Penn State Chemistry

Net Oxidative Addition of H2 to {MII}2+ (M = Pd, Pt) by Heterolysis and Protic Rebound Electrophilic transition metal complexes like {MII(EtXantphos)2}2+ (MII = PdII, PtII) heterolyze H2 into a hydride-associated electrophile {H–MII(EtXantphos)2}+ and a proton, which typically associates to an added base (or basic ligand). For {H–MII(EtXantphos)2}+, the metal can be the most basic site in the system, which results in a product that is indistinguishable from oxidative addition {(H)2MIV(EtXantphos)2}2+. By considering the kinetics and thermodynamics of each elementary step – initial heterolysis, followed by a subsequent return of the heterolyzed proton – we suggest that oxidative addition products may be underrepresented tautomers in heterolytic pathways. The gained understanding was used to characterize the first (di)hydride of PdIV, generated by formal oxidative addition of H2 to PdII.

Excited to share our latest work out in
@jacs.acspublications.org ! Building off previous observations that oxidative additions to electrophilic metals might be a little different... including evidence for the first Pd(IV)-dihydride.
@pennstatechemistry.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Resetting the fight-or-flight response | Penn State University The activation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) is a critical part in how the body responds to stress and starvation. Using a variety of imaging and biochemical techniques, a team of researchers from Penn St...

A new study by the Anand Lab reveals mechanism responsible for resetting key molecular cycle involved in response to stress and starvation!

Read more: www.psu.edu/news/eberly-...

@pennstatescience.bsky.social @pennstateuniv.bsky.social

Be sure to apply by June 16th!

Congrats to Phil Bevilacqua for receiving the 2025 Edward W. Morley Medal, which recognizes outstanding contributions to chemistry in research, teaching, engineering, administration, public service, and service to humanity or to industrial progress!

Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4mw8U6Y

We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Postdoc to PI Symposium!

It's a two-day professional development event for current postdocs, simulating a faculty interview with research talks, faculty meetings, and optional future research presentations

bit.ly/3YkINFC

@pennstatescience.bsky.social

Learn more about the ever-evolving #ActiveMatter research happening at @pennstateuniv.bsky.social in this informative Q&A with Stewart Mallory, assistant professor of chemistry!

@pennstatescience.bsky.social #microengineering #computationalchemistry #theoreticalchemistry #microscale

First post here! Excited to announce that I'll be joining @cambridgephysics.bsky.social this fall as a Churchill Scholar for my MPhil in Physics with Prof. Richard Friend interrogating luminescent radicals. After my jaunt across the pond, I'll return to the US for my PhD in Chemistry at UC Berkeley.

Thanks to all my friends, family, and mentors who have supported me for the past four years. Huge shoutout to @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social and my undergraduate advisor Prof. Lauren Zarzar for being the best department and mentor that I could've ever asked for.

YouTube video by Penn State Eberly College of Science Ashtekar Frontiers of Science Lukas Meuchler Lecture

To celebrate #WorldQuantumDay, watch Professor Lukas Muechler give a talk on how chemistry and physics come together in quantum materials!

#AshtekarFrontiersofScience @pennstatescience.bsky.social @pennstateuniv.bsky.social

youtube.com/watch?v=ooVR...

Congrats Sanjana! 👏

Thrilled to have won 1st prize in Visual Appeal for "Life of a Droplet: A Non-Equilibrium Drama" at the Materials Visualization Competition. Grateful to @ayusmansen.bsky.social @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social and PennStateMatSE.
sites.psu.edu/mvcs/17-winn...

#MaterialScience #SciArt

"Life of a Droplet: A Non-Equilibrium Drama." Congratulations @sanjanakmani.bsky.social @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social for winning first prize in Visual Appeal at the Penn State Materials Visualization Competition.

🔬 Meet Vaibhav Pal! A chemistry grad student in the Ozbolat Lab specializing in the design and development of microgel-based materials for tissue engineering applications.

Outside of the lab, he's making an impact as a member of the Graduate & Professional Student Association!

Q&A bit.ly/4i07EFG

Big congratulations to Dr. Tamra Mbeuh Lahom Lot from the Booker Lab for being selected for the highly competitive 2025 CAS Future Leaders program, which offers leadership training and networking for early-career scientists! #CASFutureLeaders

@pennstatescience.bsky.social @pennstateuniv.bsky.social

Whether you're a current #PennState student, researcher or faculty, or a local @pennstatescience.bsky.social alum, be sure to attend to hear Chad give an exciting talk on how AI and high-throughput nanofabrication are accelerating materials discovery in fields like energy, catalysis, & electronics.

Nanoscience pioneer, Penn State alumnus to present spring 2025 Kohn Lecture | Penn State University Chad A. Mirkin, director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology and the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University and Penn State alumnus, will present the Harold ...

We're thrilled to welcome back alumnus Chad Mirkin of
@nuchemistry.bsky.social for the Harold Kohn Endowed Distinguished Chemistry Alumni Lecture on April 21!

www.psu.edu/news/eberly-...

Looking forward to visiting the Chemistry Department at Stanford today!

It's been fantastic to see such strong representation of #PennState at this week's @acs.org Meeting in San Diego! A standout moment was seeing @rayschaak.bsky.social officially presented with his 2025 F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry by ACS President Dorothy Phillips! 👏

Remember to tag us @psu_chemistry
on X, @psuchemistry on Instagram, and "Penn State Department of Chemistry" on LinkedIn to share your #ACSSpring2025 moments!

We hope to see you there!

We are so excited for the upcoming @acs.org meeting in San Diego from March 23-27! Below is a presenter schedule highlighting key talks, posters and events featuring #PennStateChemistry researchers, making it easier for alumni and friends to meet fellow Penn Staters! 🔵⚪️

Protein accidentally lassos itself, helping explain unusual refolding behavior | Penn State University A new study has described a potential mechanism that could help explain why some proteins refold in a different pattern than expected. The researchers, led by chemists at Penn State, found that a type of misfolding, in which the proteins incorrectly intertwine their segments, can occur and create a barrier to the normal folding process.

A new study by @pennstateuniv.bsky.social and #johnshopkins researchers has described a potential mechanism that could help explain why some proteins refold in a different pattern than expected.

Learn More! ➡️ bit.ly/4hBeMbf

@pennstatescience.bsky.social @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social

Please join us in congratulating Marty for this recognition of his outstanding teaching accomplishments 👏

science.psu.edu/chem/awards/...

@pennstatescience.bsky.social @pennstateuniv.bsky.social
#chemistryteaching

It's our pleasuure to announce Marty Bollinger as this year's Priestley Teaching Prize winner! It is awarded annually to a @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social faculty member for excellence in undergrad chemistry instruction as measured by the increase in learning and enthusiasm for the subject!

Interesting paper on the ligand chemistry of Au nanoparticles by team Ben&Ben @pennstatechemistry.bsky.social

This collaboration came about uniquely when a former Showalter postdoc encouraged first author Rishav Mitra to visit #PennState to learn our #NMR methods. Rishav joined Showalter's group as a visiting scholar shortly after COVID, Despite early uncertainties, the project came together successfully!

Check out Professor Scott Showalter's recent first
@pnas.org publication, "Molecular insights into the interaction between a disordered protein and a folded RNA."

pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Researchers uncovered how the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum regulates gene expression to progress through its complex life cycle. These findings offer new possibilities for malaria treatments, a disease affecting millions worldwide!

➡️ bit.ly/4bivN8I

@pennstatescience.bsky.social

Volunteer Voices: Joseph Houck chats about the chemistry olympiad The professor shares how mentors support US students participating in the International Chemistry Olympiad

Associate teaching professor Joe Houck was recently interviewed by @cenmag.bsky.social about his experience mentoring for the International Chemistry Olympiad. Check out the interview below!

cen.acs.org/people/Volun...

"Quantum materials has emerged as a field recently as current devices are approaching their quantum limit," – Lukas Muechler, assistant professor of chemistry and physics

Read more about his recent lecture on quantum materials from the 2025 Ashtekar Frontiers of Science series ➡️ bit.ly/3QaGgJn

We are so thrilled to share that #PennState chemist
Lauren Zarzar is among the scientists selected to receive prestigious #PECASE awards!

This award represents the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on early-career scientists and engineers 👏

➡️ science.psu.edu/news/penn-st...