Fatima Amir
THIS PAST YEAR PROVED to be a very challenging year with the sudden switch to online teaching on March 15, 2020. Just choosing the right method to effectively present lectures virtually presented difficulties. The asynchronous online courses were not very helpful to students who struggled, especially for a class as hard as PHYS 212. In fall, for my hybrid classes, I decided to have synchronous online classes on zoom and face-to-face meetings. The synchronous online showed to be more helpful for a class like mine with a flipped model. I could solve as many problems as I did in a face-to-face class, and have an active class where students could ask and answer as many questions as they wanted. Students were able to adequately adapt and learn virtually.
The pandemic brought in-person research to a screeching halt! Spring semester in-person research ended in March and travel was banned. Results of our summer 2019 research were supposed to be presented at the American Physical Society (APS) March meeting, but the meeting was cancelled. However, Sean Wechsler ’20 was able to present his research results virtually at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting in March during the Sci-Mix session. The Sci-Mix poster session consists of abstracts selected by division program chairs and represents the most exceptional abstracts submitted to participating divisions. Sean was also awarded the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award by the ACS Carolina-Piedmont Section. In addition, Sean co-authored my invited article entitled, Superior Electrochemical Performance of Pristine Nickel Hexaamino-benzene MOF Supercapacitors Fabricated by Electrophoretic Deposition in the ChemSusChem journal published January 21, 2020.
Summer laboratory research was not without struggles. With the pandemic a factor, only one of my research students, Austin Read ’22 completed the virtual assignments. Austin was able to analyze some of the data taken by Darien Nguyen '20 in spring 2020, and was able to be present and summarize all the weekly remote presentations organized by the NSF-EPSCoR schools. Not being able to travel with research students to Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York this past summer and not having in-person research but via ZOOM periodically made it a very unprecedented and a highly unusual laboratory research period.
Maria Gelabert
ACCORDING TO Dr. Gelabert, her lab continued research in the area of optical materials discovery, funded by the MADE In SC NSF-EPSCoR initiative and a collaborative GEAR grant from SC EPSCoR. Kameron Johnson ’21 has participated in this research remotely since July 2020, continuing to a remote Fall 2020 with the CHEM551 senior research course. Because the GEAR grant is for folding in computational calculations in Density Functional Theory (DFT, with Dr. Ming Hu, University of South Carolina Mechanical Engineering), the remote time provided an excellent opportunity to focus more explicitly on the modeling leading up to the choice of experiments. Mr. Johnson will continue into Spring 2021 with synthesis experiments in order to discover novel rare earth oxides.
Christian Grattan
THIS PAST SUMMER I mentored three students through their summer research experiences. Two of these students worked on one project and participated in the McNair program, which framed a very thorough experience, while the final student had never performed research and initiated a new area of future research study. Each of these projects helped the students to learn and think about chemistry and produced results while allowing the students to incorporate their own ideas into the projects.
Jay Hanna
FOR OUR RESEARCH GROUP, 2020 looked like it was going to be a very productive year. Joining Evan Thibodeaux ’21 were three very talented freshmen (Jackson Barrett ‘23, Molly Quetel ’23 and Eric Walters ’23), who seemed very eager to get into the lab. Evan took control of training these students in the ACS-Petroleum Research Fund supported visible-light photochemistry project, and by the beginning of March, they had become pretty independent, and had their own sub-projects to focus on. Things were on track to have a very productive summer, and perhaps generate enough data to complete the next photochemistry paper by the end of 2020. The student working on our NIH-INBRE supported project involving the synthesis and evaluation of small molecules as amyloid-beta aggregation inhibitors (Kendall Claxton ’22) was going to spend another summer in the lab, looking at how the inclusion of an electron-deficient aromatic ring (pyridine) in teraryl scaffolds affects the extent of inhibition. Then, of course, the pandemic caused us to change course. In mid-March, all on-campus activities (including research) ceased, and travel to conferences was prohibited.
Some progress was made in May and June. One of my research students, Eric Walters, was selected as a 2020 McNair scholar. For his project, he collaborated virtually with me during these months to produce a research proposal on the photoredox-mediated alkylation of ketones and aldehydes, which will guide his future research in my group. This proposal will likely be included in the next issue of the McNair Research Bulletin.
Things began to look more promising in early July, when students working on the photochemistry project returned to the lab for a five-week summer research period (unfortunately, Kendall was not able to work during this time). It took a few days, but things got cranked up, and it looked like we would be able to make some research gains in the limited time we had. However, we soon had to shift to remote research due to COVID concerns. The remainder of the summer was spent meeting over Zoom, discussing literature papers and Orgo 2 topics. During this period of remote research, the group also collaborated on a review article summarizing the addition of organotrifluoroborates to carbonyls and imines, and they were able present the work they did accomplish at the 2020 virtual SURE poster session: Photoredox Mediated Alkylation of Imines with Potassium Organotrifluoro-borates in the Presence of an Organic Photocatalyst.
Timea Fernandez
MY SECOND YEAR at Winthrop represented unprecedented challenges but provided plenty of opportunities to be joyous as well. As the pandemic hit in March, I quickly learned how to effectively teach online while homeschooling my three young children and moving into our new home in Rock Hill. I made countless protocol videos to convert the CHEM 525 biochemistry laboratory course into a hybrid setup where pre-laboratory instruction and some of the labs were held online. I had never before thought that a lab course can be taught effectively (even in part) remotely, but to my great pleasure students were satisfied with the experience.
In the summer I had the privilege to mentor two students in Winthrop’s summer research program. Using funding from SC-INBRE (NIH), Thomas Sullivan '21 and I explored the usage of surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry to measure the binding affinity of the antibiotic tetracycline and the chaotrop guanidine to the ykkCD guanidine sensing riboswitch RNA. This work ultimately aims to decipher how this toxin-sensing regulatory RNA recognizes its targets. Funding provided by SC-INBRE and EPSCoR made it possible for Allen Livingston '23 and I to research the usage modified RNAs as caging compounds to deliver the antibiotic tetracycline to bacterial cells that are resistant to it. To sum up, I believe my second year at Winthrop was adventurous but successful.
Jason Hurlbert
LABORATORY RESEARCH IS a huge part of who we are in the Depart-ment of Chemistry and when the shutdown order came in March 2020, I felt as though half of my life was missing by not being able to go into the lab. The partial reopening of campus in July could not come early enough as I had gotten so good at Call of Duty, I was considering turning pro. Fortunately for the esports community, we were able to get back into the lab and make progress on several projects despite the delays caused by the pandemic. Alyssa Petty '20 was able to complete a study on the chaperone activity of the Type III effector protein XopAZ on the last day campus was open prior to Spring Break. Juliana Quay '20 was able to obtain crystals of the periplasmic calcium sensor EfhX in July of 2020 once campus partially reopened. Alyssa graduated in December 2020 and will start pharmacy school at Wingate University in Fall 2021. Juliana graduated in May 2020 and has started her doctoral studies in the Quantitative and Chemical Biology program at Vanderbilt University. The program director at Vanderbilt, Dr. Tina Iverson, was generous enough to share some of her beamtime at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory in October, and we attempted to collect diffraction data on Juliana’s crystals in November. Unfortunately, they did not diffract, but we have been able to grow more crystals with a variety of additives and will send them out to California in the spring for another data collection run. In the Fall of 2020, Christine Dunn '22 came into the lab and helped work up the expression and purification of a domain of the cauliflower mosaic virus movement protein, a collaboration with Winthrop biology graduate Danny Stanton and Dr. Ron Brlansky at the University of Florida Lake Alfred Research Extension station. Christine will return to the lab in the Spring 2021 to determine the cyclophilin activity of XopAZ and initiate crystallization trials of the purified protein.
We were also fortunate enough to have had two manuscripts published this year. The first manuscript (https://doi.org/10.1002/pro.3963) was published in Protein Science and describes the three-dimensional structure of a glycerol dehydrogenase double mutant that acquired a D-lactate dehydrogenase activity. We were able to explain the acquired activity based upon the tertiary structure. This manuscript included Winthrop alumnus Grace Jones '15 as a coauthor. The second manuscript was published in PLOS One (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233301) and describes the work we did to characterize three ORFs acquired by a phytopathogenic strain of Xanthomonas perforans. In Spring 2021 Ashton Dorman '21 will continue to work on the expression and purification of these proteins with a goal of determining the substrate specificity of the proteases.
Scott Werts
THIS SEMESTER HAS BEEN a difficult one for research in my laboratory. All of my lecture-based courses were virtual this year, and I have children doing virtual learning in grade school. The amount of time spent in the laboratory was limited every week. My two research students were in, on average, once per week tending to soil samples. We did manage to complete some datasets of total nitrogen and carbon content as well as powder x-ray analysis of the same sets of samples from a local farm to assess carbon sequestration processes. To start the next semester, we will be establishing a remote sensing station at the farm. We had hoped to do that toward the end of this past semester but decided under an abundance of caution to delay the work.
Dr. Maria Gelabert
Principal investigator (PI) - Materials Assembly and Design Excellence in South Carolina; Made in SC/Established Program to Stimulate Com-petitive Research (EPSCoR)/National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of the SC EPSCoR GEAR CRP (Collaborative Research Program) encourages faculty researchers to build and enhance networks amongst South Carolina scientists in the state. Also, PI for an EPSCoR GEAR CRP Discovering and Opt grant.
Dr. Nicholas Grossoehme
Principal investigator (PI) - South Carolina EPSCoR/IDeA/SC Commission on Higher Education (SC CHE) - GEAR CRP: Collaboration to develop ferritin-based bio-macromolecular assemblies for targeted interactions with cells
Dr. James Hanna, Jr.
Principal investigator (PI) - American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund, ACS-PRF Grant Visible-Light-Promoted Additions of Organoborates to Imines
Dr. Robin Lammi
Principal investigator (PI) - South Carolina’s IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)
HONORING MRS. PAM JACO
Pam Jaco retired on June 30, 2020. When the pandemic is under control and life returns to the norm, Pam and her husband, Charlie, plan to travel, mainly close to home (in the United States and Canada) starting with a trip to New England (Boston to see their grandson again). Dr. Owens said, " We all owe a special thanks to Pam who in addition to overseeing the transformation of Sims, has consistently and reliably been there through thick and thin providing whatever support is needed to keep instruments running, facilities repaired, samples analyzed, time sheets completed, equipment serviced, budgets tracked, procurements done and so many other countless important roles, without which many other things would not be possible." The department will surely miss Pam.
Activity planning was hampered by COVID-19, but in honor of Pam, the department was able to give her a few momentos. Dr. Gelabert said Pam was very touched by the roses, balloons, gifts and electronic card.
Dr. Athena Detrick
Athena Detrick, Ph.D., joined Winthrop University full time as the new chemistry instrumentation manager and Instructor on August 6, 2020. She received her triple-major undergraduate B.S. degrees in molecular biology, zoology and violin performance from University of Wisconsin at Madison and her Ph.D. in biochemistry from University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas. She has worked in industry as a scientist at Covance Laboratories/Eurofins, Madison, Wisconsin; Alcon Laboratories/Novartis, Fort Worth, Texas; freelance consulting, Rock Hill, South Carolina; and CbdMD, Charlotte, North Carolina. Her experience in instrumentation/ techniques include HPLC, LCMS, Chromatography, cloning, protein purification, spectroscopy and chromatography. Past courses she has taught at Winthrop include Microbiology 310, Biochemistry 520, Chemistry 104, Biology 150 and Chemistry 108 (current). Her hobbies are playing the violin, hiking and reading.
Mr. Jim Curley
Jim Curley is a new adjunct professor at Winthrop University, teaching physics labs. He joined the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Geology on August 24, 2020. Jim graduated from the Citadel with a physics degree and with a master's in physics from John Carroll University. Jim worked doing research and development in optical fiber sensors and optical components at Aster Corporation. He also worked as the manager of engineering services at Pirelli Cable. Jim is a USPTO registered patent agent, assisting corporations and independent inventors obtain patents for their inventions. Also, Jim has taught physics and astronomy at York Technical College and Columbia College. Jim and his family live on a small homestead in rural SC where they raise pigs, chickens and lots of vegetables.
A NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY
Dr. Nick Grossoehme is honored to introduce the newest addition to his family, Seth Wendell Grossoehme. Jill and Nick’s healthy bundle of joy was born at 6:48 a.m. on June 10, 2020. Their son weighed eight pounds and twelve ounces, and was twenty and half inches long. Both Seth and Jill did well through the birthing process and engaged in some well-deserved sleep afterwards. Pictured in the photo below is Seth and his big sister, Laurel. According to Daddy, Laurel loves being a big sister.
AKTA go
AKTA go arrived at Winthrop on June 25, 2020. Installation and training took place in July. This instrument is used to purify proteins from solution. The instrument uses a variety of columns that take advantage of the chemical properties of our target proteins and allows us to monitor the purification in real time in addition to fractionating the column eluate into discrete volumes for subsequent analysis. This instrument will be used to support the research programs of faculty as part of their involvement in the Made in SC grant ( NSF Award # OIA-1655740).
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Dr. Calloway | Dr. Fernandez | Dr. Grossoehme |
Dr. Calloway
Dr. Fernandez
Dr. Grossoehme
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Dr. H. zur Loye | Dr. Peter Schreiber | Dr. Marc Suchard |
Dr. H. zur Loye
Dr. Peter Schreiber
Dr. Marc Suchard
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Dr. Meghan Breen | Dr. Sarah Keane | Dr. Michael Walter |
Dr. Meghan Breen
Dr. Sarah Keane
Dr. Michael Walter
Southern Piedmont Area-Clay Soil Samples
Ashley Allen ’21, Mikayla M. Burke ’21, and geology faculty member Dr. Scott Werts have traveled to an experimental farm in Sharon, South Carolina, numerous times since February of 2020 to collect soil samples. They will take the samples back to Winthrop University to analyze in Dr. Werts' research laboratory. Werts' research topic is "Clay Chemistry, Particle Size, and Carbon Sequestration in Southern Piedmont Soils."
ERN STEM Conference in Washington D.C.
Merilyn Palmer '21 traveled to Washington, D.C., February 5-8, 2020 to present her biomedical (cancer) research at the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM. The topic of the research is “Enhancing Radiation Induced Cell Death in small Cell Lung Cancer Using Auranofin.” Marilyn performed this research at the University of Iowa. She was a recipient of an External Research Fellowship during the summer of 2019. Merilyn also used this opportunity to obtained valuable information to share with the minority student STEM group that she started last year at Winthrop. If you have an Instagram account and would like to see the information she gathered, click on the following link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9PZnt6gaRp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
GSA Meeting Canceled Due to COVID-19
On March 19 – 22, 2020, the following students were scheduled to attend and present research at the joint regional Geological Society of America meeting in Renton, Virginia: Keele Puckett '21 and Emily Crago '20. However, due to the pandemic outbreak and for the safety of the students and faculty, all travel was canceled by the university. For additional information about geology research and the regional meetings, contact Geology advisors, Drs. Diana Boyer (boyerd@winthrop.edu), Gwen Daley (daleyg@winthrop.edu) and Scott Werts (wertss@winthrop.edu).
M.A.D. Interview Workers in the STEM Field
M.A.D. scientists (Minorities who are Astonishingly Driven) interviewed various workers in the STEM profession. These interviews were typically shared with the group on Mondays, referred to as “MAD Mondays.”
On February 28, 2020, M.A.D. President Merilyn Shanell Palmer '21 interviewed alumnus Darius Ollison '12. He really shared the "ins and outs" on working in the chemistry industry. As advisor Willie Aiken filmed the event (https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9zsWctAeHs/?utm_source=ig_web), Ollison provided very valuable information for chemists working in the industrial field. Others interviewed by Palmer were Katharyne Tedford from Winthrop EHS department and Willie Aiken for the chemistry department. Biology alumnus Samuel Robinson '16 was scheduled for an interview, but COVID-19 brought the interviews to closures.
President Palmer '21 and officers for the group, Vice-President Carla Wilson '21 and Secretary Bryson Samuel '22 celebrated one year of the club. The celebration video below is an overview of M.A.D. Scientists.
Alumna Sarah Wicks featured in "Duke Today"
Winthrop alumna, Sarah Wicks '15 is pursuing a Ph.D. at Duke University. After returning from the COVID break, she was featured in "Duke Today." Sarah said: “It hasn't been completely lonesome. But I do miss the chatter of other group members being here. We usually have about nine lab members working, we have music playing, equipment humming and to have such silence now does make it lonelier than it was.” Drs. James Hanna and Robin Lammi mentored Sarah at Winthrop. Click on link for additional information: https://today.duke.edu/2020/06/duke%E2%80%99s-labs-are-back-business-new-way
Alumnus Personal Journey Into Medical School
J.R. McAnally, M.S. '14 said: "Persistence pays off:" This is a heartwarming and inspiring story written by an awesome Winthrop chemistry graduate on his personal journey into medical school. Jacob is pursing a M.D. degree at the Medical University of South Carolina. Read the entire story by clicking on the following link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/j-r-mcanally_chemistry-graduate-medicalschool-activity-6613475868926889984-i0y5.
Alumna's Poster Awarded at Winter Conference
On January 17, 2020, Winthrop chemistry alumna and current Clemson Ph.D. candidate Katja Hall '16 won a student poster award at the 2020 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, held in Tucson, Arizona. As an undergraduate at Winthrop, Dr. Cliff Calloway mentored Katja. For additional information about the award, click on the following link: https://blogs.clemson.edu/chemistry/2020/01/17/katja-hall-wins-student-poster-award-at-the-2020-winter-conference-on-plasma-spectrochemistry/.
Dept. of Chemistry, Physics & Geology