Eric Helms

Associate Professor of Chemistry
ISC 326H
585-245-5927
helms@geneseo.edu
he/him/his

Eric Helms has been a member of the Geneseo faculty since 2001; He was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2014.

 

Picture of Eric Helms

Office Hours

My office hours for the Fall semester of 2022 are Mondays and Fridays from 1 pm until 4 pm or just drop me an email and we will work to set up a time to meet outside of those hours.

Classes

  • CHEM 216: Organic Chemistry Laboratory

    Laboratory practices in representative organic preparations and procedures.

  • CHEM 224: Principles of Organic Chem II

    Continuation of CHEM 223 with emphasis on the biochemically important alcohol, amine, carbonyl and aromatic functional groups. Structure elucidation by spectroscopic methods is also explored. Geared toward majors and well-prepared students. Topics include modern solutions to current problems in health science, environmental chemistry and research.

  • STEM 102: STEM Exploratory Seminar II

    A course for first-year STEM students who want to deepen their understanding of STEM research and careers by applying scientific methodologies to problem-solving activities through teamwork. Coursework will focus on the process of performing STEM research and the communication of STEM content to various audiences. In support of that goal, success strategies such as self-reflective writing, goal-setting, and time-management will be emphasized, library resources and scientific writing styles will be examined, the various formats for effectively conveying STEM data, information, and interpretations will be explored, and the ethics of STEM will be practiced. This course will build on the skills and success strategies introduced in STEM 101 and demonstrate the non-linear and iterative means by which STEM is practiced.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

  • B.S., Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois

Publications

  • Coffey, J. M., Vadas, A., Puleo, Y., Lewis, K., Pirone, G., Rudolf, H.L., Helms, E.D., Wood, T. D., and Flynn- Charlebois, A.; “Synthesis and Characterization of a Deuterium-Labeled Stercobilin: A Potential Biomarker for Autism”, Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 2018; 14 May, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jlcr.3629

  • Hilimire, Thomas; Chamberlain, Jeffrey; Anokhina, Viktoriya; Bennett, Ryan; Swart, Oliver; Myers, Jason; Ashton, John; Stewart, Ryan; Gates, Kathleen; Featherston, Aaron; Helms, Eric; Smith, Harold; Dewhurst, Stephen; Miller, Benjamin; “HIV-1 Frameshift RNA-Targeted Triazoles Inhibit Propagation of Replication-Competent and Multi Drug-Resistant HIV in Human Cells”, Publication Date (Web): April 27, 2017 (Articles) DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00052.

  • Best, Katherine T., Li, Diana, Helms, Eric D.; “Molecular Modeling of an Electrophilic Addition Reaction with ‘Unexpected’ Regiochemisty” The Journal of Chemical Education, 2017, 94(7), 936 – 940. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00488. Publication Date (Web) April 27, 2017.

  • Hilimire TA, Bennett RP, Stewart RA, Garcia-Miranda P, Blume A, Becker J, Sherer N, Helms ED, Butcher SE, Smith HC, Miller BL.; “N-Methylation as a Strategy for Enhancing the Affinity and Selectivity of RNA-binding Peptides: Application to the HIV-1 Frameshift-Stimulating RNA”; ACS Chemical Biology, 2016, 11(1), 88 – 94.

  • Swoger, Bonnie J.M..; Helms, E.; “An Organic Chemistry Exercise in Information Literacy Using SciFinder”; Journal of Chemical Education, 2015, 92 (4), 668–671.

  • Arpaia, N.; Widener, M.; Helms, E.; "Assigning the NMR Spectrum of Glycidol: An Advanced Organic Chemistry Exercise"; Journal of Chemical Education, 2007, 84(8), 1328 - 1330.

  • Odenbaugh, Amy L. , Helms, Eric D., Iverson, Brent L.; "An Investigation of Antibody Acyl Hydrolysis Catalysis Using a Large Set of Related Haptens"; Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, 8, 413-426.

  • Shreder, K., Thomas, R., Wallace, M., Helms, E., Iverson, B.; "Evolution of Catalytic Activity throughout a Polyclonal Immune Response Elicited by a Transition-State-Analog Hapten."; Isr. J. Chem., 1996, 36, 215-220.

Interests

Research Interests

Analyzing the phytochemistry of Elaeagnus umbellata fruits as they mature over a growing season as well as the phytochemistry of the leaves and stems.

Developing a genetic test to differentiate the different members of the Elaeagnus genus in order to produce a rapid identification assay.

Developing green synthetic pathways, utilizing bio-derived and bio-degradable solvents, with an eye toward producing useful molecules without petroleum-derived solvents.

 

Personal Interests

  • Bioorganic Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Functional Foods