U of L chemists make most-cited lists

caroline.zentner — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 22:08:52 +0000

The research publications of two ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge chemistry professors have made the Canadian Journal of Chemistry’s (CJC) lists of most-cited papers from the last 20 years and the 100 most-cited papers ever published by the journal.

A 1994 study published in the Canadian Journal of Chemistry and led by Dr. Andy Hakin is one of the most-cited papers of the last 20 years.

Dr. Andrew Hakin, U of L provost and vice-president (academic) and a professor of chemistry, was the lead author of a 1994 study that looked at some fundamental thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of selected amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

“This was a total surprise. It’s always nice to see one of your papers become one of the most-cited in the last 20 years,” says Hakin. “People refer to properties we reported again and again so I’m pleased we made such a meaningful contribution.”

Other authors of the paper include Dr. Michelle (Duke) Hogue, then an academic assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and now a professor in the First Nations Transition Program, Robert McKay, also an academic assistant at the time, now retired, and current U of L senator, and two then undergraduate students, Sheri A. Klassen and Kathryn E. Preuss.

“It was the beginning of a series of papers on the thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of amino acids,” says Hakin. “We started to measure densities, from which you get volumes and heat capacities, to a very high degree of precision. The work is being referenced because they have become the values that people use. People have referred to them again and again.”

A 1969 study by Dr. Loren Hepler is on the list of the 100 most-cited papers ever published by the Canadian Journal of Chemistry.

On the list of the 100 most-cited papers ever published by the CJC is a 1969 paper by Dr. Loren Hepler, a founding chemistry professor at the U of L. After leaving the U of L, Hepler became a faculty member at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and Hakin joined his research group as a post-doctoral fellow in 1987. After the fellowship, Hakin joined the U of L.

“The equipment that Hepler used when he was in Lethbridge is what I used with the amino acid studies,” says Hakin. “I’m delighted that two professors associated with the U of L Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have been recognized in this way.”

UNews - Dr. Loren Hepler

U of L chemists make most-cited lists

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