From: http://oncampus.osu.edu/2012/06/wysocki-is-new-ohio-eminent-scholar/

The latest Ohio Eminent Scholar in Macromolecular Structure and Function connects basic research with medicine.

In addition to becoming a professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Vicki Wysocki also will direct the Campus Chemical Instrumentation Center, which provides state-of-the-art research facilities for the entire campus in three areas: Nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and proteomics.

She begins her appointment on Aug. 1.

Wysocki, currently professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona, specializes in finding new ways to study molecules that are critical to health and medicine.

For instance, she and her team use a technique called “surface-induced dissociation,” which involves smashing molecules against specialized surfaces and then examining the broken pieces to see how they might fit together. Ultimately, the work could lead to new understanding of conditions such as high blood pressure, stiffening of the arteries and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among many others.

As to why she chose Ohio State, Wysocki said that the university is clearly on the upswing, with new faculty hires, the expansion of the Wexner Medical Center and the merger of the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry. President Gordon Gee’s notion of “One University” also resonated with her.

“Some universities feel like silos,” she said. “OSU feels like a full campus.”

Wysocki’s husband, Ron, also a PhD chemist, will become the new program director in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Office.

The Ohio Eminent Scholars Program was created by the Ohio General Assembly and is administered by the Ohio Board of Regents. Its goal is to enhance the national eminence of selected outstanding academic programs at Ohio universities by attracting nationally recognized scholars.

Dr. Tapas Mal has assumed the position of associate director, Campus Chemical Instrument Center (CCIC)/Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Prior to joining the university, Dr. Mal served as the manager for the NMR facility at Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation.Dr. Mal brings to this position extensive technical and managerial expertise in NMR spectroscopy.

His work spans a broad range of applications including biomolecular structure molecule analysis, drug-protein interactions, and metabolomics.

The CCIC provides state-of-the-art research facilities for the campus in three areas: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mass Spectrometry, and Proteomics.