Dalila G. Kovacs

Department of Chemistry Phone: (616) 331-3806
Grand Valley State University Fax: (616) 331-3230 Allendale, MI 49401- 9403 email: [email protected]

Education:

Ph.D., 1993-1998 Physical Organic Chemistry, Michigan State University, (J. E. Jackson).
II-nd degree in Education 1988 Order # 8469/1988 of Romanian Ministry of Education.
Tenure in Education 1983 Order # 5732/1983 of Romanian Ministry of Education
BS Organic Chemistry 1976-1980 Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Work history & experience:

Assistant Professor 2003-present Grand Valley State University ( GVSU) Department of chemistry, MI USA.
Research Associate 1999-2003 Michigan State University ( MSU), Chemistry Department MI USA. ( D. J. Miller & J. E. Jackson)
Research Assistant 1993-1998 Michigan State University, Chemistry Department, MI USA (J. E. Jackson)
Research Associate 1991-1993 Babes-Bolyai University, department of Chemistry, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
High School Chemistry Teacher 1980-1991 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Referee 2001-present Journal of Organic Chemistry
Adjunct Faculty 2006-present Center for Green Manufacturing @ The Universtiy of Alabama

Societal Affiliation

ACS 1994-present American Chemical Society, Organic Chemistry and Computational Chemistry Divisions
Iota Sigma Pi 1994-present National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry, Member at large

Recent Workshops Participation

2005 10th National Green Chemistry & Engineering Meeting: Green Chemistry in Education Washington, DC.
2006 ASC National Meeting: Reaction mechanisms and high energy species, Atlanta, GA.
2005 ASC National Meeting: Initiative in Green Chemistry Education Anaheim, CA.
2004 David G. Bauer: Successful Grant Seeking Grand Rapids.

Awards

1996 Merit Level Appointment for Outstanding Teaching, MSU.
1994 Iota Sigma Pi Members at Large Reentry Scholarship.
1992 The Romanian Academy of Science Annual Award in Chemistry

Mentoring

2003-present Advised for 9 undergraduate students at GVSU-see attached research at GVSU list

Talks & presentations since appointment with GVSU (03-07), GVSU undergraduates students (in italics & bold)

Gretchen Ludeman; Kovacs, Dalila Investigation into the mechanism of 1,2-cyclohexane diol conversion on metal catalysts Abstracts of Papers, 233rd American Chemical Society ( ACS) National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007 (to be presented).

Tadas Kasputis; Kovacs, Dalila Cyclohexane-1,2,5-triol interaction with metal catalysts in aqueous solutions Abstracts of Papers, 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007, (to be presented).

Kovacs, Dalila Small Pd and Ru cluster interaction with alcohols: A DFT study. Abstracts of Papers, 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007 (to be presented).

Kovacs, Dalila Toward Understanding Metal-Catalyzed Polyol Hydrogenolysis in Aqueous Media, Abstracts of Papers, 10th Green Chemistry & Engineering National Meeting, Washington, D.C., June 26-30, 2006.

Kovacs, D. Alternative Energy Sources, GVSU, Fall Science Update Seminar, GVSU, November 2006.

Kovacs, D. Cold War: perspectives from the other side of the Iron Curtain, GVSU, 31st Annual Great Lakes History Conference,GVSU, 2006.

Jesse Lutz; Kovacs, Dalila Pd n and Run (n=1-6) cluster interaction with small organic molecules: A DFT study. Abstracts of Papers, 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 26-30, 2006 (2006), ORGN-108. Abstract

Kovacs, D. What if? Living in the mirror image world, GVSU, Super Science Saturday Open House, GVSU, 2005.

Kovacs, D. Heterogeneous hydrogenolysis of polyols in aqueous conditions University of Michigan, invited talk, 2005.

Luxford, Cynthia.; Baily, Grant; Kavara, Ajdin; Kovacs, Dalila Aqueous-phase heterogeneous hydrogenolysis of cyclic diols as models of biomass-derived feedstock. Abstracts of Papers, 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005 (2005), ORGN-98.

Kovacs, D. The Name game: how organic chemists name compounds, GVSU, Fall Science Update Seminar, GVSU, November 2004.

Kovacs, D. Aqueous-Phase Heterogeneous Hydrogenation of cyclic diols as models for biomass-derived feedstock GVSU, Science and CLAS Science & Math Research Colloquium, GVSU, November 2004.

Kovacs, D. Aqueous-Phase hydrogenation of cyclic diols on Pd/C, Andrews University, invited talk, September 2004.

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Peereboom, Lars; Miller, Dennis J.; Jackson, James E. Metallic surfaces, H2, and water: Understanding heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions in aqueous media. Abstracts of Papers, 227th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2004 ( 2004), ORGN-280.

Research History & Experience:

Grand Valley State University Assistant Professor 2003-present
Mentor undergraduate students in independent research: Heterogeneous catalytic processes: biomass as resource for "green" pathways toward chemical commodities. MSU Research Associate 1999-2003
Engineering and Chemistry Departments. Mechanistic aspects of heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenolysis, high pressure high temperature systems, solid/liquid interface mechanisms investigation, isotope labeling, controlled C-C bond cleavage, etc. MSU Research Assistant 1993-1998
Mechanistic investigation of novel carbene-to-carbene oxygen atom transfer reaction. New methods to generate nucleophilic carbene through [2+3] cycloaddition reactions. Molecular orbital calculations and reaction mechanism investigation using computational semi-empirical and ab initio methods. Babes-Bolyai University Research Assistant 1991-1993
Synthesis and conformational analysis of substituted 1,3-dioxanes and oxadiazolines by diastereospecific reactions. Synthesis and characterization of biologically active 4(3H)-pyrimidinones. Babes-Bolyai University High School teaching related research 1988-1991
Problem solving techniques as a tool in new concepts discovery for Introduction in Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics. Lab experiments as a primary tool in learning Kinetics. Babes-Bolyai University Undergraduate research. 1977-1980
Synthesis and characterization of biologically active Nitro-aromatic compounds ( Staphylococcus Aureus).

Teaching History & Experience:

GVSU Assistant Professor 2003-present
Qualitative Analysis of Organic Compounds W07 & W06 Green Chemistry F06 Advanced Organic Chemistry W05 Organic Chemistry I F05, W04, F03 Organic Chemistry II W06, F04 Survey of Organic Chemistry W07, F06, S06, W05 General Chemistry I-laboratory S05 MSU Lecturer 1999-2003
Survey of Organic Chemistry S03, S02, S00 Organic Chemistry I W02, W01, F00, W00, F99 Babes-Bolyai University Lecturer 1992-1993
Organic Reaction Mechanisms W91, F91, F92, W92 Introductory Biochemistry F92 Teaching Assistant 1993-1998 @ MSU & 1991-1992 @ Babes-Bolyai University
Graduate level: Spectroscopic Methods for Organic Chemistry Undergraduate level Organic Chemistry Lecture I & II, Introductory Organic Chemistry Lecture I & II Organic Chemistry Laboratory I & II High School Teacher Liceul Unirea, Cluj-Napoca 1980-1991 Romania
Specialty Chemistry classes for juniors and seniors

Organic Chemistry textbook reviewed:

Suggs & Zimmt Organic Chemistry: Patterns and Principles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc 2006
D. Klein Organic Chemistry II as a Second Language John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2005
D. Klein Organic Chemistry as a Second Language John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004
Suggs & Zimmt Organic Chemistry: Patterns and Principles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004
W.H. Brown Organic Chemistry, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2002
S. Ege Organic Chemistry: Structures and Reactivity, 4th ed, Houghton Mifflin. 2001
Jan Smith Organic Chemistry, McGraw-Hill 2000

Comprehensive list of publication & presentations

Kovacs, Dalila Toward Understanding Metal-Catalyzed Polyol Hydrogenolysis in Aqueous Media, Abstracts of Papers, 10th Green Chemistry & Engineering National Meeting, Washington, D.C., June 26-30, 2006.

Kovacs, D. Alternative Energy Sources, GVSU, Fall Science Update Seminar, GVSU, November 2006.

Kovacs, D. Cold War: perspectives from the other side of the Iron Curtain, GVSU, 31st Annual Great Lakes History Conference,GVSU, 2006.

Jesse Lutz; Kovacs, Dalila Pdn and Run (n=1-6) cluster interaction with small organic molecules: A DFT study. Abstracts of Papers, 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 26-30, 2006 (2006), ORGN-90.

Luxford, Cynthia.; Baily, Grant; Kavara, Ajdin; Kovacs, Dalila Aqueous-phase heterogeneous hydrogenolysis of cyclic diols as models of biomass-derived feedstock. Abstracts of Papers, 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005 (2005), ORGN-98.

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Peereboom, Lars; Miller, Dennis J.; Jackson, James E. Metallic surfaces, H2, and water: Understanding heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions in aqueous media. Abstracts of Papers, 227th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2004 ( 2004), ORGN-280.

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Peereboom, Lars; Miller, Dennis J.; Jackson, James E. H/D exchange studies of behavior of 1,2- and 1,3-propanediols under heterogeneous hydrogenation conditions. Abstracts of Papers, 224th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, United States, August 18-22, 2002 ( 2002), ORGN-280. CODEN: 69CZPZ AN 2002:618674 CAPLUS

Jere, Frank T.; Kovacs, Dalila G.; Peereboom, Lars; Zhang, Zhigang; Jackson, James E.; Miller, Dennis J. Aqueous-phase hydrogenation of fermentation-derived organic acids. Abstracts of Papers, 223rd ACS National Meeting, Orlando, FL, United States, April 7-11, 2002 ( 2002), IEC-281. CODEN: 69CKQP AN 2002:189554 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila; Jackson, James E. CH2 + CO2 ® CH2O + CO, One-Step Oxygen Atom Abstraction or Addition/Fragmentation via a-Lactone? Journal of Physical Chemistry A ( 2001), 105(32), 7579-7587. CODEN: JPCAFH ISSN:1089-5639. CAN 135:272571 AN 2001:527789 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Jackson, James E.; Miller, Dennis J. Mechanistic investigation of glycerol hydrogenolysis. Abstracts of Papers - American Chemical Society ( 2001), 221st ORGN-457. CODEN: ACSRAL ISSN:0065-7727. AN 2001:202959 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Jackson, James E.; Miller, Dennis J. Catalytic hydrogenation of lactic acid: A mechanistic study. Abstracts of Papers - American Chemical Society ( 2001), 221st ORGN-340. CODEN: ACSRAL ISSN:0065-7727. AN 2001:202836 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila G.; Jackson, James E. Carbodiimide reaction with substituted acetylenes: Stepwise or [2+3] cycloaddition?. Book of Abstracts, 218th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, Aug. 22-26 (1999), ORGN-319. CODEN: 67ZJA5 AN 1999:542700 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila; Jackson, James E. CH2 + CO2 ---> CH2O + CO one-step oxygen atom "pluck" or addition/fragmentation via a-lactone? Book of Abstracts, 216th ACS National Meeting, Boston, August 23-27 (1998), ORGN-653. CODEN: 66KYA2 AN 1998:531015 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila Georgeta. Oxygen abstraction: a new type of carbene reactivity and a new method to generate stable carbenes. (1998), 171 pp. CAN 131:228359 AN 1999:567560 CAPLUS

Craciun, Liliana; Kovacs, Dalila; Craciun, Radu; Mager, Sorin. Synthesis and structural insights of novel 2-diethylamino-6-methyl-4(3H)-pyrimidinones. Heterocyclic Communications (1998), 4(2), 157-162. CODEN: HCOMEX ISSN:0793-0283. CAN 129:216580 AN 1998:484575 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila. Superelectrophiles. Roumanian Chemical Quarterly Reviews ( 1996), 4(3-4), 217-233. CODEN: RCQREW ISSN:1221-5260. CAN 126:250749 AN 1997:166596 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila; Lee, Ming-Shi; Olson, David; Jackson, James E. Carbene-to-Carbene Oxygen Atom Transfer. Journal of the American Chemical Society (1996), 118(34), 8144-8145. CODEN: JACSAT ISSN:0002-7863. CAN 125:142067 AN 1996:479412 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila. Monoatomic carbon and its chemistry. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Chemia (1996), 41(1), 91-108. CODEN: SUBCAB ISSN:1224-7154. CAN 131:331329 AN 1999:611660 CAPLUS

Mager, Sorin; Grosu, Ion; Horn, Mihai; Hopartean, Ionel; Darabantu, Mircea; Puscas, Camelia; Kovacs, Dalila; Ple, Gerard. Conformational analysis of some substituted 1,3-dioxanes. Roumanian Chemical Quarterly Reviews ( 1995), 3(3), 201-28. CODEN: RCQREW ISSN:1221-5260. CAN 124:288435 AN 1996:141587 CAPLUS

Darabantu, Mircea; Mager, Sorin; Puscas, Camelia; Bogdan, Mircea; Ple, Gerard; Cotora, Eleonora; Kovacs, Dalila. Heterocyclic saturated compounds (1,3-dioxanes and oxazolidines) by diastereospecific closure of threo-2-amino-1-(p-nitrophenyl)-propane-1,3-diol. 2. Amino and 5-acylamino derivatives. Revue Roumaine de Chimie ( 1995), 40(5), 453-61. CODEN: RRCHAX ISSN:0035-3930. CAN 124:175977 AN 1995:949194 CAPLUS

Kovacs, Dalila; Cristea, Castelia. Modern NMR techniques used in determination of the structure of organic compounds. Revista de Chimie (Bucharest) ( 1994), 45(11), 988-99. CODEN: RCBUAU ISSN:0034-7752. CAN 122:55372 AN 1995:241131 CAPLUS

Grosu, Ion; Horn, Mihai; Kovacs, Dalila; Mager, Sorin. Stereochemistry and 1H-NMR spectra of some new 2,2,5,5-tetrasubstituted 1, 3-dioxanes. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Chemia ( 1992), 37(1-2), 7-11. CODEN: SUBCAB ISSN:0039-3401. CAN 122:187503 AN 1995:341834 CAPLUS

Other Talks, Posters, and Presentations

1. "H/D exchange studies of the behavior of 1,2-and 1,3-propanediols under heterogeneous hydrogenation conditions". Kovacs D.G., Peereboom L., Miller D. J., Jackson, J. E. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 224: 280-ORGN Part 2 AUG 18, 2002.

2. "Aqueous-phase hydrogenation of fermentation-derived organic acids" Jere F.T., Kovacs D. G., Peereboom L, et al. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 223: 281-IEC Part 1 APR 7 2002.

3. "Polyols Hydrogenolysis: Mechanistic Investigation". Kovacs D. G., Jackson J. E., Miller, D. J., Phys. Chem. Gordon Conference, June 7 2001.

4. "Catalytic hydrogenation of lactic acid: A mechanistic study". Kovacs D. G., Jackson J. E., Miller D. J., ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 221: 340-ORGN Part 2 APR 1 2001.

5. "Mechanistic investigation of glycerol hydrogenolysis" Kovacs D. G., Jackson J. E., Miller D. J. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 221: 457-ORGN Part 2 APR 1 2001.

6. "Glycerol hydrogenolysis: dehydrogenation as the first step in the hydrogenolysis process" Kovacs D. G., Jackson J. E., Miller, D. J., National Corn Grower Association Conference, St. Paul, MN, June, 2000.

7. "Carbodiimide reaction with substituted acetylenes: stepwise or [2+3] cycloaddition?"\ Kovacs D.G., Jackson J.E., ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 218: 319-ORGN Part 2 AUG 22 1999.

8. "CH2+CO2 -> CH2O+CO - One-step oxygen atom "pluck" or addition/fragmentation via alpha-lactone? " Kovacs D, Jackson J. E., ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 216: 653-ORGN Part 2 AUG 23 1998.

9. " Potential Energy Surface screening of Methylene reaction with CO2 "Kovacs D. G., Jackson J. E. Reaction Mechanism Conference, SUNY Stony Brooks, NY, June 9 1996.

10."Carbene-to-carbene oxygen atom transfer" Kovacs, D. Lee, M. S., Olson, D., Jackson, J. E.; ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 209: 411-ORGN Part 2 APR 2, 1995.

11."Oxonium ylides as key intermediates" Jackson, J. E.; Al Azab, M.; Lee, M. S.; Kovacs, D. ABSTR. PAP. CHEM. S. 208: 96-ORGN Part 2 AUG 21 1994.

Teaching related Books published at Babes-Bolyai University editing house

1995 Problems for Organic Chemistry, vol I, Vlassa M., Kovacs D.
1995 Organic Chemistry, I, Vol III Mager S., Kovacs D., Munteanu L.
1994 Organic Chemistry, I, Vol II Mager S., Kovacs D.
1993 Problems for Organic Chemistry, Vol II, Kovacs D., Mager S.

Teaching-related Research

1991 "Problem solving techniques as a tool in new concepts discovery; Introduction in Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics" Babes-Bolyai University, Romania.
1988 "Laboratory experiments as a primary tool in learning Chemical Kinetics"

Workshops Participation

2005 10th National Green Chemistry & Engineering Meeting: Green Chemistry in Education Washington, DC.
2006 ASC National Meeting: Reaction mechanisms and high energy species, Atlanta, GA.
2005 ASC National Meeting: Initiative in Green Chemistry Education Anaheim, CA.
2004 David G. Bauer: Successful Grant Seeking Grand Rapids.
2003 Wavefunction, Inc.: Molecular Modeling Software in the Undergraduate Curriculum East Lansing.
2002 Wiley & Son, Inc.: Exploring ways to improve the efficiency of Organic Chemistry textbooks Boston.
2000 Karl Smith: Cooperative Learning-Foundations East Lansing.
1996 International Students Office (ISO) MSU: Particularities of the American educational system East Lansing.

Mentoring

2003-present Adviser for 9 undergraduate students at GVSU-see attached research at GVSU list
1996-1998 Teaching Assistants at MSU: University wide program initiated to support the teaching development of graduate assistants: classes attendance with and without videotaping followed by discussions and analysis., East Lansing.
1997 Freshmen and gifted High School Students at MSU: Chemistry Department initiative.
1992-1993 Undergraduate Chemistry Majors: senior projects and bachelor degree thesis; Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.