A Message from the Chair
As I write this message, Cornell University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology are preparing to celebrate the graduating Class of 2024. While much has changed in the four years since the pandemic impacted many of these students’ final year of high school, we are facing new challenges that continue to test their strength, determination, and resilience. I am happy to say that from my perspective our students continue rising to these challenges, often succeeding beyond our high expectations.
Welcome to the Spring 2024 edition of C&CB News, the Newsletter for the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. In the stories included in this communication, we turn our attention to the many successes of our students, both undergraduate and graduate, who have been recognized for their many accomplishments during their time at Cornell University. Please read on to learn more about these outstanding achievements.
Beyond that, we will also highlight some of the exciting research being conducted in the Department. In this edition, I would like to turn your attention toward exciting research that could benefit the environment, as well as other efforts taking place in the department that could positively impact medicine. I am thrilled to share the cutting-edge and impactful research conducted by our faculty and students with you.
I would also like to congratulate our many faculty who were recognized for excellence in their fields this past year. Cynthia Kinsland, Sr. Lecturer of Chemistry, was awarded the Stephen J. Weiss Teaching Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to our educational and teaching mission. Professor Peter Wolczanski, George W and Grace L Todd Professor, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, while Professor Peng Chen, Peter J.W. Debye Professor, was elected to the Arts and Sciences Academy. Professor Nozomi Ando was honored with the Mildred Cohn Young Investigator Award for her contributions to the field of protein dynamics, while Professor Pamela Chang received the ACS Infections Diseases Young Investigator Award for her work in understanding biochemical activity in enzymes and their impact on health and disease. Professor Kyle Lancaster received the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry Early Career Award and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his research efforts. Finally, two of our faculty, Professor Song Lin, Tisch University Professor, and myself, Professor Tristan Lambert, William T. Miller Professor, were awarded the Cope Scholar Award for contributions to organic chemistry.
I am most happy to report new additions to our faculty. In July we were joined by Assistant Professor Eric Thiede, a theoretical chemist who is looking to develop and apply new computational tools to advance our understanding of protein motion and function. In January, Assistant Professor Youn Jue (Eunice) Bae joined our ranks. Eunice has hit the ground running and is focused on the high-level goal of understanding the interaction between electron spins and excitons, phonons, and magnons in solid-state materials and then applying this understanding to dynamically control magnetization. Finally, this coming July we will welcome Assistant Professor Yao Yang whose research program will focus on analytic electrochemistry. These are three exciting hires, and we look forward to seeing them develop their research programs here in the Department.
Sadly, this past year was not without loss. Professor Frank DiSalvo, Emeritus, passed away in October. Frank was an exceptional colleague and brilliant scientist. His work ranged from chemistry and materials science to energy and physics as he studied the synthesis of solid-state materials. Ultimately, his work led to discoveries that enabled advances in fuel cell and battery technology. While the department benefited from his research efforts, his efforts on behalf of the University led him to develop and direct the organization that is now known as the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
In closing, I would like to recognize Dr. Dayal T. Meshri, whose generous gift allowed us to renovate Baker 200. One of the largest lecture halls on campus, this room had not been updated in many years. Dr. Meshri provided us with the gift that enabled us to modernize this space to create a spectacular lecture hall that can meet the needs of teaching both now and into the future. The Meshri Family Auditorium has been in use since the start of the Fall Semester, and it is hugely appreciated by both faculty and students.
I am happy to report that we are doing well and our future is filled with the promise of success and growth.
As always, I hope that you enjoy this newsletter, and I look forward to your feedback.
Sincerely,
Tristan Lambert
Department Chair
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