In Memoriam: Dmitri Vezenov, Associate Professor of Chemistry

“Dmitri was one of the first colleagues I had the opportunity to hire after arriving at Lehigh as department chair,” said Robert Flowers, the Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “I often relied on him for advice and feedback as we hired new colleagues and undertook new initiatives. He worked with energy, passion and integrity, and I'll always remember his smile and sense of humor as we worked through challenges. Dmitri contributed so much to the development of the chemistry department, and it was a great privilege to have had the opportunity to work closely with him.”

Vezenov was born in Ryazan, Russian Federation and received his B.S. in chemistry from Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) in 1991. He came to the United States that year and earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University in 1999. He joined the Lehigh faculty in 2006. His research interests included physical and surface chemistry; chemical force microscopy; nanomechanics and analytical microdevices. In his work, Vezenov extended the use of force spectroscopy for sequencing DNA. He was a recipient in 2006 of a three-year grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute for a project that applied force spectroscopy to DNA “undergoing arrested polymerization to initially demonstrate one-molecule-at-a-time analysis of changes in molecular mechanics.” In 2011, he received a patent for a quicker, more efficient method of sequencing DNA. Vezenov created a system that reads long sequences of nucleotides by looking at their physical properties.

Anand Jagota, professor of bioengineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering and associate dean for research in the College of Health, worked closely with Vezenov for several years. The two collaborated on research projects and co-supervised four Ph.D. students.

“I remember vividly how the idea of applying his expertise in chemical force microscopy to the problem of measuring DNA binding energy to carbonaceous materials germinated,” said Jagota. “It was at the break of one of those hours-long symposia we all occasionally suffer through, and the idea clicked immediately. I think we left the after-lunch portion of the meeting to work out some of the details, and had a positive demonstration that it was doable within a week. Thus started a several-years-long collaboration that was slowed only by his illness.”

Jagota also recalled one of his last research meetings with Vezenov, during which they intended to discuss their students’ research results.

“Both he and I were teaching Statistical Thermodynamics that semester, and we found ourselves on two sides of an argument about some interpretation of entropy in out-of-equilibrium processes. Dmitri was not one to back down from an argument and nor was I, evidently. Our entire allotted meeting time got consumed without, I admit, a satisfactory resolution,” Jagota said. “This is a great loss for Lehigh, for individuals who worked with him, and most of all for his family. My thoughts and condolences go out to them.”

Said Vezenov’s doctoral student, Bil Leon: “Dmitri was a wonderful mentor and more of a friend than I could ever have expected from a graduate advisor—someone who shared a love of science, unending curiosity in the research lab, and enjoyed having group meetings over sushi. He was always supportive of his students' work and would strive to get the best out of them, working constantly to ensure their success. I will deeply miss our conversations over tea, plotting research projects, developing course material, and sharing a fascination for coding all sorts of chemical phenomena.”

At Lehigh, Vezenov taught courses in general chemistry and physical chemistry, including a course in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Xiaoji Xu, associate professor of chemistry, co-taught the physical chemistry laboratory with him for many semesters since Xu’s arrival at Lehigh.

“He was my mentor on teaching and other things. He was always helpful when I had a question. His systematic and thoughtful ways of teaching set an example for me to follow. Teaching together with Dmitri has improved my teaching skills to the level that Lehigh requires,” said Xu.

“Dmitri was a kind and generous friend and colleague who never hesitated to help others, whether it was contributing to the preparation of a departmental proposal or sharing his thoughtful insights on research or teaching. We are poorer for his loss, but richer for having had him with us at Lehigh for the past 15 years,” said Greg Ferguson, professor and chair of chemistry.

Vezenov is survived by his parents; his wife, Marina Busuek, and three children, Maxim, who is a Lehigh graduate student, Elizabeth and Zoe; as well as his brother Roman and extended family in Russia.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to noon at Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home, 1227 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, followed by a service from noon-1 p.m. Burial will follow at Fountain Hill Cemetery.

Contributions can be made to the PMP Pals Organization at https://pmppals.net/give/.