Chemistry

Dr. Kwiatkowski publishes work on gene therapy that takes aim at muscular dystrophy

Dr. Tom Kwiatkowski was a contributing author on a recent publication in the Journal of General Physiology titled ‘Dysferlin’s C2A Domain Supports Normal Ca²⁺ Signaling and Membrane Repair in Dysferlin-Null Myofibers.’ The study contributes to ongoing gene therapy research efforts aimed at treating several forms of muscular dystrophy.

Congratulations Class of 2026

Presentations and awards at the Chromatography Forum of Delaware Valley (CFDV) annual spring symposium

Congratulations to Revathi Variar, Heinrichs Sarah, Katherine Hayner, and Paige Ickes for presenting their work, performed in collaboration with Dr. Pistos and Lisa Mundy (Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Supervisor at Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office Toxicology Lab). Our students presented two projects: A) Method development for the determination fentanyl and its cutting agents in whole blood utilizing GC-MS (Sarah and Paige) and B) Method development for the determination of fentanyl cutting agents in whole blood utilizing LC-MS/MS (Revathi and Katherine).  Special congratulations to Sarah and Paige for winning 2nd place prize award for the Student and Early Professional Poster!

Chemistry students recognized for outstanding achievement

Congratulations to all of our award winners who were recognized at the College of the Sciences and Mathematics Awards Ceremony.

The Philadelphia Section, American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholastic Achievement Award and the ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry: Paige Ickes

The Philadelphia Section, ACS Scholastic Achievement Award: Jordan Kautzsch

American Institute of Chemists (AIC) Award – Chemistry: Christopher Brunozzi

AIC Award – Biochemistry: Megan St. Jean

AIC Award – Biochemistry: Jillian Snyder

AIC Award – Biochemistry: Lisa Travis

The Reid-Fenton Award for Forensic & Toxicological Chemistry: Revathi Variar and Caitlynn Szarko

Chemistry Minor Award: Sean Donovan and Abigail Edelman

ACS  Award in Organic Chemistry: Samuel Miller

ACS Award in Physical Chemistry: Katherine Drummond

ACS  Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Jacob Gallahan

Dr. Kolasinski's investigation of using waste plastics as a feedstock for supercapacitors makes the cover of Surfaces

In collaboration with engineers at Widener University, porous carbon derived from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste was synthesized via carbonization and chemical activation and subsequently combined with manganese dioxide (MnO₂) to fabricate hybrid electrodes for aqueous supercapacitors. The work was published in the journal Surfaces and used the facilities of the CMIRT for materials characterization.

Chemistry Seminar

Dr. Stefan Bernhard of Carnegie Mellon University will speak about "Using Chemistry to Accelerate Renewable Energy Solutions", April 17th at 5 PM in SCL 151.

Investigating Molecular Layer Deposition to improve performance of Si/graphite composite anodes

Juliana Hetzel's long hours as an undergraduate in Dr. Kolasinski's lab optimizing metal assisted catalytic etching (MACE) of porous silicon have resulted in a study that was published in Materials Advances titled "Stabilization of Nanoporous Si/Graphite Composite Anodes by Ultrathin Titanicone Coatings." This work was the product of a years long collaboration with groups from Brno University of Technology, University of Pardubice, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brno (all in Czechia), and CIC NanoGUNE and the Basque Foundation for Science in Spain to produce and characterize lithium ion batteries. The work aims to improve the capacity and cyclability of these rechargeable batteries by improving their anode chemistry.

Dr. Kwiatkowski and group present at ASCB/EMBO Cell Bio 25

Biochemistry students Jillian Snyder, Cole Stefencavage, and Daniel Ford from Dr. Kwiatkowski’s lab presented their research projects at one of the world’s largest international conferences in cell biology, the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) meeting.

Strange Outbreak of Alchemy on Halloween

The Periodic Table of the Elements remains the same but looking closely at the faculty, the usual laws of chemistry appear to take a turn toward the Alchemists.

Student Presentations at Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS)

Katherine Hayner (WCU student) present results with co-authors Revathi Variar (WCU student), Lisa Mundy (Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office), and Dr. Constantinos Pistos (WCU) at the 51st Annual Meeting of Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, in Lancaster, PA. The title of the oral presentation was “Method development for the determination of Fentanyl and its cutting agents in whole blood using LC-MS/MS.”

 
Dr. Starn publishes the results of a field project in the Arctic

Given the rapid pace of physical and chemical changes occurring in the Arctic, and the critical yet insufficiently understood roles of atmospheric turbulence, chemistry, and aerosol cloud feedbacks, the CHACHA project aimed to enhance understanding of the processes governing vertical variability of halogens and aerosols and, in turn, improve predictive capabilities for the Arctic’s physical and chemical state, both now and in the future. This article, which can be found at this link, describes a field project designed to investigate impacts of Arctic sea ice leads and emissions from oil and gas extraction on air chemistry and cloud microphysical properties.

Radical Surface Chemistry: Dr Kolasinski's review article on the chemistry of interfacial water makes the cover of Surface Science Reports

This review published in Surface Science Reports explores the unexpected chemistry associated with ambient temperature aqueous interfaces much of which is mediated not only by ions and neutrals as expected, but also radical species. Water microdroplets catalyze numerous reactions and can also support simultaneous oxidation and reduction reactions through the production of reactive intermediates that owe their existence to the unique influence of the air/water or oil/water interface. Interfacial water influences and is influenced by the ubiquitous phenomenon of contact electrification, a manifestation of spontaneous symmetry breaking. The mechanisms of chemistry not only on and in microdroplets but also at the gas/solid and liquid/solid interfaces rely on a broad set of chemical transformations mediated by radicals. Furthermore, because aqueous macro- and micro-interfaces are ubiquitous on Earth, we find that water radical-mediated chemistry has applications to atmospheric chemistry, geochemistry, mineral weathering, pre-biotic chemistry, enhanced enzyme performance, wastewater remediation, public health, mechanochemistry, and potentially novel routes to pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Starn published new results in atmospheric chemistry

Collaborating with researchers from several institutions, Dr. Tim Starn has studied the release of greenhouse gases from the Prudehome Bay Oil Field in Alaska. Many recent US studies have shown that emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas with 83 times the short-term warming impact of carbon dioxide, from oil and gas production regions are significantly underestimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Prudhoe Bay Oil Field is one of the 10 largest oil fields in the US with only one recent study reporting on its emissions. The Arctic produces 5.5% of global oil and gas with significant potential for growth, but many Arctic sites are poorly studied or inaccessible to scientists. We present measured emission rates of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides from the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field in the spring of 2022. Nitrogen oxides are a combustion byproduct that are respiratory irritants and precursors to ozone and particulate matter, both “criteria” pollutants regulated by the U.S. Clean Air Act. The nitrogen oxides can impact the chemistry and composition of the atmosphere. Unlike previous works in other U.S. states, our results show good agreement with EPA estimates for the greenhouse gases. Our results provide an important snapshot as Alaska begins significantly expanding its oil production and starts exporting natural gas for the first time.

PPD Seminar

Dr. Keith Hornberger, Vice President of Chemistry at Arvinas, will provide a presentation on exciting research advances in the relatively new area of PROTAC research and development titled, "PROTAC Protein Degraders:  Past, Present, and Future." This seminar will be held in SCL 151 from 6:00-7:15 PM on Wednesday, October 2. Snacks and a meet and greet with the speaker will be 5:40-6:00 PM.  Career opportunities for science majors (especially PPD, Chemistry and Biology based majors) will also be discussed.

Arvinas is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases through the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies that degrade disease-causing proteins. Arvinas uses its proprietary PROTAC® Discovery Engine platform to engineer proteolysis targeting chimeras, or PROTAC® targeted protein degraders, that are designed to harness the body’s own natural protein disposal system to selectively and efficiently degrade and remove disease-causing proteins. 

Student research featured in the Quad

Electrocatalysts and the Future of Fuel is the area of research that Jake Gallahan, a WCU chemistry major is pursuing in Dr. Danielle Chirdon's lab. The research has been featured in an article written for the Quad by WCU chemistry major Gabrielle Joyce. Funded by the Jean Dreyfus Lectureship Grant, the pair are investigating the use of molybdenum complexes to generate hydrogen gas by electrocatalytically splitting water.