College of Science » Chemistry-Seminars

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Juan Del Valle, Notre Dame

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Mimicry and modulation of neurodegenerative protein misfolds
by Juan Del Valle, Notre Dame

Abstract: The pathologic phenotype of several neurodegenerative disorders is the presence of amyloid deposits in the brain. Filaments composed of b-sheet protein assemblies can spread in a prion-like fashion, templating the conformation-specific misfolding of soluble monomers. In principle, modulating amyloidogenic protein-protein interactions is possible through mimicry of aggregation-prone β-strands. However, the design of stable and soluble β-sheet peptides remains a considerable challenge, where progress lags far behind α-helix and turn/loop mimicry. Here, we describe efforts toward backbone oxidized peptides and sidechain stapled macrocycles that potentiate the form and function of tau folds associated with disease. The impact of specific chemical modifications on b-strand, sheet, and arch stability was first investigated using models of protein folding. We then applied these constraints to minimalist tau epitopes in pursuit of inhibitors and inducers of propagation. These studies inform the rational design of b-sheet interaction disruptors and pave the way toward more relevant models of neurodegenerative protein aggregation.

Bio: Juan Del Valle earned a B.S. in chemistry from Carleton College in 1999 and a Ph.D. from UC San Diego in 2004. After postdoctoral studies at the University of Montreal, he began his independent career at New Mexico State University and moved to the Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida in 2009. In 2019, Juan joined the University of Notre Dame, where he is currently the Warren Family Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Juan’s research program lies at the interface of organic synthesis and chemical biology, with particular interests in protein mimicry, peptide natural products, and modulators of proteostasis.

Host: Andrew Roberts

Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ryan Julian, UC Riverside

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

The microtubule nexus linking amyloid beta and tau: A simple and unifying theory for the underlying cause of Alzheimer's Disease
with Ryan Julian, UC Riverside

Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by cognitive decline in conjunction with accumulation of aggregated amyloid β (Aβ) and tau, yet existing models of AD fail to provide a simple connection between Aβ and tau. Similarly, our recent research into the isomerization of tau identified a striking correlation with cognitive decline, but only for AD and not other related forms of neurodegeneration and with no direct connection to Aβ. These results forced us to reconsider how these interactors might be connected. The initial key involved recognition that the microtubule binding domains of tau share high homology with Aβ, suggesting that Aβ could potentially serve as a tau mimic and impede the binding of tau to microtubules. Subsequent investigations using fluorescence polarization revealed that indeed Aβ binds to microtubules, and with an affinity similar to that of tau itself. This realization opens a new door wherein competitive displacement of tau from microtubules serves a the primary underlying cause of AD rather than aggregation of Aβ. Many of the apparent contradictions that have been observed between AD pathology and previous mechanistic theories can be reconciled by this new disease model. In addition, a wealth of existing literature strongly supports the microtubule nexus theory

Host: Gabe Nagy

Materials/Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Frank Leibfarth, UNC

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Controlling Reactivity and Selectivity for the Discovery of Sustainable Thermoplastics
by Frank Leibfarth, UNC

Abstract: Plastics are the largest synthetic consumer product in the world, with an annual production of over 360 million metric tons annually. Despite the structural diversity enabled by modern advances in polymer synthesis, greater than 60% of world plastic production remains dominated by polyolefins. These high-volume, low-cost engineering thermoplastics are made from a small sub-set of petroleum derived monomers and demonstrate diverse thermomechanical properties, attractive chemical resistance, and excellent processability. Creating sustainable materials that compete with the performance and value proposition of polyolefinsis a grand challenge for the field of polymer science. The goal of research in the Leibfarth group is to control develop synthetic methods that transform readily available starting materials into functional and sustainable thermoplastics with molecular-level precision. This goal informs our two complementary approaches that seek to 1) leverage chemo-and regioselective C-H functionalization of polyolefins to enhance the properties of these venerable materials and 2) develop stereoselective polymerization methods that engender emergent polymer properties from simple chemical building blocks. These concepts have resulted in platform synthetic methods that enhance the thermomechanical, adhesion, and transport properties of polymeric materials while also uncovering mechanistic insights that broadly inform synthetic method development. 

Host: Jacob Lessard

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Zachary Wickens, University of Wisconsin-Madison

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Selective synthesis with light and electricityby Zachary Wickens, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract: This seminar will describe our investigations into how organic radical ions–typically thought of as fleeting intermediates–can be tamed and exploited as a new family of organocatalysts and small molecule reagents. We identified selective generation of such species as a key hurdle stymying development of these systems. To address this problem, we have leveraged electrochemistry and photochemistry to develop new synthetic transformations driven by organic radical ions. Electrochemistry offers not only an environmentally benign approach to promote redox events but also substantially simplifies the study of these unusual systems by enabling the exclusion of byproducts from oxidation or reductive generation of the key radical ion promoters. This seminar will describe multiple new platforms for synthetic reaction development that leverage electrochemically and photochemically generated organic radical ions.

Host: Qilei Zhu

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Joey Cotruvo, Penn State University

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Unearthing the lanthanome for rare-earth separations
by Joey Cotruvo, Penn State University

Abstract: Rare earth elements - comprising the lanthanides, yttrium, and scandium - are considered by the U.S. government to be especially critical minerals for technology and national security, in part because they are among the most difficult metals to separate and purify from one another. An essential biological role of lanthanides has been appreciated for just 15 years, since the discovery that certain lanthanides are specifically incorporated into the methanol dehydrogenase enzymes of ubiquitous bacteria called methylotrophs. In this talk, I will describe my group's efforts to understand how these bacteria selectively uptake, sort and traffic lanthanides. I will also show how we have leveraged this understanding to develop biomolecular technologies for recovery and separation of lanthanides, which are being explored commercially to help ensure a sustainable supply of these critical metals. 

Host: Valerie Pierre
 

Distinguished Alumni Seminar at the University of Utah
with Hyung Kyu Shin and Michael Hunnicutt

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Hyung Kyu Shin

Abstract: TBA

Bio: Hyung Kyu Shin is Professor Emeritus in the Chemistry Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. His research interests include the theory of molecular collisions, including the dynamics of gas-surface reactions, collision-induced intramolecular energy flow and bond dissociation in large molecules, and vibrational relaxation of matrix-isolated guest molecules.  
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 and his Ph.D. in 1961 from the University of Utah (working with J. Calvin Giddings). He held postdoctoral appointments at the National Bureau of Standards and Cornell University before joining the faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1965.
During his time at UNR, Dr. Shin served twice as Chair of the Chemistry Department. He was recognized as the university's first Outstanding Researcher of the Year in 1975 and was named University Foundation Professor in 1984, and the Alan Bible Award for Excellence in Teaching, the first in 1986 and then again in 2000. In 2003, he received the University’s highest honor, the University Distinguished Faculty Award, which honors the broad and lasting achievements of a single faculty member. Dr. Shin has published over 210 paper in chemistry and physics journals. Even after his formal retirement in 2000, he continues doing theoretical research, publishing his most recent work in December of last year.

Bio Michael Hunnicutt: Michael Hunnicutt is presently Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He holds a B.S. (1980) and Ph.D. (1984) in Chemistry from Duke University, where he worked with Charlie Lochmüller, following which he was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Faculty Intern at the University of Utah with Joel Harris. Dr. Hunnicutt began his career in industry at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati in 1986, where he rose through the ranks to become Section Head of Health Care Research Analytical. In 1996, he moved into the pharmaceutical field at Wyeth in Richmond, VA, where he eventually became Assistant Vice President for Global Quality Analytical Development. When Pfizer acquired Wyeth in 2009, he became Assistant Vice President for Analytical Sciences, Scientific and Laboratory Services.
Dr. Hunnicutt left the industry in 2011, joining the chemistry faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he taught Instrumental and Quantitative Analysis Laboratories and served as Undergraduate Research Advisor. He directed the research of numerous Independent Study students and supervised over 100 Instrumental Analysis Research Projects by students in his capstone lab course. Dr. Hunnicutt retired from teaching in 2022; he has continued contributing to higher education through his service to Duke University as a member of their Global Alumni Board of Directors. Michael and his wife, Sally, have two sons, Patrick and Nathan, and they enjoy hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and running.

Distinguished Alumni Seminar at the University of Utah
with Sally Hunnicutt, Professor of Chemistry Emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

POGIL-PCL: Workshops and experiments to support teaching and learning in the physical chemistry laboratoryby Sally Hunnicutt, Professor of Chemistry Emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)Abstract: POGIL-PCL, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning for the Physical Chemistry Laboratory, represents a community of instructors involved in the development and implementation of experiments for this course. The POGIL-PCL community was built on the emergence of experiments using guided inquiry principles; the experiments emphasize modeling of macroscopic and microscopic chemical phenomena, student design and refinement of experimental protocols, and data pooling to uncover physical chemistry principles. The POGIL-PCL experiment model was developed at workshops that create and support a community of experiment authors and adopters. Both in-person workshops and their online counterparts provide the experience of doing an experiment including teamwork, experiment design, and data analysis. The experiment model continues to evolve as faculty inject new ideas, in particular the incorporation of scientific practices as specific learning goals. The experiment What are the kinetic parameters of a heterogeneous reaction? will be described in detail to illustrate both aspects of POGIL-PCL: the community and the experiments.

Bio Sally Hunnicutt: Sally Hunnicutt is Professor of Chemistry Emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), who also served as the Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs in Sciences and Mathematics within the College of Humanities and Sciences. She retired from VCU in 2024 after 27 years of service.  Dr. Hunnicutt earned her B.A. in Chemistry and Science Education from Duke University in 1983, her M.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Utah in 1986 (with Charles Wight), and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1990.
Dr. Hunnicutt’s research focused on chemical education, particularly the creation, implementation, and impact of guided inquiry learning in various classroom settings. A significant part of her work involved POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning), and she was instrumental in the POGIL-PCL (Physical Chemistry Laboratory) project, developing new experiments collaboratively with faculty nationwide.
Throughout her career at VCU, Dr. Hunnicutt was recognized for her dedication to teaching excellence. She received the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences Teaching Award in 2012 and the VCU University Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015. She also served as Associate Chair in the Department of Chemistry. Her commitment extended to faculty development and curriculum design, leaving a lasting impact on the university. Dr. Hunnicutt also played a vital role in the conception and development of VCU's new STEM Building, which includes the Sally Hunnicutt Science Hub, named in her honor.   She and her husband, Michael, have two sons, Patrick and Nathan, and they enjoy hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and running.

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Allison Walker, Vanderbilt University

In-person seminar
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Machine learning strategies for natural product discovery and biosynthesis
by Allison Walker, Vanderbilt University 

Abstract: Natural products play an important role in drug discovery. However, they are often discovered serendipitously and there is a lack of tools that enable prioritization of organisms that are likely to produce active and structurally novel compounds. In addition, natural products often need to be modified in order to be developed as therapeutics, but total synthesis of natural products is challenging. My lab aims to develop AI-guided genome mining techniques to enable the discovery of natural products with therapeutically-relevant bioactivities and the engineering of biosynthetic machinery to produce new natural product-like compounds. In this presentation, I will discuss my group’s recent progress in these areas.

Biography: Allison Walker, Ph.D. completed her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Brown University, working in the research lab of Professor Sarah Delaney. She then completed her PhD at Yale University in Professor Alanna Schepartz’s lab. Allison then completed a postdoc at Harvard Medical School in Professor Jon Clardy’s lab before starting her independent career. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. Her lab’s research focuses on developing AI and other computational methods for natural product discovery, engineering of biosynthetic pathways, and design of peptide therapeutics and is currently supported by an R35 from the NIH and a Cottrell Scholar Award from RCSA.

Host: Aaron Puri

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Scott Anderson, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Scott Anderson, University of Utah

Abstract: TBA
 

Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Martin Kirk, University of New Mexico

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Photogenerated Molecular Spin Qubits, Spin Polarization, and Relaxation
by Martin Kirk, University of New Mexico

Abstract: Excited state interactions in spin containing Donor-Acceptor and Donor-Bridge-Acceptor systems are important for understanding the impact of electronic coupling (Hab) in molecular electronics and how magnetic exchange interactions affect excited state processes. Our efforts have focused on determining excited state contributions to molecular bridge mediated electronic coupling, understanding how open-shell excited state singlet configurations promote long-range electron correlation, and developing new platforms for spin control of excited state dynamics in photoexcited donor-acceptor molecules. These new systems are also relevant to the emerging molecular quantum information science field, allowing for the optical generation and manipulation of spin qubits. In this seminar, we will focus on radical elaborated spin-bearing Pt Donor-Acceptor and Donor-Bridge-Acceptor ligand-to-ligand charge transfer complexes, which have been used to control spin-dependent ground and excited state processes that include non-radiative lifetimes,[1] magnetooptical activity,[2] and ground state electron spin polarization.[3,4] These molecules represent a new class of chromophore that can be photoexcited with visible light to produce an initial exchange-coupled, multi-spin, open-shell excited state. Following photoexcitation, this excited state rapidly decays to the ground state by magnetic exchange-mediated enhanced intersystem crossing. This process also generates excited state electron spin polarization and ground state spin polarization of the pendent radicals to enable synthetic control over the sign, magnitude, and nature of the this polarization. We also present results that test theoretical hypotheses as they relate to how excited state pairwise superexchange interactions and energy transfer processes control the optical generation and manipulation of molecular spin qubits,[3,4,5-7] including ground state spin relaxation processes in exchange coupled biradical systems.

Bio: Martin L. Kirk is Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at The University of New Mexico. His research program focuses on (1) spectroscopic, synthetic, biochemical, and computational studies of pyranopterin molybdenum enzymes and models, (2) detailed magnetic, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies of spin containing molecular systems in the context of molecular electronics, and (3) optical generation of multiple spin qubits for quantum information science (QIS) applications. He has been a Research Fellow (7/03-1/04) at the Glenn T. Seaborg Institute at Los Alamos National Laboratories during a sabbatical leave and was Humphrey Symposium Lecturer at the University of Vermont, PROTRAIN Lecturer at Braunschweig Technical University (Germany), and the Highlands in Chemistry Lecturer at Virginia Tech. He was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow (1990-1993, Stanford University) with E. I. Solomon, completed his Ph.D. in 1990 at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with W. E. Hatfield, and obtained his B.S. in 1985 at West Virginia University performing undergraduate research with Naresh Dalal. He was guest Editor (with Prof. D. A. Shultz) for Molecular Spintronics: a web themed issue of Chemical Communications and an Editor of Molybdenum and Tungsten Enzymes; a three volume Metallobiology Series sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Prof. Kirk has served on the Editorial Board of Inorganic Chemistry, was a prior ACS Inorganic Division Chair of the Bioinorganic Subdivision, and a Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Molybdenum and Tungsten Enzymes. He was a former Chair of UNM’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Prof. Kirk is currently a member of UNM’s Center for High Technology Materials, Center for Computational Chemistry, and Center for Quantum Information and Control.

Host: Ming Lee Tang

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Patricia Musacchio, University of Buffalo

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Title: TBA
by Patricia Musacchio, University of Buffalo

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Xiaoyang Zhu, Columbia University 

In-person seminar
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Title: TBA
by Xiaoyang Zhu, Columbia University 

Host: Connor Bischak

Special Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ming Lee Tang, University of Utah

4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Ming Lee Tang, University of Utah

Abstract: TBA

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Eric Alexanian, UNC Chapel Hill

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Title: TBA
by Eric Alexanian, UNC Chapel Hill

Abstract: TBA

Host: Qilei Zhu

Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Tom Linz, Wayne State University

Title: TBA
by Tom Linz, Wayne State University

Abstract: TBA

Host: Long Luo

Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Barry Thompson, USC

TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)

Title: TBA
by Barry Thompson, USC

Abstract: TBA

Host: Connor Bischak

Biological Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Danzhou Yang, Purdue

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Danzhou Yang, Purdue

Abstract: TBA

Host: Cynthia Burrows