Category: Awards

Chemistry’s Reilly Rewarded With Spot in Dean’s Teaching Showcase

College of Sciences and Arts Dean Ravindra Pandey has selected Lorri Reilly, for this spring’s Deans’ Teaching Showcase. Reilly will be recognized at an end-of-term luncheon with other spring showcase members. Her selection makes her a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Lorri Reilly
Lorri Reilly Dean’s Teaching Showcase Selection

Reilly is an integral member of the instructional team providing lab experiences for students in first-year chemistry. Department of Chemistry Chair Athar Ata called Reilly “the anchor of first-year chemistry labs,” noting that she has “worked tirelessly to ensure they continue running smoothly. Her efforts have been instrumental in maintaining an engaging and effective learning environment. Lorri’s enthusiasm and approachability have made her well-liked among students, many of whom regularly visit her in her office.”

Reilly’s responsibilities include preparing graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) for success in laboratory instruction by demonstrating labs. Additionally, she asks GTAs to carry out these labs in her presence. This ensures all GTAs feel confident with the curriculum and in their ability to guide undergraduate students. Furthermore, she monitors the labs to verify that safety regulations for chemical handling are followed by the first-year students. This helps the Department ensure students receive proper lab training in skills they will need in higher-level STEM courses. Since 1991, Reilly has trained over 30,000 students and several teaching assistants in first-year chemistry.

Reilly Contributes to Curriculum Development

Reilly has also contributed significantly to curriculum development within the chemistry department. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reilly worked with the Department to adapt and develop instructional approaches that ensured that students still received essential lab training. Reilly played an integral role in a departmentwide project to revamp the curriculum for first-year chemistry labs.

“Providing meaningful hands-on laboratory experiences from the very beginning of a student’s academic experience is part of what makes Michigan Tech a leader in STEM education,” noted Maria Bergstrom, associate dean for undergraduate education. “The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to recognize the significant instructional work of Lorri Reilly, and others like her, who help develop and deliver our laboratory-based curriculum. In recognizing Ms. Reilly’s contributions, we draw attention to the ways that impactful instruction is the result of a collaborative effort that benefits all students.”

A version of this story originally appeared in the March 8, 2024 edition of Tech Today, written by the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning

About the Chemistry Department at Michigan Technological University

Chemists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues and advance research making contributions to health and well-being, environmental protection, responsible use of materials, and climate stabilization. The Chemistry Department offers five undergraduate degrees, an MS and PhD in Chemistry, and an accelerated MS. Supercharge your chemistry skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at chemistry@mtu.edu. Follow all the latest happenings on the Chemistry Blog.

Call for Applications: 2023 Songer Research Award for Human Health

Undergraduate and graduate chemistry students are encouraged to apply for the 2023 Songer Research Award for Human Health. Matthew Songer, (Biological Sciences ’79) and Laura Songer (Biological Sciences ’80) established these awards to stimulate and encourage opportunities for original research by current Michigan Tech students.

Students may propose an innovative medically-oriented research project in any area of human health. The best projects will demonstrate the potential to have a broad impact on improving human life. This research will be pursued in consultation with faculty members within the College of Sciences and Arts. The Songers’ gift and matching funds from the College will support two awards for undergraduate research ($4,000) and two for graduate research ($6,000), for research conducted over the Summer of 2023 and/or the following academic year.

Learn more about who is eligible to apply, how to apply, and how the funds may be used.

Submit applications as a single PDF file to the Office of the College of Sciences and Arts by 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2023. Applications may be emailed to djhemmer@mtu.edu. Any questions may be directed to David Hemmer (djhemmer@mtu.edu).

2021 Chemistry Awards

On April 21st, 2021, the Chemistry department gathered to congratulate those students who have excelled and accomplished so much during this past year.

Congratulations to the following and thank you everyone for your hard work!

Outstanding Student in First-Year Chemistry – Justin Andersen

Doc Berry Award – Steve Beuther

Leslie Leifer Award in Physical Chemistry – Henry Roell

Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry – Ellianna Sempek

Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry – Collette Sarver

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry – Andrew Zampaloni

Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry – Henry Roell

Outstanding Senior Award – Collette Sarver

Outstanding Senior Research Award –  Ethan Burghardt

Departmental Scholar– Ethan Burghardt
Honorable Mentions: Steve Beuther, Henry Roell, and Garven Huntley

Rebecca Sandretto/Susan Stackhouse Summer Fellowship – Connor Hall

Outstanding Lower-Division Chemistry Teaching Assistant – Connor Hensley & Amanda Studinger
Honorable Mentions: Ethan Burghardt and Alexander Apostle

Outstanding Upper-Division Chemistry Teaching Assistant – Nick Newberry & Parya Siahcheshm

Ray E. and Eleanor K. Cross Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Chemistry – Priyanka Kadav

Robert and Kathleen Lane Outstanding Graduate Research Award – Dhananjani Eriyagama & Chathura Adambarage

Outstanding Graduate Student Summer Fellowship – Sodiq Waheed

Department of Chemistry Ambassador Awards – Komal Chillar, Erin Berglund, Gretchen Heins, and Abby Schwartz

Presentations

Congratulations to Priyanka Dipak Kadav for winning third place in the oral presentations at the annual Graduate Research Colloquim for her presentation titled “Capture and Release (CaRe): A novel protein purification technique,’ on April 1st, 2021. Kadav was one of 31 oral presenters. The oral sessions were hosted live via Zoom. You can watch all the poster videos and recordings for the oral sessions here. Each presentation was scored by two judges from the same field of research.

2020 Chemistry Awards

Even during the very unusual circumstances that all of us are facing, the Chemistry Department wanted to celebrate its students in their accomplishments and contributions over the past year.

It was with honor and pride that the department virtually gathered on April 22 to celebrate its students’ achievements, as we continue to see ourselves as a community of scholars.

Outstanding Student in First Year Chemistry: Vincent Pellizzon.
Doc Berry Award: Abby Schwartz.
Leslie Leifer Award in Physical Chemistry: Collette Sarver.
Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry: Henry Roell.
Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Logan Mikesell.
Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry: Peyton Bainbridge.
Honorable Mentions: Collette Sarver, Abby Schwartz.
Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry: Jessica Krycia.
Outstanding Senior Award: Peyton Bainbridge, Jessica Krycia.
Honorable Mentions: Logan Mikesell, Sarah Montgomery.
Outstanding Senior Research Award: Michael Hromada, Sarah Montgomery.
Departmental Scholar: Collette Sarver.
Rebecca Sandretto/Susan Stackhouse Summer Fellowship: Steve Beuther.
Outstanding Lower-Division Chemistry Teaching Assistant: Priyanka Kadav (GTA), Jessica Krycia (UTA), Nazanin Nahrjou (GTA).
Outstanding Upper-Division Chemistry Teaching Assistant: Mikhail Trought.
Graduate Student Leadership Award: Mikhail Trought.
Outstanding Graduate Student Summer Fellowship: Shobhit Chaturvedi.
Honorable Mention: Chathura de Alwis.

Congratulations!

Graduate School Announces Fall 2018 Award Recipients

We are happy to announce chemistry grad students Mingxi Fang and Xin Yan are among the winners for the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship Award. Congratulations!

Finishing Fellowships provide support to PhD candidates who are close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in The Michigan Tech Plan.