Chemistry Faculty Mentors
Curtis J. Czerwinski
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Research involves the discovery of new organometallic reactions and the
synthesis of organometallic molecules that mimic industrially important
catalysts. Students will use vacuum line techniques to synthesize new
air-sensitive organometallic molecules and study their structure and
rearrangements with infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy. For more information see:
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/czerwinski/research.htm
.
Sandy Grunwald
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research program focuses on the study of metalloproteins in bacterial
systems. The current project is characterizing the relationship between
the iron-storage protein, ferritin, and iron-containing protein,
nitrogenase, in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii.
For additional information go to her web site
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/grunwald/
or e-mail her at
grunwald.sand@uwlax.edu
Adrienne P. Loh
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research program is centered on peptide and protein structure and
dynamics. In particular, the focus is on the relationship between
molecular environment, structure, and the physical forces that drive
protein stability and function. Students have the opportunity to work
with state-of-the-art instrumentation, prepare the molecules of
interest, and present their work at local and national conferences. For
further information, visit:
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/loh/html_files/research/ResearchInterests.htm
.
Rob McGaff
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research in his group is focused on finding rational synthetic routes to
solid-state compounds in response to technological demands for such
materials. They concentrate on the synthesis of transition metal
compounds that are constructed by linking metal atoms with
multifunctional ligands, which are chemical entities that can attach to
two different metals at the same time, thus connecting them. They are
particularly interested in nitriles and borate fragments as potential
ligands for linking transition metals, concentrating especially on
rhenium, nickel, copper, platinum, vanadium, and chromium. For more
information go to his web site at
http://perth.uwlax.edu/chemistry/mcgaff/McGaff.htm
or e-mail him at
mcgaff.robe@uwlax.edu .
Ronald D. McKelvey
Professor of Chemistry
Identification of compounds from medicinal plants of Nepal. NMR
spectroscopy and other methods are used to identify compounds isolated
by Nepalese collaborators from medicinal plants. A wide variety of
natural products have been identified.
http://www.uwlax.edu/chemistry/mckelvey/mckelv.htm
.
Aaron Monte
Professor of Chemistry
My research interests lie in two main areas of medicinal chemistry: 1.)
Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR) of Psychedelic Agents. Novel drug
molecules are synthesized with the goal of better understanding the role
of serotonin in brain biochemistry, certain types of mental dysfunction,
and human consciousness in general. Ultimately, we hope to better define
the nature of the (bio)chemical link to altered states of consciousness.
2.) Discovery of Novel Drug Molecules from Native American Herbal
Remedies. Plants used effectively in ancient, traditional healing
practices by Wisconsin Native Americans provide an excellent starting
point for the discovery new drug molecules. We seek to extract, purify,
and characterize the biologically active molecules from a variety of
medicinal plants with the ultimate goal of discovering new antibiotic
and other drug therapies. For additional information, email:
monte.aaro@uwlax.edu or see:
http://www.uwlax.edu/chemistry/monte/monte.htm
.
Todd M. Weaver
Associate Professor of Chemistry
His research is focused in two main areas. The first uses the hemolysin
system from Proteus mirabilis to characterize the activation of
bacterial toxins during pore formation. The second aims to characterize
the recruitment of low-barrier hydrogen bonds during enzyme catalysis.
Both areas of research utilize a combination of molecular biology,
steady-state kinetics and X-ray crystallography to assist our endeavors.
Students in the laboratory have presented their results locally at
UW-L's Celebration of Research and Creativity and nationally at the
National Conference on Undergraduate Research. For additional
information, email:
weaver.todd@uwlax.edu.
