Nikos Bentenitis, assistant professor of chemistry, and 2011 chemistry graduate Nick Cox co-authored a paper that was published in the May 10 issue of the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation. The paper is titled “A Kirkwood-Buff Derived Force Field for Aqueous Alkali Halides.” Cox is now attending The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School.

Emily Niemeyer, professor of chemistry, and Eileen Kwee, a 2010 chemistry graduate, published a co-authored paper titled “Variations in phenolic composition and antioxidant properties among 15 basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars” in the Oct. 15 issue of Food Chemistry. The paper, which analyzes differences in the chemical composition of basil leaves among commercially available varieties, is based on Kwee’s capstone research.

Emily Niemeyer, professor of chemistry, gave an invited lecture at the American Chemical Society meeting held in Anaheim, Calif., March 27-31, titled “Effect of cultivar on the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).” The abstract included Southwestern graduate Eileen Kwee.

Five chemistry and biochemistry students also presented their research at the American Chemical Society meeting in Anaheim. Senior Tammy Nguyen, who is currently conducting an honors capstone with Gulnar Rawji, presented “DNA binding and photocleavage properties of dichloro‐2‐(2’‐pyridyl) benzimidazoleplatinum(II).” Senior Matthew Dorris presented “Synthesis and crystal structure of bis‐(N,N’‐dibenzylethane‐1,2‐diamine) copper(I) acetate.” Dorris conducted his research with Willis Weigand. Senior Julia Von Alexander presented “Effect of metal ions on DNA damage induced by photoactivated daunomycin” in collaboration with Maha Zewail-Foote. Sophomore Patrick Flanigan presented “Variations in anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties among 8 purple basil cultivars (Ocimum basilicum L.).” Senior Lauren Kjolhede presented “Identification of phenolic compounds in lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and lavender (Lavandula) by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS).”  Flanigan and Kjolhede conducted their research with Emily Niemeyer, professor of chemistry.

Willis Weigand, associate professor of chemistry, had an article titled “Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Bis-(N,N’-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine) cobalt(II) acetate” published in the Journal of Chemical Crystallography. The paper was co-authored by former student Tiffany Salazar.

Lynn Guziec, assistant professor of chemistry, received the second “Inspiring Hope” award presented by the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas, a nonprofit organization created by breast cancer survivors to support women who are newly diagnosed with the disease. The award was announced Oct. 13 during a stop of the national “Pink Heals Tour” in Georgetown. Read more here.

Emily Niemeyer, professor of chemistry, Eileen Kwee (chemistry graduate, 2010) and Phuong (Fern) Nguyen (chemistry graduate, 2009) recently published an article in the journal Food Chemistry (Volume 123, Issue 4, 15 December 2010, Pages 1235-1241). The article is titled “Potassium rate alters the antioxidant capacity and phenolic concentration of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves,” and focuses on research that Kwee and Nguyen conducted over several years while participating in the Chemistry Department’s Welch Summer Research Program.

Emily Niemeyer, professor of chemistry, has been awarded the first place 2010 Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Analytical Research Program grant. The one-year, $10,000 grant will support her research on the analysis of polyphenolic compounds in basil. Niemeyer will work with junior chemistry major Lauren Kjolhede, first-year biochemistry major Patrick Flanigan and Jennifer Brodbelt, professor of chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, to identify unknown basil polyphenols using metal complexation strategies with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The SACP awards two UARP grants annually to promote high-quality, innovative undergraduate research in the field of analytical chemistry.

Chemistry major Shannon Essler is attending the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, April 24-28. She will be presenting a poster titled “Characteristics of Patients Using Extreme Opioid Dosages in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain,” which stems from research she did during an internship at a family medicine clinic in Austin last summer. Essler has already presented her research at the Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and plans on presenting the work at the 2010 Central Texas Clinical Research Forum in Austin May 7.