Christina Smith
Daily Egyptian
Boyd Goodson, a SIUC physical chemistry professor, received a $100,000
grant for research in nuclear magnetic resonance, which gathers
physical, chemical, electronic and structural information about
molecules.
The Research Corporation, a scientific foundation, was established in
1912 to help fund scientific research. Fredrick Gardner Cottrell, a
scientist and inventor, started the foundation with the help of Charles
Doolittle Walcott. The Cottrell Scholar Award is named in his honor and
is awarded to third-year professors in the fields of astronomy,
chemistry or physics.
Applicants are required to submit proposals for both research and
teaching. Each year the Research Corporation receives about 600
proposals. About 200 applicants receive awards.
Goodson is one of 13 North American professors to receive the award for
2005, and one of four recipients from Illinois. Chemistry professors
from Northwestern, University of Chicago and University of Illinois
also received the award.
"I felt very lucky, did not expect to get it because the odds are very low," Goodson said.
Goodson, who joined the SIUC faculty in 2002 as an associate professor
of chemistry, earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Princeton
University in 1995, a doctoral degree in chemistry from the University
of California at Berkeley in 1999 and did post-doctoral research from
1999 to 2002, under Ahmed Zewail who won the 1999 Nobel Prize for
chemistry.
Goodson's research involves using nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy to determine information about a molecule's shape and
movements. This information is obtained by recording how a molecule
responds to radio frequency while inside a large magnet. After
determining the properties of a molecule he can use that information to
predict how the molecule will react to or affect the human body.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also known as MRI, creates an image of the
inside of a patient's body without hurting the patient. Similarly,
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows scientists to gather
information about a molecule without destroying the molecule, Goodson
said.
In the teaching proposal he submitted for the award, Goodson
recommended revamping SIU's physical science curriculum and encouraging
undergraduate students to participate in independent chemical research
projects. He suggested modernizing the physical science labs and
exposing students to modern methods and techniques.
Goodson said the goal of his research is to increase the sensitivity of
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. He said his work is similar to
the idea behind an amplifier.
An additional goal of his research is to increase the amplification of
the signals that a molecule produces, Goodson said. To enhance nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy detection sensitivity, he uses contact
between thin films and individual molecules to transfer the detection
sensitivity from the molecule to the film. The film can then be used to
transfer the sensitivity to another molecule.
"It is good for him, but it also brings a lot of recognition to the
department and to the University," chemistry and biochemistry chair
Lori Vermeulen said.
Reporter Christina Smith can be reached at
christina_smith@ dailyegyptian.com
