication since 2006.

Outside of the classroom, Welsh can be heard on Pittsburgh’s local public radio

station, WYEP, where he provides commentary for an environmental program, “The Allegheny Front.” His segment is called “The Intrepid Naturalist,” and he can often be found in wooded areas collecting specimens and recording sounds for his weekly contributions to the show. In addition, Welsh provides his ornithological expertise to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where he has been a research associate in the section of birds for the last 13 years.

Welsh is particularly happy to be at Duquesne, where he was motivated to pursue his doctorate after hearing a lecture by the renowned Harvard biologist Stephen Jay Gould. “I was so inspired after hearing Dr. Gould speak that I made the decision right there to go on to graduate school,” Welsh recalled. “I feel like I have come full circle.” n

Dr. Cascio’s extensive background in biochemistry and molecular biology adds another dimension to the chemistry department.

Dr. Welsh, who teaches classes in anatomy and physiology, also brings expertise in ornithology to the biology department.


Kaitlyn Yoha likes to be busy! The academic year is typically consumed with her studies as a triple-major in physics,

engineering, and mathematics, but she does not slow down in the summer. In summer 2008, she helped design the position alignment system for cryogens through a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Florida. In 2009, she traveled across the country to the University of California-Davis. She worked on fabricating lead sulfide (PbS) nanowires by doping them with manganese (Mn) to determine their electrical properties, eventually hoping to use them in new kinds of spintronics and solar cells. While in California, she also toured the IBM Almaden Research Center and saw the most powerful microscope in the world, located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

After finishing her first three years at Duquesne, Kaitlyn chose to defer her acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering in fall 2009, but with good reason: She was offered a prestigious internship position at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Green Belt, Md., to work on an X-ray telescope. “This project is exactly what I hope to do with my life when I graduate because it combines my love for cosmology, physics and mechanical engineering,” she said.

Her work included the design of the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO), which is part of a NASA endeavor called “Beyond Einstein.” It is a combination of several X-ray telescopes working in unison to generate the observing power of one giant telescope. With the IXO, scientists will investigate black holes, Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, galaxy formation, the evolution of the universe on the largest scales, the recycling of matter and

many museums in the area to gain exposure to all types of science. While at NASA, Kaitlyn toured many buildings, testing chambers, and flight recovery rooms, including that of the Hubble space telescope.

Dr. Simonetta Frittelli, Professor and Chair of the Physics Department, composed a recommendation letter for Kaitlyn for the NASA internship. “We are so excited and proud about Kaitlyn’s achievement. She is very involved in the department—she has been a tutor for several semesters and is currently the secretary of the Society of Physics Students,” Frittelli noted.

An honors student with a strong GPA, Kaitlyn nevertheless had to apply three times before landing this elite position. She said, “This is the best project that I could imagine— I don’t think many students realize that they can do stuff like this. I know I didn’t.” n

While conducting research on nanowires at California University-Davis in summer 2009, Kaitlyn Yoha takes a break to visit San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

energy, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy (for more information, visit http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/xrays/programs.html).

Kaitlyn’s specific project, Flight Mirror Assembly, deals with bonding mirrors with a special epoxy for the IXO telescope. Working under the lead mechanical engineer for the IXO, Kaitlyn has learned how to attach the mirrors to the telescope without distorting them, and to secure mirrors to the frame with tabs so that they can withstand the launch conditions without breaking or ruining their angles and alignment.

Kaitlyn’s family was just as excited about this opportunity as she was. “My dad has engineering and math degrees, so I sometimes call him with my problems and he helps!” she said. She took advantage of working and living so close to Washington, D.C., by visiting the

Kaitlyn’s NASA internship in fall 2009 involved her with the Flight Mirror Assembly project for the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO).

Physics student’s career takes flight with NaSa internship

An artist’s rendition of the IXO, which is scheduled for launch in 2021. Courtesy of NASA.

By Katie Jones

The following survey of grants, publications and other achievements is intended to represent some of the scholarly activities of our faculty from July 2008 through June 2009. The following items are voluntarily submitted by faculty and their departments and do not necessarily represent the full scope of scholarly activities in the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

GRaNtSPartha Basu, Chemistry and Biochemistry, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health for “Models for nitrate reductases and related enzymes,” an award of $36,580.

Basu also received a $25,000 award from Innovation Works for “Development of a new Pb2+ sensor” to explore the commercial viability of a Pb2+ sensor that was developed through partial sup-port from a previous NIH grant.

Richard P. Elinson, Biological Sciences, received a three-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for “Suppression of tadpole limbs: a model for organ size regulation,” an award of $208,098.

Elinson also received a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for “Nutritional endoderm: a novel tissue in a direct developing frog,” an award of $488,602.

Ellen Gawalt, Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health, NIAMS, to study “Prevention of Biofilm Growth on Orthopedic Implant Materials through Chemical Surface Modification.”

Michael I. Jensen-Seaman, Biological Sciences, received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study the molecular evolution of genes that code for reproductive proteins in humans and other primates, an award of $293,918.

Mitchell Johnson, chemistry and biochemistry, received a grant from National Institutes of Health for “High Efficiency Screening for Bioactive Lipids” in the amount of $213,628.

Mitchell Johnson and co-PIs H.M “Skip” Kingston, Partha Basu, and Jana Patton Vogt received a grant from NSF for “MRI: Acquisition of a Tandem Mass Spectrometer for ‘Omics Research” in the amount of $574,500.

Stanley J. Kabala and Michael Tobin, Environmental Science and Management, received a grant from the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement program for a project entitled “Impact of Parental Smoking Cessation and Residential Hazard Reduction on Pediatric Respiratory Health: A Pilot Project.”

David Lampe, Biological Sciences, received funding from the Pennsylvania Labor History Center to support the lecture “Social Darwinism in Pittsburgh,” as part of the Darwin 2009: A Pittsburgh Partnership Project, an award of $3,000.

David Lampe and John Pollock, Biological Sciences, received funding from the John Templeton Foundation to support the Synthetic Darwin Interview Display at the Carnegie Science Center titled “Using Darwin’s 200th Birthday to Explore Evolution and Its Broader Consequences,” an award of $34,334.

Lampe and Pollock also received an award of $15,000 from UPMC Health System to fund the Duquesne University/UPMC Darwin 2009 Partnership. Part of the grant supported the Synthetic Darwin Interview project and part supported one of the Darwin 2009 lectures on the evolution of the human hand.

Jeffry D. Madura, Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded $250,000 from Agentase for “QSAR and QM/MM models of Acetylcholinesterase – pesticide interactions.”

Tomislav Pintauer, Chemistry and Biochemistry, received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for “Atom Transfer Radical Addition and Cyclization Reactions in the Presence of Catalytic Amounts of Copper Complexes” in the amount of $550,000.

John Pollock, Biological Sciences, has received funding from UPMC Children’s Hospital – Hillman Foundation, for the develop-ment and printing of the education survey booklet My Heart Transplant: A Feedback Survey for an Animated Movie, an award of $10,000.

Pollock also received supplemental funding on a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources. The supplemental funds are a Darwin Evolution/Revolution Award, one of six awarded nationally. This brings the total NIH/NCRR SEPA award amount to date to $1,048,659.

Brady Porter, Biological Sciences and Todd Katzner, The National Aviary & Biological Sciences, received a $33,958 grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wild Resource Conservation Project for “Assessing genetic diversity of Pennsylvania’s eastern golden eagles: how unique are they?”

Porter also received a grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wild Resource Conservation Project for “Morphological and genetic investigation of Pennsylvania populations of the channel shiner, Notropis wickliffi,” an award of $32,119.

Monica Sorescu, Physics, received a grant from the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research, for the project entitled “Synthesis and properties of magnetic ceramic nanoparti-cles,” in the amount of $361,291.

Facu l t y h i gh l i gh t s


W. Bruce Sneddon, Biological Sciences, received a Faculty Development Fund Award for a project entitled, “Three Independent Factors Linked to a Common Mechanism in Breast Cancer.”

John F. Stolz, Biological Sciences, received a renewal of his grant from NASA to continue his study on “Investigation of Alternative Anaerobic Biogeochemical Redox Cycles,” an award of $128,000.

Sarah K. Woodley, Biological Sciences, received a Duquesne University Assessment Mini Grant for “Assessment of Learning Outcomes related to Animal Research Ethics.”

Woodley also received a grant from the Wild Resource Conservation Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, for a project entitled “The Physiological Status of Salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) Living in Acidified Stream Habitats.”

SCIENtIFIC PuBLICatIoNS*Indicates a Duquesne University student co-author

P. Basu, “Arsenic.” Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 53: 529-530 (2009).

P. Basu and M.E. Johnson, Eds. The Integrated Approach to Chemistry Laboratory. DEStech Publications: Lancaster, PA (2009).

P. Basu, V.N. Nemykin and R.S. Sengar, “Substituent Effect on Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactivity from Oxomolybdenum Centers– Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemistry, and Mechanism.” Inorg. Chem., 48: 6303-6313 (2009).

E. Fisher,* A. M. Dawson, G. Polshnya, J. Lisak, B. Crable, * E. Perera,* M. Ranganathan,* M. Thangavelu,* P. Basu and J.F. Stolz, “Transformation of inorganic and organic arsenic by Clostridium oremlandii sp. nov. strain OhILAs” in “Incredible Anaerobes: From Physiology to Genomics to Fuels.” J. Wiegel, R. Maier and M. Adams (Eds.) Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1125: 230-241 (2008).

L. Marbella,* B. Serli-Mitasev and P. Basu, “Development of a new fluorescent Pb2+ sensor.” Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. Engl. 48: 3996-3998 (2009).

E. Perera* and P. Basu, “Synthesis, characterization and structure of a Low coordinate Desoxomolybdenum cluster stabilized by a Dithione Ligand,” Dalton Transactions, 5023-5028 (2009).

C. Richey,* P. Chovanec, S.E. Hoeft, R.S. Oremland, P. Basu and J.F. Stolz, “Respiratory Arsenate Reductase as a Bidirectional Enzyme.” Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications, 382: 298-302 (2009).

R. S. Sengar, J. J. Miller* and P. Basu, “Design, Syntheses, and Characterization of Dioxo-molybdenum(VI) Complexes With Thiolate Ligands: Effects of Intraligand NH•••S Hydrogen Bonding.” Dalton Transactions: 2569-2577 (2008).

R.P. Elinson, Z. Walton* and K. Nath, “Raldh expression in embryos of the direct developing frog Eleutherodactylus coqui and the con-served retinoic acid requirement for forelimb initiation.” J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.), 310B: 588-595 (2008).

C. Ricardo,* L.M. Matosziuk,* J.D. Evanseck and T. Pintauer, “Strong Coordination of Tetraphenylborate Anion to Copper(I) Bipyridine and Phenanthroline-Based Complexes and Its Effect on Catalytic Activity in the Cyclopropanation of Styrene.” Inorg. Chem. 48: 16 (2009).

J.R. Kovacs, J. Tidball, A. Ross, L. Jia, Y. Zheng, E.S. Gawalt and W.S. Meng, “Characterization of nickel-decorated PLGA particles anchored with a His-tagged polycation.” Journal of Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition, 20: 1307-20 (2009).

R. Quinones* and E.S. Gawalt, “Polystyrene Formation on Monolayer-Modified Nitinol Effectively Controls Corrosion.” Langmuir, 24: 10858-10864 (2008).

M.I. Jensen-Seaman, J.H. Wilschutte,* I.D. Soto-Calderón and N.M. Anthony, “A comparative approach shows differences in pat-terns of numt insertion during hominoid evolution.” J. Mol. Evol., 68: 688-699 (2009).

M.E. Johnson, S. Pawlowski,* K.E. Barry, M. Bole,* E.M. Chestnutt,* J.L. Daggett,* S.L. Lepish,* L.M. Matosziuk,* M.P. Meredith,* S.G. Sajdak,* L.E. Slomka,* C.F. Stalzer,* R. Tadisch*, A.T. Wasilko* and J. N. Wong-Chong,* “Solid Phase Extraction of Lipids from a Cellular Lysate on a Microfluidic Device” in The Integrated Approach to Chemistry Laboratory. P. Basu and M.E. Johnson, Eds. DEStech Publishers: Lancaster, PA (2009).

M.E. Johnson, S. Pawlowski,* L.E. Marbella,* K.A. Dornon* and M.A. Hart,* “Protein Unfolding Kinetics” in The Integrated Approach to Chemistry Laboratory. P. Basu and M.E. Johnson, Eds. DEStech Publishers: Lancaster, PA (2009).

B.W. Kail,* C.G. Young, M.E. Johnson and P. Basu, “Understanding Oxotransferase Reactivity in a Model System Using Singular Value Decomposition Analysis,” in Advances in Organic Chemistry: Cellular Systems and Synthetic Models. E. C. Long and M. Balwin, Eds.; ACS Symposium Series No. 1012; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, (2009).

J.L Guzman Mar, L.H. Reyes, G.M. Mizanur Rahman and H.M. Kingston, “Simultaneous Extraction of Arsenic and Selenium Species from Rice Products by Microwave-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction and Analysis by Ion Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.” Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57: 3005-3013 (2009).

Kingston garners three awards

Dr. H.M. “Skip” Kingston was recognized for his accomplishments in research with three distinct honors in 2009:

•TheBayerSchoolofNaturalandEnvironmental Sciences Award for Faculty Excellence in Scholarship;

•TheDuquesneUniversityPresident’sAward for Faculty Excellence in Scholarship; and

•TheCharlesE.KaufmanFoundationAward for Excellence in Scholarship in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Despite the accolades for his research, Kingston says that teaching is equally important and is actually one of the most important reasons to do research. “I can’t teach at the cutting edge if I am not doing research at the cutting edge,” he explained.

BSNES Alumna honored with 2010 Carnegie Science Award

Carnegie Science Center selected Jade Leung as a recipient of the 2010 Carnegie Science Honorable Mention: High School Educator, which recognizes educators for innovation in inspiring high school level students to understand, appreciate, and apply science.

Leung, currently a physics and biology teacher at Shaler Area High School, graduated from Duquesne University with her B.S. in biological sciences in 2005 and completed her M.S. in secondary science education in 2006. She remains actively engaged at a Duquesne as a leader in the Young Alumni Council and Spiritan Campus Ministry volunteer.

Leung, who conducted adult stem cell research under the guidance of the late Dr. John Doctor, remains involved with the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Institute. By sharing tissue engineering materials and find-ings in the classroom, she demonstrates real-world applications of science to her students.


S. Faber, G. Zinn,* H.M. Kingston, C. Kobelak and J. Kern, “The Relationship between Serum Copper and Plasma Zinc in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Biomarkers, 1-10, iFirst (2009).

G.M. Mizanur Rahman, L.H. Reyes, H.M. Kingston, and T. Fahrenholz*, “Application of Speciated Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry to Evaluate Some Literature Methods with Respect to Efficiencies, Recoveries, and Quantification of Mercury Species Transformations in Human Hair.” Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 24: 83-92, (2009).

S.J. Nagourney, S.A. Wilson, B.Buckley, H.M. Kingston, S.Yang and S.E. Long, “Development of a Standard Reference Material for Cr(VI) in Contaminated Soil.” Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 23: 1550–1554 (2009).

L.H. Reyes, G.M. Mizanur Rahman, and H.M. Kingston, “Robust Microwave-Assisted Extraction Protocol for Determination of Totoal Mercury and Methylmercury in Fish Tissues.” Analytica Chimica Acta, 631: 121-128, (2009).

L.H. Reyes, G.M. Mizanur Rahman, B. Seybert* and H.M. Kingston, “Simultaneous determination of arsenic and selenium species in fish tissues by microwave-assisted enzymatic extraction and ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spec-trometry.” Talanta, 78: 980-990 (2009).

T.A. Miller, C.R. Lauzon and D.J. Lampe, “Technological advances to enhance agricultural pest management.” Advances in experi-mental medicine and biology, 627: 141-50 (2008).

E.K. Asciutto, J.D. Madura, S.S. Pochapsky, B. Ou Yang, and T.C. Pochapsky, “Structural and Dynamic Implications of an Effector-induced Backbone Amide cis-trans Isomerization in Cytochrome P450cam.” J. Mol. Biol., 388: 801-814 (2009).

J. Cui, K. Battle, A. Wierzbicki,* and J.D. Madura, “Investigations of structure and dynamics of water solvation of the type I antifreeze protein.” International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 109(1): 73-80 (2008).

I.G. General, E.K. Asciutto, and J.D. Madura, “Structure of Aqueous Sodium Perchlorate Solutions.” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 112(48): 15417-15425 (2008).

A. Wierzbicki,* C.A. Knight, E.A. Salter, C.N. Henderson, J.D. Madura, “Role of Nonpolar Amino Acid Functional Groups in the Surface Orientation-Dependent Adsorption of Natural and Synthetic Antifreeze Peptides on Ice.” Crystal Growth & Design, 8(9): 3420-3429 (2008).

J. Bennett,* A.B. Yarnall, R. Cadwallader, P. Kuennen, P. Bidey,* B. Stadelmaier and J.R. McCormick, “Medium-dependent pheno-types of Streptomyces coelicolor with mutations in ftsI or ftsW.” J. Bacteriol., 191: 661-664 (2009).

R.M. Dedrick,* H. Wildschutte* and J.R. McCormick, “Genetic interactions of smc, ftsK, and parB genes in Streptomyces coelicolor and their developmental genome segregation phenotypes.” J. Bacteriol., 191: 320-332 (2009).

J. Luo, Y. Matsuo, G. Gulis, H. Hinz, J. Patton-Vogt and S. Marcus, “Phosphatidylethanolamine is required for normal cell morphology and cytokinesis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.” Eukaryot Cell., 8: 790-9 (2009).

L.R. Nunez, S.A. Jesch, M.L. Gaspar, C. Almaguer, M. Villa-Garcia, M. Ruiz-Noriega, J. Patton-Vogt and S.A. Henry, “Cell wall integrity MAPK pathway is essential for lipid homeostasis.” J Biol Chem., 283: 34204-17 (2008).

T. Pintauer, W.T. Eckenhoff,* C. Ricardo,* M.N.C. Balili,* A.B. Biernesser,* S.J. Noonan,* and M.J.W. Taylor,* “Highly Efficient Ambient-Temperature Copper-Catalyzed Atom-Transfer Radical Addition (ATRA) in the Presence of Free-Radical Initiator (V-70) as a Reducing Agent.” Chem. Eur. J. 15: 38 (2009).

T. Pintauer and K. Matyjaszewski, “Structural and Mechanistic Aspects of Copper Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization,” Top. Organomet. Chem.,26: 221 (2009).

C. Ricardo* and T. Pintauer, “Copper Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Cascade Reactions in the Presence of Free-Radical Diazo Initiators as Reducing Agents.” Chem. Commun., 3029 (2009).

M. Zhu, W.T. Eckenhoff,* T. Pintauer and R. Jin, “Conversion of Anionic [Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18]- Cluster to Charge Neutral Cluster via Air Oxidation.” J. Phys. Chem. C., 112: 14211 (2008).

H.L. Jelks, S.J. Walsh, N.M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D.A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N.E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J.S. Nelson, S.P. Platania, B.A. Porter, C.B. Renaud, J.J. Schmitter-Soto, E.B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr., “Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes.” Fisheries, 33(8): 372-407 (2008).

M. Koryak, P.S. Bonislawsky, D.D. Locy and B.A. Porter, “Typical Channel Fish Assemblage of the Recovering Lower Allegheny River Navigation System, Pennsylvania, USA.” J. Freshwater Ecology, 24(3): 509-517 (2009).

M. Koryak, P. Bonislawsky, D. Locy and B.A. Porter, “Use of benthic trawling to supplement electrofishing in characterizing the fish community of the Allegheny River navigation channel in Pennsylvania, USA.” J. Freshwater Ecology, 23(3): 491-494 (2008).

R.A.Valverde, K.W. Selcer, L.R. Lara and J.A. Sibaja-Cordero, “Lack of xenoestrogen-induced vitellogenin in male olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.” Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744), 56 (Suppl. 5): 49-57 (2008).

J.E Bernardo, C.E. Magyar, W.B. Sneddon and P.A. Friedman, “Impaired renal calcium absorption in mice lacking calcium channel ß3 subunits.” Can.J.Physiol.Pharmcol., 87(7): 522–530 (2009).

M. Sorescu, “Mossbauer spectra fitting for undergraduate stu-dents,” Journal of Materials Education, 31: 141-146 (2009).

M. Sorescu, L. Diamandescu, A. Tomescu and S. Krupa*, “Synthesis and sensing properties of zirconium-doped hematite nanoparticles,” Physica B, 404: 2159-2165 (2009).

J. Franks and J.F. Stolz, “Flat laminated microbial mat communities.” Earth Science Reviews (2008).

T.R. Kulp, S.E. Hoeft, M. Madigan, J.T. Hollibaugh, J. Fischer, J.F. Stolz, C.W. Culbertson, L.G. Miller and R.S. Oremland, “Arsenic(III) fuels anoxygenic photosynthesis in hot spring biofilms from Mono Lake, California.” Science, 321: 967-970 (2008).

B.J. Mailloux, E. Alexandrova, A. Keimowitz, K. Wovkulich, G. Freyer, M. Herron, J.F. Stolz, T. Kenna, T. Pichler, M. Polizzotto, H. Dong, M. Bishop and P. Knappett, “Microbial Mineral Weathering for Nutrient Acquisition Releases.” Arsenic. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 75: 2558-2565 (2009).

R.S. Oremland, J.F. Stolz, M. Madigan, J.T. Hollibaugh, T.R. Kulp, S.E. Hoeft,

J. Fisher, L.G. Miller, C.W. Culbertson and M. Asao, “Response to comment on Arsenic(III) fuels anoxygenic photosynthesis in hot spring biofilms from Mono Lake, California.” Science, 323: 583 (2009).

D.M. Paterson, R.J. Aspden, P.T. Visscher, M. Consalvey, M.S. Andres, A.W. Decho, J.F. Stolz and R.P. Reid, “Light-Dependant Biostabilisation of Sediments by Stromatolite Assemblages.” PloSBiology, 3(9): e3176 (2008).

W. Largen* and S.K. Woodley, “Cutaneous tail glands, noxious skin secretions, and scent marking in a terrestrial salamander (Plethodon shermani).” Herpetologica, 63: 270-280 (2008).

S.N. Schubert,* C.L. Wack,* L.D. Houck, P.W. Feldhoff, R.C. Feldhoff and S.K. Woodley, “Exposure to pheromones increases plasma corticosterone concentrations in a terrestrial salamander.” General and Comparative Endocrinology, 161: 271-275 (2009).

aChIEvEMENtS aND RECoGNItIoNPhilip Auron, Biological Sciences, presented a poster titled, “Human IL1B gene induction requires transcription factor mediated DNA looping,” K.Z.Q. Wang, S. Unlu, J. Adamik, A.-J. Su and P.E. Auron. This poster was presented at “Experimental Biology 2009,” which sponsored the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting as a division of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, New Orleans, LA, April 18-23, 2009.

Richard P. Elinson, Biological Sciences, was the keynote speaker at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB), Lock Haven University, April 17-18, 2009.

Elinson was an invited speaker at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists (JSDB), Niigata, Japan, May 28-31, 2009.

Michael I. Jensen-Seaman, Biological Sciences, gave an invited talk on “Hominoid gene duplications in hominin evolution” at the annual meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Chicago, IL, April 1-4, 2009.

Dr. Stanley J. Kabala, Environmental Science and Management, coordinated the Second Annual Student Sustainability Symposium with collaborators from The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, April 16, 2009. The symposium showcased the results of the “One Step at a Time” project funded by the Heinz Endowments, which challenged students to design solutions to environmental issues on their campuses and through-out the Pittsburgh region.

H.M. “Skip” Kingston, Chemistry and Biochemistry, was appoint-ed as an academic member of the Air Force Surgeon General’s Taskforce on Future Research for Medical Technology and US Healthcare to the year 2045. He gave an invited talk about a tech-nological look forward to 2045 at the Surgeon General’s “Advanced Research Futures Conference,” San Antonio, TX, February 19, 2009.

David Lampe and John Pollock, Biological Sciences, provided the leadership to coordinate a wide range of activities on campus and across town for a year-long celebration of Charles Darwin, his life and his legacy. Darwin 2009 - A Pittsburgh Celebration commemorated Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s landmark book, “On the Origin of Species.” Events began January 16, 2009 and continued throughout 2009 and into 2010. Activities included two distinct lec-ture series and events at major cultural institutions.

David Lampe, Biological Sciences, wrote the script and helped direct a museum display for the Carnegie Science Center entitled “Synthetic Darwin Interview,” a computerized permanent museum display at the Carnegie Science Center, in conjunction with John Pollock, Biological Sciences, and the Entertainment Technology Center at CMU.

David Lampe won the BSNES Faculty Award for Excellence in Service for 2008.

Joseph McCormick, Biological Sciences, was awarded a 2009 Presidential Scholarship to write an invited review article titled “Cell Division is Dispensable but not Irrelevant in Streptomyces” for the journal Current Opinion in Microbiology.

Tomislav Pintauer, Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been select-ed to the advisory editorial board of the Open Catalysis Journal.

John Pollock, Biological Sciences, gave an invited platform talk, “Public education and outreach through full-dome video technology” in Physics Demonstrations and Strategies for Teaching and Public Outreach at the American Physical Society Annual Meeting, March 2009, Pittsburgh, PA.

Pollock presented the keynote address, “Science education films and games; Exploring human tissues” at Dinner with a Scientist – University of the Pacific, March 2009.

Pollock presented the keynote address, “Tissue Engineering for Life and the stories of Regenerative Medicine – the movies” at Dinner with a Scientist – California State University, March 2009.

Pollock gave an invited platform talk, “Art and science in health lit-eracy,” at the Science Education Partnership Awards Director’s Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 2008.

Pollock’s project, “Spiral of Life I: From Darwin to Today – A Mural,” is a permanent exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Pollock’s displays on “Genetic Garden: inc. Punnett squares” and “Spiral of Life II: Co-evolution of Plants and Animals – A Mural” were on exhibit in Spring/Summer 2009 at Phipp’s Conservatory, Pittsburgh, PA

Pollock’s project, “Spiral of Life III: Animal Kingdom – A Mural,” is a permanent exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Brady Porter, Biological Sciences, was selected to serve on the advisory board for the Three Rivers Ecological Research Center for 2009/2010.

Kyle Selcer, Biological Sciences, has been selected as Chair of the Annual Meetings/Industrial Relations Committee for the Society for the Study of Reproduction for 2009/2010.

John F. Stolz, Biological Sciences, gave the Division Q lecture, “The Microbial Transformation of Arsenic: New Twists on an Old Poison” at the general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in May 2009.

Stolz received the 2008 President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Sarah Woodley, Biological Sciences, was awarded the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching in spring 2009.

Woodley was invited to speak on “Pheromones and human mate choice” as part of a symposium on the “Science of Kissing,” a national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Feb.12-16, 2009, Chicago, IL.

Scott Cohen, Physics, spent seven weeks as a visiting professor at the Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara, CA.

StuDENt aChIEvEMENtLindsay Baxter, M.S. student in Environmental Science and Management, was hired as the first Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh in October 2008. Lindsay, who graduated in December 2008, was advised by Dr. Stanley J. Kabala.

Stephanie Dowell, M.S. student in Biological Sciences, won the Best Student Presentation Award from the Kentucky/West Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for her project with research advisor, Dr. Brady Porter, “Morphological and genetic investigation of Pennsylvania populations of the channel shiner, Notropis wickliffi,” presented the AFS regional meeting, Huntington, WV, March 2009.

Jordan Humphrey, B.S. student in Biological Sciences, was awarded first place in the Biological Sciences division at the 11th Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Science at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on October 11, 2008. His poster was based on work performed in Dr. Kyle Selcer’s laboratory.

Kellie Rosiek, Ph.D. student in Biological Sciences, presented a poster entitled “The Selenoprotein of 15 kDa (Sep15) Regulates Type I Parathyroid Hormone Receptor (PTH1R) Trafficking” at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C. in June 2009. The poster was selected to be part of the Presidential Poster Competition. Kellie is advised by Dr. W. Bruce Sneddon.

Courtney Sparacino, M.S. student in Chemistry and Biochemistry, presented her research at The Gordon Conference on Mo and W Enzymes at Lucca, Italy. Subsequently she spent 8 weeks at the University of Cologne conducting research on bacterial molybde-num enzymes. Courtney is advised by Dr. Partha Basu.

Zach Walton, B.S. student in Biological Sciences, cloned the EcRaldh1 gene and co-authored a 2008 refereed research article in the Journal of Experimental Zoology ((Mol. Dev. Evol.)) with Dr. Richard Elinson. Zach is currently a PCOM medical student.

Maria Wheeler, Ph.D. student in Biological Sciences, was inter-viewed for Scott Shalloway’s radio show, “Birds and Nature,” on 1360 AM about her research project on population genetics of golden eagles. The show was broadcast on 31 May 2009. Maria is advised by Dr. Brady Porter and Todd Katzner, Biological Sciences.

Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

600 Forbes AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15282

Phone: 412.396.4900

www.duq.edu/science

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 390Pittsburgh, PA

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED


(Continued from Page 10)

ScienceBigger

Growing to fit the visionThe Bayer School of Natural and

Environmental Sciences prides itself on a balanced commitment to research and teaching as complementary aspects of its mission, and this is apparent in how the faculty are utilizing the mass spectrometers in hands-on research for students at all levels. “Unlike the big research institutions, we have undergraduates who are working with graduate students and post-docs, running these instruments, getting data and publishing papers with us,” Kingston said.

Johnson added, “I have to say it is the quality of our undergraduate students here at Duquesne that makes this possible. It allows us to push them to higher levels

of responsibility where they can have access to sophisticated instruments.”

At the same, Johnson and Kingston are mindful that the status as a Center for Excellence reflects Duquesne’s development into a community asset for other academic institutions throughout the tri-state area. “We want to be, to the extent that we can, a resource for local colleges and universities that are primarily undergraduate institutions,” Johnson said. “We are in a unique position to become a leader in mass spectrometry education for Western Pennsylvania.”

This new leadership role comes with novel challenges. Although Johnson’s grant was awarded in 2008, his equipment did not become operational until 2009, because, as Kingston explained, “We’ve had to modify rooms to make these instruments functional, because they are so much more advanced than what was dreamed of when Mellon Hall was designed 45 years ago.”

First of all, the new instrumentation required the construction of a “clean room.” Kingston, who built two other cleans rooms at Duquesne in the past, describes it as “an instrument you can

walk in,” where no airborne particles of 0.5 micrometers or larger are generated by the equipment or the room itself.

MS also requires a steady stream of gaseous nitrogen, which until now was supplied to Duquesne’s instruments by a row of tanks lined up in the halls. Realizing that their facility has outgrown this style of accommodation, however, the school began the monumental task of constructing a large liquid nitrogen tank outside of Mellon Hall. Johnson and Kingston give credit to the Department of Facilities Management, which was faced with the challenge of running wires and medical-grade stainless steel tubing down the longest building on campus.

“This is the normal advancement of a university that is moving into bigger instrumentation, bigger capabilities, and bigger science,” Kingston said. “We are on a mission to push science as far as it can go here, and that means we will bump into issues on the way. It all comes with growing pains!”

“But we are up for the challenge,” Johnson said. “If our vision is too big for Duquesne, we don’t need to let that hold us back—Duquesne can grow to fit the vision.” n

Bayer School of Natural & Environmental Sciences Fall 2010 ......mately 400 environmental...

Documents

Transcript of Bayer School of Natural & Environmental Sciences Fall 2010 ......mately 400 environmental...