fulfilling our - Alumni - DePaul University

Richard Niedziela, chemistry
department chair, is always thinking
of new ways to make science
education an opportunity for
self-discovery for students.
Assistant Professor
Lihua Jin’s research
may help advance the
search for a cure for
Alzheimer’s disease.
“Advancing youth through education is a key component of the
McGowan fund’s mission. We are pleased to partner with DePaul
University in developing its sciences program,” says Gin. “This new
building will improve the university’s ability to train scientists, teachers
and professionals, and ultimately expand DePaul’s capacity to educate
underserved youth who wish to pursue a career in science.”
While all recent DePaul construction has been designed to be energy
efficient, the new science building is the first to seek certification
through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.
“This building is the future of science education at DePaul,” says
the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul. “We
are committed to providing our next generation of scientists and
technology workers with an education of the highest level, which
will help our society to remain healthy, internationally prominent
and economically strong.”
According to the president, the campaign will help position DePaul
as a leader in 21st-century science education. “Leadership in this
area includes taking action to address the need for highly educated
elementary and high school science teachers,” notes Holtschneider.
“The new building and an endowment for scholarships will increase
DePaul’s capacity to prepare students for the key role of laying a solid
foundation for science education.”
Additional gifts to the campaign have come from corporations,
foundations, individual donors and government agencies, including
the State of Illinois’ Capital Development Board, which contributed
$9 million. For more information about the Campaign for Excellence
in Science, go to giving.depaul.edu/science.
DePaul prepares science
students for successful careers
DePaul’s hands-on approach to science education has prepared
thousands of graduates for success in science-based careers.
These alumni are engaged in at least 60 different fields of
work including urban planning, aviation and aerospace,
animal science and veterinary medicine, computer and
high technology, energy resources, environmental science,
manufacturing, medical and health services, nutrition, and
pharmacology.
According to Richard Niedziela, chemistry department chair,
that’s because science education at DePaul allows students to
find out what they are really good at. “The main thing is that
students get to do research and perform experiments alongside
teachers,” he says.
Niedziela and his students, for example, are investigating
the optical — that is, light-absorbing or light-reflecting —
characteristics of organic materials that represent components
of atmospheric aerosols or particles. They also are involved
in research to better understand the structure of particles
formed from water and oleic acid, which many scientists use as
proxies for natural aerosols found in the atmosphere. Both lines
of research will produce data that can help scientists better
identify, model or understand the properties of atmospheric
particles, including those contributing to global warming.
More than a dozen other DePaul science professors lead
lab projects that impart practical experience to students.
A sampling of their work includes:
n Lihua Jin, assistant professor of chemistry, is studying the
interaction of certain proteins with some metal ions and
with tetracycline, an antibiotic, to better understand what
causes Alzheimer’s disease and advance the search for a
treatment for the condition.
n Joanna Brooke, assistant professor of biological
sciences, is investigating the worldwide emergence
of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a type of bacteria
resistant to many antibiotics. Maltophilia is spread by
contaminated implanted devices and materials. Brooke’s
research has the potential to reveal pharmacological
treatments for the bacteria.
n Liam Heneghan, professor of environmental science,
is researching invasive plant and animal species in the
Chicago area. A current research focus is the ways in
which such invasions affect local ecosystems and their
restoration potential.
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