Julia Widom
Author: Leah O'Brien
Dissertation Defense – Arman Garcia, July 11th
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Upcoming Thesis Defense
Arman Garcia
Pluth Lab
Thursday, July 11, 2024
2:00pm in 220 Deschutes and via ZOOM
The title of his thesis is “New Methods for Elemental Sulfur Activation in Water: Development of Hydrophobic Systems for Sulfane Sulfur Utilization”
Up next: Arman will start a post doc position at UC Riverside with Dr. Richard Hooley
Dissertation Defense – Kaylin Fosnacht, July 10th
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Upcoming Thesis Defense
Kaylin Fosnacht
Pluth Lab
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
2:00 pm in 220 Deschutes and via ZOOM
The title of her thesis is “Advancing the Chemical Understanding of Hydrogen Sulfide and Related Reactive Sulfur Species with Small Molecule Tools for Delivery and Sensing“
Spotted Online – UO Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni
Gilbert B. Lee, MD, BA Class of 1972, selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who.
Sam Prakel, BS Class of 2018, training for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track & Field (June 21-30, 2024 at the University of Oregon).
John Baldwin, in memoriam, professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, 1968-1984.
A mother’s story fuels a lifelong career in women’s health – Catching up with alum Ann Oluloro, BS ’12
Biochemistry doctoral student Justin Svendsen’s start-up project a finalist in LCB’s Oregon Innovation Challenge
Organic/Inorganic/Materials Seminar – La’Shaye Cobley, June 7th
Organic-Inorganic-Materials Chemistry Seminar Series
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. La’Shaye Cobley, California Air Resources Board
Friday, June 7th, 2024
3:00pm, Willamette 110 via Zoom
Hosted by the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering (ADSE)
Navigating the Impacts of Human Activity on the Environment
Dr. Cobley is very passionate about public health, the environment, and mentoring diverse students in STEM. She received her PhD in Biology from the University of Utah and her BA in Biology and Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. During her graduate studies, Dr. Cobley used the leaf chemistries of urban plants to tell stories about air pollution in cities. Her research led her to pursue a career in science policy and she is currently a Staff Air Pollution Specialist at the California Air Resources Board. Dr. Cobley is also a board member of the nonprofit ADDSTEAM. In addition to talking about her dissertation research, Dr. Cobley will discuss various topics such as working in science policy, navigating STEM as a person of color, and how to smoothly changing career paths.
Catching up with Prof. William D. Brewer, Class of ’65
Alum William D. Brewer, BA Chemistry 1965, shares that since his last update to UO Chemistry and Biochemistry news he has published two books, both scientific biographies: the first on the life of Brazilian physicist Jayme Tiomno: A Life for Science, a Life for Brazil (2020, with Alfredo Tolmasquim) and the second on mathematical genius Kurt Gödel: The Genius of Metamathematics (2022, German edition 2024).
Brewer currently works transcribing and translating Albert Einstein’s papers for the Einstein Papers Project, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
Physical Chemistry Seminar – John Hardwick, June 3rd
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Physical Chemistry Seminar Series
Professor John Hardwick, University of Oregon
Monday, June 3, 2024—2:00pm
Tykeson 140
Hosted by: Jeff Cina
Electron detachment in the infrared: the spectrum and structure of HNO– in the infrared
Over the past few decades, the importance of ions in both common and exotic chemical processes has become obvious. The chemistry of flames, atmospheres, and astronomical objects all involve ion-molecule and ion-ion reactions, some of which are critical in understanding the complex reaction kinetics in those systems. In many such environments, the best way of observing the abundance of molecular ions is high resolution spectroscopy.
The spectra of positive ions are often observed in emission or absorption in laboratory discharges, since positive ions can survive in high temperature environments. Negative ions, on the other hand, often will detach an electron under moderate thermal conditions, since molecular electron affinities are rarely above 1 or 2 electron volts. Rotationally resolved spectra of molecular anions are, as a result, relatively rare.
The HNO– ion is known to have an electron detachment energy of 0.338 eV (about 2776 cm–1). We have recorded the rotationally resolved vibrational spectra of H14NO– and H15NO– near 3000 cm–1. The rotational analysis indicates that the origin of the vibrational band is only about 20 cm–1 above this limit. The analysis requires a determination of the geometry that can be compared with previous experimental and computational studies.
Dissertation Defense – Yang Zhao, May 31st
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Upcoming Thesis Defense
Yang Zhao
Boettcher Lab
Friday, May 31, 2024
10:00 am via ZOOM
contact Chemistry and Biochemistry office for Zoom Link
The title of her thesis is “Fundamentals of Electrochemical Interfaces: Insights into Electrodes, Electrolytes, and Ion Transfer Kinetics”
Up next: Yang will start a postdoc position at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory