AR17

Harvey Mudd College
Chemistry

Annual Report January 2018

Message From Our Chair

The Chemistry Department had an eventful year in 2017, and we’re excited to share
with you the year’s activities. Highlights certainly include the spectacular renovation
of our instructional labs (made possible through many generous donors), traveling to
the ACS meeting in San Francisco with 35 students and 8 faculty (thanks to the
generosity of one non-chemist alumni trustee), and receiving not one but two NSF-
MRI grants for a new 400-MHz NMR and a new DSC (differential scanning
calorimeter). As you read through this newsletter you’ll learn more about these events
as well as many other wonderful happenings throughout the department involving our
students, faculty, staff, and alumni. There were transitions in the department as well -
we said goodbye to visiting professor Whitney Duim ‘05 and welcomed Mary
Van Vleet ’12 as our latest visiting professor. Dave Vosburg was promoted to Full
Professor, and Lelia Hawkins received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.
Kathy Van Heuvelen also learned the good news that she will receive tenure and
promotion to Associate Professor as of July 1, 2018. The 2017-18 academic year
marks Bob Cave’s 30th year at the College. We hope this newsletter encourages you
to send us your good news and perhaps even plan a visit back to campus. We wish
everyone a fantastic 2018.

Kerry Karukstis
Ray and Mary Ingwersen Professor and Chair of Chemistry

In This Issue

 Department News
 Events
 Semester Abroad
 Summer Research

Table of Contents

Message from Our Chair..................................................................................................... 1
Through the Eyes of a Vista del Valle Student.................................................................... 4
Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories .......................................................................... 5
Kubota Fellowship............................................................................................................. 15
New NSF Funds for NMR ................................................................................................. 16
Seminar Series………………………………………………………………………….………...18
Celebration and Award Luncheon…………………………………………………….………..19
Student Recognition………………………………………………………………………….…..23
American Chemical Society National Meeting………………………….…….……………....25
Luke Visit……….……………………………………………………….………………………...28
Anya Kwan ‘17.………………………………………………………………….. ……………...29
Seniors……………………………………………………………………………………………..30
Publications....................................................................................................................... 34
Presentations .................................................................................................................... 36
Safety................................................................................................................................ 38
Summer Research Activities ............................................................................................. 40
Carla Becker ‘18…………….……………………………………………………………………47
CMS Hall of Fame……………………………………………………………………………...…50
Student Recital………………………………………………………………………………….…51
Faculty and Staff ............................................................................................................... 52

Collage .................. 67

2

IN MEMORIAM

Adam Cave

1994-2016

3

Through the Eyes of a Vista del Valle Student
Professor Van Ryswyk’s wife, Charlotte, teaches at Vista del Valle
Elementary School in south Claremont. The fifth grade students
were asked to research colleges they might like to attend. One of

the students selected Harvey Mudd and their summary is
reproduced below.

4

Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories

Within a few short months, the Department of Chemistry’s three main instructional
laboratories were transformed into beautiful, modern facilities that reflect the caliber of
the department’s educational program. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the
labs were successfully renovated in time for the beginning of the fall of 2017 semester

and the start of another year of experiential learning, collaboration and mentorship
among students and the chemistry faculty.

5

Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories (continued)

A celebration and showcase of the newly renovated chemistry laboratories followed
the summer-long construction on Saturday, September 23. After a well-attended
lunch, opening remarks were given by President Maria Klawe, Board of Trustee
Bruce DePriester ‘74, Chemistry alumnus Ann McDermott ‘81, and the Chair and
Ray and Mary Ingwersen Professor of Chemistry Kerry Karukstis.

There was an exciting schedule of activities including faculty talks. Professor Adam
Johnson addressed the department’s revised Core Curriculum that uses inquiry-

based learning and case studies to apply chemical tools to important societal topics
ranging from acid rain to electric cars. Professor David Vosburg then spoke about

the department’s recent acquisition of two desktop NMR spectrometers and the
pending installation of an upgraded 400 MHz high-field instrument providing new
opportunities in both research and teaching laboratories, including the first-year

chemistry course.
During tours of the new laboratories and faculty talks, Professor Van Heuvelen and

Professor Daub mixed up some delicious nitrogen ice cream.

6

7

8

Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories (continued)

The DePriester Family Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Jacobs 1204

Students in the DePriester Family Physical Chemistry Lab study applications
of thermodynamics, kinetics and phase transitions. With its facelift, the space
now better accommodates new instrumentation—an Anton-Paar viscometer,
densitometer and refractometer, a Wyatt DAWN HELELOS II multi-angle static

light scattering detector, a Mittal interferometer and a Thermal Analysis
differential scanning calorimeter—and enables the College to offer additional

lab sections. New, efficient hoods, HVAC systems and utilities were also
installed.

Generous benefactors of this lab:
James ‘77 and Margaret Bean

Peter ‘71 and Patty Brumbaugh
Bryan Cashion ‘70

Bruce ‘74 and Sharon DePriester
Howard Deshong ‘89 P21 and Jeannette Deshong P21

Wayne ‘73 and Julie Drinkward
Timothy ‘63 and Gail Hemming

Kerry Karukstis
Andrew ‘75 and Julie Lees

Bernard Santasiero ‘75
Michael Schubmehl ‘02 and Stephanie Wurtzel

Thomas ‘80 and Krista Smith
Kim Tsujimoto ‘87 and Kevin Hamer

Gerald Van Hecke ’61

9

10

Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories (continued)

The Rose Hills Foundation General Chemistry Laboratory
Jacobs 2308

In The Rose Hills Foundation General Chemistry Laboratory, all Harvey Mudd
students study molecular structure, intermolecular forces, acid-base chemistry

and synthesis. The space was overhauled to make room for the growing
inventory of instruments that have been acquired over the years for use in this

first-year course, such as four Mettler Toledo Autotitrators, two Nanalysis
benchtop NMR instruments, an Advion benchtop mass spectrometer and a

suite of Cary 60 UV-visible spectrophotometers.

Generous benefactors of this lab:
John Benediktsson ‘01 and Rajashree Karwa

Michael ‘63 and Sharon Blasgen
Kenneth ‘67 and Marian Brown
Kathleen Fisher and Robert Gruber
Maria Klawe and Nicholas Pippenger

John ‘90/91 and Maria Norin
The Rose Hills Foundation
Tayloe and Cynthia Stansbury P16
Venkat Varadachary and Tara Rao
Bruce ‘64 and Susan Worster

11

12

Newly Renovated Chemistry Laboratories (continued)

The Alumni Laboratory for Advanced Chemistry
Jacobs 2334

The Alumni Laboratory is used for instructing students in upper-level courses
in the various branches of chemistry, such as organic, inorganic and

analytical. With this lab being the oldest space in the academic complex,
opened in 1984-1985, extensive modernization and safety upgrades were
essential. An expansive section of the laboratory is dedicated to an array of

instrumentation that support both instruction and research.

Generous benefactors of this lab:
Anonymous

Kathy French ‘97
Katrina Hughes Heinze ‘90 and Harold Heinze ‘90
Jennifer Salem Holmgren ‘81 and Donald Holmgren ‘81

W. Matthew Leroux
Susan Cohen Locke ‘90
Ann McDermott ‘81, William Matthews and Oliver

Mindlin Foundation
Elizabeth Thompson ‘97 and James LeBlanc

Matthew ‘88 and Michaline Todd

13

Interactive Periodic Table — General Chemistry Laboratory
The interactive periodic table of elements was made possible by a
generous gift from John Benediktsson ‘01 and Rajashree Karwa

14

Kubota Fellowship

This year’s Kubota Research Fellowship was awarded to Daphne Guo ’19 in the lab
of Professor Van Hecke.
Daphne’s project will continue the explorative studies of Colin Adams `19
determining binary phase diagrams of carboxylic acids containing from ten to
eighteen carbon atoms. While the specifics of the phase diagrams are interesting
in their own right, the formation of eutectic, peritectics, solid solutions and the like,
such binary mixtures have been studied as potential thermal energy storage
media. To use mixtures as energy storage media, understanding the energies of
phase transitions is fundamental which is the driving force for determining the tem-
perature-composition binary phase diagrams. Daphne will continue the systematic
study of the possible binary mixtures using differential scanning calorimetry and
optical microscopy.

15

New NSF Funds for NMR

To take full advantage of its innovative chemistry curriculum and maintain the position as one of the country’s lead-
ing undergraduate chemistry programs, the Harvey Mudd College Department of Chemistry has undertaken a
successful, comprehensive instrumentation replacement and acquisition plan for the last three years. Through the
generosity of foundations, alumni and friends, the department has added over $1.5 million of instrumentation to be
used throughout the chemistry curriculum as well as in its research program.
A critical component of that replacement plan involved the acquisition of a new high-field nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) spectrometer. Like a smartphone that can no longer support the latest iOS updates, the depart-
ment’s current NMR is no longer supported by the manufacturer. With replacement parts no longer available and a
concern that the instrument could soon become nonfunctional, chemistry professors David Vosburg, Adam John-
son and Katherine Van Heuvelen put together a successful proposal for a $331,285 National Science Foundation
grant to upgrade the instrument by coupling the existing 400 MHz super conducting magnet with a Bruker NEO 400
MHz NMR spectrometer console with a 24-tube autosampler, which will allow for expanded research capability and
improved student experience.
The new instrument reflects Harvey Mudd College’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible
instrument upgrades. “We will continue to use the same 400 MHz magnet, since that part of our current instrument
works fine,” says Vosburg. “Everything else about the instrument, including all of the controlling electronics and the
computer interface, will be replaced.”
“Nuclear magnetic resonance is the more sophisticated, chemical cousin to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),”
explains Hal Van Ryswyk, John Stauffer Professor of Chemistry. “Using NMR, we can step through a molecule,
atom by atom, to determine composition and structure. This is one of the most powerful techniques available in
chemistry to determine molecular structure.”
Among the most exciting features of the new NMR is an autosampler, which can insert, analyze and process
samples automatically. “That should enable much more efficient use of instrument time for research, for teaching
labs and for outreach efforts,” Vosburg says. “The autosampler will also make it possible for Prof. Lelia Hawkins, an
atmospheric chemist, to analyze aerosol particles from the air using the NMR.”
In addition to saving time, the new equipment will be accessible to a wider community than was previously
possible, including high school students in the Upward Bound program and collaborators at Mt. San Antonio
College, who are beneficiaries of Harvey Mudd’s commitment to the community.
Many more Harvey Mudd students will also have access to the new NMR. “For years, students have enjoyed
hands-on access to the NMR spectrometer starting in their sophomore year,” Vosburg says. “With this instrument
upgrade, even first-year students will be able to use the instrument.”
The new instrument represents the College’s third generation of high-field NMR spectroscopy. Vosburg says the
upgrade of the NMR spectrometer, which he considers to be the most important instrument in the chemistry depart-
ment, “will substantially modernize students’ laboratory experiences and will enhance our ability to examine molec-
ular structures for decades into the future.”

16

Chem23A Soap Making Demonstration

Professor Johnson leads a soap
making demonstration for half of the

first year class as part of core
chemistry.

17

Seminar Series

January

David Tirrell, Chemical Biology, Caltech
Danielle Dube, Chemical Biology, Bowdoin College

February

JoAnne Stubbe, Robbins Lecture, MIT
Alison Butler, Bio-Inorganic Chemistry, UC Santa Barbara

Matt Pratt, Chemical Biology, USC
Amanda Hickman ‘07, Honeywell

March

Greg Fu, Organometallic Chemistry, Caltech
Jennifer Holmgren ‘81, LanzaTech

Peter Chien, Protein Degradation, UMass

April

Tom Maimone, Organic Chemistry, UC Berkeley
Mark Levin, Organometallic Chemistry

September

Jessica Hoover ‘04, Organometallic Chemistry, West Virginia University

October

Cole DeForest, Chemical Eng., University of Washington
Jennifer Heemstra, Chemical Biology, Emory College
Noah Burns, Organic Chemistry, Stanford

November

David Masiello, Theoretical Chemistry, University of Washington
Ellen Sletten, Organic Chemistry, UCLA

Jennica Zaro, PharmD, West Coast University

18

Annual Departmental Celebration and Awards Luncheon

The Chemistry Department holds an annual Awards Banquet each fall to recognize those chemistry and joint
chemistry/biology majors who have been selected for various department awards. As an additional and
traditional part of our program, several of our senior majors who studied abroad or had an internship during
2016-17 share highlights of their experiences.

ACS Inorganic Award
Zachary Evans ‘18

19

Study Abroad & Internship Highlights

Kevin Hwang ‘18 / South Africa Bella Lee ‘18 / Chile

Rachael Kretsch ‘18
Summer Internship, Monterey, CA
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

Rilke Griffin ‘18 / Spain

20

Study Abroad & Internship Highlights (continued)

21

Study Abroad & Internship Highlights (continued)

22

Student Recognition

Chemistry – High Distinction
Nga Ngoc Nguyen/May 2017
Chemistry – Distinction
Annisa Dea, Eleanore Gund, Lee Joon Kim, Emma Klein, Anna Kwan, Rachel Mow, Elyse Pennington,
Philip Woods/May 2017
Chemistry Departmental Honors
Lee Joon Kim, Emma Klein, Anya Kwan, Elyse Pennington, Hannah Welsh/
May 2017
The Dotty and Art Campbell Prize was created by friends to honor Dorothy
C. and J. Arthur Campbell. Their commitment to Harvey Mudd College began at
its opening in 1957. This prize acknowledges the great contributions of the
Campbells, and honors a senior chemist for their achievement and promise.
Rachael Kretsch and Omar Velazquez/September 2017
The William G. Sly Prize was donated by friends to honor Bill “The Snowman” Sly. Throughout his
34 years at HMC, Bill displayed a depth of understanding and love of learning that were an inspiration
to colleagues and students alike. This prize honors a junior chemist who exemplifies the curiosity,
intellectual integrity, and enthusiasm that Bill brought to his teaching and research.
Theodore Hansel, Fanrui Sha, Leah Stevenson/September 2017
Harald V. Johnson P70 Memorial Prize for Effective Communication of Chemistry recognizes a
student who has done an outstanding job of communicating chemistry to the general public or the world
outside Harvey Mudd College.
Hannah Welsh/May 2017
American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Award is to encourage a student’s
interest in analytical chemistry and to recognize students who display an aptitude for a career in this
field.
Jason Casar/September 2017
American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry Award recognizes outstanding
contributions to the field of environmental chemistry.
Hannah Welsh/May 2017
American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Award recognizes a student that
has demonstrated excellence in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level and should have future
plans that include a career in chemistry.
Zachary Evans/September 2017

American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Award recognizes outstanding
contributions to the field of organic chemistry.
Omar Velazquez/September 2017
American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry Award recognizes outstanding
contributions to the field of polymer chemistry.
Rachael Kretsch/September 2017
The American Institute of Chemists Foundation, Inc. honors outstanding seniors that
demonstrated a record of ability, leadership, and professional promise in chemistry.
Annisa Dea and Rachel Mow/May 2017

23

Student Recognition (continued)

Phi Lambda Upsilon (National Chemical Honor Society)
Annisa Dea, Emma Klein, Nga Ngoc Nguyen, Elyse Pennington, Philip Woods/May 2017
Department Service Award recognizes senior chemists for extraordinary service to the
chemistry department, its students, and faculty.
Eleanor Gund, Anya Kwan, Michelle Niu, Hannah Welsh/May 2017
Chemical Rubber Company (CRC) Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement is based on
outstanding academic freshman achievement in chemistry.
Matthew Calligaro, Hanna Hoffman, Ivy Liu, Ricky Shapley/September 2017

24

American Chemical Society National
Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco

Ali Khan ‘19, Carla Becker ‘18, Rebecca Harman ‘17
Theo Hansel ‘19 & Parnika Sharma ‘19

Micaela Homer ‘19 & Fanrui Sha ‘19
25

American Chemical Society National
Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco (continued)

HMC Brunch
Roy’s Restaurant

26

American Chemical Society National
Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco (continued)

Professor Van Hecke & Leah Stevenson ‘19

Zachary Evans ‘18

Emma Klein ‘17

Hannah Slocumb ‘19
27

Robert Luke ’65 and Barbara Luke Campus Visit

Dr. Robert Luke ‘65 and his wife, Barbara, travel to Claremont from Maine annually to meet
and learn about our sophomores and the spring research projects they support. Dr. Luke
was Harvey Mudd’s first M.D., he studied medicine at Michigan and became a pathologist.
He lived in West, and in his senior year was East Dorm proctor. He was involved in many
sports—water polo, track, intramural swimming, and intramural football.

2017 Luke Fellows
Kevin Huang
Geneva Miller
Grant Murray
Gabriel Phun
Fanrui Sha
Liya Zhu

28

Anya Kwan ‘17

Anya depicting the autobiography of her life in the only way she knows how to express it—through music.
Music by Saint-Saens, Massenet, Vivaldi, Lalo, and Brahms was featured in this performance.

Anya was the winner of the
Institute of Food Technologies Undergraduate Research Competition

Since 1939, IFT has been advancing the science of food and
its application across the global food system by creating a

dynamic forum where individuals from more than 90 countries
can collaborate, learn, and grow, transforming scientific

knowledge into innovative solutions for the benefit of people
around the world.

Anya submitted an abstract describing her
research and was chosen to present her
research both orally and via poster at the IFT
Annual Meeting last summer. She won first

place.

29

Class of 2017

Top row (l/r): Nga Nguyen, Hannah Welsh, Anya Kwan, Emma Klein, Rachel Mow, Annisa Dea,
and Lee Joon Kim

Bottom row (l/r): Raunak Pednekar, Philip Woods, Michelle Niu, Ellie Gund, Elyse Pennington,
Alex Echevarria, and Ramonda Giddings (not shown)
30

Senior Theses

Senior research (Chemistry 151-152) is the capstone experience of the chemistry degree, including Biology 193/194 and
Engineering 112/113 (Clinic Team). Students participate in research with faculty, some starting in their first year; all
chemistry majors pursue research and write a senior thesis.

Senior Thesis Advisor

Chase Abelson Synthesis of a Family of Chiral Aminoalcohols as A. Johnson
(Pitzer 2017) Ligands for titanium and Tantalum Catalyzed J. Hur
Annisa Dea Asymmetric Hydroamination
Biochemical Characterization of Two Genes
Associated with Aging in Drosophlia

Alexander Echevarria A Raman Spectrometer for in vivo Cancer P. Cha
Assessment N. Lape

Ramonda Giddings Clear Fluid Detection on Media

Eleanor Gund Investigation of Dechlorination Using Bio-Inspired K. Van Heuvelen
Nickel Compounds

Lee Joon Kim Synthetic Pursuit of Isocryptobeilic Acid D, D. Vosburg
a Suspected Natural Product

Emma Klein Determination of Dissociation Constants K. Haushalter
Between Human 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase
and Abasic DNA: Wild Type and S326C Variants

Anya Kwan Flavor Oil Nanoemulsions Encapsulated in Filled G. Davidov-Pardo
Rachel Mow Soluble Hydrogel Complexes
Nga Ngoc Nguyen
Monolayer Deposition of Colloidal Quantum Dots H. Van Ryswyk
Michelle Niu by Spray-Coating
Raunak Pednekar
Overexpression of Proteasome Subunit ß5 Increases J. Hur
Proteasomal Activity and Extends Lifespan in
Fruit Flies

Clear Fluid Detection on Media N. Lape

Physiology and Cognition: Reproducible Code P. Zak
for Data Analysis

Elyse Pennington Energy Usage and Efficiency in a Fuel Cell O. Furuya
Electric Semi-Trailer Truck

Hannah Welsh Optical and Chemical Properties of Model Brown L. Hawkins
Carbon Systems Characterized by UV/Visible
Spectroscopy and Aerosol Mass Spectrometry

Philip Woods The Effects of Ribosomal DNA Copy Number on J. Hur
Lifespan, Health, and Dietary Restriction

31

Senior Reception

32

Senior Reception (continued)

33

Publications (*denotes HMC undergraduate coauthor)

“Comparison of Relative Activation Energies Obtained by Density Functional Theory and the Random Phase Approximation
for Several Claisen Rearrangements,” Hartley, M.K.*; Vine, S.*; Walsh, E.*; Avrantinis, S.*; Daub, G.W.; Cave, R.J. J. Phys.
Chem. B, 2016, 120, 1486.
“A Simple Quasi-Diabatization Scheme Suitable for Spectroscopic Problems Based on One-Electron Properties of Interacting
States,” Cave, R.J.; Stanton, J.F. J. Chem. Phys., 2016, 144, 054110.
Huang F.; Sirinakis, G.;Allgeyer, E.S.; Schroeder, L.K.; Duim, W.C.; Kromann, E.B.; Phan, T.; Rivera-Molina, FE.; Myers,
J.R.; Irnov, I.; Lessard,M.; Zhang, Y.; Handel,M.A.; Jacobs-Wagner, C.; Lusk, C.P.; Rothman, J.E.; Toomre, D.K.; Booth,
M.J.; Bewersdorf, J. Ultra-High Resolution 3D Imaging of Whole Cells. Cell 2016, 166, 1028-1040.
“Brown carbon production in ammonium- or amine-containing aerosol particles by reactive uptake of methylglyoxal and photo-
lytic cloud cycling,” De Haan, D.O., Hawkins, L.N., Welsh, H.G.*, Pednekar, R.*, Casar, J.*, Pennington, E.A.*, et al. Environ-
mental Science and Technology, 2017 (submitted).
“Maillard chemistry in clouds and aqueous aerosol as a source of atmospheric brown carbon,” Hawkins, L.N., Lemire, A.N.*,
Galloway, M.M., Corrigan, A.L., Turley, J., Espelien, B.M., De Haan, D.O. Environmental Science and Technology, 2016, 50,
7443-7452.
“Meteorological and Aerosol Effects on Marine Cloud Microphysical Properties,” Hawkins, L.N., et al. Journal of Geophysi-
cal Research, 2016, 121(8), 4142-4161.
“Crystal Structures of D-N-(2-Adamantyl)phenylglycinol and L-N-(2- Adamantyl)diphenylphenylalinol: Chiral Amino Alcohols
Utilized as Ligands for Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroamination,” Reinheimer, E.W.; Kohn, A.W.*; Groeneman, R.H.; Krueger,
H.R.; Kantardjieff, K.; and Johnson, A.R. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 2016, 629(1), 70-77. (http://
dx.doi.org/10.1080/15421406.2015.1106907)
“Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research on a Grand Scale: Helping Systems and Consortia Comprehensively Adopt Un-
dergraduate Research,” Malachowski, M.; Osborn, J.; Karukstis, K.; Ambos, E. National Science Foundation Symposium En-
visioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education: Research and Practice Symposium Report, 2016.
“A Fluorescence Characterization of the Aggregation of Chromonic Dyes in the Isotropic Phase,” Karukstis, K.K.; Evans,
Z.*; Zhang, A.* Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2016 (submitted).
“Prevalence of ordered mesophases of alkyl glucosides in aprotic ionic liquids as detected by fluorescence,” Karukstis, K.K.;
Van Hecke, G.R.; Crompton, J.C.*; Kirkegaard, M.C.* Journal of Physical Chemistry, 2016 (submitted).
“Determining the Binary Phase Diagrams of Sugar-Based Surfactants in Water using Fluorescence Spectroscopy”,
Karukstis, K.K.; Van Hecke, G.R.; Hines, J.P.*; Audesirk, H.A.*, George, C.M.*; Kossarian, M.M.*; Heinselman, K.N.*;
Hatch, H.A.M.*; Crompton, J.C.*; Van Burns, E.N.*; Zazueta, C.J.*; Lee, A.R.*; Snyder, C.A.*; Giammanco, C.H.*; Linder,
H.M.*; ,Chellis, K.N.*; Daub, M.B. Journal of Fluorescence, 2016 (submitted).
“Determination of the binary phase diagram of lyotropic phases formed by alkyl maltoside and galactoside surfactants in wa-
ter,” Audesirk, H.A.*; Kossarian, M.M.*; Karukstis, K.K.; Van Hecke, G.R. Journal of Physical Chemistry 2016 (submitted).
“A Fluorescence Approach to Monitoring Aggregation of Chromonic Dyes in the Isotropic Phase,” Karukstis, K.K.; Van
Hecke, G.R.; Lee. J.S.*, Van Burns, E.N.*, Low, R.R.*, May, M.D.*, Johnson, B.E.*, Shill, S.S., Tay, H.K. Journal of
Fluorescence 2016 (submitted).

34

Publications (*denotes HMC undergraduate coauthor)

“Mononuclear Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Coordination Complexes Supported by Bispicen Ligand Derivatives: Experimental and
Computational Studies,” Singh, N.; Niklas, J.; Poluektov, O.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Mukherjee, A. Inorganica Chimica Acta,
2017, 455, 221-230, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2016.09.001
“Cobalt Kβ Valence-to-Core X-ray Emission Spectroscopy: A Study of Low-Spin Octahedral Cobalt(III) Complexes,” Schwa-
lenstocker, K.; Paudel, J.; Kohn, A.W.*; Dong, C.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Farquhar, E.R.; Li, F. Dalton Transactions, 2016, 45,
14191-14202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6DT02413K
“Jesus, Beginnings, and Science: A Guide for Group Conversation,” Vosburg, D.A.; Vosburg, K. Pier Press, 2017.
“Self-assembly, guest capture, and NMR spectroscopy of a metal–organic cage in water,” Go, E.B*.; Srisuknimit, V.*; Cheng,
S.L.*; Vosburg, D.A. J. Chem. Educ. 2016, 93, 368-371. (Featured on the Feb. 2016 cover:
https://www.hmc.edu/abouthmc/2016/02/10/harvey-mudd-chemists-capture-journal-cover/)
“Concise, diastereoconvergent synthesis of endiandric-type tetracycles by iterative cross coupling,” Go, E.B.*; Wetzler, S.P.*;
Kim, L.J.*; Chang, A.Y.*; Vosburg, D.A. Tetrahedron 2016, 72, 3790-3794.

35

Presentations and Talks (*denotes HMC undergraduate coauthor)

“Doing Theory with Undergraduates and Having a Great Time,” Preparing for the Real World: Challenges Faced by Young Investigators Symposi-
um, Cave, R.J. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (invited talk and panel participant)
“Characterization of the huntingtin aggregation pathway via single-molecule and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy,” Becker, C.; Harman,
R.; Khan, A.; Levy, R.; Duim, W.C. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Characterizing the huntingtin aggregation pathway via super resolution and single molecule fluorescence microscopy,” Becker, C.; Harman, R.;
Khan, A.; Levy, R.; Duim, W.C. HMC Summer Research Poster Celebration, Claremont; September 2016 (poster).
“Characterizing the huntingtin aggregation pathway via super resolution and single molecule fluorescence microscopy,” Becker, C.; Harman, R.;
Khan, A.; Levy, R.; Duim, W.C. 5C HHMI SURP Poster Session, Claremont; July 2016 (poster).
“Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy of Proteins and Cells,” Duim, W.C. UC Davis Chemistry Department, Davis, June 2016
(presentation).
"Density functional theory studies of transition-state topologies in the amide-acetal Claisen rearrangement”, Kretsch, R.*; Hartley, M.*; Daub, G.
W.; Cave, R. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (talk).
“Stimulation of human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase by AP endonuclease: Effect of polymorphisms,” Klein, E.* and Haushalter, K.A. American
Chemical Society National Meeting, San Franciso, April 2017 (presentation).
“Formation of secondary brown in the multiphase simulation chamber (CESAM) through aldehyde and amine initiated Maillard reactions,” Welsh,
H.G.*; Pednekar, R.*; Casar, J. R.*; Pennington, E.A.*; Hawkins, L.N.; De Haan, D.O.; Pajunoja, A.; Caponi, L.: Cazaunau, M.; Formenti, P.;
Gratien, A.; Pangui, E.; and Doussin, J.F. American Association for Aerosol Research, Portland, October 2016 (poster).
“Resolving chemical contributions to atmospheric brown carbon with the Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitorawkins,” Hawkins, L.N.;
Pednekar, R.*; Casar, J.R.*; and Croteau, P. American Association for Aerosol Research, Portland, October 2016 (poster).
“Connecting aerosol absorption and chemical composition in the Southern California air basin,” Pedenkar, R.*; Casar, J.R.*; and Hawkins, L.N.
American Association for the Advancement of Science, San Diego, June 2016 (poster).
“Contamination: The effect of the 1%,” Johnson, A.R. Hixon Forum, “Science and the Senses: Bodies and Practice.” Harvey Mudd College, Feb-
ruary 2017 (presentation).
“Mechanistic and Computational Details of Asymmetric Hydroamination,” Johnson, A.R. Organometallics Gordon Research Conference, New-
port RI, July 2016 (presentation).
“Expanding the frontiers of inorganic chemistry,” Eppley, H.J.; Nataro, C.; Bentley, A.K.’ Jamieson, E.R.; Johnson, A. R.; Reisner, B. A.; Stewart,
J.L.; Smith, S. R.; Watson, L.A.; Williams, N.S.B. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016, (poster).
“Theoretical modeling of the asymmetric hydroamination-cyclization of aminoallenes by tantalum amide alkoxide complexes,” Phun, G. S.*; Cave,
R. J.; Johnson, A. R. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Mechanistic investigation of Tantalum amide-alkoxide catalyzed asymmetric hydroamination of aminoallenes,” Kosich, M.*; Johnson, A. R. Ameri-
can Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Static light scattering studies of the aggregation process in the isotropic phase of chromonic surfactants in water,” Stevenson, L*; Van Hecke,
G.R.; Karukstis, K.K. American Chemical Society Nation Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Using undergraduate research to enhance STEM education at the institutional and system-wide level,” Malachowski, M; Karukstis, K.K.; J. M.
Osborn; Ambos, E. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (talk).
“Undergraduate Research Mentoring: An Opportunity to Develop Undergraduates’ Leadership Skills,” Karukstis, K.K. 2016 Annual Beckman
Symposium. Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, Irvine, August 2016 (talk).
“Determination of the binary phase diagram of n-octyl-ß-D-glucoside in ionic liquid,” Karukstis, K.K.; Van Hecke, G.R.; Kirkegaard, M.:* Cromp-
ton, J.C.* International Liquid Crystal Conference, August 2016 (poster).
“Envisioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education: Research and Practice,” Authentic Undergraduate Research, Malachowski, M; Osborn,
J.M.; Karukstis, K.K.; Ambos, E. Washington, D.C., April 2016 (invited speaker).
“Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research on a Grand Scale: Helping Systems and Consortia Comprehensively Adopt Undergraduate Research,”
Malachowski, M.; Karukstis, K.K.; Osborn, J.M.; Ambos, E. Symposium on Envisioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education: Research
and Practice. Washington, D.C., April 2016 (talk).

36

Presentations and Talks (*denotes HMC undergraduate coauthor)

“Characterizing the aggregation of chromonic dyes in the isotropic phase via prodan, an extrinsic fluorophore,” Evans, Z.*; Zhang, A.*; Karukstis,
K.K. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Systematic binary isobaric solid-liquid phase diagrams of straight chained carboxylic acids,” Colin Adams, C.*; Van Hecke, G.R. American Chem-
ical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Excess volumes, refractive index increments, and viscosity increments of selected alcohol/alkane mixtures,” Slocumb, H.*; Van Hecke, G.R.
American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Static light scattering studies of the aggregation process in the isotropic phase of chromonic surfactants in water,” Stevenson,L*; Van Hecke,
G.R. Karukstis, K.K. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Investigating Dechlorination using Bio-Inspired Nickel Compounds,” Gund, E*; Van Heuvelen, K.M. American Chemical Society National Meet-
ing, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Dechlorination Abilities of Biomimetic Compounds,” Ye, C.*; Van Heuvelen, K.M. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco,
April 2017 (poster).
“Hybrid dual-layer zinc oxide dye-sensitized solar cells,” Tan, C.*; Huang, K.; Van Ryswyk. H. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San
Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Monolayer deposition of colloidal quantum dots by spray-coating,” Abrams, A* (POM ’16); Mow, R*; Murray, G.*; Tan, S.* (POM ’16); and Van
Ryswyk. H. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017, San Francisco (poster).
“Characterizing heavy metal sequestration in a bioswale at Pomona College,” Evans, Z*; Van Ryswyk, H.; Los Huertos, M. American Chemical
Society National Meeting, San Francisco, April 2017 (poster).
“Terawatts, Quantum Dots, & Coffee Stains,” Van Ryswyk, H. Harvey Mudd College, Stauffer Series, June 2016 (presentation).
“Student-driven analytical methods in the marine microcosm laboratory,” Hawkins, L. and Van Ryswyk, H. American Chemical Society National
Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (paper).
“Single-step Electrodeposition of Zinc Oxide Nanosheets with High Surface Area atop a Compact Layer for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Pho-
toanodes.” Lim, A.N.* and Van Ryswyk, H. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Biomimetic syntheses of medicinal natural products” Vosburg, D.A. Western University of Health Sciences, March 2017 (talk).
“Concise synthesis of endiandric-type tetracycles using iterative cross-coupling,” Kim, L.J.*; Miller, G.E.*; Kron, K.J.*; Velazquez, O*.; Castro, G.*;
Vosburg, D.A. Young Generation Technical and Leadership Conference, Philadelphia, January 2017 (poster).
“Is God anti-science?” Vosburg, D.A. Three-College InterVarsity Fellowship, October 2016 (talk).
“Empowering undergraduates for sustainability research and education,” Vosburg, D.A. Harvey Mudd Biennial Conference for Sustainable
Design and Solutions, October 2016 (talk).
“Iterative Suzuki couplings and biomimetic Diels-Alder reactions to fused and bridged tetracycles: Synthetic and computational results,” Vosburg,
D.A.; Go, E.B.*; Wetzler, S.P.*; Miller, G.E.*; Kron, K.J.*; Cave, R.J. 50th Birthday Symposium for Erik J. Sorensen, Princeton University,
August 2016 (talk).
“Growing spiritually through your work in science,” Vosburg, D.A. American Scientific Affiliation Annual Meeting, Azusa Pacific University,
July 2016 (panel talk).
“How do we live as salt and light in the academy?” Vosburg, D.A. InterVarsity Midwest Faculty Conference, Cedar Campus, Michigan, June
2016 (talk).
“Iterative Suzuki couplings and biomimetic Diels-Alder reactions to fused and bridged tetracycles: Synthetic and computational results,” Vosburg,
D.A.; Go, E.B.*; Wetzler, S.P.*; Kron, K.J.*; Cave, R.J. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (talk).
“Green ‘click’ and olefin metathesis chemistry in water at room temperature enabled by biodegradable, micellar nano-particles,” Lipshutz, B.H.;
Wenzel, A.G.; Vosburg, D.A. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (talk).
“Expedient synthesis of cryptobeilic/endiandric tetracycles,” Wetzler, S.P.*; Kim, L.J.*; Chang, A.Y.*; Dea, A.*; Go, E.B.*; Vosburg, D.A. Ameri-
can Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Computational comparisons of intramolecular Diels-Alder transition states leading to fused and bridged tetracycles,” Kron, K.J.*; Cave, R.J.; Vos-
burg, D.A. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2016 (poster).
“Concise synthesis of endiandric-type tetracycles using iterative cross coupling,” Kim, L.J.*; Wetzler, S.P.*; Chang, A.Y.*; Vosburg, D.A. 12th
Young Generation Technical and Leadership Conference, Dallas, January 2016 (poster).
“Leadership and influence,” Vosburg, D.A. InterVarsity graduate student retreat at Palomar Mountain, January 2016 (talk ).

37

Student Lab Safety Officers

(R-L) Chemical Hygiene Safety Officer Penny Manisco and Student Officers Hannah Slocumb ‘19,
Ben Mitchell ‘18 (Pitzer), Johnson Hoang ‘20, Brandon Wada ‘20, and Liya Zhu ‘19

The laboratory safety program at Harvey Mudd College includes comprehensive training for
employees, students, and volunteers who work with chemicals. Summer research groups may select
a Student Lab Safety Officer (SLSO) who receives more intensive safety training and acts as liaison
between the Chemical Hygiene Officer and research labs. A highlight of the SLSO program is an
annual “Safety Day” where researchers gain hands-on experience in the use of safety equipment such
as spill kits and safety showers.

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Safety Day

The Student Lab Safety Officers hosted a
"Safety Day" on Tuesday, June 20. Research

students participated in hands-
on safety demos including spill clean up,
protective eye-wear, glove removal and hand
washing technique, and hands-only CPR.

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Summer Research Activities

Undergraduate chemistry and chemistry/biology joint majors and underclassmen strongly considering a
major in either discipline were invited to participate in the Summer Research program of 2017. Our
summer program ran for 10 weeks under the direction of Professor David Vosburg. We had students
conducting research, learning about the chemistry profession, and honing their presentation skills.

Summer Internship Experience

This summer, Ali Khan ‘19 opted for a position at California
Medical Innovations. Ali worked jointly with compounders
in quality control; running sets of pre-assigned tests for
new samples, and keeping consistent and complete
records within the ISO standards for color matching and
sample controls.

Cave-Daub Lab

Professor Daub, Gabriel Phun ‘18, and
Professor Cave

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Hawkins Lab

Hannah Welsh ‘17 and Elyse Pennington ‘17
The Hawkins research team returned to the University of Paris in Creteil, France, to conduct
chamber studies of the formation and transformation of atmospheric pollutants. The
research was in collaboration with the University of San Diego (Dr. David De Haan) and the
University of Paris CESAM research team (under Dr. Jean-Francois Doussin).

Johnson Lab

The Johnson group studies the asymmetric
hydroamination of aminoallenes with chiral

titanium and tantalum catalysts.
Karina Ramirez (Upward Bound), Fanrui Sha ‘19,
Ben Mitchell ‘18 (Pitzer), and Professor Johnson

41

Van Hecke Lab

Daphne Guo ‘19, Professor Van Hecke,
and Hannah Slocumb ‘19

The general theme of the research in the Van Hecke lab is the study of liquids, the
physical chemistry of liquids, particularly liquid crystals and binary mixtures of alcohols
and hydrocarbons.

Van Hecke-Karukstis Lab

The joint project supervised by both
Professor Van Hecke and Professor
Karukstis explored the self-assembly of
amphiphilic chromonic dyes with dual
hydrophilic and hydrophobic character to
create complex hierarchical structure via
intermolecular interactions.

Professor Van Hecke, Liya Zhu ‘19,
and Professor Karukstis

42

Van Heuvelen Lab

Professor Van Heuvelen, Rilke Griffin ‘18, Christopher Ye ‘19 , Brandon Wada ‘20,
and Valerie Rodriguez (Upward Bound)

The Van Heuvelen lab uses a combination of synthesis, spectroscopy, reactivity studies, and
computational chemistry to understand how important reactions occur in biological systems,
and they use this understanding in the development of new catalysts.

Van Ryswyk Lab

The Van Ryswyk lab does fundamental materials chemistry research on photovoltaics,
aiming to improve the efficiency of cells constructed from low-cost materials that can be
applied to large-area surfaces.

43

Vosburg Lab

Geneva Miller ‘18 Johnson Hoang ‘20, Professor Vosburg, and Emily Shimizu ‘20
As organic chemists inspired by biology, researchers in the Vosburg laboratory pursue
biomimetic and green strategies in syntheses of medicinal natural products or related
complex structures. Their biomimetic approaches are inspired by consideration of how
these molecules may be created in nature. When possible, they seek green methods that
reduce the energy, waste, and time required to produce these elegant molecules.

44

Summer Field Trip to Materia

45

Summer Field Trip to Materia
Following a seminar presentation by Materia
Research Chemist, John Phillips, summer research
students boarded a bus to tour Materia in Pasadena.
This experience provided our majors with a broader
understanding of the field of chemistry and potential

careers within the discipline.

46

Carla Becker ‘18

The 2017 Undergraduate Research Symposium, sponsored by the MolES Institute offered in
partnership with the UW Undergraduate Research Program Office, provides a forum for

students to present their undergraduate research, learn about the evolving field of molecular
engineering from UW faculty and graduate students, and examine the connection between

research and education with other undergraduate researchers working in science and
engineering.

Carla Becker ‘18

Characterization of the Huntingtin Aggregation Pathway via Single-Molecule and Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
47

Around Claremont

48

Nelson Series — Kevin Esvelt ‘04

We welcomed Kevin Esvelt '04 back to campus to give a talk in our Nelson Series focused
on "Citizen Science." An absolutely inspiring evening! Congratulations, Kevin, on your

scientific achievements, your willingness to challenge the traditional ways of doing science,
and your commitment to engaging the public as key decision-makers in our shared
environments.

49

Chemistry Alumna Inducted into CMS Hall of Fame

Harvey Mudd College chemistry alumna Kristina Orosz ’04 has been inducted into the
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2017.
The best overall thrower the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(SCIAC) has ever had, male or female, Orosz is the only thrower in conference history
to place in all four throwing events (the shot put, discus, javelin and hammer) each of
her four years as an Athena. During her track and field career, Orosz was honored as
both the Harvey Mudd Alumni Association Outstanding Athlete of the Year, and voted
by her teammates as the MVP while a junior and senior.
Within the SCIAC, she earned 16 All-Conference performances and four SCIAC cham-
pionships, and scored the second highest number of points in Athena history in dual
meets. As an NCAA competitor, she qualified for the NCAA Championships for three
years (as a sophomore, junior and senior) and topped off her senior year with an All-
American placement in the hammer.
After graduating from Harvey Mudd with a degree in chemistry, Orosz went into the
analytical chemistry graduate program at the University of Arizona and received her
PhD in 2011. She’s now a senior scientist at Ventana Medical Systems Inc. in Tucson,
Arizona.
Orosz attended the induction ceremony held Saturday, Nov. 11, at Claremont McKen-
na College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. This year’s class represents all three
CMS colleges and the CMS head coaching ranks: Lea Crusey (CMC ’03 – Women’s La-
crosse), John Michael Cham-A-Koon (CMC ’04 – Men’s Tennis), Orosz (HMC ’04 –
Track and Field), Diane Noonan Eichler (SCR ’90 – Women’s Soccer) and Dez Farnady
(Head Coach – Men’s Swim and Dive/Men’s Water Polo).
There are now 124 members in the Hall of Fame, and this year’s class marks the 27th
Hall of Fame induction class in CMS history.

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