Dr. Mitch MalachowskiOffice: Center for Science and Technology - 486Phone: (619) 260-4032 e-mail Address: malachow@sandiego.edu |
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Dr. Mitch MalachowskiOffice: Center for Science and Technology - 486Phone: (619) 260-4032 e-mail Address: malachow@sandiego.edu |
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Academic Background
Bachelor of Science: Rhode Island College
Doctor of Philosophy: University of
North
Carolina, Chapel Hill
Courses Taught
Chemistry 101: Chemistry and Society
Chemistry 151: General Chemistry
Chemistry 301/302: Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 301L/302L: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Chemistry 421: Advanced Integrated Laboratory Physical/Organic
Chemistry 494: Organic Synthesis
Chemistry 494: Medicinal Chemistry
Honors Program: The Century of Genius: From Copernicus to Newton
Honors Program: Science, Philosophy and Social Change
Cluster Preceptorial: The Impact of Science on Society
Biography
Mitch Malachowski is currently Professor of Chemistry at the University of San Diego. He received a B.A. degree in chemistry from Rhode Island College in 1977 and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983. After teaching at Gettysburg College for one year, he joined the faculty at USD in 1984. During 1992 he was a visiting professor at Leiden University, the Netherlands. He maintains an active research program involving the bioinorganic chemistry of copper proteins and in the synthesis of supramolecular complexes.During his time at USD, he has worked with 65 research students. He has published 45 papers, many of them with undergraduate co-authors and he has delivered 90 talks on his research.
Malachowski also has a long-standing interest in the history and philosophy of science and science pedagogy. He has published papers on the work of Sir Isaac Newton, the use of models in science, the utility of writing in the sciences, academic advising, and the proper role of research at undergraduate institutions.
Malachowski served as Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences at USD from 1989 until he came to his senses in 1994. Included among his responsibilities were the direction of faculty development projects, College-wide grant proposals, the Preceptorial Program, student advising, and the Faculty Research Grants. He strongly believes in faculty development issues including the encouragement of external support for research and the balancing of teaching with research activities. He continually seeks ways to make learning more student centered; included are research opportunities for undergraduates.
Mitch has extensively been involved in the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). He has served on the CUR mentor network, the Consultants Committee, chaired the Nominations Committee and is past chair of the chemistry division of CUR. Mitch was president of CUR during 2002-2003. He lectures widely on ways to institutionalize research at predominately undergraduate institutions.
He has received several awards including one for teaching excellence from the University of North Carolina, the administrator of the year award at USD, two University Professorships from USD (1996-1997 and 2002-2003) and the Charles B. Willard award for distinguished career achievement from Rhode Island College.
Research Interests
1. Models for Biological Systems
My greatest professional love is to make new compounds. I thoroughly enjoy going into the laboratory and preparing a compound that has never previously been prepared. This act of creation, whether in the laboratory or in other contexts, seems to me to be one of humankind's innate desires. This adaptation of nature by chemists has been a driving force for many new, and oftentimes improved, aspects of our lives. The creation of new substances in the laboratory continues unabated and has been partly responsible for the 20th century being referred to as the age of technology.
One could engage in this act of creation for the sheer joy of it, however, I prepare my target compounds to have similar properties to those found in the natural world. Nature has found ways to use organic molecules for an incredible array of purposes and it is a great challenge to recreate these activities in the laboratory. The experimental part of chemistry is what makes it so exciting to be a chemist and to do chemistry. To meld theory with a well-devised and executed experiment is tremendously satisfying.
By preparing compounds in the lab based on what is thought to be true about naturally occurring compounds, we can do two things. First, we can learn a great deal about nature in this way as we can study the compounds more easily in the laboratory. Secondly, since nature uses compounds in living systems in ways that we would like to use them in our own endeavors, by taking our cues from nature we can invent ways of transforming compounds in the lab.
I am interested in better understanding the relevance of copper, iron, molybdenum and manganese in biological systems. To do so, I am involved in preparing artificial proteins in the laboratory that recreate the properties of the naturally occurring biological molecules. Our recent efforts along these lines involve the use of multidentate ligands with the donor atoms attached to biphenyl rings. These ligands enforce severe geometrical constraints on the metal ions and force them into unusual geometries. We currently are investigating the properties of these compounds and are comparing their properties to those of the biological systems.
2. Synthesis and Investigation of Chiral, Heterometallic Metal-Organic Frameworks
I am interested in the synthesis and study of metallo-organic frameworks (MOF) as materials for use in separation, sensors and catalytic chemistry. MOFs have many advantages over related systems because their structures and properties can be modified by judicious choice of the appropriate ligand set so this plays right into my interests in organic synthesis. This form of molecular engineering is a hallmark of our group as we continually attempt to rationally design novel molecules by building in structural features that will lead to the intended properties.
Currently, we are preparing a variety of ligands each of which has a dipyrromethene unit as the fundamental donor to the metals. In addition, the ligands have additional donors that allow them to form extended solids when coordinated to metal ions. We are interested in utilizing the inherent chirality of tris(chelate) transition metal complexes of dipyrromethene ligands as building blocks for constructing homochiral MOFs. The homochirality of the MOF is derived from the D or L handedness of the tris(chelate) complex. In addition, these complexes have great potential to bind to various guest molecules.
This project will better our understanding of ligands of this type, help us understand the fundamental factors responsible for the structures of their metal complexes and help us further design ligands that will enhance the chemical and photophysical properties of the complexes.
3. Pedagogy
I am interested in exploring the relationship between teaching and research and have written extensively on this topic. As a member of the Council on Undergraduate Research, I believe in the organization’s belief that research at predominately undergraduate institutions (PUI’s) is teaching. I have argued that at PUI’s, one of the goals of faculty research should be to enhance student learning. Furthermore, I believe that all faculty in all disciplines should engage students in their scholarship.
Publications
Chemistry:
21. Drew L Murphy, Mitchell R. Malachowski, Charles F. Campana, and Seth M. Cohen, “A Chiral, Heterometallic Metal-
Organic Framework Dervied from a Tris(chelate) Coordination Complex, Chemical Communications, 5506-5508, 2005.
20. Sara R. Halper, Mitchell R. Malachowski, Heather M. Delaney and Seth M. Cohen, “Heteroleptic Copper
Dipyrromethene Complexes: Synthesis, Structures, and Coordination Polymers,” Inorganic Chemistry, 43, 1242-1249,
2004.
19. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Mark Adams, Nadia Elia, Arnold Rheingold and Richard Kelly, “Enforcing Geometrical
Constraints on Metal Complexes using Biphenyl-based Ligands: Spontaneous Reduction of Copper(II) by Sulfur-
Containing Ligands,” Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions. 2177, 1999.
18. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Brian T. Dorsey, Michael J. Parker, Mark E. Adams and Richard S. Kelly, “Probing the
Catalytic Properties of Cu(II) Complexes of Appended Cyclams: Correlations between Catalysis and Stability
Constants or Electrochemical Properties,” Polyhedron, 218, 1289, 1998.
17 Mitchell R. Malachowski, Marilyn G. Davidson, Josephine Carden, Willem L. Driessen, and Jan Reedijk, “The
Preparation and Catalytic Properties of Copper(II) Complexes Derived from a Pyrazole Containing Ligand. X-ray
Crystal Structure of [Cu(pzmhp)(BF4)](BF4),”Inorganica Chimica Acta, 257, 59, 1997.
16. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Brian Dorsey, Jonathan G. Sackett, Richard S. Kelly, Amy L. Ferko and Ranetta N. Hardin,
“Effect of Ligand Donors on the Catalytic Properties of Metal Complexes. Copper(II) Complexes as Catalysts for the
Oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol,”Inorganica Chimica Acta, 249, 85, 1996.
15. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Hong B. Huynh, Laura J. Tomlinson, and Richard S. Kelly, “A Comparative Study of the
Catalytic Oxidation of Catechols by Cu(II) Complexes of Tripodal Ligands, ” Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton
Transactions, 31, 1995.
14. James W. Furbee, Jr., Robin L. Thomas, Richard S. Kelly, and Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Mediated Electrochemical
Reduction of Cytochrome c and Tyrosinase at Nafion-Coated Electrodes,” Analytical Chemistry, 65, 1654, 1993.
13. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Theresa Ramelot, Ron Ostrom, Daniel Murray, and Larry Volz, “Investigations of Copper
and Manganese Complexes as Oxidation Catalysts,” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 51, 341,1993.
12. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Laura J. Tomlinson, Michael J. Parker, and J. Daniel Davis, “The Design and Synthesis of
Novel Dinucleating Macrocycles Derived from Cyclam,” Tetrahedron Letters, 33, 1395, 1992.
11. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Marilyn G. Davidson, and J. Daniel Davis, "The Preparation of Cu(II) Complexes Derived
from a Novel Pyrazole Containing Dinucleating Ligand,” Inorganica Chimica Acta, 192, 157, 1992.
10. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Josephine Carden, Hong Huynh, Daniel Murray, and Ronald Ostrom, "A Comparative Study
of the Catecholase Activity of Related Cu(II) Complexes," Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 47, 53, 1992.
9. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Marilyn G. Davidson, and J. Daniel Davis, "The Synthesis of Tetrapyrazole Substituted
Phenols," Heterocycles, 34, 1227, 1992.
8. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Laura J. Tomlinson, Marilyn G. Davidson, and Mary J. Hall, "Impact of Geometric Changes
on the Oxidation of Catechol by Copper(II) Complexes," Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 25, 171, 1992.
7. Mitchell R. Malachowski and Marilyn G. Davidson, "Novel Mono-and Bi-nuclear Cu(II) Complexes: Synthesis,
Characterization, and Catecholase Activity," Inorganica Chimica Acta, 162, 199, 1989.
6. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Marilyn G. Davidson, and Mary J. Hall, “The Catalytic Properties of a Series of Related Cu(II)
Complexes,” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 36, 330, 1989.
5. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Marilyn G. Davidson, and John N. Hoffman, "Synthesis, Characterization, and Catecholase
Activity of Novel Cu(II) Complexes Derived from a Tripodal Ligand," Inorganica Chimica Acta, 157, 91, 1989.
4. Ronald L. Cerny, Maurice M. Bursey, Mitchell R. Malachowski, Thomas N. Sorrell, "Fast Atom Bombardment Mass
Spectrometry of Related Cu(I) and Cu(II) Chelates," Inorganica Chimica Acta, 89, 89, 1984
3. Thomas N. Sorrell and Mitchell R. Malachowski, "Mononuclear Three-Coordinate Copper(I) Complexes: Synthesis,
Structure, and Reaction with Carbon Monoxide," Inorganic Chemistry, 22, 1883, 1983.
2. Thomas N. Sorrell, Donald L. Jameson, Mitchell R. Malachowski, and Andrew S. Borovik, "Models for Hemocyanin,"
Inorganica Chimica Acta, 79, 99, 1983.
1. Thomas N. Sorrell, Mitchell R. Malachowski and Donald L. Jameson, "Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a
Binuclear Three-Coordinate Copper(I) Complex," Inorganic Chemistry, 21, 3250, 1982.
3. Mitchell R. Malachowski and Dennis Rohatyn, “Half Truths: The Whole Story,” Responsible Change
for the 21st Century, National Institute for Curriculum Development, Enschede, The Netherlands, 308,
1994.
2. Mitchell R. Malachowski and Dennis Rohatyn, "Promethean Pride and the Autonomy of Science:
Newton as Maker and Destroyer of Worlds," History of Philosophy Quarterly, 8, 297-316, 1991.
1. Mitchell R. Malachowski and Dennis Rohatyn, “The Century of Genius: Science, Philosophy, and
Social Change, 1543-1687,” in The Liberal Art of Science, American Association for the Advancement
of Science, Washington, DC, 96, 1990.
Pedagogy:
20. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Undergraduate Research as the Next Great Faculty Divide,” Peer Review, American
Association of Colleges and University, Winter, 2006.
19. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “The Importance of Placing Students First in Designing Research Programs at
Predominately Undergraduate Institutions,” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 24, 106-108, 2004.
18. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “A Day in the Life of CUR,” President’s Column, Council on Undergraduate Research
Quarterly, 23, 106, 2003.
17. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “A Research Across the Discipline Movement,”chapter in “Undergraduate Research,”
edited by Marilyn Kinkead, Jossey-Bass series on higher education, 2003.
16. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Research Across the Curriculum,” President’s Column, Council on Undergraduate
Research Quarterly, 23, 152, 2003.
15. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “What is Essential for a First-rate Undergraduate Research Program?” President’s Column,
Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 23, 57, 2002.
14. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “CUR as a Grassroots Organization,” President’s Column, Council on Undergraduate
Research Quarterly, 23, 3, 2002.
13. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Should CUR Expand to Embrace all Disciplines?” Council on Undergraduate Research
Quarterly, 21, 156, 2001.
12. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Michael Nelson, “CUR Institutes: A Success Story on Institutionalizing Undergraduate
Research,” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 19, 36, 1999.
11. Mitchell R. Malachowski, Nancy Mills, “CUR Institutes: A New Model for Supporting Research with Undergraduates,”
Journal of Chemical Education, 76, 1320, 1999.
10. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Promoting Undergraduate Research in Non-Science Areas at Predominantly
Undergraduate Institutions,”Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 19, 126, 1999.
9. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Not all Research is Equal: Student-Oriented Versus Research-Oriented Approaches to
Scholarship,”Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 17, 182, 1997.
8. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “The Mentoring Role in Undergraduate Research Projects,” Council on Undergraduate
Research Quarterly, 17, 91, 1996.
7. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Preventing Academic Disqualifications,” Recruitment and Retention in Higher Education,
Volume 5, No. 2, 1995.
6. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Wanted: Administrators with Scientific Backgrounds,” Chemical Education Newsletter,
American Chemical Society, Fall, 1995.
5. Mitchell R. Malachowski, "Advising Initiatives which Assist in Minimizing Academic Disqualifications," Academic
Advising News, 17, 12, 1995.
4. Mitchell R. Malachowski, “Gaining Administrative Support for Undergraduate Research,” Council on Undergraduate
Research Quarterly, 13, No. 2, 20, 1992.
3. Mitchell R. Malachowski, "An Interdisciplinary Cluster Approach to Science Courses," Journal of College Science
Teaching, 20, 22-26, 1990.
2. Mitchell R. Malachowski, "The Use of Journals to Enhance Chemical Understanding in a Liberal Arts Chemistry
Class," Journal of Chemical Education, 65, 439, 1988.
1. Mitchell R. Malachowski, "The Honing of Observational Skills through the Use of Writing Exercises," Journal of
Chemical Education, 63, 497, 1986.