The dedication of the Edward and Virginia Taylor Science Center was a joyful celebration of the Taylors’ generosity coupled with recognition of Hamilton’s commitment to science education and liberal arts values. The naming ceremony, a highlight of the college’s bicentennial kickoff weekend, was held in the center’s atrium on Friday, Sept. 23.

A paper co-authored by Professor of Chemistry Tim Elgren was recently published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. “Photo-induced H₂ production by [NiFe]-hydrogenase from T. roseopersicina covalently linked to a Ru(II) photosensitizer” was written in collaboration with scientists at Montana State University. Hydrogenases are enzymes that convert protons and electrons into hydrogen gas.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Nicole L. Snyder and Christopher J. Boisvert ’12 recently published a chapter on the Hantzch Reaction in Named Reactions in Heterocyclic Chemistry II, one of the books in Jie Jack Li’s Named Organic Reaction series.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Myriam Cotten with students Matt Baxter ’11 and Jason McGavin ’12  published an article in the Sept. 7, vol. 105 issue of the Biophysical Journal. The paper titled “Amphipathic Antimicrobial Piscidin in Magnetically Aligned Lipid Bilayers” is also co-authored by Professor Stanley Opella, from the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and members of his research team.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Nicole L. Snyder and Taylor P. Adams ’11 recently published a book chapter on the Dimroth reaction in Jie Jack Li’s Named Organic Reaction series book Named Reactions in Heterocyclic Chemistry II.

Certain chemical structures called clathrate hydrates can be found on the bottom of our oceans or built in a lab. This summer seven students are working with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Camille Jones to conduct research related to hydrates, including examinations of different hydrate properties.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Myriam Cotten and her research team spent 10 days this summer at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Fla., to study piscidins, antimicrobial peptides from fish. Student researchers were Akritee Shrestha ’13, Christopher Rider ’12,  Leah Cairns ’13, Robert Hayden ’14 and Victoria Bogen ’14.

The chemicals in pharmaceutical drugs must be carefully controlled to ensure that only one specific 3-D arrangement of each molecule ends up in the drug. However, separating very similar chemicals from a solution can pose significant challenges to researchers. This summer four students are working under Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry Timothy Chapp to separate phosphine enantiomers.

Piscidin is an antimicrobial peptide found in hybrid striped bass which binds to cell membranes in order to destroy them. Victoria Bogen ’14, Robert Hayden ’14, Akritee Shrestha ’13, Leah Cairns ’13 and Christopher Rider ’12 are working with Associate Professor of Chemistry Myriam Cotten to conduct research on piscidin. Their research aims to solve the peptide’s structure and behavior in various conditions.

Silas D. Childs Professor of Chemistry Emeritus Robin B. Kinnel presented a poster titled “Two Unusual Chlorinated Metabolites from Lyngbya bouillonii Revealed by MALDI Analysis” at the 52nd national meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy on Aug. 1 in San Diego. The work, accomplished primarily while he was on sabbatical leave at Scripps Institution of Oceanography during the spring of 2010, capitalized on a new technique for discovering potentially useful natural products.