Gloria Silva
Associate Teaching Professor, Chemistry
- Doherty Hall 1318
- 412-268-9387
Education
1984–1988 Ph.D., Universidad Nacional de Córdoba1981-1983 Pharmacist, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
1977-1981 B.Sc. Chemistry, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Research
Areas of Specialty
Bioorganic Chemistry; fluorescent dyes synthesis; peptides and peptide nucleic acids synthesis; molecular recognition of DNA and G quadruplexes. Natural product chemistry; bioactive natural products; separation and purification methods; spectroscopic analysis and structural elucidation.
Projects
Teaching Interests
Courses taught at Carnegie Mellon University: Organic Chemistry I and II; Laboratory II; Advanced Organic Chemistry; Bioactive Natural Products; Molecular Tools for Chemical and Biological Studies; The Illusion and Magic of Food; The Design and Making of Skin and Hair Products; Grand Challenge Seminar: Feeding the Word, Feeding Ourselves.
Courses taught at Córdoba National University, Argentina: Organic Chemistry I and III; Organic Synthesis; Bioorganic Chemistry; Pre-professional Laboratory Practice; Pre-Requisite courses -Supervisor-.
Brief Description Teaching Activities
My teaching interests are related to the Organic Chemistry field with emphasis on Synthesis, Natural Product Chemistry and allied fields. I am currently teaching the following undergraduate courses in the fall: Organic Chemistry I (09217), Molecular Tools for Chemical and Biological Studies (09122), and the Illusion and Magic of Food (09108). Since the spring of 2019 I co-teach two new courses, one of them is the interdisciplinary freshmen seminar Feeding the World, Feeding Ourselves (66199/38119) in Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and a mini laboratory course titled The Design and Making of Skin and Hair Products (09110) available to all students on campus.
My approach to teaching and curriculum development is strongly geared by my research experience and its practical application to fields of interest such as pharmacy, medicine, food industry and research. The design of my courses evolves from a practical view of the subject matter where I connect the theoretical concepts. I am interested in conveying the student the relevance of chemistry to biology, medicine, food, and its impact to our everyday life.
Publications
I authored and co-authored about 30 peer reviewed publications in the Natural Products and Bioorganic fields; one patent, two book chapters and about 30 presentations at scientific meetings. Selected publications are as follows:
Blue fluorescent dye-protein complexes based on fluorogenic cyanine dyes and single chain antibody fragments
Kimberly J. Zanotti; Gloria L. Silva; Yehuda Creeger; Kelly L. Robertson; Alan S. Waggoner; Peter B. Berget; Bruce A. Armitage. (2011) Org. Biomol. Chem. 9, 1012-1020.
Antigungal Activity of Heterothalamus alienus Metabolites
Adriana del V. Pacciaroni; María de los Angeles Gette; Marcos Derita; Luis Ariza-Espinar; Roberto R. Gil; Susana A. Zacchino; Gloria L. Silva. (2008) Phytother. Res. 22, 524-528.
Synthesis of New Fluorogenic Cyanine Dye and Incorporation into RNA Fluoromodules
T. Constantin; G.L. Silva; K.L. Robertson; T.P. Hamilton; K.M. Fague; A.S. Waggoner; B.A. Armitage. (2008) Organic Lett., 10, 1561-1564.
Experimental and computational investigation of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes: Understanding torsionally responsive fluorogenic dyes
Gloria L. Silva; Volkan Ediz; David Yaron; Bruce A. Armitage. (2007) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 5710-5718.
Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Misodendrum punctulatum, Myzodendrone and Structurally Related Phenols
C. Desmarchelier, A. del V. Pacciaroni, D. Abate-Daga, J. Coussio, R.R. Gil, and G.L. Silva. (2005) Phytother. Res., 19, 1043-1047.
Pervilleine A, a novel Tropane Alkaloid that Reverses the Multidrug-Resistance Phenotype
Q. Mi, B. Cui, G.L. Silva, D. Lantvit, E. Lin, H. Chai, M. You, M.G. Hollingshead, J.G. Mayo, A.D. Kinghorn, J.M. Pezzuto. (2001) Cancer Res., 61, 4030-4037.
Modulation of the Multidrug-Resistance Phenotype by New Tropane Alkaloid Aromatic Esters from Erythroxylum pervillei.
G.L. Silva, B. Cui, D. Chavez, M. You, H.-B. Chai, P. Rosoanaivo, S.M. Lynn, M.J. O’Neill, J.A. Lewis, J.M. Besterman, A. Monks, N.R. Farnsworth, G.A. Cordell, J.M. Pezzuto, A. Kinghorn. (2001) J. Nat. Prod., 64, 1514-1520.
DNA-Templated formation of a Helical Cyanine Dye J-Aggregate
Miaomiao Wang, Gloria L. Silva and Bruce A. Armitage. (2000) J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 122, 9977-9986.
Novel Cytotoxic Ring-A-Seco-Cycloartane Triterpenes from Gardenia coronaria and G. sootepensis
G.L. Silva, R.R. Gil, B. Cui, H. Chai, T. Santisuk, K. Srisook, V. Reutrakul, P. Tuchinda, S. Sophasan, S. Sujarit, S. Upathan, S.M. Lynn, J.E. Farthing, S.-L. Yang, J.A. Lewis, M.J. O’Neill, N.R. Farnsworth, G.A. Cordell, J.M. Pezzuto and A.D. Kinghorn. (1997) Tetrahedron, 53, 529-538.
Stimulants and Inhibitors of Psilostachyinolide Production in Callus Culture
Gloria L. Silva and Marta E. Goleniowski. (1994) J. Nat. Prod., 57, 225-229.
Appointments
Years | Position |
---|---|
2019–present | Associate Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University |
2011–2019 | Assistant Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University |
2007–2011 | Research Chemist/Lecturer, Carnegie Mellon University |
2002–2007 | Visiting Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University |
2001–2002 | Assistant Professor, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba |
2000–2001 | Special Faculty, Carnegie Mellon University |
1999–2000 | Assistant Professor, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba |
1995–1999 | Instructor, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba |
1993–1995 | Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago |
1989–1995 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba |
1990 | Visiting Professor, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca |
1988 | Visiting Professor, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca |
Other Academic Appointments
Years | Position |
---|---|
1998–2001 | Investigator, Field: Organic Chemistry; Institution: Argentinean Research Council (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas –CONICET-) |
Activities
Years | Activity and Title |
---|---|
2019 | Taught: Food Curiosities Explained for OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute |
2019 | 80th COVESTRO Pittsburgh Regional Science and Energy Fair, 3/28/19 |
2018 | Intel ISEF, Pittsburgh, Finals |
2014–current | Board member of the Academic Review Board and University Disciplinary Committee; Title IX trained |
2017, 2018 | Scientific Judge Southwest Pennsylvania Science Bowl (WPA-NETL) regional |
2017–current | Outreach Workshop K-3. Gelfand Center for Service Learning and Outreach |
2015–current | Scientific Judge Conrad Spirit of Innovation, US (NASA) and Australia |
2012–2017 | Corresponding Secretary Sigma Xi. The Scientific Research Society, CMU chapter |
2015 | Judge Intel ISEF – Special Award Organization, Sigma Xi. Pittsburgh. Finals |
2013–2014 | Member at large of the Faculty Executive Committee |
2012–2014 | Senator representing the Faculty of the Chemistry Department |
2012–2014 | Member of the University Student Affairs Council |
Member of: Faculty Award Committee (2018); Senior Leadership Recognition Review Committee (2017-2019); Student Commencement Speaker Committee (2017); Staff Recognition Committee (2012-2014)
Awards and Distinctions
Years | Award or Distinction |
---|---|
2018, 2017, 2009 | Alpha Chi Omega invitation in recognition to my impact in their lives, Carnegie Mellon University |
2012 | Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council Role Model Reception, Carnegie Mellon University |
2008 | Kappa Alpha Theta nomination in recognition to my contribution to their education, Carnegie Mellon University |
2000 | Premio Felix de Azara, Universidad de Buenos Aires. (Best original research work) |
1998, Jan.–Feb. | Fellow of the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional, Cadiz, España. |
1995, 1996 | Teaching Stimulus Award. Córdoba National University, Argentina |
1995 | Scientific Production Prize, Córdoba National University, Argentina |
1994-1995 | Fellow of the National Research Council of Argentina, University of Illinois at Chicago. |
1991 | Academic Excellence. Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Córdoba. CONICOR |
1989–1991 | Fellow of the National Research Council of Argentina, Córdoba National University. |
1984–1989 | National Research Council of Argentina -5 year Doctoral Fellowship (Córdoba National University, Argentina |
1982 | Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Córdoba National University, Argentina |
1982 | Tuition Exception Due to Academic Merits. Córdoba National University, Argentina |
1981 | University Honors, Bachelor in Organic Chemistry. Awarded by the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba to the first and second best GPA in each major |
Invited Seminars and Other Events
Years | Seminar or Event |
---|---|
2019 | Guest lecturer at Agronomy College, Córdoba National University, Argentina. 4/19. |
2015 | Seminar: Teaching and Learning at CMU. Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. 8/6. |
2015 | Seminar: Teaching and Learning at CMU. Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China. 8/13. |
2014 | Invited Panelist: NIDDK (NCI) Early Career Networking Event. 4/14. |
2010 | Seminar: My Teaching Experience in the US. Santiago del Estero National University, Argentina. |
2009, ’07,’04 | Seminars: My Research at CMU, Chemistry Department, Córdoba National University, Argentina |
2000 | Guest lecturer: City University of New York (CUNY). Teleconference. |