MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR


Hello CSU Chemistry community, it’s been a few years since we’ve connected via newsletter. Having just completed a tranche of employee evaluations, I think I am still stuck in 2023! But it presents a good opportunity to reflect on the department’s accomplishments in the classroom, the laboratory, and the wider community. In 2023 we saw another successful Stille Symposium and our inaugural Oren Anderson Memorial Lectures in Inorganic Chemistry. Our award-winning Chemistry Club hosted their annual Spooktacular event. Our incredible grad students presented – and won! – at the Graduate Student Showcase. We also charged ahead with four new concentrations for our chemistry major – environmental, forensic, pre-health, and sustainability.

In 2023 we also saw amazing research happening in our labs, including $12M in total research expenditures, a record for our department. In the last year, our faculty published promising research on biodegradable plastics, fast-charging batteries, environmental impacts of wildfire smoke, and so much more! The chemistry research done at CSU is broadly innovative, and as highlighted in this newsletter, at the forefront of sustainability efforts. The stories in this newsletter give some flavor for the breadth and depth of our department’s research efforts.

We had the pleasure of welcoming two new members to our faculty in 2023. Assistant Professors Yuyang Dong and Brittney Morgan have joined our team, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them. Sadly, we said goodbye to Assistant Professor Joe Zadrozny as he continues his career at Ohio State University.

As we continue to achieve our research goals, we also aim to increase our alumni outreach. This includes starting an Alumni Seminar Event series and hosting a reception at the upcoming ACS National Meeting in Denver in August 2024. We also will be hosting the second Gerischer-Lewerenz Electrochemistry Symposium, which will include 30 speakers from all over the world; and CSU will host the 2024 International Conference on Coordination Chemistry, the first time that the meeting has been held in the United States in four decades.

Colorado State University’s Department of Chemistry continues our commitment to excellence in research, education, and community engagement. We are excited for 2024 to bring us more breakthroughs, collaborations, and successes that will further elevate the reputation of the department.

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to each and every member of our community for their hard work, dedication, and passion for chemistry education and research. Together, we have made this year a resounding success, and I anticipate 2024 to be another successful year for us all.

Sincerely,
Matt Shores,
Chair

 


FEATURED NEWS


Annual Chemistry Halloween Show for Kids Goes Virtual 

Our Chemistry Club is working hard to bring kids of all ages the same excitement, education and Halloween fun this year. They have created how-to videos on making your own spooky experiments at home (live on Thursday!) and will do a Zoom session for kids to visit with mad scientists this Friday.

Research team with expertise in virology, chemistry and chemical engineering inks licensing deal for COVID-19 viral detection test 

The team has licensed their viral RNA-testing platform to Quara Devices, a startup company specializing in diagnostic biosensors.

Enter, cautiously: CSU study looks at how the performing arts can return in a healthy manner during COVID-19 pandemic with help from chemist, Charles Henry 

How far apart should the trumpet section be from the trombone section at my first band rehearsal during COVID-19?

CSU chemist seeks to build a better way to make COVID-19 drug, using light 

Making the in-demand drug Remdesivir is costly, inefficient and can be hazardous. Garret Miyake’s lab has a “radical” technology that might be able to streamline the process.

CSU research capabilities and possibilities expand with new Analytical Resources Core facility 

Three CSU facilities merge to create the new ARC under the Office of the Vice President for Research.

 


DEPARTMENT NEWS


Chemist and atmospheric scientist, A.R. Ravishankara, is part of team suggesting new steps in ending ozone layer depletion 

Ozone layer researchers identify potential steps for the further success of a three-decade long treaty, the Montreal Protocol.

Chemistry student awarded oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, NSF GRFP 

Three-year fellowship gives Ian Moseley research freedom to focus exclusively on molecular magnets.

Read more

CSU among nation’s top producers of Fulbright U.S. Scholars, including Chemistry’s Scott Folkman 

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently listed CSU among the top 20 doctoral institutions for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program recipients in the U.S.

Read more

Ben Reynolds is named an outstanding teacher at the 2020 Best Teacher Awards 

Meet the seven teachers who’ve inspired students, faculty and alumni at CSU.

Read more

Chemist Andy McNally honored with 2020 Sloan Research Fellowship 

McNally is one of 126 researchers from the U.S. and Canada honored with the fellowship this year.

Read more

 


WELCOME NEW FACULTY & STAFF


Ben Shupe – Chemistry Scientific Stores Manager

Kayla Palmer – Accounting Technician III

Evan Campbell – Assistant IT Coordinator

Daniel Bates – ARC-MMA Materials Analysis Scientist


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ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS


Welcome to the Department of Chemistry’s Newsletter collection! We hope that this page will become a living record of the achievements, milestones, awards, honors and other news from our outstanding students, faculty and staff. As Chemistry continues to provide excellence in teaching, research and service to the CSU community and beyond, we encourage you to stay connected with the department. Enjoy!

Send your Chemistry news, events, and story ideas to chem-info@colostate.edu