Chemistry Department Research
The Chemistry Department has a strong capstone experience in which all students complete an extended independent research project in their senior year. Many students have proposed and designed their own projects while others have integrated their research in the longer term projects of the chemistry faculty, described here.
William Bare has conducted research on the photophysics of luminescent transition metal complexes and their application as chemical probes. His current research is in the field of environmental chemistry, where he and his students have been investigating analytical techniques for evaluating the potential health risks of lead-contaminated soils, as well as novel remediation techniques for removing lead from soil in residential sites. [more]
Ann Fabirkiewicz’s area of expertise is biochemistry and nutrition. In recent years, Professor Fabirkiewicz has supervised student projects investigating the antioxidant capacity of cocoa and related food products.
Bill Mattson’s research background is in spectroscopy and instrument design. He has published papers on analytical chemistry in areas including mass spectroscopy, the method of standard additions, and acid/base indicators. Recent student projects in his lab have focused on modifications to the sample compartments of IR and UV-vis spectrophotometers.
Kurt Seidman’s research interests include the application of lasers to problems of chemical interest and using molecular orbital theory to elucidate the structures and reactivities of molecules that play significant roles in biological organisms. Recent projects have included the application of thermal lens calorimetry to the determinations of heat capacities and thermal conductivities of organic solvents, the use of molecular orbital theory to investigate the transport mechanism of nitric oxide in biological systems, and the application of molecular orbital theory to the prediction of carcinogenic activity in polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
