www.aquinas.edu/science

Volume 2 Issue 3

Asafacultymember,ChuckchairedtheAcademicAssembly(severaltimes)andwasinstrumentalintheefforttoobtaintheBaldwinObservatory. DuringhistenureasExecutiveDirector,Chuckablyledthecampaigntoestablishanendowmentforstudentresearch,scholarshipsandequipmentupgrades.Todate,theScienceInitiativehasraisednearly$3.5milliontowardthateffort. TheScienceInitiativenowturnsitsattentiontoraisingfundstorenovateAlbertusHall.Chuck’sleadershipwillbemissedaswelaunchthenextphase.

Student Summer Research Issue

Summer 2010

Science Initiative NewsletterAquinas college

HavingservedasExecutiveDirectoroftheScienceInitiativeforthepastsevenyears,ChuckFrydrych‘63isretiring.

TheformerprofessorreceivedhisMaster’sdegreeinphysicsfromWesternMichiganUniversityandreturnedtoteachatAquinas,wherehetaughtphysics,BASICprogramming,photographyandastronomyfor40years. HiscolleaguesconsiderhimaRenaissancemanwhostudiedmanythingsandreportedlyspenthourssurfingtheinternet.

Science Initiative Executive Director Retires

NATURAL SCIENCE, NURSING AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION

FACULTY

Thomas Bahl, Ph.D.Robb Bajema, Ph.D

Kathy BashoreSheri Bertolone

Paul Bieneman, Ph.D.Melissa BouwsKaren Burritt

Li-Heng Chen, Ph.D.Yashowanto Ghosh, Ph.D.

Sr. Katrina Hartman, O.P. ‘64, Ph.D.Jennifer Hess, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Jensen, Ph.D.Suzanne Keep

Eugene Kozminski ‘72Shari Lewis ‘89

Sr. Ann Mason, O.P. ‘61Richard McCluskey, Ph.D.

Michael McDaniel ‘72, Ph.D.Jeffrey McKelvey, Ph.D.Summer Silvieus, Ph.D.Joseph Spencer, Ph.D.

Sr. Linda M. Thiel, O.P., Ph.D.Robi Thomas, Ph.D.

SCIENCE INTIATIVEADVISORY COMMITTEE

Co-ChairsRobert C. Boguslaski ‘62, Ph.D.

Thomas Zwier ‘76, Ph.D.

Robert Ampulski ‘64, Ph.D.David Baumgartner ‘79, M.D.

Ronald Carlotti ‘95, Ph.D.Sandy Cook ‘93

Larry Erhardt, Sr. ‘53E. Jane Freer ‘74Mark Meijer ‘80

Robert Niedzielski ‘58, Ph.D.James Resau, Ph.D.Phyllis Saganski ‘62

Darrell Thompson ‘52Luis Tomatis, M.D.

Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D.Jeroen Wagendorp ‘82, Ph.D.

2010 Mohler-Thompson Scholars and Faculty Pictured l. to r.: (back) Nate Poirier, Andrew Howard, Dr. Thomas Bahl, Dr. Elizabeth Jensen, Dr. Joseph Spencer (front) Dr. Jennifer Hess, Genny Kendall, Lauren Cichon, Tayler SpellisNot Pictured: Dr. Michael McDaniel

Summer 2010 Mohler-Thompson Research

Lauren Cichon – “Synthesis and Charac-terization of Ionic Liquid Crystal Compounds” (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Jensen) Liquidcrystalsarematerialswithstructures

intermediatebetweencrystallinesolidsandisotropicliquids.Theyfinduseinelectronicdevicessuchasdigitaldisplays.Thisprojectinvolvessynthesizingaseriesofcompoundsthatareexpectedtohaveliquidcrystallinephasetransitionsatrelativelylowtemperatures.Thecompoundsarecomposedofanorganicligandwithoneortwolongcarbontails,atransitionmetalion,andahalideion(chlorideorbromideion).Thesecompoundswillbecharacter-izedbyDifferentialScanningCalorimetryandFourierTransformInfraredSpectrometry,amongothertechniques.

Nate Poirier – Hyperbolic Versions of Classic Euclidean Constructions. (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael McDaniel. Nate is pictured with AQ Provost Dr. Chad Gunnoe) Alhazen’sbilliardconstructionwasprovedtobeimpossibleinEuclideangeometrywithcompassandstraightedge.Dr.McDanielandNatehavebeenexploringthehyperbolicconstructionoptions.

Andrew Howard – “Purifying and Character-izing Recombinant IdeZ and Associated Mutant Constructs and their Interaction with Cystatin C.” (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Hess)Thegoalofthisprojectistostudythecleavingeffectsofthestreptococcalenzyme,IdeZ,onhumanIgG,onetypeofantibodyinthehumanimmunesystem.Dr.HessandAndrewarealsoexploringtherelationshipbetweenthisenzyme’sability,andtheabilityofothermutantIdeZenzymesmadeinthelabpreviously,tocleaveIgGinthepresenceofcystatinc,acysteineproteaseinhibitor,whichhasbeenshowntoenhanceenzymaticactivityinpreviousstudies.

Genny Kendall – “Possible Recognition of Nest (Colony) Mates in the American Cockroach: Evidence for Memory in a Social Insect.” (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Bahl)Ithaslongbeenknownthat

group-livinginsectssuchasantsandhoneybeescanrecognizemembersofthesamecolony.However,thedataisscantonothertypesofinsectswhicharemanytimesfoundingroupsorcolonies.ThisprojectinvestigateswhethertheAmericancockroachshowsapreferenceforcolonymatesandifthispreferencemaybeinfluencedbysex.

Tayler Spellis – “K-Step Domination in Select Families of Graphs.” (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joseph Spencer)

TheScienceInitiativeNewsletterisdistributedelectronicallyandinprintthreetimesperyear.Sendinquiries,emailorUSMailaddresschanges,andcommentstoCindyDorman,(616)632-2836ordormacyn@aquinas.edu. Backissuescanbefoundatwww.aquinas.edu/science/newsletter.

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Formoreinformation,contact:Greg Meyer,VPforAdvancement

(616)632-2802greg.meyer@aquinas.edu