UMBC Chemistry and BioChemistry - Announcements for 2008

posted Apr 22,2008

Congratulations to Michael Summers, Chemistry Biochemistry department and HHMI Investigator, for his issued U.S. patent #7,361,459, entitled "Antiviral Inhibition of Capsid Proteins". This invention provides methods for evaluating the antiviral activity of test compounds. To view this patent it its entirety, go to www.uspto.gov, and click on Patents, or click on the direct address below.

If you would like more information on patents, copyrights, or start up companies, visit the Office of Technology Development's website at www.umbc.edu/otd.

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Dr. Seley-Radtke's State Dept work highlighted in Science

posted Apr 22,2008

I am pleased to report that Prof. Seley-Radtke and her recent work as a Jefferson Science Fellow with the U.S. State Department are covered in this Science story out today. Written by Washington DC Science Writers Association president Brian Vastag, the article examines fellowships that help scientists get more involved with shaping national and local policies. It quotes Prof. Seley-Radtke along with the dean of engineering at Dartmouth and a recent doctoral graduate from Harvard.

Congratulations to Prof. Seley-Radtke for such well-deserved recognition!

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Senior Chris Sims wins Milligan Graduate Fellowship

posted Apr 22,2008

Christopher M. Sims, a senior chemistry student in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is the winner of the Dolphus E. Milligan Graduate Fellowship.

The Milligan Fellowship is focused on increasing the number of African-Americans in the chemical sciences. It includes a $30,000 annual stipend, plus tuition, for each of two years to support graduate study at the University of Maryland in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a 10-week internship within the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL) at the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) during the summer that precedes the beginning of graduate studies.

Dr. Daniel awarded career development grant

posted Mar 31,2008

Congratulations go out to Dr. Marie-Christine Daniel for being selected as one of only five recipients for an AACR career development award this year. Dr. Daniel will be constructing multifunctional nanoparticles to target malignant pancreatic cells. Her work should lead to a dramatic increase in potency and efficacy in pancreatic cancer, while reducing side effects. Best of luck in this exciting research.

The Department Welcomes Stephen Mang

posted Mar 06,2008

Stephen Mang will be joining the department in august as an instructor for the analytical and p-chem labs. Steve will be completing his Ph.D. in chemistry from UC Irvine, where he won the Department of Chemistry's teaching award for 2006-2007. Please give Steve a warm welcome.

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The Department Welcomes Dr. Elsa Garcin

posted Mar 06,2008

Dr. Elsa Garcin will be joining the faculty in August from the Scripps Research Institute's Department of Molecular Biology. Dr. Garcin comes with extensive experience in protein expression and purification, Mass-spec and crystallography. If you'd haven't yet and would like to introduce yourself prior to her arrival, Elsa's e-mail is: elsag@scripps.edu Please wish her a warm welcome.

Online Textbook Adoption for Summer 2008

posted Feb 25,2008

By request of the bookstore, all textbook adoptions should be done online. Follow the link to register for a secure account and password. The deadline for submitting adoptions for summer is 4/4/08
To accomodate the switch, please join the Bookstore textbook staff for a workshop to learn how to use the online adoption system. Bring your book adoption information and we can guide you through the steps of the process.

The workshop will be:

Wednesday, April 02, 2008
12:00 PM

Engineering 333

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New functions added to Chemistry homepage

posted Feb 19,2008

New links and functions have been added to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry's homepage. Direct access to safety training videos, MSDS, lab inspection and hazardous wast removal sheets, funding sites and room scheduling and all available. The links are located under the general information tab on the front page and then administrative resources. We will be adding additional links and downloadable forms as the need arises. If you have a suggestion, please contact Dennis Cuddy at cuddy@UMBC.edu

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UMBC mourns the loss of Bob Steiner

posted Jan 15,2008

Robert F. Steiner, a retired professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, died of a heart attack Dec. 30th at his Ellicott City home. He was 81.

Born in Manila, the Philippines, and raised in Texas, he received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University. He served in the Army in the 1940s. He conducted scientific research and served as chief of the physical biochemistry lab at the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda until 1970. In 1966, he received the Department of Defense's Superior Civilian Achievement Award.

From 1970 until his 1995 retirement, he was a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMBC. He served as a department chairman from 1974 to 1982.

In 1991, he was made a Fellow of the Society for the Promotion of Science. He was also a private pilot and Civil Air Patrol member for 25 years. After retiring, Dr. Steiner worked for Amnesty International as a member of Chapter 228 and for Howard County Friends of Latin America.He also liked to spend time writing and painting. He published several books of his short stories. Steiner donated his body to medical science.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, the former Ethel Fisher; two daughters; Victoria Elizabeth Steiner-Larson of Woodstock and Laura Ann Bush of Birmingham, Ala.; and nine grandchildren.