Chemistry News

August 2024 

Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences welcomes new tenure-track Chemistry faculty – Dr. Susan Citrak (Assistant Professor, Inorganic Chemistry) and Dr. Ali Abbaspourtamijani (Assistant Professor, Physical Chemistry)!

Congratulations to the Student Award Recipients for 2024-2025

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award - Meghan Crump

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award - Zaire Fabian

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award - Michaela Burkhauser

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award - Korey Kihm

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry - Andrew Wise

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award - Fatemeh Nasirivarzeghani

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award - Alexis Marsico

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry - Myrissa Norton

ACS Student Chapter Award - Korey Kihm

ACS Inorganic Division - George Kerg

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry - Christopher Dunn

ACS Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry - Korey Kihm

George Carl “Barney” Rumberg, Jr. Scholarship - Justin Tucker

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti Scholarship - Graham Seditz

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry - Andrew Wise, Zoe Finsley, Destiney Corbett, and Madison Vardavas

Dr. Leonard B. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship - Emily Cappelli

Dr. Ralph and Helen Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry - Christopher Dunn

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry (Undergraduate) - Alexander Depinto

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Medical School Award - Kaya Russell

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Scholarship (Graduate)  - Korey Kihm  

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award - Ramsha Anwer and Abbey Strohmeyer

Dr. James & Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry - Abbey Strohmeyer

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry -  Jerome Atizia, Winny Ngoje, and Daniel Zink

04/12/2023

Congratulations to the Student Award Recipients for 2023-2024

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award -  Kaya Russel

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award - Taylor Barber

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award - Alexis Marsico

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award - Kaya Russel

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry - Jeremy Moore

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award - Anthony Meranto

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award - Victoria Messuri

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry - Audrey Hostetler

ACS Student Chapter Award - Taylor Barber

ACS Inorganic Division - Nicholas Fromel

George Carl “Barney” Rumberg, Jr. Scholarship - Alexis Chiandussi 

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti Scholarship - Graham Seditz

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry - Jordan L. Jones

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry - Henry Brew,Nicholas Stworzydlak, Andrew Wise, Zoe Finsley, and George Kindinis

Dr. Leonard B. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship - Emily Cappelli

Dr. Ralph and Helen Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry - George Kerg and Husni Majid

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry (Undergraduate) - Alexis Marsico

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Medical School Award - Julianna Sandine

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Scholarship (Graduate)  - Daniel Zink

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award - Moses Dogho, Cody Weidner, and Van Nguyen

Dr. James & Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry - Nicholas Fromel

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry -  Ramsha Anwer, Sandra Boakye, Zaire Fabian, and Cody Weidner

 

01/10/2023

Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Arntsen for being awarded tenure with promotion to Associate Professor and Dr. Doug Genna for being promoted to Full Professor.

05/11/2022

Congratulations to the Student Award Recipients for 2022-2023

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award - Korey Kihm

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award - Aurelia Moses

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award - Taylor S. Barber

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award - Kendall Bartels

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry - Cameron Watkins

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award - Ashley N. Davis

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award - Brooke Keller

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry - Taylor Barber

ACS Student Chapter Award - Alexcia Soto

ACS Inorganic Division -Neil A. Truslow

George Carl “Barney” Rumberg, Jr. Scholarship - Lauren Maciag

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti Scholarship - Julianna Sandine

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry - Mya Blanco

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry - Andrew Wise and Landon Farr

Dr. Leonard B. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship - Dominic Pavis

Dr. Ralph and Helen Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry - Victoria Messuri

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry - Neil A. Truslow

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Medical School Award - Khushbakht Shah

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Scholarship -Nicholas Fromel

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award - Brandi Gatte and Aurelia Moses

Dr. James & Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry - Moses Dogho

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry - Fred Motari, Silas Mathuku, Greesha Nandlal Majethia, and Van Nguyen


08/18/2021

Dr. Sherri Lovelace-Cameron is retiring after 26 years at YSU

Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your service, Sherri!


04/19/2021

Congratulations to the recipients of Student Awards in Chemistry for 2021 -2022

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award – Nicholas Fromel

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award – Thomas Drabison

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award – Ngan Thai

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award – Rocco Bruno

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry – Taylor Barber

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award – Catilyn Sapp

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award – Nathan Williams

ACS Student Chapter Award – Nathan Williams

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry – Anthony Romeo and Cole Sexton

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award – Wyatt Simmons and Benjamin Shoman

Dr. James & Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry – Van Nguyen

Dr. Ralph E. Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry – Vincent DelFratte and Brooke Keller

ACS Inorganic Division – Thomas Drabison

George Carl “Barney” Rumberg, Jr. Scholarship – Lauren Maciag

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry – Dustin L. Moffett

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry-Masters – Brea Tinsley

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry – Ben Shoman, Wyatt Simmons, Haron Omosa, Aurelia Moses

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry – John Chandler and Jeremy Moore

Dr. Leonard B. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Barber


12/3/2020

Congratulations to Sherri Lovelace-Cameron and Mike Serra

on achieving a 25th anniversary with Youngstown State University!


11/10/2020

Congratulations to YSU ACS Student Chapter

on receiving Commendable 2019-20 Award form National ACS as a special recognition on the basis of the chapter activities


10/15/2020

Congratulations to Peter Norris

on achieving a 25th anniversary with Youngstown State University!


09/05/2020

Chemistry Professor, student earn patent to help remove drugs from drinking water.

Doug Genna, associate professor of Chemistry, and Mariah DeFuria, a 2017 YSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, received Patent No. 10,450,205 last fall for designing a material, called YCM-101 (YCM = Youngstown Crystalline Material), that can bind and remove pharmaceuticals from water.


08/31/2020

Brea Tinsley, Biochemistry Major, Participated in Rutgers Summer 2020 Research Program Investigating SARS-CoV-2

Brea Tinsley, a senior majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Spanish and Mathematics, spent the past summer  remotely working at Rutgers  for the RCSB Protein Data Bank. Brea’s project this summer was focused on the structural and mutant analysis of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Read more about Brea’s experience.

Zoom call gallery


04/23/2020

Congratulations to the Student Awards recipients from the Department of Chemistry:

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award – Nathan Williams

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award – Dillon McBee

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award – Brandi Gatte

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award – Nicholas Kacir

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry – Ngan Thai

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award – Taylor Barber

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award – Brandi Gatte

ACS Student Chapter Award – Salam Picard

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry – Ngan Thai

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award – Marc Harper and Joseph Pallone

Dr. James & Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholar-ship in Chemistry –Wyatt J. Simmons

Dr. Ralph E. Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry – Nathan Williams and Yazan Adhami

ACS Inorganic Division – Sydney Livermore

George Carl “Barney” Rumberg, Jr. Scholarship – Cailey Tingler

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry – Swan Bleacher

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. DelBene Chemistry Scholarship – Nathan Williams

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry-Masters – Brandi Gatte

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry – Nancy Keter, James Malika, Charity Maosah, Haron Moasa

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry – Kaylee Ray and Isabelle Romo

Dr. Leonard B. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Barber


04/03/2020

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Serra – a recipient of Distinguished Professor Award 2019-2020 for Excellence in Service 


03/05/2020

Congratulations to Lisa DeVore – a recipient of 2019-2020 ACE Distinguished Service Award!


02/13/2020

Over thirty students and faculty came to the Chemistry Night that was organized by the YSU ACS Student Chapter in the Department of Chemistry. The main idea of the event was to bring together students interested in Chemistry and professors teaching the Chemistry courses. Faculty talked about various topics ranging from what Chemistry courses they took and liked the most as students to how to study more effectively. The fun activities included DIY Chemistry experiments that can be done at home and Chemistry themed Escape room.


8/19/2019

The department would like to welcome Ms. Janelle Russell as  new chemistry lecturer. Ms. Russell holds BS Chemistry and MS in Chemistry degrees from YSU.


5/22/2019

Congratulations to all of the award winners from Chemistry:

ACS Penn-Ohio Border Section Award – Brea Tinsley

Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemist Award – Robert Voland

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award – Kathryn Platt

Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award – Jordan Zackasee

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry – Brandi Gatte

CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award – Madeline Handel

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award – Dante DeChellis

ACS Student Chapter Award – Salam Picard

Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for UG Research in Chemistry – Monther Nassar

Dr. Eugene D. Scrudder Graduate Student Teaching Award – Joseph Pallone and Brian Stahl

Dr. James A. Reeder Graduate Scholarship – Audriy Jebet

Dr. Ralph E. Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry – Brea Tinsley and Brandi Gatte

Anthony, Elizabeth & Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Award in Chemistry (Graduate) – Robert Voland

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry – Marc Harper and James M. Omweri

Friedrich W. & Eva-Marie Koknat Undergraduate Award in Chemistry – Tristan Malvasia and Nicholas Kacir

Congratulations to Drs. Brian Leskiw and Nina Stourman for being awarded Distinguished Professor in Teaching Awards and Mr. Raymond Hoff for being awarded Distinguished Service Award


1/18/2019

Congratulations to Dr. Delbene, for the Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award

 


 

4/23/2018

Congratulations to all of the award winners from Chemistry.

American Chemical Society Award (Penn-Ohio Section)

Salam A. Picard
American Chemical Society Inorganic Division

Robert W. Voland
American Chemical Society Student Affiliates Award

Harley T. Parker
Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award

Milica Zivak
Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Graduate Student Teaching Award

Tara L. Pickens
Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Organic Chemistry Award

Monther M. Nassar
Dr. Irwin Cohen Scholarship for Undergraduate Research in Chemistry

Jordan L. Zackasee
Dr. James A. and Patricia S. Reeder Graduate Scholarship

Alissa Geisse
Dr. Ralph E. Yingst Scholarship in Chemistry

Nicholas E. Matsukas
Friedrich and Eva-Maria Koknat Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemistry

Maranda C. Liogas
Friedrich and Eva-Maria Koknat Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemistry

Tristan J. Malvasia
Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award

Marc A. Harper
Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry

Emilee Rogers
Dr. Eugene D. Scudder Physical Chemistry Award

Robert W. Voland
Friedrich W. & Eva Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry

MD Faruque Hasan
Friedrich W. & Eva Marie Koknat Graduate Award in Chemistry

Bernard L. Adjei

 


 

4/2/2018

Congratulations to the Chemistry’s Distinguished Professor Awards – Dr.  Peter Norris (teaching), Dr. Balendiran and Dr. Genna (scholarship) and APAS Distinguished Service Award, Tim Styranec

 


 

3/27/2018

Congratulations to Dr. Genna, being awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant totaling $293,943.  The award will fund a project entitled “RUI: Mechanistic Elucidation of the Formation of Secondary Building Units in Metal Organic Frameworks via Tandem Spectroscopic and Synthetic Approaches.”

 


 

2/23/2018

Caleb Tatabe, Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight: Caleb Tatebe

 


 

9/7/2017

An NIH award in the amount of $288,000 was awarded to the department.  Congratulations to Dr. Balindrian and his group.

 


 

8/21/2017

The department would like to welcome Dr.  Chris Arnsten as  new physical chemistry assistant professor.

Faculty Faction: Dr. Christopher Arntsen

 


 

7/27/2017

Dr. Delbene, Emeritus Faculty, has been recognized as a Selected Highly Prolific Author for the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

 


 

7/5/2017

Alumni Spotlight: Michael Bellas

Transforming the Future: Chemistry Graduate is Princeton-Bound

 


 

5/12/2017

Congratulations to Bill Synder who is retiring from Adjunct teaching in the Chemistry Department after nearly ten years, after having spent 30 as a high school teacher.  Good luck Bill.

 


 

5/8/2017

Congratulations to Sam Mock, Mariah Defuria, Mike Bellas, Alissa Geisse, Allision Guerrieri, Breanna Naylor, Tyler Pabst, and Cassandra Shaffer for graduating with their bachelor degrees in chemistry at Spring Commencement

 


 

5/8/2017

Congratulations to Cole Gasior for earning his MS in Chemistry

 


 

3/28/2017

Congratulations to Dr. Moser for being awarded a 2017  Teaching Excellence Award

Congratulations to Dr. John Jackson for being awarded a Distinguished Professor in Teaching Award