Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry * University of Arkansas

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Celebrating Black History with our campus community, we are spotlighting inspiring Black faculty, staff, and students from the University of Arkansas.

Today, we highlight Dr. Paul D. Adams, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology.

What are your research interests?
• Multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy for use in protein structure determination as well as dynamics.
• Protein dynamics calculations to characterize intramolecular motions in proteins.
• Steady-state and Time-resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy.
• Isothermal titration calorimetry.
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry
• Post column derivative-based amino acid analysis of peptides and proteins, protein expression and purification.
• Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.
• Biochemical characterization of Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) and the influence of small molecule targets on PPIs.

What are a couple of things that you are involved in on campus or the community?
On Campus:
• I am involved in the UARK Leaders Program. This is a leadership development program aimed at supporting the professional growth of influential and up-and-coming university leaders while enhancing collaboration and innovation on campus.
• I am the director of the University of Arkansas’ “Path to Graduation” Program, which aims to increase the number of low-income students, especially those from rural regions of Arkansas, who graduate with a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, the STEM fields. This program has received funding from the National Science Foundation funded grant in the amount of $999,847.
• I have served as advisor to more than 70 students at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels since coming to the U. of A.
• I am a former advisor (2009-2019) to the Gamma Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at the U. of A.

In the Community:
• Member, External Advisory Board, NIH U-RISE program, Howard University (Washington D.C.)
• Panelist and Presenter, Arkansas Summer Research Institute, Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts (Hot Springs, AR)
• Member, Board of Trustees, St. James Missionary Baptist Church
• Ordained Deacon, St. James Missionary Baptist Church
• Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. I have served on the Chapter level, and currently serve on the District and International levels of the fraternity.
• Chartering member, Northwest Arkansas chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.

What does Black History mean to you?
Black history month means so many different things for me. I think, however, what has resonated with me over the last several years is that our history is filled with as many “Hidden Figures”, as it is with our “Figures” that have not been hidden. We spend a lot of time during this month remembering salient aspects and those involved with the civil rights movement and the many aspects for the continued struggle for equality for our community. However, it think it also important that “Black history” means reflecting on those persons and events which have helped to shape our country through innovation in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, from the time of Benjamin Banneker, an African american astronomer and mathematician who constructed America’s first functional clock and one of the surveyors of Washington D.C. in the late 1700’s, until now with Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett, an African-american viral immunologist at the Vaccine Research Center of the NIH, who has been one of the principle scientists in the development of the Moderna mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, impacting the potential “end to the worst pandemic in more than 100 years”.

This month we are highlighting Black faculty, staff, administration and alumni as they share inspirational words of advice. Today's quote is from Paul Adams, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

His quote:
If you keep humility and honor on your left…If you keep dedication and work ethic on your right…If you keep character and respect for others behind you…Your life will have no other choice but to move forward…

Here are 5 Black chemists you may have not learned about in school. Learn more about these Black chemists and others you should know about at http://ow.ly/ohr450DnT3i

➡️ Winifred Burks-Houck was a prominent Black environmental chemist and the first woman president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.
➡️ Charles Drew discovered that blood could be preserved for longer times when plasma and red blood cells were separated, giving him the title “father of the blood bank.”
➡️ James Andrew Harris, alongside his team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the ’60s, discovered two elements: 104, rutherfordium, and 105, dubnium.
➡️ Angie Turner King became a prominent science educator in a time when few Black women were scientists. During her career she mentored many successful scientists.
➡️ Josephine Silone Yates was an accomplished chemist, writer, and civil rights activist. She became the first certified Black teacher in Rhode Island and the first Black woman to lead a college department.

Whether you're turning your pumpkins into scary jack-o'-lanterns or pumpkin pie, check out this Periodic Graphics that illustrates the molecules behind their color, aroma, and taste.

See more infographics by Compound Interest at http://ow.ly/Iao350C3NRL

New 'Short Talks' Explores Researchers Drive to a Coronavirus Vaccine Assistant professor Mahmoud Moradi’s research could aid an unconventional approach to developing a coronavirus vaccine.

NIH Award Supports Research on Biological Drug to Rebuild Heart Tissue The project is part of the Southeast XLerator Network’s Ideas to Products program to quickly commercialize healthcare technologies.

Chemist Developing 3D Simulations of Coronavirus Spike Proteins Research will show how the virus binds to human cell receptors and will aid the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

Congratulations, Mahsa!

Chemistry's Mahsa Lofti-Marchoobeh Wins Three Minute Thesis Final Mahsa Lotfi-Marchoobeh is the winner of the U of A Three Minute Thesis competition for her presentation A Miniaturized Neural Probe for Detection of Chemicals in the Brain.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Announces New Faculty Maggie He joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as an assistant professor. Her research interests span the areas of organic chemistry and materials chemistry.

Chemistry Doctoral Student Successfully Defends Dissertation Matthew McKay, a graduate student in chemistry and biochemistry, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation. He has a postdoctoral appointment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Historian Publishes New Book on Legacy of J. William Fulbright Professor Alessandro Brogi, the book's lead co-editor, along with the book's authors, including Distinguished Professor Randall Woods, bring a fresh international perspective to their evaluation of Fulbright.