Chemistry
Graduate Program
The University of Akron is an Equal Education and Employment Institution
© 2006 by The University of Akron / 1105-AS-1
The Department of Chemistry
at The University of Akron
Graduate Study
in Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry at The University of Akron
can help you decide if graduate study in chemistry is the
right choice for you. As two of our top priorities, we
provide graduate students with the necessary information
to make good career decisions and we help them develop
to their full potential. As graduates from highly regarded
institutions, our faculty members have demonstrated both
excellence as scientists and ability to train and place
our graduates.
This brochure will introduce you to The University of
Akron Department of Chemistry, including its outstanding
faculty, exceptional resources and instrumentation, and its
state-of-the-art research. You will also be presented with
a description of The University of Akron campus and
Northeast Ohio, both of which provide a comfortable
environment for graduate study.
www.chemistry.uakron.edu
1
Established in 1885, the Department of Chemistry has a
long tradition of excellence in research and teaching. At the
turn of the century, when other scientists had just begun to
find uses for the gummy by-product of certain chemical
reactions, University of Akron chemistry professor Charles
M. Knight was already teaching the world’s first college
course in rubber chemistry. There are currently 18 professors
in the department. Approximately 65 full-time students are
in the graduate program. Graduate students work in groups
of varying size that may include postdoctoral associates,
technicians and undergraduate students.
The Department of Chemistry offers doctoral degrees and
master’s degrees in analytical, biochemistry, inorganic,
organic and physical chemistry. Emphasis is placed on
scholarship through active research and academic programs
designed especially to meet student needs. These division
areas provide instruction for applications in environmental,
medical and industrial projects. The department encourages
professional growth through meetings, seminars and direct
contact with leading scientists from industry and other
universities. Additionally, cross-disciplinary training is
promoted through continued collaborations with The
Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science, Institute
for Biomedical Engineering Research, Center for
Environmental Studies, Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine and Institute for Life-Span
Development and Gerontology.
The Department of Chemistry is housed in the modern
Knight Chemical Laboratory building. The facility provides
a safe working environment for both research and teaching.
It adjoins Mary Gladwin Hall, home to the College of
Nursing. Knight Chemical Laboratory also is connected via
covered walkways to the Auburn Science and Engineering
Center, Whitby Hall and to the Goodyear Polymer Center.
Research within this complex is supported by machine,
electronics and photography shops; by media-preparation
and animal rooms; and by greenhouses. All facilities have
full-time, trained staff to assist students.
2
Mission Statement
The Ph.D. Program in Chemistry provides young chemists
with advanced research training that will enable them to
become independent research scientists and leaders in
industry, government and academia. The research focus
areas in the Department of Chemistry are:
Graduate Study in Chemistry
Chemistry at The University of Akron is one of the
leading graduate degree programs at our institution.
We have strong interdisciplinary interactions with
related departments such as Polymer Science, Polymer
Engineering, Physics, Chemical Engineering and
Biology. We typically have approximately 75 graduate
students, postdoctoral researchers, and other visiting
scientists from around the country and the world in
our program. Our faculty consists of 18 tenured and
tenure-track faculty, and many adjunct faculty from
other departments and from off-campus contribute
significantly to graduate-level activities. Our graduate
program consistently produces scientific leaders
in academia, industry, and the government. The
department offers courses of study leading to the
degrees of Ph.D. and M.S. in chemistry.
n
Spectroscopy, including the development and
applications of magnetic resonance, laser and
optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and
X-ray crystallography,
n
Macromolecular materials, including, dendrimers,
inorganic polymers, conducting polymers,
nanostructures, catalysts and chemical sensors,
n
Our graduate education employs an interdisciplinary
approach that prepares graduates to be independent
researchers, provides both depth and breadth in their
education, and just as importantly, focuses on the
development of good communication skills. Support in
our program is guaranteed for five years for students in
good academic standing, in the form of either teaching
or research assistantships for the academic year and the
summer. In addition, tuition and most fees are waived.
Our research facilities are superb, with most open to
use by graduate students with appropriate training. In
addition to visits by internationally renowned scientists
to individual research groups, we provide an outstanding
seminar program, with the yearly Knight Lectureship
that brings in world leaders in chemistry, including
Nobel Laureates, for two-and three-day lectures.
Graduate students often take visiting speakers to lunch,
enabling them to interact and network with prestigious
scientists on a more personal level.
3
Biological materials, including the control and
acceleration of the reactions of life, the synthesis of
biologically important compounds, the creation of new
biomaterials, and enzymatic polymerization to form
inorganic polymers.
The first two focus areas include collaborations with
the Department of Polymer Science; the third involves
integration into the nascent University Biosciences Initiative.
These focus areas span the five traditional subdisciplines
of chemistry: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic
chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.
The department has extensive course offerings in these
subdisciplines and in interface areas. In the course of the
graduate program, students build problem-solving skills,
learn teamwork, and develop the confidence to approach
and master unfamiliar concepts and techniques. Basic and
applied research is supported by federal grants and by
contracts from industry. The program contributes to the
economy of the State of Ohio through the development
of new technologies, by training scientists in frontier areas
of chemistry and by providing contract research.
4
Chemistry Department Facilities
energy and electron transfer, and one- and two-photon
pump-probe absorption experiments are routinely
performed using this laser system.
Experiments on the picosecond time-scale are
performed using a Quantronix mode-locked picosecond
Nd:YLF laser that pumps a Coherent 700 dye laser and
is capable of producing 1 ps pulses over a range of
wavelengths. A variety of condensed and gas phase
experiments are performed using this laser system, such
as time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC)
experiments to measure fluorescence lifetimes and
changes in fluorescence anisotropy that are useful for
determining volume changes in dendrimers and polymers
as a function of changing environment. When used in
conjunction with a three-stage dye amplified laser,
rotational coherence experiments are performed on gas
phase molecules and molecular clusters.
Five nanosecond Nd:YAG and excimer pumped dye
laser systems within the center offer tunability in the
nanosecond time-scale from the near infrared to the
ultraviolet. Typical condensed-phase experiments on
the nanosecond time-scale include laser flash photolysis
experiments on short-lived reactive intermediates and
excited states. Two-color, two-photon experiments on
highly reactive intermediates and excited states in
solution also are performed with these laser systems.
Several nanosecond laser systems are used to carry out
various pump-probe experiments on jet-cooled gaseous
molecules to study their excited-state dynamics.
The center has two single-frequency continuous-wave
(less than a few megahertz bandwidth) ring lasers
operating in the UV/Visible range. The ring laser is
pulse-amplified by about a factor of 10 5 using a dye
amplifier, to produce high-intensity light pulses with
very narrow line widths. The pulse-amplified ring laser is
combined with skimmed supersonic molecular beams of
small Doppler widths to determine structures of van der
Waals molecules. The structural information of the
species also is probed by mass-resolved rotational
coherence spectroscopy using the regeneratively amplified
picosecond laser system and time-of-flight mass
spectrometers. There are two single-frequency
continuous-wave infrared laser systems that are used for
high-resolution cavity-ringdown studies of molecular
vibrations, torsions and rotations. These include a PPLN
OPO and an external-cavity diode laser. Also available
in the center is a FT-IR spectrometer that has a range
in the mid-IR and near-IR, and has advanced features
such as dual channel collection step-scan capabilities for
polarization modulation (VCD, PMIRRAS) and
time-resolved (20 ns) experiments.
Combined with several supersonic molecular beam
apparati, the center has unique, state-of-the-art capabilities
of probing elementary processes of importance in
chemistry (i.e., electron-transfer, energy-transfer, energy
dissipation, molecular motions, structural and chemical
changes) that occur on a broad range of time scales.
Research Instrumentation
Labs are well supplied with the state-of-the-art
equipment needed to carry out contemporary research
projects successfully and conveniently. Major equipment
for research includes six NMR spectrometers, one EPR
spectrometer, three mass spectrometers, 11 lasers, a CCD
X-ray diffractometer, as well as a large number of
additional pieces of equipment. A very experienced staff
maintains the equipment, makes modifications to
implement new experimental techniques and trains
graduate students on the use of the instruments. The
equipment is available for all chemistry graduate students
to use, offering them experience on a large array of
modern research instrumentation.
Molecular Spectroscopy Laboratory
The Molecular Spectroscopy Laboratory has evolved
over the past 17 years to become a regional resource
for NMR instrumentation. The lab operates six
superconducting NMR spectrometers including an
INOVA 750 MHz instrument with liquid state
accessories to perform every possible experiment yet
devised and INOVA 400 and 500 MHz systems. The
techniques available on these instruments include
quadruple resonance, shaped pulses for selective
excitation, pulsed field gradient work, and 2D-, 3D- and
4D-experiments. The 500 and 750 MHz NMRs also are
equipped to perform a wide range of solid-state NMR
experiments. The facility also has two 200 MHz
spectrometers dedicated to solid state experiments; one
is set up for routine 13C and 15N CPMAS experiments
and the second is configured to perform a variety of
specialized 1D-, 2D-, wideline and triple resonance
experiments. A 300 MHz instrument is dedicated
to solution NMR work. It is used for routine service
work and can provide 13C, 19F and spectra with all
1
H, 31P, functions adjusted by computer.
The Center for Laser and
Optical Spectroscopy
Researchers within the Center for Laser and Optical
Spectroscopy possess world-class laser facilities, including
11 tunable laser systems covering a range of frequencies
and time resolutions. A wide variety of laser equipment
is present in the Center, having pulse-widths ranging
from the femtosecond to nanosecond time-scale, and
tunability from the ultraviolet to the near infrared.
Ultrafast spectroscopy experiments are performed
with a Quantronix regenetively amplified femtosecond
laser system consisting of a Coherent Vitesse oscillator,
a Nd:YLF DQE pump laser, Titan regenetively
amplified/multipass laser, and three TOPAS optical
parametric amplifiers. This laser system is used for
transient absorption and fluorescence up-conversion
experiments in the femtosecond regime. Condensed
phase experiments measuring excited state lifetimes,
5
All instruments are interfaced with powerful systems for
data collection, summation and presentation, and contain
software that facilitates the analysis of peptides, proteins
and polymers. The MS Center specializes in the studies
of novel and functional polymers and vigorously pursues
the development of new approaches for the analysis of
polymer sequences and architectures.
Mass Spectrometry Center
The facility operates four research-grade mass
spectrometers. The Micromass AutoSpec-Q mass
spectrometer has hybrid EBEhQ geometry and is
equipped with EI, CI and FAB ion sources as well as
several collision cells; it allows for a large array of mass
and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments
for the analysis of unknown structures as well as the
investigation of the reactions and dissociations
mechanisms of gas-phase ions and reactive neutral
intermediates. The Bruker Reflex-III MALDI-ToF mass
spectrometer is ideally suitable for the analysis of synthetic
polymers and biopolymers. Mass spectra can be acquired
in linear or reflectron modes, which maximize the
sensitivity and resolution, respectively. The Micromass
Q-ToF Ultima mass spectrometer is a quadrupole-orthogonal-acceleration-ToF instrument with exceptional mass
accuracy and resolution in both MS and MS/MS modes;
the MS/MS capability is essential for structural
characterizations, especially in sequence analyses. The
Bruker Esquire-LC ion trap mass spectrometer enables
LC/MS and multi-stage mass spectrometry studies.
Analytes can be ionized by electrospray or atmospheric
pressure chemical ionization, and the ions produced this
way can be subjected to several stages of successive
dissociation in order to determine their structures. The ion
trap also is ideally suitable for fundamental studies in
gas-phase ion chemistry.
The Molecular Structure Facility
The facility has a state-of-the-art single crystal
CCD X-ray diffractometer equipped with a low
temperature (-150oC) device. The instrument is housed
in a climate-controlled facility equipped with microscopes
for crystal inspection and computer workstations for
structure solution using the SHELXTL software package.
Data can be rapidly acquired on small crystals (0.1mm),
and frequently structures can be elucidated during
hemisphere collection.
Computer Facilities
The Department of Chemistry computers connect to the
university’s 10 gigabit backbone via switch 10/100/1000
connections. This combined with the university’s Internet
2 connection provides high-speed access to Ohio’s Super
Computer facility and other computational resources
through out the country. The University offers wireless
network connectivity across campus, enabling students
with laptops to connect to the Internet or check e-mail
without having to be physically connected. UA also has a
site license agreement with Microsoft enabling students to
acquire many of its products at minimal cost.
Additional Resources
Chromatographic equipment includes both gas
chromatography (GC) and an ion-trap detector GC/MS
system with autosampler and high-performance
liquid-chromatography (HPLC) systems with UV/Vis,
rapid-scanning UV-Vis, and refractive index detection
capabilities for analytical and preparative scale separations.
The Department of Chemistry also has a differential
thermal analyzer, an electrochemical analyzer,
photochemical and flow-photolysis reactors, and
an atomic absorption spectrometer.
6
Joint Faculty
Department of Chemistry Faculty
David A. Modarelli
Michael J. Taschner
Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann
Professor and Chair
Associate Professor
Professor
Associate Professor, Physics
B.A. 1973, The Ohio State University
Ph.D. 1981, The Ohio State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.A., 1986, College of Wooster
Ph.D., 1991, University of Massachusetts
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1976, University of Wisconsin,
Eau Claire
Ph.D., 1980, Iowa State University
E-mail: [email protected]
Research Interests: biochemistry and
organic chemistry
Research Interests: physical organic chemistry
and polymer chemistry
Diplom Physik, 1988, Technische
Universitat Clausthal
Ph.D., 1994, University of Maryland
at College Park
E-mail: [email protected]
Kim C. Calvo
Research Interests: organic chemistry
Research Interests: chemical physics
and polymer science
William Donovan
Yi Pang
Claire Tessier
Assistant Professor
Lester E. and Kathleen A. Coleman
Associate Professor
Professor
Robert Mallik
B.S. 1981, Zhengzhou University
Ph.D., 1990, Iowa State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S. 1975, University of Vermont
Ph.D., 1982, State University of New York
at Buffalo
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1981, Leicester Polytechnic, England
Ph.D., 1985, Leicester Polytechnic, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Research Interests: organic and
polymer chemistry
Research Interests: inorganic and
organometallic chemistry
Matthew P. Espe
David S. Perry
Chrys Wesdemiotis
Associate Professor
Professor
Professor
B.S., 1984, Illinois State University
Ph.D., 1993, Michigan State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1971, University of Toronto
Ph.D., 1975, University of Toronto
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1972, Technical University of Berlin
Ph.D., 1979, Technical University of Berlin
E-mail: [email protected]
James & Vaneta Oelschlager Professor of
Technology and Vice President of Research
& Dean of Graduate Studies
Research Interests: physical and
analytical chemistry
Research Interests: physical and
analytical chemistry
Research Interests: analytical chemistry
B.S., 1961, Kent State University
Ph.D.,, 1966, Kent State University
E-mail: [email protected]
James K. Hardy
Helen W. Richter
Wiley J. Youngs
Professor
Professor
Professor
B.S., 1977, Cumberland College
Ph.D., 1981, Louisiana State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.A., 1967, The Woman’s College
of Georgia
Ph.D., 1974, The Ohio State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.A., 1972, SUNY at Albany
Ph.D., 1980, SUNY at Buffalo
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1996, University of Delaware
Ph.D., 2001, Purdue University
E-mail: [email protected]
Professor and Chair, Physics
Research Interests: chemistry education
Research Interests: analytical chemistry
Research Interests: physical chemistry
Research Interests: chemical physics
George R. Newkome
Research Interests: organic chemistry
Rex D. Ramsier
Professor, Physics
B.S., 1987, The University of Akron
Ph.D., 1994, University of Pittsburgh
E-mail: [email protected]
Research Interests: inorganic, organometallic
and organic chemistry
Research Interests: surface and material science
Jun Hu
Peter L. Rinaldi
Weiping Zheng
Assistant Professor
Professor
B.S., 1987, Fudan University
Ph.D., 1997, Purdue University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1974, Polytechnic Institute
of New York
Ph.D., 1978, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign
E-mail: [email protected]
James L. and Martha J. Foght
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: organic and
physical chemistry
Research Interests: analytical chemistry
Research Interests: biochemistry and
medicinal chemistry
Edward C. Lim
Daniel J. Smith
Christopher J. Ziegler
Goodyear Professor
Professor
Assistant Professor
B.S., 1954, St. Procopius College
Ph.D., 1959, Oklahoma State University
E-mail: [email protected]
B.S., 1968, Wisconsin State University
Ph.D., 1974, University of California, Berkeley
E-mail: [email protected]
B.A., 1992, Bowdoin College
Ph.D., 1997, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
E-mail: [email protected]
Research Interests: physical chemistry
Research Interests: biochemistry and biomedical
polymer chemistry
7
Ernst D. von Meerwall
B.S., 1987, Zhejiang Normal University
Ph.D., 1999, The University of Tennessee
E-mail: [email protected]
Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science,
Physics, & Chemistry, Associate Dean,
College of Polymer Science & Polymer
Engineering
B.S., 1963, Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., 1969, Northwestern University
E-mail: [email protected]
Research Interests: chemical physics
Research Interests: bioinorganic and
materials chemistry
8
Recreational activities
such as attending a
concert at Lock 3 Live!
or windsurfing at the
Portage Lakes are just a
few things to do in the
Akron area.
Akron, Ohio
With a population of 212,000, Akron is Ohio’s fifth-largest city. It offers a vibrant downtown, serene
parks, events and venues that appeal to almost every interest. Its regional location and easy access to
air, rail and highway travel puts you at the hub of a world of experiences and opportunities.
The University of Akron is the public research university for Northern Ohio.
Founded in 1870, it is the only public university in Ohio with a science and
engineering program ranked in the top five nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
UA’s polymer science and polymer engineering program is ranked second in the
nation, and is an important contributor to Ohio’s $22 billion polymer industry. Our
School of Law was named the #1 and #2 best value public law school in America by
two national law publications. The University of Akron also excels in such areas as
global business, dance, marketing, psychology and nursing.
Our 10 degree-granting colleges serve more than 22,500 students and offer more
than 350 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degree programs and 100
certificate programs.
The University also is a leader in technology – Intel Corporation ranked Akron
third in the nation for greatest wireless Internet capability. UA students also take
advantage of the University’s unique agreements with Time Warner Cable to
purchase reduced-rate, high speed Internet access in their homes.
Discover Akron!
• Critically acclaimed Akron Symphony Orchestra and Ohio Ballet, the latter in residence
on campus, perform in UA’s E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall
• Area museums: the Akron and Cleveland museums of art, the National Inventors Hall of
Fame in Akron, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum in Cleveland
• Canal Park is home to the Akron Aeros, a minor league baseball team, Firestone Stadium
is the home of the Akron Racers, a member of the Women’s Professional Softball League
• Cleveland Indians, Browns, Cavaliers and Force athletic games less than an hour away
• Nationally known annual events include the All-American Soap Box Derby and the Rubber
City Air Show
• Scenic acres by the thousands in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the 13 Summit County
Metro Parks
Akron’s Civic Theatre
FYI
[ CONTACT US: 330-375-2121 / www.CI.Akron.OH.US/ ]
In 2004 The University of Akron completed a five-year campus enhancement
program that added nine new buildings, including a new Student Recreation and
Wellness Center, a Student Union and a new Honors residence hall/academic
facility. This New Landscape for Learning campaign also generated 30 acres of
new green space, lawns, shaded walkways and gardens.
Culturally, the University serves as a rich resource for northeast Ohio, hosting
concerts, Broadway productions, prominent speakers and other special events at
its nationally recognized E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
For more information about The University of Akron, visit www.uakron.edu.
Photos courtesy of: The city of Akron.
New Landscape for Living
The University of Akron is involved
in revitalizing a 40-block area around
campus. A new McDonald’s was
constructed across from Jackson
Field as part of this effort. It features art on its walls depicting UA
life and a can’t-miss stainless steel
Zippy, all 500 pounds of him!
Residents enjoy walking
and biking through the
scenic Cuyahoga Valley
National Park and the
13 Metro Parks Serving
Summit County.
9
9