Upcoming Seminars & Events

Corinna Schindler
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University of British Columbia, Vancouver

2024 Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry: Corinna Schindler

Corinna was born and raised in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany. As an undergraduate at the Technical University of Munich, she worked in the area of organometallic chemistry. Upon completion of her Diploma Thesis at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla in the laboratory of K.C. Nicolaou, she joined the research group of Erick M. Carreira at the ETH Zurich in Switzerland for her graduate studies. During her time in the Carreira group Corinna worked on developing novel synthetic methodologies as well as successful synthetic strategies to access Banyaside A and Microcin SF608. For her postdoctoral studies, Corinna joined the laboratory of Eric N. Jacobsen at Harvard University as a Feodor Lynen Postdoctoral Fellow to work in the field of asymmetric catalysis.

Talk 1: Tuesday, October 15th, 9:45 - 11:15 am, 331 Smith Hall
Talk 2: Wednesday, October 16th, 4 - 5 pm, 331 Smith Hall
A reception at the Campus Club will follow the lecture, from 5 - 7 pm. All are welcome!
Talk 3: Thursday, October 17th, 9:45 - 11:15 am, 331 Smith Hall

Hosted by Professor Courtney Roberts

Professor Yeala Shaked
Hebrew University & Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences
Abstract

Dust as a nutrient source to the N₂-fixing marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium

Desert dust is an important source of macro- and micronutrients in remote ocean regions, but its utilization by phytoplankton is constrained by rapid sinking and low mineral solubility. In this talk, I’ll present several interdisciplinary studies showing that natural colonies of the globally significant cyanobacterium Trichodesmium overcome these constraints by efficient dust capturing and active dust dissolution.

Studying natural Trichodesmium colonies from the Northern Red Sea, we discovered several unique adaptive mechanisms for capturing and storing dust particles within the colony core that enable efficient utilization of iron (Fe) and from dust [1-11]. We showed that dust packaging within the colony core is beneficial for uptake since cell-particle proximity minimizes iron loss by diffusion [4,7], and that Trichodesmium can selectively collect and retain Fe-rich dust particles, thus optimizing Fe supply [6,9]. We discovered that Trichodesmium and its associated bacteria act together to increase the availability of dust-bound iron, where bacteria secrete Fe-binding molecules that promote dust dissolution, and Trichodesmium provides dust and optimal physical settings for dissolution and uptake [2-5, 11]. Over the last years, we expanded our research to phosphorus [9] and added new disciplines and techniques such as molecular biology, organic chemistry, high-resolution imaging, and micro-electrodes [3,7,10].

Trichodesmium is predicted to flourish in the warmer, more acidic and “dustier” future ocean. The mechanistic understanding gained by our research on its ability to utilize dust as a nutrient source will enhance our capacity for predicting the ocean’s operation modes in face of global change, and hence its impact on the atmosphere and climate.

References:

1. Rubin, M., Berman-Frank, I., and Y. Shaked. 2011. Dust- and mineral-iron utilization by the marine dinitrogen-fixer Trichodesmium. Nature Geosciences 4(8): 529–534.
2. Basu S and Y. Shaked. 2018. Mineral iron utilization by natural and cultured Trichodesmium and associated bacteria, Limnology and Oceanography 63: 2307-2320.
3. Eichner MJ, Basu S, Gledhill M, de Beer D, and Y Shaked. 2019. Hydrogen dynamics in Trichodesmium colonies and their potential role in mineral iron acquisition. Frontiers in Microbiology. 10(1565).
4. Basu S, Gledhill M, de Beer D. Matondkar S.G and Y. Shaked. 2019. Colonies of marine cyanobacteria Trichodesmium interact with associated bacteria to acquire iron from dust, Communication Biology 2(1), 1-8.
5. Gledhill M, Basu S, and Y Shaked. 2019. Metallophores associated with Trichodesmium erythraeum colonies from the Gulf of Aqaba, Metalomics. 11(9), 1547-1557.
6. Kessler N, Armoza-Zvuloni R, Basu S, Wang S, Weber PK, Stuart RK, and Y. Shaked. 2020. Selective collection of iron-rich dust particles by natural Trichodesmium colonies, The ISME Journal.  14(1):91-103.
7. Eichner MJ, Basu S, Wang S, de Beer D, and Y Shaked. 2020. Mineral iron dissolution in Trichodesmium colonies: The role of O 2 and pH microenvironments. Limnology and Oceanography. 65(6), 1149-1160.
8. Kessler N, Kraemer SM, Shaked Y and W. DC Schenkeveld. 2020. Investigation of siderophore-promoted and reductive dissolution of dust in marine microenvironments such as Trichodesmium colonies. Frontiers Marine Sciences.  
9. Wang S, Kessler N, Koedooder C, Zhang F, Shi D and Shaked Y. 2021. Colonies of the marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium optimize dust utilization by selective collection and retention of nutrient-rich particles. iScience, 103587
10. Koedooder C, Zhang F, Wang S, Basu S, Haley ST, Tolic N, Nicora CD, Glavina del Rio T, Dyhrman ST, Gledhill M, Boiteau RM, Rubin-Blum M, and Y Shaked.  2023.  Taxonomic distribution of metabolic functions in bacteria associated with Trichodesmium consortia.  mSystems. 2023 Nov 2:e0074223.
11. Wang S, Zhang F, Koedooder C, Qafoku O, Basu S, Krisch S, Visser AN, Eichner M, Kessler N, Boiteau RM, Gledhill M, and Y. Shaked. 2024. Costs of Dust Collection by Trichodesmium: Effect on Buoyancy and Toxic Metal Release. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.

Yeala Shaked

Prof. Yeala Shaked is a marine biogeochemist from the Hebrew university of Jerusalem, Israel. Her laboratory is located on the magnificent Red Sea coast at the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat. She studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, emphasizing trace metal redox transformations and bioavailability to phytoplankton. She is intrigued by the fact that microorganisms, striving to acquire nutrients and protect themselves from external stressors, actively modify their chemical milieu and, in turn, influence the biogeochemical cycles of trace and major elements in the ocean. She loves the ocean and tries to connect people through science and environmental awareness.

Hosted by Professor Rene Boiteau

Dr. Michael A. Reynolds
Senior Principal Scientist
Shell Catalysts and Technologies, Houston, Texas
Abstract

Achieving Net Zero by Flipping for Hydrogen and Soaring on Soybeans

Delivering sustainable and decarbonized solutions to meet global energy demand will require novel approaches and new technology development. Academics, governments, and commercial entities alike are pursuing a cornucopia of technologies with a focus on providing energy security while also achieving net zero goals. Their approaches, which in many cases are collaborative, include investigating molecular energy vectors like hydrogen (green, blue, turquoise, etc), bioderived renewable feedstocks, and fuels derived from carbon dioxide. Training in areas such as materials science, chemical engineering, catalysis, chemistry, and evolving fields such as artificial intelligence/machine learning will play an important role in solving the energy transition puzzle. This presentation will discuss a few of the technological approaches that Shell is actively pursuing to answer key commercial questions in the energy transition.

Michael A. Reynolds

Dr. Michael A. Reynolds is the Senior Principal Scientist for Shell Catalysts and Technologies in Houston, Texas where he leads programs for catalyst development in conventional re ining and the energy transition. His current research interests include renewable hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and applications of crystal engineering to new materials. Prior to his current role, Dr. Reynolds spent ten years in Shell’s Shales business as Production Chemistry Lead where he supported oil ield operations in Argentina, Canada, and the Permian Basin of west Texas for hydraulic fracturing and water treatment. Since 2012, he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Rice University in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In this capacity he serves on student doctoral committees and provides lectures on special topics. He is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.S. Chemistry), Iowa State University (Ph.D.), and was a post-doctoral associate at the University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign. He enjoys tennis, traveling, and spending time on the Great Lakes with family.

Hosted by Professor Gwendolyn Bailey

Dr. Jamie McCabe Dunn
Director of Process Chemistry
Merck
Abstract

Manipulating Macrocycles: The Development Synthesis of Sugammadex (Bridion ®)

Upon the approval of Bridion® by the US FDA in 2015, there was a rapid surge in patient demand, which the original commercial synthetic route (GEN1) struggled to consistently meet. The GEN1 chemistry route encountered a 40% rate of batch failures due to the emergence of an unqualified impurity and an API crystallization process dependent on kinetic nucleation, leading to an inability to achieve the desired residual solvent specification. Beyond these challenges, the process did not align with Merck’s commitment to green and sustainable commercial processes, exhibiting inefficiency, high Product to Mass Intensity (PMI), and generating unnecessary waste through discards or reprocessing of failed batches. This prompted the initiation of a second generation (GEN2) commercial process definition team, charged with creating a robust and sustainable process to stabilize the supply chain and progress towards Merck’s environmental sustainability objectives. The GEN2 synthesis developed at Merck significantly enhanced process efficiency by increasing the overall yield by 31% and reducing the PMI of the entire process by 37%. Furthermore, the improved process and control strategy prevented the formation of the unidentified impurities and enhanced the overall purity. The implementation of the GEN2 process has achieved a 100% success rate on both development and commercial scales, receiving approval in the EU in 2021, the US in 2022, and in seven other countries to date.

Jamie McCabe Dunn

Jamie McCabe Dunn earned her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh under the guidance of Professor Kay Brummond, and subsequently held a postdoctoral position at the University of Colorado in the group of Professor Andrew Phillips. In 2009, Jamie commenced her career at Merck in Process Chemistry, and in 2017, she took on the role of Scientific Lead for Bridion®. Her work was distinguished with the prestigious Heroes of Chemistry Award for 2023 by the American Chemical Society. Currently, Jamie serves as the Director of Process Chemistry in Rahway, NJ, where she leads a dedicated team of process chemists focused on the commercial route definition for two oncology therapeutics. In addition to her significant scientific and pipeline achievements, Jamie has earned three individual ACS awards: the 2022 Rising Star Award, the 2019 Rising Star of Medicinal Chemistry, and the 2018 ACS Young Investigator Award. She also holds a position on the editorial advisory board of the journal Organic Process Research and Development and serves as a co-editor in the special issue ‘Celebrating Women in Process Chemistry.’

Hosted by Professor Thomas Hoye

Professor Matt Bush
Department of Chemistry
University of Washington
Abstract

Pushing the Boundaries of Mass Spectrometry: New Tools for Protein Structure and Stability

Proteostasis is the complex network of cellular processes that maintain the proper balance, folding, and function of proteins within cells. This seminar will focus on advanced mass spectrometry (MS) technologies that we have developed for characterizing many processes that are of critical importance to proteostasis, including the folding, misfolding, degradation, and aggregation of proteins. These technologies make use of a variety of MS-based strategies, including native MS, ion mobility MS, and structural proteomics. I’ll also discuss the implications of these technologies for understanding biological processes related to aging and disease and for developing therapeutics for challenging protein targets.

Matt Bush

Professor Matt Bush pursued his PhD with Evan Williams and Richard Saykally at the University of California, Berkeley. During that time, he used IR laser spectroscopy and FT-ICR mass spectrometry (MS) to investigate zwitterion formation and ion solvation. This training in high-performance MS and physical chemistry laid the groundwork for his continued pursuits using gas-phase techniques to investigate the structures and interactions of biomolecules. He then joined the laboratory of Carol Robinson FRS DBE at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, during which time he used ion mobility MS to characterize the structures of biomolecules, large and small. He joined the chemistry faculty at the University of Washington in 2011, where he also participates in several interdisciplinary programs. His research group develops MS-based approaches for elucidating the structures, stabilities, and dynamics of biomolecules. They apply those approaches to a wide range of biological systems, especially those involved in protein homeostasis.

Hosted by Professor Varun Gadkari

Professor Milan Delor
Department of Chemistry
Columbia University
Abstract

Realizing ballistic energy flow in semiconductors through polarons and polaritons

Achieving ballistic, coherent charge and energy flow in materials at room temperature is a long-standing goal that could unlock lossless energy and information technologies. The key obstacle to overcome is short-range scattering between electronic particles and lattice vibrations (phonons). I will describe two new avenues to realize ballistic electronic energy transport in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors by harnessing hybridization between electronic particles and long-wavelength excitations. First, I will describe how polaritons, part-light part-matter quasiparticles resulting from hybridization between microcavity photons and semiconductor excitons, display long-range ballistic transport at light-like speeds. I will show how polaritons partially preserve coherence even in the presence of strong polariton–phonon scattering. Second, I will discuss a new mechanism in which strong interactions between electrons and delocalized phonons can result in the formation of 2D acoustic polarons. These polarons are intrinsically protected from scattering with phonons, resulting in sustained ballistic transport over macroscopic spatiotemporal scales even at room temperature, a remarkable phenomenon we are beginning to harness in electronic devices. In all cases, we develop ultrafast optical imaging capabilities enabling us to track the propagation of these quasiparticles with femtosecond resolution and few-nanometer sensitivity, providing a precise measurement of quasiparticle velocity, scattering pathways, and transition from coherent to incoherent transport.

Milan Delor

Milan Delor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Columbia University. He completed his PhD in 2014 at the University of Sheffield (with Prof. Julia Weinstein), where he focused on quantum control of molecular photophysics using multidimensional spectroscopy. In his postdoc at UC Berkeley (with Prof. Naomi Ginsberg), he developed new imaging technologies to track energy flow in semiconductors. He started his position at Columbia in 2019. His group focuses on light-matter interactions, with a special interest in identifying and controlling new electronic transport regimes and quantum phases in emerging materials. He is a recipient of the 2022 Beckman Young Investigator award.

Hosted by Professor Renee Frontiera

Professor Delphine Farmer
Department of Chemistry
Colorado State
Abstract

Wildfire smoke: Tracking an atmospheric villain through air, leaves, and homes

Wildfires have become more frequent, causing extreme air pollution events across the United States. Wildfires release both particulate matter and gaseous material, which interconvert and chemically transform as the smoke plume moves through the atmosphere. While recent work has focused on improving our understanding of wildfire emissions, we have focused on the subsequent chemistry in the air – and the consequent effects on ecosystems and human health. In this talk, we will trace wildfire smoke following emission, deposition to different surfaces, uptake by plants, and infiltration by homes – and subsequent release. Each of these aspects has been the focus of a different field project, including the 2018 WE-CAN aircraft study in the Western United States, the 2017-2021 Black Carbon and Aerosol Deposition Studies in the low Arctic and Oklahoma grasslands, the 2021 Fluxes of Carbon Study in Colorado, and the 2022 Chemical Assessment of Surfaces and Air (CASA) indoor chemistry study. This work will highlight how the evolution of smoke plumes in the atmosphere can impact the ultimate fate of different components of wildfire smoke, and the potential persistence of smoke volatiles on both ecosystem and indoor surfaces.

Delphine Farmer

Delphine Farmer is a Professor of Chemistry at Colorado State University, where she runs a research group studying atmospheric and indoor chemistry, with particular focus on using mass spectrometry to study processes that control sources and sinks of organic gases and particles in the atmosphere. She received her BSc in Chemistry from McGill University, her MS in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California at Berkeley, and then her PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. She held a NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder before moving to her current position at CSU in Fort Collins. She is a recipient of the 2013 Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Award and the 2022 AGU Ascent Award.

Hosted by Emily Robinson (Buhlmann Group)