chem-news | College of Science

Two New Department Chairs

June 19, 2025

Aurora Clark

Aurora Clark

Aurora Clark has been announced as the new chair of the Department of Chemistry at the U beginning July 1, replacing interim chair Peter Armentrout. She brings to the role computational expertise, interdisciplinary leadership experience and a commitment to protecting scientific innovation.

"I've had roles that are adjacent to being a chair, and am excited to expand upon those experiences," she explains, referencing her previous positions as director of an interdisciplinary materials science and engineering Ph.D. program and of a high-performance computing center. Most recently, she helped establish the Joint Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology between Pacific Northwest National Lab and Washington State University where she was on faculty before arriving in Utah.

‘A couple fires and one explosion’

Clark's journey began in a very rural area, where "the nearest hospital was an hour and a half away." Raised by a mother who was a spinner, weaver and natural fiber artist, Clark jokes, "My mom was a dye chemist." Paired with her education in a Montessori School, her unusual if not unconventional upbringing proved formative. " I think that background inspired a lot of creative thought, curiosity and adventurous spirit," she says.

Her path toward computational work was in part propelled by memorable laboratory mishaps. As an undergraduate at Central Washington University, Clark started in synthetic organic chemistry but had "a couple fires and one explosion." A summer research experience at University of Southern California reinforced this message when she accidentally created dangerously explosive frozen oxygen. “So really, the universe told me, in many, many ways, that my love of chemistry had to be manifested using computers."

Allaying separation anxieties

Today, Clark leads groundbreaking research in chemical separations of critical minerals and nuclear materials. "The 15 lanthanide elements that make up most critical materials have similar chemical reactivity and often occur in mixtures with each other," Clark explains. "However, the differences in the way their electrons are arranged leads to important uses as high-field magnets in electronics or as qubits in quantum computers. Separating one lanthanide element from others, or from complex mixtures that like E-waste, is notoriously challenging."

What sets Clark's work apart is her innovative approach to data analysis. Her team develops "physics informed data analysis and data science" tools that are specifically adapted for the high dimensional and time dependent data found in chemical processes, rather than applying generic analytical approaches.

Modeling chemical processes on a computer provides crucial molecular-level insights that are often impossible to obtain experimentally. Such modeling can be particularly valuable when studying radioactive materials, allowing researchers to use computers to "decrease the number of experiments that need to be done and increase the safety of experimental scientists."

Innovation first

Clark brings a thoughtful approach to balancing research with administrative responsibilities. Her lab emphasizes mentorship infrastructure, and she sees her term as chair as protecting the broader scientific enterprise. "It is my job to support faculty who are feeling existential pressure to their research programs, to create an infrastructure that safeguards the incredible science that's being done in our department and ensure the training and education of the next generation of scientists and citizens," she states.

In the current climate, when U researchers are being asked to shorten gestation times of research and move towards applications and commercializing quicker, Clark notes that "innovation in science can be unpredictable — unexpected insight and serendipity can require knowledge and an interdisciplinary perspective that is learned on the decade timescale. Commercialization based on short-term wins can be necessary, but without longer-term intellectual investment is unsustainable.” Her leadership approach is grounded in values from her rural upbringing: curiosity, bravery, and resilience. "There's a lot of bravery that's involved in being a scientist, to learn we must be fearless in the face of the unknown." ~David Pace

Gabriel Bowen

Gabe Bowen

From tracking the routes of water throughout the West to determining the levels of carbon in the Paleocene, Gabriel "Gabe" Bowen’s research into isotopes extends into a variety of critical research paths. He assumes the position of chair in Geology & Geophysics July 1, replacing interim chair Kip Solomon.

“One of the really cool things about isotope geochemistry is that it really crosses disciplinary boundaries,” Bowen says. “It’s a subfield that grew out of earth science, geology and geochemistry, but it’s useful in everything from forensic science to water research to planetary science.”

Bowen grew up in rural Michigan and spent his childhood outdoors, which grew his love of nature and the earth. He received his bachelor’s in geology at the University of Michigan and went to UC Santa Cruz for a PhD in earth science. Bowen came to the U as a postdoc before joining Purdue University as a faculty member for seven years. He returned to the U through the Global Change and Sustainability Center and is now Professor of Geology & Geophysics and Co-Director of the Stable Isotope Facility for Environmental Research (SIRFER).

Recipient of a College of Science Excellence in Research Award, Bowen founded the Spatio-Temporal Isotope Analytics (SPATIAL) Lab, which uses stable isotope techniques to look at a lot of different areas of application of isotope geochemistry. “Isotope science has been kind of limited by our ability to make measurements,” says Bowen.

The SPATIAL Lab

The SPATIAL group has pushed forward uniting isotope geoscience with data science, which helps facilitate data sharing within and between fields of study. This data can then be leveraged to tackle bigger systems questions.

One focus of work within the SPATIAL group is reconstructing Earth’s climate through its geologic past and using that data to see changes in climate, ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles, which can then be compared to modern day. The SPATIAL group is also studying how natural cycles operate today, such as the water cycle. Additionally, they also study spatial conductivity, or movement of things on the Earth’s surface, such as water, people, plants, and products.

One example is by using isotopes, Bowen looks at where plants are getting water from in the subsurface of the earth, which can show the stability of water supply within a community and help predict how water resources will change due to climate change.

“There’s an intimate coupling between the physical and biological processes that constitute a system,” Bowen says. “Isotopes are a common currency. The elements and isotopes that go through the water cycle or rock cycle are the same ones that go into an elephant or ponderosa pine. We can really bridge the gap and understand the connection across these spheres.”

Contextualizing current and future trends

“The Earth’s been through a lot,” Bowen says. “There’s a lot of context that shows how unusual what’s happening right now is. We’re pushing the climate system and carbon cycle much faster than it’s ever gone at any point in the geologic record.”

Bowen’s climate change research includes tracking the sources of water, such as where water originates before it makes its way to southern California. The isotopes of water in the Imperial Valley in California look more like isotopes in Colorado water than in water elsewhere in southern California. Most of the Imperial Valley water is irrigation water diverted from the Colorado River. The irrigation water becomes wastewater from irritation because of overwatering, and then it enters the groundwater. This has implications when agricultural runoff affects groundwater, as it could contain pesticides and other chemicals used in agricultural work.

The SPATIAL lab runs an annual summer course for graduate students, which provides training and experience in large-scale, data-intensive, geochemically oriented research. The course consists of a discussion and lecture in the morning, delivered by specialists in the field. Laboratory experiences introduce new techniques and hands-on learning.

“We live in a pretty amazing place for geology,” Gabriel Bowen says. He appreciates the geology of Utah from the air, as an amateur pilot. He flies a Cessna 182, mostly for geology sightseeing. He also participates in charity flying, taking people around Antelope Island for sightseeing of the Great Salt Lake. “I try to take my scientist and artist friends out to see things from a different perspective.” ~ CJ Siebeneck

Humans of the U: Marlon Lopez

May 2, 2025

Marlon Lopez, in his graduation regalia at the popular "Block U" on campus

Language and culture have always been important in my family and integral to my upbringing and life at home. I was born in the U.S. My parents immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in 2002, looking for employment and educational opportunities and to escape gang violence.

Throughout my childhood in Salt Lake City, my mom shared stories about El Salvador and the sacrifices my grandparents made to break the cycle of generational poverty. My grandma from the age of 8 registered herself for school. Before school she would have to pick fruit to help her family and walk 3 hours to and from school. She would eventually finish high school. As an adult and mother, she sold fruit to supplement the family income and to afford clothes for her children. My abuela’s commitment to building a better future for her own children, and future grandchildren, was unwavering. My mom would use her as proof that education, hard work and kindness were the way to succeed in life. My parents never let me forget those sacrifices.

My grandma lived in El Salvador but would come visit while I us growing up. My grandmother was treated at the Huntsman cancer hospital in 2002 for breast cancer and because of this she was able to live many more years before passing away in October 2023. Contributing to the science that helped my abuela live a healthier life was a factor that inspired me to get involved in breast cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI).

As a first-generation college student, my University of Utah experience has had its challenges. I needed to seek out guidance on how to find resources, like scholarships, campus jobs and tutoring support for difficult courses. While these are real challenges, thankfully there are plenty of resources and opportunities and it’s not too hard to find them.

I have worked in two research labs at HCI, starting with the Kirchhoff Group. In February at the Utah Capitol, I presented results from my work on breast cancer in the Welm Labs at Research on Capitol Hill and also presented at the National Human Genome Research Institute conference in Seattle, Wash. Research has furthered my science knowledge and was really doable for me, because I was able to get paid.

Hard work, and valuing education and culture is part of who I am. Thanks to my parents prioritizing speaking Spanish at home, I have been able to give back as a Spanish interpreter at the Maliheh Free Clinic. The experience reinforced my passion for medicine and my commitment to helping underserved communities.

Some of my favorite memories of the U of U will be the professors who passed on their passion and curiosity for science and the abundant opportunities students have to get involved in research, teaching (as a learning or teaching assistant), the scholarship and work opportunities, and the many clubs that help you find community. I hope to become a physician where, in the words of my abuela, he hopes to use my “voice to advocate for those who are unheard.

by Marlon Lopez
Class of 2025 B.S. in biology, minor in chemistry

This story originally appeared in @The U.

2025 Rosenblatt Prize, Chemist Henry White

May 2, 2025

A former dean of the College of Science and chairman of the Department of Chemistry, White has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success and is credited with transforming general chemistry education at the U, all the while shepherding the college’s physical expansion and producing world-class basic research that has led to innovations in drug delivery, biosensing and nanotechnology.

“Professor White has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success and is credited with transforming general chemistry education at the U, all the while shepherding the college’s physical expansion and producing basic research that has led to innovations in drug delivery, biosensing and nanotechnology,” said Taylor Randall, University of Utah president. “His leadership as dean and chair have been transformative for the College of Science and Department Chemistry, advancing their world-class research reputations, expanding their educational mission and reimagining philanthropic giving.”

The Rosenblatt Prize is the University of Utah’s highest faculty accolade and is presented annually to a faculty member who transcends ordinary teaching, research and administrative contributions. A group of distinguished faculty members on the Rosenblatt Prize Committee recommends esteemed colleagues for consideration and the university’s president makes the final selection.

About Henry White

Henry White

A leading figure in electrochemistry, White is best known for exploring how electrical processes behave at incredibly small (nanoscale) dimensions, according to distinguished professor of chemistry Cynthia Burrows. His work has shed light on how electric fields at surfaces affect the behavior of molecules attached to those surfaces, discoveries that are important for many devices from sensors to batteries.

“Henry excels in every category of our profession, as an educator and a scholar, and as a leader and colleague,” wrote Burrows, herself the 2019 Rosenblatt laureate, in her letter of nomination. “In his 32 years at the U, he has grown a vibrant research program in experimental and theoretical electrochemistry that has impacted diverse areas in biological, physical, and materials chemistry.”

White helped develop a fundamental theory of how molecules move and interact with electric fields near tiny electrodes, known as ultramicroelectrodes. These insights have practical uses in chemical detection and nanotechnology. One of the most exciting innovations from his lab is a patented method to analyze single DNA molecules using protein-based channels placed in glass nanopore membranes, essentially building a microscopic tool for studying genetic material at the molecular level.

“His group has made major contributions to many other areas of electrochemistry that include the application of magnetic fields in electrochemistry, unraveling the mechanism of electro-osmotic transport of drugs through human skin, breakdown of nanometer thick oxide films in corrosive environments, and the characterization of gas ‘nanobubbles,’” Burrows wrote.

White completed his doctorate in 1983 at the University of Texas and worked for nearly a decade at the University of Minnesota as a professor of chemical engineering and materials science. He joined the U’s chemistry faculty in 1993, serving as department chair from 2007 to 2013 and as dean of the College of Science from 2014 to 2019.

“The five years of Henry’s leadership as dean were a transformative period for the College,” wrote Peter Trapa, vice provost and senior dean of the Colleges and Schools of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in a letter of support for White’s nomination. “During this time, the College advanced its world-class research reputation; significantly expanded its educational mission; completely reimagined its fundraising efforts; and positioned itself to grow and sustain these advances for many years to come.”

White is credited with launching the college’s Science Research Initiative, which provides research opportunities to undergraduates and has since grown to 500 students. As department chair, White implemented major changes in the general chemistry program, requiring that only the top educators teach first-year undergraduate courses.

White himself taught general chemistry many times over the course of his U tenure. More than 40 graduate students have been mentored by White, who also supervised more than 60 research projects by undergraduates in chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering.

His research, which touches every corner of electrochemistry, has been funded by both industry and a wide range of federal agencies, including Office of Naval Research, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Electrochemists study the chemical transformations that occur when electrons are added to molecules in solution, producing results that are advancing energy production and storage. During White’s tenure, the field has gone from relative obscurity to prominence, especially for emerging energy technologies, according to George Whitesides, a university research professor of chemistry at Harvard.

“Even though there is enormous interest in the subject now, very few people really understand it, or the elementary processes it involves. Henry is one of the few who does. He has the true expert’s intuition about the processes that can occur, and the ones that don’t,” Whitesides wrote. “His skill in the science is enormously useful in guiding others who are primarily developing technology or extending applications, and he has assumed the role of arbiter of the “final word” in electrochemical arguments.”

Every major prize available to electrochemists has landed on White, most recently the 2015 Allen J. Bard Award of the Electrochemical Society, for which he was the inaugural recipient. In 2019, the U named him the John A. Widstoe Presidential Endowed Chair of Chemistry, but he later declined to renew the appointment so that it could be offered to a young rising star in the Department of Chemistry.

White helped raise millions in private donations to fund new endowed chairs and construct the Thatcher Building for Biological and Biophysical Chemistry and the Crocker Science Center, both completed under his watch. His initiatives helped diversify the chemistry faculty.

“The accomplishments described above are lasting contributions that will impact the College for generations and are testament to Henry’s exceptional ability as an administrator,” Trapa wrote. “In fact, it is fair to say that he probably did more to advance the dual missions of research and education than anyone who came before him in the history of the College.”

by Brian Maffly
this story originally appeared in @ The U.

An immortalized smile at chemistry

April 16, 2025

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Valeria Molinero admires the detail of the molecule model held in the statue's left hand.

It was an anecdote ably recounted by the scientist’s son, President Henry B. Eyring, on the occasion of the installment of a new statue to honor Eyring senior in the chemistry building at the U on April 12. The chemist’s response was not only to his friends embedded at the post-WWII Ivy League institution that had attracted (or would soon attract) a whole host of famous scientists that included Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, John von Neumann and Eugene Wigner; it was confirmation of Eyring’s own character of intellectual acumen and his lifelong ethic of seamlessly integrating both academics and faith.

Surrounded by Henry Eyring’s proliferating descendants, the event with 120+ onlookers crowded into the lobby-in-the round of the chemistry building, named after Eyring, for the unveiling. Interim chair of the Department of Chemistry Peter Armentrout talked about Eyring’s contributions to theoretical chemistry that have fundamentally shaped our understanding of chemical kinetics. "I know that for a fact,” he said, “because I do chemical kinetics, and I use some of his principles all the time.” Eyring developed the absolute rate theory, known as the Eyring equation, and he is known for his seminal research on the theory of liquids, optical rotation, rate processes in biology and medicine, aging and cancer, and anesthesiology. He was presented with the National Medal of Science in 1966 by Lyndon B. Johnson and received the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 1980.

Inaugural dean

U President Randall Taylor also reminded the gathering that Eyring arrived at the U as the inaugural dean of the graduate school which was the first university to receive a grant from the National Institutes of Health. “The United States was in the process of trying to define how it would do research in the Cold War era,” Randall recounted, invoking the inflection points in the U’s history. “In fact, today, even the announcements that have been made all week about national science funding … that is questioning the fundamental agreement that was made when Henry Eyring arrived at the University of Utah.”

From the moment of his arrival in Utah, Eyring’s passion for discovery and education became evident in parallel play with his skill at bridging the findings of science with profound philosophical thought. A beneficiary of this legacy during the 60s was Khosrow Semnani who arrived in Utah in 1968 and was a graduate student for a time in Eyring’s lab. Next to two family members, Semnani said, Eyring was the third “guiding light” in his life. It was the good professor's letter of recommendation that helped the new arrival from Iran land his first job at Kennecott Copper Mine. To “pay it forward," Semnani, now a generous philanthropist, funded the design, casting and installation of the statue — sculpted by Mark Degraffenried and cast under the direction of Brett Wright at the Metal Arts Foundry in Lehi.

Also on hand for remarks was Hamid Ghandehari professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics at the U and brother to Hossein Ghandehari who was Eyring’s Ph.D. student and later research associate in the late 60s/early 70s. Hossein’s remembrances were read by his brother who regaled the appreciative crowd with memories of not only Eyring’s academic mentorship but his athleticism. “I am sure some of you have heard of him jumping up on his desk from the floor,” read Hamid, “when he was much younger than at the time I met him.” Eyring famously held an annual foot race with his students and other in the office. “He worked very hard to beat us in the race and we did take the difference in age into account . . . but not by much."

Science and faith

Taylor Randall, sculptor Mark Degraffenried, and Peter Armetrout.

A third-generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eyring never saw any conflict between his scientific studies and his Mormon faith. "Is there any conflict between science and religion?,” he was quoted as saying in a 1983 biography. “There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men." Son President Eyring, an academic in his own right and now a senior member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, recalled his father giving a talk as president of the American Chemical Society, “and he said, in the middle of ... explaining one of these theories. … ‘Oh, I heard God saying… Henry, you got it wrong again.’ He really saw deity as a person.”

It was his father’s firm belief that he was a child of God, “and that God was the great creator, and really understood chemistry, really understood everything” that in turn benefited his students and colleagues, all of whom, Henry Eyring felt, were loved by not only a higher power, but a deified father figure. Continued President Eyring: “I sometimes said, Dad, why don't you pray and ask God to tell you something. And he said, ‘It wouldn't help. I wouldn't understand it.’”

Many individuals, not only his colleagues at the U, believed that Henry Eyring should have been awarded the Nobel prize for his research and stellar contributions, connecting the fields of chemistry and physics through atomic theory, quantum theory, and statistical mechanics. (Eyring was in fact nominated for the honor more than once.) Apparently, so also thought the president of the Swedish Academy which grants the prize and who was himself a chemist and a friend of Eyring’s. Once while the academy president and, coincidentally, the King of Sweden, were talking, Eyring — known to be a jokester — was sitting on a nearby sofa when the academy president asked him, “Are you offended that we never gave you the prize?” Reportedly, Eyring said, “Oh, no, I gave it to myself years ago.”

At the beginning of his remarks at the unveiling, the younger Eyring, at 92 and seated in a wheelchair, said he was glad he had his back to the effigy of his father, the left hand of the statue cast in bronze and fingering, almost lovingly, the model of a molecule. “When I look at this,” the younger Eyring said, gesturing over his shoulder, ”I cry. I'm glad I can't see it, because that smile is the smile he always had when he taught about chemistry, and he was trying to lift people. That's what he did.”

You can read more about the legacy of Henry Eyring here.

By David Pace

Other dignitaries attending the ceremony included former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the LDS church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Peter Trapa Senior Dean and Associate Provost and Pearl Sandick, interim dean of the College of Science.

Student Stories: Angelina Skedros (biology)

March 4, 2025

Skedros presenting her research in the Gagnon lab at the annual School of Biological Sciences retreat (2024)

With a family history of U graduates, spanning disciplines from English to medicine, I was eager to follow in their footsteps. Being part of the College of Science has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my academic journey. I began research in my freshman year through the Science Research Initiative (SRI) and later joined the Gagnon Lab through a more traditional route: approaching Professor Jamie Gagnon after a lecture to request an interview. As a researcher in this lab, I discovered my passion for cell, molecular and developmental biology. My research focuses on DNA, leveraging next generation sequencing technologies to investigate fundamental biological questions. Inspired by my work, I later enrolled in Genes, Development, and Evolution (BIOL 5510) with Professor Mike Shapiro, a course that strengthened my ability to critically analyze scientific literature and apply these skills across disciplines.

Oil, unnamed, 2022 – Angelina Skedros

Beyond research, my role as a College of Science Ambassador has allowed me to engage in science communication and outreach, making my research accessible to a broad audience. Through these experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for the complexity of cellular processes — how a single cell gives rise to intricate biological systems remains one of the most fascinating questions in science.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to enroll in a post-baccalaureate research program to further develop my skills and refine my research focus. This experience will support my long-term goal of pursuing a Ph.D. and contributing to the scientific community as a research scientist.

My advice to incoming freshmen: go after opportunities, take that interesting class, apply for scholarships, ask for that position. Do it! But also make time for fun. As a STEM student, I learned how to hip-hop, do reformer pilates and made time for backpacking in the desert and oil painting!

by Angelina “Gigi” Skedros

Gigi is a senior honors student from Salt Lake City majoring in biology, with minors in mathematics and chemistry. Do you have questions, ideas or suggestions for other U biology student stories? Contact Tanya Vickers, Communications Editor, School of Biological Sciences, at sbs-media@biology.utah.edu

25th Research on Capitol Hill

February 26, 2025

By translating classroom knowledge into experimental design and data analysis, these students gain invaluable experience that can inspire future careers in research, medicine, and policy — equipping them to collaborate with policymakers and use science to address complex challenges.

This year, College of Science student research was represented in 12 of the 25 projects from the University of Utah. Their diverse research covered topics on synthesis of organic molecules, monitoring groundwater storage in the Salt Lake Valley, fungi, breast cancer, spider venom, birds, cardiac imaging, bacteria, and more. While the event provides a tremendous learning opportunity for undergraduates, the relationship between students and researchers is equally impactful—undergraduates make meaningful contributions to ongoing academic research, advancing scientific discovery.

Below are College of Science majors who presented at this year’s Research on Capitol Hill

Parker Guzman, graduating spring 2025, majoring in biology, with an emphasis in ecology and evolution and a minor in integrative human biology

Poster: Birds Groom More During Molt

Mentor: Sara Bush, Professor, School of Biological Sciences

In the Clayton/Bush lab Guzman is focused on studying the relationship between molt and preening/grooming behavior in captive pigeons. “Molt is a huge but necessary energy investment for pigeons,” explains Parker. Research has played a central role in Parker’s undergraduate experience and future plans. “After I leave the U,” Parker says, “I want to work in the field and then apply for a PhD program in ecology and evolution. I could see myself staying in academia, I enjoy teaching or doing research.”

You can read more about Parker Guzman’s research journey in SRI Stories: Of Bees & Pigeons

Marlon Lopez, graduating spring 2025 majoring in biology and a minor in chemistry

Poster: Exploring Short-form RON as a Therapeutic Target for Breast Cancer

Mentor: Alana Welm, Professor of Oncological Sciences and Senior Director of Basic Science at the Huntsman Comprehensive Cancer Center

“My curiosity started when I was in elementary school. There was a lesson about the cell that really caught my interest. The complexity and all of its functions and capabilities fascinated me. Coming to college I knew I wanted to study biology and learn about the intricacies of the cell and its components,” Marlon says, but “as a first-generation college student, my college experience has had its challenges.

"Initially, I didn't know how to get involved in research, but by looking for programs I stumbled upon a summer research program named SPUR. I applied and got accepted to do research at the Huntsman. "Working in a lab that studies breast cancer and knowing I have contributed to novel and impactful research has been exciting."

Kisha Thambu, graduating spring 2025 with a double major in computer science (honors) and biology with a minor in chemistry

Poster: Enhancing Myocardial T1 Mapping with a Deep Learning Framework for Deformable Motion Compensation using Utah Patient Data

Mentor: Ganesh Adluru, Associate Professor, Radiology & Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine

Kishan’s research leveraged artificial intelligence to improve MRI imaging for cardiac mapping. Figuring out ways to clean up the images in a patient that is actively breathing, offers the promise to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes for patients with heart disease.

More about Kishan Thambu

Isaac Graham, graduating spring 2026, double majoring in biology and chemistry

Poster: Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Silica Supports

Mentor: Ilya Zharov, Professor, Chemistry Department

“Research at the University of Utah has helped show me that I want to continue onto graduate school in organic chemistry and eventually work in industry on drug synthesis.

"I found my lab by surveying the chemistry department website and then cold emailing Professor Zharov to see if I could get involved in research in the lab.”

Alisson Nopper, graduating spring 2025, with a double major in biology and chemistry

Poster: Deaminative contraction chemistry for the synthesis of [2.2]paracyclophane and asymmetric derivatives

Mentor: Andrew Roberts, Professor, Chemistry Department

“My undergraduate research experiences started with the SRI program doing cancer biology research. After I took organic chemistry 1 and 2 — the synthesis courses — I decided to apply to work in a chemistry lab. I’ve been working on organic synthesis for two years now, in the Roberts lab, and will be pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry beginning this fall.”

Colton Williamson, graduating summer 2025, majoring in geoscience with an emphasis in geology

Poster: Quantifying Submarine Discharge in Farmington Bay and the Great Salt Lake using Radon-222

Mentor: Douglas Kip Solomon, Professor, Geology & Geophysics, Mines and Earth Sciences

After graduating, Colton will be continuing his education and research in groundwater and hydrology as a master’s student in geoscience, mentored by Kip Solomon.

“Undergraduate research has been crucial to my development at the U," sys Colton. "I was able to see science in real time, which helped me better understand concepts related to geology and groundwater. After my master’s degree, I want to work in industry, specifically in hydrology and groundwater management, so that I can help people make informed decisions on water budgets.”

Kyle Pope, graduating fall 2025, majoring in geology with an emphasis in geophysics

Poster: Monitoring Groundwater Storage Change in the Salt Lake Valley Using Repeat Microgravity and GPS

Mentor: Tonie van Dam, Professor, Geology and Geophysics

Kyle is from California and has a bachelor’s in history, which he completed in 2013. His pivot to science was inspired by the outdoors.

“After spending a decade as a Grand Canyon river guide I got a lot of perspective on the time and scale of things and the sure mass of this place," he says. "I fell in love with rocks and that’s when I decided I wanted to go back to school and learn more about them. When I started at the U, I found out I loved processes that explain how this place came together."

"I quickly realized that [this area of science] involves a lot of math, something I did not have a lot of confidence in. I met Professor Tonie Van Dam who gave me the confidence to pursue the things I’m interested in. After graduating I want to get into geothermal exploration and anything involving natural sources of power.”

Ella Bleak, graduating 2026, double majoring in Chemistry (honors) and Mathematics

Poster: Understanding Weapons of Bacterial Warfare

Mentor: Talia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“My research is focused on finding a solution to the antibiotic crisis that healthcare is facing. It is a massive problem because we are finding that there are more and more bacteria resistant to antibiotic medicines so we are no longer able to fight bacterial infections the way we once did. Our proposed solution is to actually use tailocins, which are proteins produced by bacteria. The proteins show promise as an alternative to current antibiotic types. We have been able to successfully extract and use tailocins to kill bacteria [in lab experiments]. Research has been integral in helping me decide I want to pursue a PhD.” Learn more about Ella bleak here article

America Cox, graduating 2026, double majoring in biology (honors, with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and environment) and philosophy of science, with minors in chemistry, media studies and honors integrated ecology on the East Africa track.

Poster: Cryptic Coevolution of Ant-Farmed Fungi: Linking Genomic and Metabolic Profiles

Mentor: Bryn Dentinger, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“Mycology is such an emerging field because about 70 years ago, people still thought fungi were plants,” she explains. “So when I went to Mexico, we were out there just seeing what there is. Being able to see that at the ground level and seeing the field [of mycology] start to move in new ways is really cool.”

Learn more about America Cox

Allie Perkins, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology and Spanish

Poster: Quaking Aspen Pathogen Defenses Change in Response to Drought Events

Mentor: Talia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

“My freshman year, I participated in the Science Research Initiative, SRI. Being part of that program gave me a supportive environment where I gained foundational research skills and learned more about the research process. I am looking forward to this event [Research on the Capitol] and the opportunity to share my research with lawmakers who can impact the issues I am studying."

"Right now feels like a scary time for research because of the executive orders from the new presidential administration, and I feel like my whole undergraduate research experience has prepared me to talk about science with people from a variety of backgrounds. I feel ready to meet people where they are and able to help build their foundation of scientific knowledge.”

Learn more about Allie Perkins: Humans of the U, February 19, 2025 and on Wilkes Center: Research Minutes (video)

Logan Reeves, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology (honors), minoring in chemistry, pediatric clinical research, and ecology and legacy

Poster: Testing of an Indoor Climbing Program to Promote Physical, Mental, and Social Well-Being for College Students

Mentor: Akiko Kamimura, Associate Professor, Sociology, Social and Behavioral Science

Logan took a different approach to getting involved in research, by merging his passion for climbing with a desire to address mental health challenges in college students that followed COVID.

“My project involved working with three other students [all non-STEM majors] and was hosted by the department of sociology. Honestly, as a biology major, this research was very, very fun. Most biological research has a lot of pipetting. I am so grateful to have been able to do this, to do the sport that I love and be able to interact and get to know the participants.”

Alexander Rich, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology with a chemistry minor

Poster: Decoding Species Identities: A Spider Venom RNA Analysis

Mentor: Rodolfo Probst, SRI Fellow and PhD alum of the School of Biological Sciences

“I study spider venoms. Spiders are very diverse and most produce venoms, Alexander says. "Venoms have very specific cellular and molecular targets that have the potential to be developed into pharmaceuticals. We are using a very old collection of spider venoms and then working backward to identify the species source."

"This research has been really impactful, both for teaching me about the biological processes that venom has and how they might apply to my future in medicine. It has also been a great avenue for me to connect to different people in science and get their perspectives on my research. It’s been a great opportunity for me to grow in science, research, and as a future medical professional.”

Exploring the frontiers of frozen water

February 6, 2025

As a consequence of its chemical properties, H₂O is one of the most incredible substances, able to form into 20 known separate crystalline ice phases. Now researchers are seeking to expand that number even further.

Ingrid de Almeida Ribeiro, a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry, and her lab partners in the Molinero Research Group at the University of Utah’s department of chemistry have published a study detailing their work advancing the science of amorphous ice using computer simulations. Often characterized as glass, amorphous ice had long been known to appear in either a low-density amorphous (LDA) or high-density amorphous (HDA) state. A recent study demonstrated the existence of medium-density amorphous (MDA) ice through the application of ball milling. Ribeiro’s work expanded upon this by examining the consequences of shear in addition to other variables, including temperature and pressure.

Amorphous ice is distinguished from typical crystalline ice by its non-periodic atomic arrangement. It is still classified as a solid material, which can be alternatively described as “a liquid that has lost its ability to flow.”

“Think about walking into a movie theater. All the seats are lined up in perfect rows and columns. That’s like crystalline ice—atoms arranged in a structured, repeating pattern. Now, picture a music festival, people are just scattered everywhere—some packed closely together, others with more space between them, no clear arrangement. That’s like amorphous ice.” Ribeiro said. “Now, picture a liquid, where atoms move freely. If you were to freeze that disordered structure without allowing the atoms to rearrange into a crystal, you’d get a glass. It’s like a frozen snapshot of a liquid.”

Read the full story by Ethan Hood in @ The U.

Why mobile farm technology won the 2024 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize

January 7, 2025

This story is jointly published by nonprofits Amplify Utah and The Salt Lake Tribune to elevate diverse perspectives in local media through student journalism.

A "pyrolizer," a machine that can apply high heat without oxygen to crop waste and create a soil additive called biochar, dumps loads of the substance into bags. Applied Carbon, a Texas startup, has received a $500,000 prize from the U's Wilkes Center to develop the technology as a way to store carbon. Credit: Applied Carbon

The stalks and husks of corn plants — the waste product left by combine harvesters — could be a key tool in the fight against climate change, and the University of Utah is putting up $500,000 to test the idea.

The U.’s Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy recently awarded its half-million-dollar Wilkes Climate Launch Prize to Applied Carbon, a Texas-based startup.

Applied Carbon won the prize for its mobile farm technology, which turns crop waste into a soil additive that decreases the need for fertilizer and stores the remaining carbon in the earth’s soil.

William Anderegg, director of the Wilkes Center, said one of the main selling points of Applied Carbon’s technology is its potential to be made for scale.

“The scalability is very exciting, and you can see a path for them to really scale up across many different agricultural fields in the next couple of years,” he said.

The crop waste is produced when combine harvesters sail through tall corn fields, their rotating blades slicing through the stalks, filtering them into the machine’s mouth, where its spinning cylinders rip the corn kernels from the husk and stems. The combine saves the kernels of corn in its body and spits out the stalk and husk remnants, leaving it to waste on the flattened field.

The prize, one of the largest university-run climate prizes in the world, was created in 2023 to help jump-start promising climate solution ideas. At a September reception in partnership with the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, Anderegg awarded the prize money to Jason Aramburu, Applied Carbon’s CEO and co-founder.

At the reception, Aramburu said that “as a startup company … there’s often a funding gap, particularly in this sector, to get your technology to market.” He later added that the prize money will help the company produce more of their biochar machines and get them into the field.

Applied Carbon now has four mobile pyrolizers, a machine that can reach high temperatures without oxygen, and the company will apply the prize money to its field operations in Texas, Aramburu said. These operations, he said, work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“We’ve got about 4,000 acres of corn that we’re working with. We will test our equipment [in Texas] and also test how effective the biochar is on the soil,” he said.

The yield and soil chemistry testing, Aramburu said, will determine if the process works and to measure the impact of the technology. The project, in its first multi-season trial run, is expected to remove 100,000 tons of carbon from the atmosphere by 2026, he said.

Biochar, a charcoal-like substance derived from biomass waste, is made through pyrolysis, a heat-driven process that uses virtually no oxygen and stores carbon in the waste product, according to Utah State University. Biochar, Anderegg added, is promising as a nature-based tool for fighting climate change because its carbon storage is stable and lasts hundreds of years.

“By contrast, a huge number of companies and governments are interested in tree planting, … but forests are at increasing risk from fire and drought and climate change,” he said. “We really worry about planting trees in one area that may be dead in 10 to 20 years.”

By Giovanni Radtke

You can read the full story for free at Amplify or with a subscription in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Two 2 Tango

December 9, 2024

Unraveling Bacterial Genomes

At the University of Utah's Department of Chemistry, faculty member Aaron Puri and graduate student Delaney Beals are pioneering research to decode bacterial genomes by understanding their natural environments. Their project, which began with Puri's pilot experiments during his postdoctoral fellowship, focuses on linking methanotroph phenotypes to genotypes using a spatially resolved model ecosystem.

Graduate student Delaney Beals and faculty member Aaron Puri

Puri, who started his research group in 2019, brings a diverse and impressive background to the project. With triple bachelor's degrees from the University of Chicago, a PhD in chemical and systems biology from Stanford University, and postdoctoral research at the University of Washington, Puri's expertise spans chemical tools for host-pathogen interactions and genetic tools for methane-oxidizing bacteria. Now a faculty member in the Henry Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, his work centers on the biological chemistry of bacteria that grow on one-carbon compounds like methane and methanol.

Beals, a fifth-year PhD candidate, contributes vital expertise in the chemical ecology of methane-oxidizing bacterial communities. Originally from North Carolina with a bachelor's from UNC Asheville, Beals was drawn to Puri's lab due to its focus on bacterially derived natural products. "By studying how a particular microbe behaves in the natural environment versus in the lab,” she explains, “we can better understand the ecological context in which various compounds are produced, and thus improve efforts to capitalize on a naturally occurring process."

Their research aims to uncover how bacteria use natural products to interact with each other and the environment. Puri elucidates the challenge: "We live in a time where we have virtually unlimited access to bacterial DNA (genome) sequences. But we have a hard time making sense of the vast majority of this information in the lab." To address this, the team grows bacteria in conditions closer to their natural environment, which has revealed exciting insights. Puri notes, "We can use relatively simple materials to uncover new bacterial behaviors in the lab in a reproducible manner."

The Puri-Beals collaboration has yielded significant findings, showing that bacterial behavior varies depending on their location within the model ecosystem. This research has potential applications in alternative energy, agriculture, and health by optimizing the use of microbes for various purposes. Their work not only advances our understanding of bacterial genetics but also paves the way for practical applications with far-reaching societal impacts.

As Puri emphasizes, "This work underscores that it is critical to think about the environment the bacterium of interest came from to understand what the genes in bacterial DNA are doing, since that is where they evolved." This approach promises to enhance our ability to harness microbes as sources for new natural products and to optimize their use in diverse applications.

Decoding Human Milk Oligosaccharides

In the aftermath of the 2022-2023 infant formula shortage, the research of Professor Gabe Nagy and graduate student Sanaz Habibi (they/their) has taken on newfound significance. Their project, focused on characterizing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), addresses crucial sugars in human milk that play a vital role in infant development.

Gabe Nagy and graduate student Sanaz Habibi

The complexity of HMOs presents a significant challenge, with potentially over 200 different compounds, yet authentic references are currently available for only about 30 of them. Nagy and Habibi are at the forefront of developing new analytical techniques to enhance HMO characterization, which could have profound implications for improving infant formula and understanding infant nutrition.

Habibi, who joined Nagy's lab in 2021, brings expertise in analytical chemistry and instrumentation from their undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Their research utilizes high-resolution cyclic ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (cIMS-MS) to analyze HMOs. Habibi explains their journey: "I became very interested in the cIMS-MS instrument that was being used in his lab, despite having little to no background in IMS or MS. I realized that Gabe's lab was the best fit for me to learn a different type of separation technique and increase my knowledge of mass spectrometry for studying an important class of carbohydrates."

Further elaborating on their innovative approach Nagy says, "We aim to develop advanced methods using ion mobility separations and mass spectrometry. These methods aim to decipher the structures of all possible HMOs, addressing the gap in understanding caused by the lack of comprehensive reference materials." This work involves constructing collision cross section databases, which provide numerical descriptions of the size, shape, and charge of ions—crucial for accurately identifying both known and unknown HMOs in real human milk samples.

The team's work is particularly timely, as Nagy points out: "The world of sugar analysis has lagged behind other fields by 10-20 years, and we believe that our lab could develop new tools in order to bridge this gap." The duo’s research not only contributes to solving immediate challenges in infant nutrition but also has broader implications for analytical chemistry.

Nagy and Habibi are optimistic about the wider applicability of their tools and methods. They envision their advancements being adopted by laboratories worldwide across various molecule classes. Habibi emphasizes the potential of their work "to enhance the comprehensive profiling of human milk using our developed methods."

This pioneering research has the potential to empower other disciplines such as biology and medicine by providing access to advanced analytical tools. As infant nutrition continues to be a critical area of study, the work of Nagy and Habibi stands at the forefront of efforts to improve our understanding and application of human milk components in infant formula and beyond.

The intersection of science and aesthetics

December 4, 2024

Uziel Gonzalez (BS ‘24)

Tom Richmond said for the C & E News “While purifying tert-butylmalononitrile, a useful starting material for the synthesis of organic electronic materials, University of Utah chemistry undergraduate Uziel Gonzalez discovered the molecule had made beautiful, fernlike crystals via room temperature sublimation. Though not suitable for structure determination by X-ray diffraction, which was the original goal, the crystals in the resulting 6 x 4 mm microscope image were suitable for framing. The acidic C–H bond of the malononitrile provides a useful handle to make new carbon-carbon bonds with highly fluorinated aromatics.

Uziel Gonzalez is one of the 2024 Laya F. Kesner Award recipient. When he received the award, Professor Thomas Richmond noted, “Uziel was an outstanding student in Inorganic Chemistry, has been involved with the ACS student affiliate's group and even managed to make some new fluorocarbon molecules in my lab. Ultimately, he would like a career as an FBI Agent."

The feature “showcases the beauty of chemistry, chemical engineering and related sciences” to the 150,000 readers of C&E News and beyond. As noted in the article, an elegant leaf-like structure was formed upon sublimation of a volatile organic compound. Although not suitable for crystallography, it was suitable for framing.

Two New Department Chairs

Aurora Clark and Gabriel Bowen assume positions as chair in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Geology & Geophysics, respectively, beginning July 1, 2025

Aurora Clark

‘A couple fires and one explosion’

Allaying separation anxieties

Innovation first

Gabriel Bowen

The SPATIAL Lab

Contextualizing current and future trends

Humans of the U: Marlon Lopez

"Growing up in an immigrant household where my parents instilled the importance of education."

2025 Rosenblatt Prize, ChemisT Henry White

Henry S. White, a world-renowned leader in the field of electrochemistry and distinguished professor chemistry, has been named the 2025 recipient of the University of Utah’s Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence.

About Henry White

An Immortalized Smile at Chemistry

In 1946 when celebrated chemist Henry Eyring told his Princeton University colleagues that he had taken a position at the University of Utah he was told “but Henry, there’s no culture out there.” He responded, “culture is where I hang my hat.”

A lifelong ethic

Inaugural dean

Science and faith

Student Stories: Angelina Skedros, biology

When I was 11-years-old, I attended a comparative anatomy summer camp at the University of Utah. One day we toured the Olivera Lab where I saw venomous cone snails for the first time. That moment ignited my passion for science — I knew I wanted to pursue a career in research.

College of Science Student Research on Capitol Hill

Below are College of Science majors who presented at this year’s Research on Capitol Hill

Exploring the frontiers of frozen water

Water is ubiquitous and seemingly ordinary, possessing no distinct color or odor. Though we often take water for granted, it is by no means a simple substance.

How mobile farm technology won the 2024 Wilkes Prize

A Texas company, winner of the 2024 Wilkes Climate Prize, aims to develop technology to create 'biochar' as a soil additive that could benefit farmers.

TWO 2 Tango

​​Chemistry faculty & graduate student duos prove that two minds are better than one.

Unraveling Bacterial Genomes

Decoding Human Milk Oligosaccharides

The intersection of science and aesthetics

The work of recent chemistry graduate Uziel Gonzalez BS ‘24 was featured in the September 24 publication of C & E News feature “Chemistry in Pictures.”

Chemistry faculty & graduate student duos prove that two minds are better than one.