Whittier College Chemistry
Department Newsletter
Summer, Fall 2005
By Devin Iimoto

NSF Funds Chemistry Department

The chemistry department was awarded a $134,736 grant from the National Science Foundation in February, 2005 to implement problem based laboratory experiments in several courses utilizing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Capillary Electrophoresis (CE).

The co-principal investigators on the grant, Dr. Devin Iimoto and Dr. Darren Stoub, envision introducing separations techniques across the chemistry department curriculum using a problem based format.  This involves giving students a problem to solve and then having the students design experiments utilizing the above instruments to solve these problems. 

As a result of the grant, the department purchased a new HPLC and CE from Beckman Coulter.

HPLC                                                            CE
 

 

 

Health Science Shadowing Program a Success!

For many years, Dr. Priscilla Bell has been instrumental in advising students interested in going to medical school and in entering other health science fields.  Because many students do not have much experience in what it means to be a physician, Priscilla contacted many local physicians to determine if they would be interested in having students shadow them in their work.    Drs. Osvaldo Rodriguez and Karla Kaphengst (Whittier Chemistry alums ) participated in the first year of the program.  In the second year it expanded to include dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, chiropractic, veterinary medicine as well as physician assistant fields. Thus far, over 40 students have participated in the program.  Some comments have included   ,” It's nice to see a doctor who loves to go to work and has people skills.  This experience has made me consider what kind of lifestyle I want after med school”, “I was able to see how a dentist office works when you are not the patient”, “I had no idea how much behind the scenes administrative work was involved”,   “ it provides a great opportunity to view and experience a person's field of choice.  It can confirm and/or change that person's interest in the respective occupation.”

Devin Iimoto Promoted to Full Professor

In February, 2005, the trustees of Whittier College agreed with the Dean of Faculty, Susan Gotsch, and the Personnel Committee that Dr. Devin Iimoto should be promoted to Full Professor. 

Devin came to Whittier College in 1990.  Since that time, he has taught Biochemistry as well as Chemistry Seminar, Integrated Lab, and a new course on AIDS amongst many courses.  His research interests are in purifying useful compounds from snake venoms to remove blood stains from clothes and possibly dissolving blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.
In his spare time, Devin enjoys playing softball and in visiting various Civil War battlefields. 

Alum, Dr. Shayne Gad, a Trustee of Whittier College

Recently, Dr. Shayne Gad was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Whittier College, a position of immense responsibility in overseeing the health and well being of the institution. He has also demonstrated his support for the students of the College by supervising the summer research project of junior chemistry major, Catlin Renn.

After graduating from Whittier in 1970 with a double major in chemistry and biology, Shayne earned his Ph.D. from the U. of Texas in Toxicology. 

Shayne is an entrepreneur and a prolific writer.  He now owns and runs a consulting firm in the field of pharmaceutical industry in North Carolina.  In addition, Shayne has published many books in Toxicology; his most recent work is found in the Encyclopedia of Toxicology. 
Chemistry Students Present at SCCUR
Whittier College had the honor of hosting the 12th Annual Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research on November 20, 2004. Hundreds of students from colleges and universities from around Southern California and elsewhere came to Whittier to discuss their research.
Several chemistry students presented their work on San Gabriel River water quality to using snake venom extracts to remove blood stains from clothes, herbal remedies for baldness and Vitamin D and Cancer.
These students included Santosh Shah, Sara Toyota, Yasir Khan, Mandar Khanal, Christa Rainville, and Ashley Plant

 

 

Chemistry Department bids goodbye to Darren Stoub and hello to Nooshin Hashemzadeh

In the spring of 2005, Dr. Darren Stoub accepted an appointment to the Chemistry Department of Rollins College in Winter Park Florida. Dr. Stoub had been in the Chemistry Department since 2000 as an assistant professor of organic chemistry. Dr. Stoub had been active on campus as a sponsor of Club Chem and WCCF as well as sharing his skill as a trumpet player with the theatre department. He will be missed by chemistry and the College.

Dr. Nooshin Hashemzadeh joins the chemistry department in a one year position as visiting assistant professor of organic chemistry. Dr. Hashemzadeh graduated from University of Connecticut with a Ph.D. in organic
chemistry and subsequently did postdoctoral work in research and teaching at the University of California at Irvine.