Dr. Brian Northrop Receives E.B. Nye Professorship of Chemistry

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E.B. Nye Professorship of Chemistry, established 1908

Brian Hale Northrop joined Wesleyan’s Department of Chemistry in 2009 after receiving his BA from Middlebury College and his PhD from University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on physical organic and materials chemistry, particularly the design, synthesis, and analysis of new π-conjugated organic molecules, theoretical and experimental investigations of pericyclic reactions, and mechanistic details of thiol-Michael reactions. He is the recipient of several awards including a National Science Foundation CAREER award, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator grant, and Thieme Chemistry Journals Award, and was a 2019 recipient of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Northrop on this momentous achievement!

2023 Annual Chemistry Department Awards

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The Chemistry Department is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Annual Chemistry Department Awards:

ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry: Alex Seys
Awarded for excellence in analytical chemistry
ACS Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Jessica Luu
To recognize achievement in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field
ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry: Jeremy Kim
To a student who has displayed a significant aptitude for organic chemistry
ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry: Emma Davis
To recognize achievement in physical chemistry and to encourage further study in the field
ACS Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Safety & Ethics: Rachel Nguyen
To recognize senior undergraduates who have actively demonstrated the intersectionality between chemical safety and ethical behavior
ACS Connecticut Valley Section Award: Michael O’Sullivan
For outstanding achievement by a graduating chemistry major
American Institute for Chemists Award: Kelly Fenton-Samuels
For outstanding achievement by a graduating chemistry major
Bradley Prize: Graham Gilchrist & Emmet Sherman
To the senior or junior who excels in chemistry and particularly in special original work
Silverman Prize: Alex Seys
Awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellence in chemistry
Peirce Prize: Fletcher Levy & Kelly Fenton-Samuels
Awarded for excellence in E&ES
CRC Award (General Chemistry): Owen Dunton
For the outstanding first-year student in Principles of Chemistry
CRC Award (Organic Chemistry): Carlos Romo
For the outstanding first-year student in Organic Chemistry
Hawk Prize: Rachel Nguyen
To the students who have done the most effective work in biochemistry
Martius Yellow Award: Leonard Majaducon & Angela Rojas-Merchan
Awarded for excellence in Integrated Chemistry Laboratory
The Wallace C. Pringle Prize for Research in Chemistry: Rachel Nguyen
Awarded to a student for excellence in research
Peterson Fellowship: Josh Dudley
For graduate study in biochemistry
Tishler Prize: Angelika Rafalowski
Awarded to the best graduate teaching assistant in chemistry

Chemistry Majors Elected to Phi Beta Kappa

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Spring 2023 elections to Wesleyan’s Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa have been announced, and it is with great pleasure that we recognize
Kelly Ann Fenton-Samuels and Minh Chau Rachel Nguyen.
To be elected, a student must first have been nominated by the department of their major. The student also must have demonstrated curricular breadth by having met the General Education Expectations and must have achieved a GPA of 93 or above.

The emblem contains the three Greek letters “Phi,” “Beta,” and “Kappa,” which are the initials of the Greek motto, Philosophia Biou Kybernetes, or “the love of wisdom is the guide of life.”

Kelly Ann Fenton-Samuels, 2023
Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Minh Chau Rachel Nguyen, 2023
Chemistry, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Induction will take place on May 27, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel

Prof. Giselle Reyes Highlighted in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN)

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Professor Reyes’ team at Pfizer was recently awarded the ACS Award for Team Innovation. In reflecting on her scientific hero, Giselle recalls Al Fry and his impact on her life and career.

Giselle P. Reyes


Current position: Scientist, Pfizer
Education: BA and MA, chemistry, Wesleyan
University
Reyes on her scientific hero: “My scientific hero is my principal investigator from Wesleyan, Albert J. Fry. I discovered my passion for research and desire to pursue a career in industry while working in his lab. He inspired me to face challenges life throws at me with humor, grit, and grace. He was my biggest advocate in the beginning of my career, and I would not be the scientist or person that I am today without him.”

Prof. Giselle Reyes Wins ACS 2023 National Award

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Professor Giselle Reye’s team at Pfizer has been named the 2023 recipient of a 2023 American Chemical Society Award. Recipients will be honored at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in conjunction with the ACS Spring 2023 meeting in Indianapolis. 

ACS Award for Team Innovation, sponsored by ACS Corporation Associates, Sean O. Bowser, Adam R. Brown, Nga Do, Shane Eisenbeis, Aran K. Hubbell, Ruizhi “Richard” Li, Matthew M. Marchewka, Ryan S. O’Neill, Giselle P. Reyes, Frank Riley, Philipp Roosen, John F. Sagal, Omar A. Salman, Karen Sutherland, Qi “Tony” Yan, Ming Zeng, Pfizer

Professor Giselle Reyes

Please join us in congratulating Professor Reyes on this momentous achievement!

https://cen.acs.org/people/awards/ACS-2023-National-Award-winners/100/i32

Endowed Chair Appointment

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It is our pleasure to announce that, in recognition of his career achievements, Dr. Michael Calter has been appointed to the endowed Beach Professorship of Chemistry, established in 1880.

Headshot of Dr. Michael Calter wearing a blue shirt in his office.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Calter!

Michael A. Calter received his BS from University of Vermont and his PhD from Harvard University. His work is in synthetic organic chemistry, for which he has received numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His research has been published in the top organic chemistry journals, and he serves as referee, reviewer, and panel member for several journals and funding agencies including Journal of the American Chemical Society and Journal of Organic Chemistry. He has consistently achieved teaching excellence in the sophomore-level organic chemistry sequence and he received the 2015 Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

2022 Annual Chemistry Department Awards

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The Chemistry Department is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 Annual Chemistry Department Awards:

ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry: Sally Tepper
Awarded for excellence in analytical chemistry
ACS Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Anna Friedman
To recognize achievement in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field
ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry: Annika Velez
To a student who has displayed a significant aptitude for organic chemistry
ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry: Alex Seys
To recognize achievement in physical chemistry and to encourage further study in the field
ACS Connecticut Valley Section Award: Sophie Wazlowski
For outstanding achievement by a graduating chemistry major
American Institute for Chemists Award: Mohammed Ullah
For outstanding achievement by a graduating chemistry major
Bradley Prize: Dylan Judd & Annika Velez
To the senior or junior who excels in chemistry and particularly in special original work
Silverman Prize: Corin Grady
Awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellence in chemistry
Peirce Prize: Caroline Pitton
Awarded for excellence in biology
CRC Award (General Chemistry): Othmane El Houssi
For the outstanding first-year student in Principles of Chemistry
CRC Award (Organic Chemistry): Katherine Fhu
For the outstanding first-year student in Organic Chemistry
Hawk Prize: Nadiya Jaunbocus & Mia Kim
To the students who have done the most effective work in biochemistry
Martius Yellow Award: Emmet Sherman & Nabiha Syed
Awarded for excellence in Integrated Chemistry Laboratory
The Wallace C. Pringle Prize for Research in Chemistry: Sterre Hesseling
Awarded to a student for excellence in research
Peterson Fellowship: Bakar Hassan & Jozafina Milicaj
For graduate study in biochemistry
Tishler Prize: Josh Dudley
Awarded to the best graduate teaching assistant in chemistry

Commencement 2022

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Graduates toss their caps into the air at the 190th Commencement

Twenty four degrees in Chemistry were awarded on May 22nd at the 190th Commencement. Join us in congratulating our new alumni!

Ph.D.
Andrea Gar Ting Lee
Sean Patrick McDarby
Jozafina Milicaj

M.A.
Giana Marie Argento
Akossiwa Brynn Assignon
Lucan Dresden Mani

B.A.
Colleen Michelle Carrigan
Oliver Cho
Anissa Tamilla Findley
Anna Pienza Friedman
Corin Louise Grady
Caitlin Eileen Grant
Mitchell Reuben Green
Sterre Nadine Hesseling
Nadiya Jaunbocus
Dylan Robert Judd
Mia Sunae Kim
Julia Lynnn Slamin Lanfear
Nabiha Syed
Dylan Robert Sylvester
Sally Landon Mossman Tepper
Mohammed Arfat Ullah
Annika Bo Velez
Sophie May Wazlowski

Class of 2020 In-Person Commencement

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Graduates from the Class of 2020 finally convened for an in-person commencement celebration on Sunday, June 5th. These alumni reunited after being separated at the end of their Wesleyan careers due to the global pandemic. Join us in celebrating the Class of 2020!

Graduates toss their caps into the air at the 188th Commencement

Ph.D.
Melissa Elizabeth King
Yoana Throssell

B.A.

Anik Macy Bernstein
Yin-Tung Chen
Daniel JongHwa Chung
Calvin Robert Coffey
Joshua Crane
May Do
Alexandra Nicole Goss
Liam Nathan Isaacs
Alexander James Kapphahn
Miranda Lillie Nestor
Dillon James Noone
Josephine Margaret Russ
Anastasia C. Saar
Iman Iqbal Sigman
Rochelle Barrie Spencer
Katherine Hanson Sundberg
Sydney Maya Taylor-Klaus
Aryan K. Vavila
Claire Jing Jing Wang
Sonja Maria Welch
Jaina Sarris Wollowitz

Rewatch the 2020 Commencement