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.
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