Chemistry 499 & 495 Opportunities

Reminder to students and faculty:

Please file the Research Course Approval form for each student, each semester. Completed forms should be returned to Paula Broemmeling in Fulmer 305. Thanks.

Aurora E. Clark

In the Clark lab we use computational chemistry (simulating chemistry on a computer) to answer questions that are difficult, and sometimes impossible, for experimentalists to do:

Help design high density multi-layered information storage devices. Here we perform calculations that determine the optical properties of molecules that are good candidates for media in high-density information storage devices (imagine a DVD that can hold more than a terabyte of data!)
Understand how molecules fall apart. Perform calculations on the decomposition of a wide variety of molecules that are important in our every day lives (e.g., molecules used in electronics)
Model environmental chemistry. Perform calculations on heavy element complexes and model how they travel through environmentally relevant media (water, soil).

Sue Clark

Research in Dr. Clark's lab is focused on the environmental chemistry of the lanthanides and actinides. Undergraduates can become involved in the study of the chemistry of plutonium in the environment, the geochemistry of uranium and the rare earth elements, uranium mineralogy, and other areas of environmental radiochemistry. Projects range from analytical method development to determination of thermodynamic or kinetic constants.

Herbert H. Hill

Environmental or bio-analysis: This project will consist of selecting an environmental contaminant or biochemical and developing an analytical method for this analytes in various samples. For example, the student would be expected to select a standard analytical procedure from the literature, modify that procedure for use with the instrumental method of choice, and evaluate the effectiveness of the new method.

Examples of projects which have been conducted include, pesticides in local soil samples, contaminants form waste incinerations plants, drugs in hair samples, drugs in urine, and insect sex pheromones in apple orchard air. The student may pick a project of interest to them or Prof. Hill will help them select and appropriate experiment.

Kerry W. Hipps

Synthesis and purification of metallorganics. These materials are similar in structure to Vitamin B and hemoglobin. Our end interest is in using these as components in single molecular electronic devices.
Take pictures of molecules! The idea of supramolecular synthons, now well established for crystal design, is being developed in the two dimensional (surface) world by my research group. This research encompasses the design, creation, and analysis of self-ordering 2-D structures.
Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) studies of molecular films. In this project the student will work with films of the order of one molecule thick under UHV (<10 -12 atmospheres!). The student will learn a number of basic techniques that are in high demand in the rapidly growing Nanotechnology Industry

More information...

James K. Hurst

We do two types of research in my laboratory. One is involved with identifying the oxidative toxins produced by white blood cells (and related cells that are also used to fight microbial infections); in the other we use simple membrane-organized chemical systems that mimic the cellular functions of living cells to build useful devices.

At present, we are developing systems that can photochemically produce hydrogen gas by reduction of water using solar energy and are designing systems that can ultimately function as optical transistors. Numerous sub-projects exist within these two broad areas; undergraduate research participants can anticipate being able to pursue their own project under the supervision of the graduate laboratory staff.

Jeffrey Jones

Our research is geared towards understanding the mechanisms of reactions in both enzymatic systems and bioorganic model systems. Student will use a combination of kinetics, GC/MS analysis and computational chemistry to answer fundamental questions about chemical mechanisms.

Alexander DeQuan Li

Research in Dr. Li's lab is focused on conjugation of biomolecules with synthetic molecules for studying nano-bio-materials and innovative approaches to unusual structures and properties. Undergraduates can become involved in the study of molecular design, organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and polymer science. Projects range from preparation of nanoporous polymers and hollow nanospheres to the synthesis and self-organization phenomena of smart oligomers or polymers.

Donald S. Matteson

The two great challenges of synthetic organic chemistry at the present time are the control of stereochemistry and the efficient construction of carbon-carbon bonds. We have discovered a method for the efficient connection of carbon atoms with very high asymmetric selectivity which uses a chiral boronic ester group as the template. We have recently obtained ratios of 1000:1 in favor of one optical isomer over its mirror image. This chemistry is useful for making insect attractants, amino acids labeled with stable isotopes, antibiotics, and a variety of other biologically interesting molecules.

Undergraduate students can work on a variety of possible projects. We are investigating several new processes involving carbon-boron bonds, and there is much simple fundamental chemistry that can be discovered by a student interested in spending a few hours a week doing laboratory work.

Jeanne L. McHale

The McHale group uses spectroscopy to study electron transfer in interfacial and supramolecular systems, with an emphasis on solar energy conversion using semiconductor nanoparticles sensitized with light-absorbing dyes. Students may enjoy working on the isolation of plant pigments with good light-harvesting properties, or the development of porphyrin aggregates with unique optical and electronic properties.

Techniques include resonance Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, and the determination of photocurrents and photovoltages in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Patrick G. Meier

Research in our group is directed towards development of small organic molecules with biological activity and have a focus on new methodology and approaches to the synthesis of these compounds. This program, by virtue of its nature, requires that all projects have as a central focus the synthesis of a specific target and a secondary focus of studying the biological activity of the molecule synthesized. A significant aspect of our research is the extensive collaborative nature, especially with respect to the molecular biology. This collaborative nature encourages students in these projects to be well diversified in knowledge and techniques, as well as learning to work with others outside of the Chemistry Department. Potential projects that you can be involved in vary from 'production chemistry', synthesizing compounds from a protocol for use by another student, to developing new syntheses of compounds, depending on your experience level. Our program has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Examples of molecules of interest are compounds of the flavonoid and xanthate families, both of which have biological activities including anticancer activity. Meier 499

Ming Xian

The core of Dr. Xian's research interests comprises the desire to combine organic synthesis with bioorganic chemistry to examine, understand, and solve problems of biological and medicinal significance. We are interested in the areas of (1) synthetic methodology development and natural product synthesis; (2) protein molecular recognition and interaction; and (3) the development of new therapeutic agents. Undergraduate students involved in these projects will learn basic organic synthesis skills and the use of modern analytical instrumentation. Moreover students will also be trained to write lab reports and papers, prepare posters, present seminars, and encouraged to take part in scientific conferences. The mastering of the knowledge and the techniques will make students more competitive in their future careers.