Collaboration goes viral tackling COVID-19

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a call to action for many within the scientific community. Long-time collaborators, Lloyd Smith, professor of chemistry, and Nathan Sherer, associate professor of molecular virology and oncology with the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Institute for Molecular Virology, set out, along with their students, to contribute to the global understanding of SARS-CoV-2 by adapting the Smith group’s Hybridization Purification of RNA-protein complexes followed by Mass Spectrometry (HyPR-MS) technology to the study of SARS-CoV-2.

Instructors, students find benefits in virtual learning

This year’s pandemic-induced online instruction did not stop students from enrolling in chemistry courses, but it did give instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) experience using a different instructional medium. “Teaching CHEM 344 online was definitely a unique experience,” said TA Maggie McEwan. “Teaching online requires a different set of skills compared to teaching in a classroom or lab, so I think I learned a lot this summer right along with the students.”

Featured Badger Chemist: Bruce Bursten, Ph.D. 1978 (Fenske)

Prof. Bruce Bursten received his Ph.D. in chemistry from UW–Madison in 1978. He was recently honored with the 2020 ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry.

Bursten’s journey toward the ACS award has been profoundly guided by his experiences. His story begins in high school, as a curious student in a math summer program.

Chemistry students win numerous awards

It was a busy year for awards, despite the constraints of a pandemic. In May, the Department of Chemistry celebrated students, faculty and staff with an online awards and graduation event called Celebrating Student Success. Because of generous donors, the department was able to give almost $500,000 in student support. See the winners of department and other awards below.