Past Seminars & Events

Graduate students and postdoctoral associates will present 15 minute presentations on an area of their research. Click on the event to see the full flash talk schedule.

Dr. Niki Patel

Associate Principal Scientist, Process Research and Development

Merck & Co.

Abstract

A Collaborative Total Synthesis of Darobactin A

Antibiotics with novel mechanisms are needed to address the growing problem of resistance. Only a few classes of antibiotics show activity against gram-negative bacteria, which contain an outer membrane that restricts unwanted compounds. Darobactin A is a recently discovered, ribosomally synthesized macrocyclic peptide natural product isolated from Photorhabdus that exhibits gram- negative antibiotic activity. Given the noteworthy structure of this macrocyclic peptide, we were interested in conducting a study into the synthesis of this molecule; however, unlike other cyclic peptide natural products, darobactin A contains an elaborate and strained bicyclic architecture, making it challenging to access. As a result, our highly collaborative team from Merck and the Sarlah lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have completed the total synthesis of this complex molecule utilizing an innovative synthetic strategy, leveraged a halogen-selective Larock protocol that and was useful in generating milligram quantities of darobactin A.

Niki Patel

Niki Patel grew up in Philadelphia, PA. She conducted her undergraduate studies at Temple University, earning a B.S. in Chemistry in 2010. Following graduation, she went on to perform her doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Robert Flowers at Lehigh University. In 2015, Niki moved to the University of Pennsylvania as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Professor Gary Molander. Niki has been with Merck for 6 years with roles in Process Chemistry and Discovery Process Chemistry.

Professor Squire Booker

Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology

Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science

The Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

A Radical Solution for C(sp³)–C(sp³) Bond Formation during the Biosynthesis of Macrocyclic Membrane Lipids

Archaea synthesize isoprenoid-based ether-linked membrane lipids, which enable them to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high salinity, and low or high pH values. In some archaea, such as Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, these lipids are further modified by forming carbon–carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails within one glycerophospholipid to generate the macrocyclic archaeol or forming two carbon–carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails from two glycerophospholipids to generate the macrocycle glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT). GDGT contains two 40-carbon lipid chains (biphytanyl chains) that span both leaflets of the membrane, providing enhanced stability to extreme conditions. How these specialized lipids are formed has puzzled scientists for decades. The reaction necessitates coupling two completely inert sp³-hybridized carbon centers, which has not been observed in nature. Here we use X-ray crystallography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, chemical synthesis, and biochemical analyses to show that the gene product of mj0619 from M. jannaschii, which encodes a radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme, is responsible for biphytanyl chain formation during synthesis of both the macrocyclic archaeol and GDGT membrane lipids.

Squire Booker

Professor Squire J. Booker is an Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science at Pennsylvania State University. He is also an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received a B.A. degree in chemistry from Austin College in 1987 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994, where he was supervised by Prof. JoAnne Stubbe. He received and NSF-NATO postdoctoral fellowship to study at the Université René Descartes in Paris, France under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Mansuy, and then an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to study at the Institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin under the supervision of Prof. Perry Frey. He joined the faculty at Penn State in 1999, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2005, Professor in 2013, Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science in 2017, and Evan Pugh Professor in 2018.  Booker’s research focuses on the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis, with a particular interest in the methylation or sulfidation of unactivated carbon centers, and the use of S-adenosylmethionine and iron-sulfur clusters in enzyme catalysis.

 Dr. John Gleason

Senior Scientist, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply

Merck & Co.

Abstract

Body diversity in STEM - Talking about the fat elephant in the room

TED-style talks within Merck’s Development Sciences and Clinical Supplies (DSCS) organization have enabled diverse cohorts of colleagues to share their personal stories and perspectives. They represent one of the three key pillars we have identified to develop a sustainable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion culture in DSCS, that is: Retain and foster an inclusive workforce through building a growth mindset at all levels of the organization. Dr. Gleeson’s TED-style talk “Body diversity in STEM - Talking about the fat elephant in the room” discusses his journey in academia and industry as a scientist who doesn’t fit the preconceived notion of a professional scientist. During this session the goal is to step into discomfort and address the unconscious biases present in STEM to allow us to build more diverse and inclusive teams where belonging is the foundation.

Dr. John Gleeson

Dr. John Gleeson is a Senior Scientist in Biopharmaceutics at Merck & Co., Inc., where he supports the development of oral drug formulations and leads research in predictive in vitro intestinal absorption models. Dr. Gleeson earned his PhD from University College Dublin under Prof David Brayden in Pharmaceutics and carried out Postdoctoral research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Carnegie Mellon University under Prof Kathryn Whitehead. Dr. Gleeson has authored/co-authored 20 research articles, and co-leads the Inclusion team in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply at Merck.

Professor Squire Booker

Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology

Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science

The Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

Mentoring Matters: An Unexpected Journey Launched in Southeast Texas

The percentage of underrepresented professors of color in STEM disciplines, particularly African Americans, remains abysmally low. This lecture will focus on my career trajectory from growing up in Beaumont, TX, to becoming the first Black professor in the chemistry department at The Pennsylvania State University. I will discuss how mentoring and seizing opportunities were crucial to my success. Moreover, I will discuss diversity-related work, how metals, radicals, and enzymes shaped my love for science, and how new initiatives are leading to positive changes in hiring diverse STEM faculty and mentoring the next generation.

Squire Booker

Professor Squire J. Booker is an Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science at Pennsylvania State University. He is also an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received a B.A. degree in chemistry from Austin College in 1987 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994, where he was supervised by Prof. JoAnne Stubbe. He received and NSF-NATO postdoctoral fellowship to study at the Université René Descartes in Paris, France under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Mansuy, and then an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to study at the Institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin under the supervision of Prof. Perry Frey. He joined the faculty at Penn State in 1999, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2005, Professor in 2013, Eberly Family Distinguished Chair in Science in 2017, and Evan Pugh Professor in 2018.  Booker’s research focuses on the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis, with a particular interest in the methylation or sulfidation of unactivated carbon centers, and the use of S-adenosylmethionine and iron-sulfur clusters in enzyme catalysis.

The Department of Chemistry celebrates the third annual Jeannette Brown Lectureship, co-sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc.

See the full event schedule here.