by Phillip Sheridan | Apr 22, 2025 | Staff
Krit Marohn, general chemistry laboratory coordinator at Canisius, and Dr. Sherry Chemler, professor of Chemistry at UB, co-coordinators of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) for the WNY American Chemical Society (ACS) local section, invited all high school students residing in WNY to participate in the Chemistry Olympiad. Honeywell’s Buffalo Research Lab provides generous financial support for the Chemistry Olympiad competition in WNY.
The 2025 Local Exam was administered on March 15. There were 39 participants. The exam included 60 multiple choice questions covering general and organic chemistry.
The six top performing students on the 2025 local exam were invited to participate in the 2025 national exam, which was administered at Canisius University on April 5. This exam included 60 multiple choice questions, eight explanation questions, and two laboratory practical experiments also covering general and organic chemistry.
The 20 top scoring students on the national exam are invited to spend two weeks at a study camp in June to undergo rigorous training for the international exam. Based on their performance, four students are chosen to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad. This year’s International Chemistry Olympiad will take place in July in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. These four international competitors are accompanied by mentors who translate the test, inspect laboratories and arbitrate the score of the exams. Students and mentors also have opportunities to interact with one another and experience the host country’s culture through planned educational and social events.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Apr 10, 2025 | Staff
The Canisius Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted the 2025 Western New York American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday April 5, with Professor Tim Gregg serving as chair of the symposium organizing committee.
The symposium began with a keynote address, “Greasing the Protein Gears: Harnessing Lipidation for Next-Generation Biomaterials and Therapeutics” by Davoud Mozhdehi, associate professor of chemistry at Syracuse University.
Following the keynote address, undergraduate students from 12 universities in Western New York delivered six oral and 29 poster presentations describing their research projects. Eight Canisius chemistry and biochemistry majors presented posters on their most recent research accomplishments.
Since 2008, this symposium has showcased undergraduate research in chemistry and biochemistry conducted in Western New York, an experiential learning opportunity that is frequently cited as a critical activity leading to success in careers in the sciences and the health professions.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Feb 4, 2025 | Staff
Chemistry ACS major Alex Szczepankiewicz ’26 has been awarded an Undergraduate Student Research Grant from the Rochester Academy of Science for his proposal “Haloperoxidase Biomimicry: Toward the Generation of Electrophilic Species Utilizing Xerogel-Based Transition Metal Catalysts.” This grant will help support Alex’s continuing research in the laboratory of Prof. Corey Damon in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Alex will be investigating the catalytic performance of a variety of xerogel-based transition-metal catalysts toward the generation of hypohalous acids. The production of hypohalous acids is of particular interest in the marine antifouling industry, which protects ships and boats from the settlement organisms that can impair performance and compromise their structural integrity.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Nov 21, 2024 | Staff
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is saddened to share the news that Professor Emeritus Frank J. Dinan passed away on Oct. 14 at the age of 90.
Frank received his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University at Buffalo in 1965 and started his career as a faculty member at Canisius in the same year. Frank taught organic chemistry in the department for 45 years. He also taught courses in the All-College Honors Program. Frank was an outstanding professor and scientist, and an inspiration to generations of students. He was always kind, encouraging and caring, and possessed a deep and wonderful humanistic view of life. Frank was a pioneer in the development and implementation of collaborative teaching methods, earning the Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award in part for these efforts. Always quick with a joke, he had at least five on any subject and could put a smile on anyone’s face. Frank’s multiple “letters to the editor” published by the Buffalo News spanned a range of topics mostly related to how proposed changes could result in the betterment of society and the human condition. Frank loved teaching and life, and it showed. He was also a most avid reader, delving into such topics as the origins of the English language and quantum physics. A lifelong Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees fan, Frank could quote stats and team history with the best of them. Although we mourn his passing, the lessons he taught us will always be remembered.
Read Frank Dinan’s obituary in the Buffalo News.
Submitted by: Phillip Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Nov 21, 2024 | Staff
Professor Timothy Gregg of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is the recipient of the 94th Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medal. The Schoellkopf Medal is presented by the Western New York local section of the American Chemical Society in honor of chemical industry entrepreneur Jacob F. Schoellkopf, founder of National Aniline Works. It is the oldest ACS local section award. Tim was selected for this honor “in recognition of his outstanding dedication to teaching and mentoring and his selfless service to the Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society.” The society presented Gregg with the award at a dinner banquet at the Hotel at the Lafayette in Buffalo on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
During his time at Canisius, Tim has taught the sophomore Organic Chemistry I and II courses, Intermediate Organic Chemistry, Seminar, and Spectrometric Analysis, among others. He has also mentored more than 25 chemistry and biochemistry majors in his research lab. Several of these students have been co-authors on research publications with Tim and have since completed doctorates in organic chemistry or are practicing MDs. Tim has served in numerous roles in the WNY ACS. He has been the editor of the WNY ACS newsletter, the Double Bond, since 2005, served on the Undergraduate Research Symposium Committee since its inception, hosted the event at Canisius three times, and has served on the Schoellkopf Medal nominating committee a record number of times.
Tim joins the company of other Schoellkopf Medal recipients from the Canisius faculty, Prof. Ray Anino (1983) and Prof. Joseph Bieron ’59 (1993), and Canisius chemistry alumni Thomas Dougherty ’57 (1998), David Nalewajek ’74 (2003) and David Hangauer ’74 (2021).
Above, Tim Gregg (center) is presented with the Schoellkopf Medal.
Above, Canisius Chemistry and Biochemistry students and faculty celebrate Tim Gregg being awarded the Schoellkopf Medal.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry
