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
by Phillip Sheridan | Aug 7, 2024 | Staff
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted its 8th annual Summer Research Symposium on Friday, July 26, in the first-floor hallway of Horan O’Donnell.
Fourteen students presented posters on the latest results from their summer research projects in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry and physics. More than 70 students, faculty, alumni and family members attended the celebration of our student researchers.
Professor Emeritus Joseph F. Bieron ’59, PhD, who passed away in December 2023, was a champion of the department’s summer research program. During his nearly 40 year tenure, as a faculty member, Joe mentored numerous research students and, even after retiring, remained actively involved helping to raise funds in support of the program. To honor his legacy, the department officially named the symposium the Joseph F. Bieron PhD (’59), Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Symposium. Members of Joe’s family, including all five of his children, were present for the official naming of the symposium.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Feb 14, 2024 | Staff
Biochemistry major Jeb Braunscheidel received a grant to support his research into the synthesis of Rhytismatones A and B, in Professor Tim Gregg’s lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Jeb spent the summer of 2023 working on a novel synthesis procedure for these fungal-derived natural compounds that originated in a Canadian spruce forest. The molecules have a complicated dihydropyran-2-one structure, have never been synthesized before, and have interesting biological activity that can only be investigated further if a lab procedure makes them available in suitable quantity.
The award, from the Rochester Academy of Science (RAS), will help with materials needed to complete the synthesis that Jeb detailed in his proposal to RAS. Jeb’s research project was one of nine funded this year by the RAS Undergraduate Student Research Grant Fund. The Rochester Academy of Science is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, Professor and Chair, Chemistry and Biochemistry
by Phillip Sheridan | Jan 29, 2024 | Staff
Chemistry alumnus Ben Swanson ’17 recently completed the dual DDS/PhD program in the School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan. He’s now bringing a ‘clinician-engineer’ vision of scientific discovery and new technologies to clinical care.
His story is featured in the latest edition of UM Dentistry News. Click here to read the article.
Submitted by: Phil Sheridan, professor and chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
