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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
MOVING UP
Leading in medicinal chemistry
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Hank Zhang, a post-doctoral student from China, works in the lab of Dr. Barbara Timmermann Monday afternoon on the Multidisclipinray Research Building on west campus. Dr. Timmerman, a distinguished professor and the chair of the department of medicinal chemistry, was named the next president of the Society of Pharmacognosy earlier this month. Timmerman is only the second woman in the history of the society to be named president.
Professor named president of Society of Pharmacognosy
BY RICHELLE BUSER
rbuser@kansan.com
The University gained worldwide recognition this month when the Society of Pharmacognosy
appointed Barbara Timmermann, distinguished professor and chair of the University department of medicinal chemistry, as its future president.
Timmerman
Timmermann's selection marks the second time in the society's 52-year history that a woman will be president. Timmermann said she hoped her role would help inspire other women in science, specifically in chemistry.
Timmermann has spent more than 30 years studying pharmacognosy - the study of medicines derived from natural resources, such as plants. She contributed extensively to the medicinal garden that was recently built at the West Campus greenhouse, 1865 E. 1600 Rd.Her hard work was recognized at the 2010 annual joint meeting of the American Society of Pharmcognosy and the Phytochemical Society of North America.
Timmermann was announced as the future president of the Society of Pharmocognosy on July 10 in St. Petersburg, Fla. For the next
year, Timmermann will act as vice president, shadowing and learning from the current president, before becoming president at next year's annual conference in San Diego. The three-year program will also include a year of post-presidential responsibilities.
Her role in the Society of Pharmocognosy will provide unique opportunities for KU students, Timmermann said.
Timmermann said she plans to bring graduate and post-doctoral medicinal chemistry students to various conferences, programs and meetings.
"It puts KU on the world's map," Timmermann said, "and will give a chance to the younger scientists to participate at conferences."
Juan Araya, a graduate student and Fulbright Fellowship winner from Costa Rica, accompanied Timmermann to Florida last week, where students participated in the conference by giving poster presentations. Araya also gave an oral presentation to the society about methods for natural product extraction. He will accompany Timmermann next summer when she is inducted as the new president.
"I think we will have the chance to show other investigators more about our research group and KU in general," Arayas said.
Hank Zhang, a post-doctoral student from China, said Dr. Timmermann was one of the leading natural product chemists in the world and was excited to know about Dr. Timmermann's new position.
"All the members in our labs are proud to work in her advanced labs and be a part of her fascinating projects," Zhang said.
While she is acting as president, Timmermann will host a phar-
macognosy conference with other nations that occurs only once every five years. The event will be held in New York and will allow students to network with scientists from all over the world. Timmermann said she was looking forward to the event because she thought her ability to speak six languages would be useful when communicating. But Timmermann said being in New York wouldn't be all business.
"I'll probably go shopping, too," Timmermann said. "That's the woman in me."