Research

One of the benefits of attending a small school like Albion College is the chance to interact directly with the faculty members. The faculty in the Chemistry Department believe that involving students in research is as important to their education as classroom work. The Department of Chemistry has a long history of student-faculty collaborative research. This research is funded through a variety of different sources, including the National Science Foundation and the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (FURSCA) at Albion College.

The results of research at Albion College is disseminated through many different avenues including peer-reviewed publications, student poster presentations at national meetings, faculty presentations at national and international meetings and workshops, and student presentations during the summer FURSCA meetings. In addition to research at Albion College, students often participate in off-campus research programs. These programs give students the chance to experience research in areas that are not explored at Albion College.

Faculty Research Interests

The faculty have varied and diverse research interests. Email the individual faculty members to learn more.

Craig Bieler Toggle Accordion

  • Ultra-fast reaction dynamics studied using laser spectroscopy
  • Understanding functional group effect on molecular excited states
  • Thermodynamic properties of halogen clathrate hydrates

Cliff Harris Toggle Accordion

  • Development of new synthetic methods using supported oxidizing agents and organoboranes.

Lisa Lewis Toggle Accordion

  • The chemistry of surfaces, particularly semiconductor surfaces.
  • Laser desorption mass spectrometry

Vanessa McCaffrey Toggle Accordion

  • Synthesis of organic ligands for magnetic materials
  • Study of the oxidation of wine
  • Research into food chemistry

Christopher Rohlman Toggle Accordion

  • RNA structure and catalysis
  • Proteomics

Publications

Recent publications of Albion College Chemistry faculty and students:

  • “Transformation of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by Permanganate” C. Chokejaroenrat, S.D. Comfort, C.E. Harris, D.D. Snow, D. Cassada, C. Sakulthaew, and T. Satapanajaru, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 45 (8), pp 3643–3649 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es104057v
  • “Real-time dissociation dynamics of the Ne2Br2 van der Waals complex” J.M. Pio, M.A. Taylor, W.E. van der Veer, C.R. Bieler, J.A. Cabrera, and K.C. Janda, J. Chem. Phys., 133, 014305 (2010). http://link.aip.org/link/doi/10.1063/1.3456550
  • “Clean, Green Chiral Reactions-Just Add a Salt” A.N. French, SCIENCE, 328(5984), 1365 (2010). http://www.sciencemag.org/content/328/5984/1365.full
  • “NeCl2 and ArCl2: Transition from Direct Vibrational Predissociation to Intramolecular Vibrational Relaxation and Electronic Nonadiabatic Effects” C.R. Bieler, K.C. Janda, R. Hernandez-Lamoneda, and O. Roncero, J. Phys. Chem. A, 114(9), 3050 (2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp906392m
  • “Building Blocks for Molecule-Based Magnets: Radical Anions and Dianions of Substituted 3,6-Dimethylenecyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetrones as Paramagnetic Bridging Ligands” A.W. Misiolek, A.S. Ichimura, R.A. Gentner, R.H. Huang, V.P. McCaffrey, J.E. Jackson, Inorg Chem 48(18), 9005 (2009). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic901390n
  • “Gastrointestinal biodurability of engineered nanoparticles: Development of an in vitro assay” P.N. Wiecinski PN, K.M. Metz, A.N. Mangham AN, K.H Jacobson, R.J. Hamers, J.A. Pedersen, Nanotoxicology, 3(3), 202 (2009). http://search.ebscohost.com/
  • “Engineered Nanomaterial Transformation under Oxidative Environmental Conditions: Development of an in vitro Biomimetic Assay”, K.M Metz, A.N. Mangham, M.J. Bierman, S. Jin, R.J. Hamers, and J.A. Pedersen, Env. Sci & Tech, 43(5), 2009, 1598-1604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es802217y
  • “Quantum Dot Nanotoxicity Assessment Using the Zebrafish Embryo” T.C. King-Heiden, P.N. Wiecinski, A.N. Mangham, K.M. Metz, D. Nesbit, J.A. Pedersen, R.J. Hamers, W. Heideman, R.E. Peterson, Env. Sci Tech, 43(5), 1605 (2009). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es801925c
  • “Catalytic Enantioselective alpha-Oxysulfonylation of Ketones Mediated by Iodoarenes” S.M. Altermann, R.D. Richardson, T.K. Page, R.K. Schmidt, E. Holland, U. Mohammed, S.M. Paradine, A.N. French, C. Richter, A.M. Bahar, B. Witulski, T. Wirth, Euro J Org Chem. 31, 5315 (2008). http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejoc.200800741/abstract
  • “Product state resolved excitation spectroscopy of He-, Ne-, and Ar-Br2 linear isomers: Experiment and theory” J.M. Pio, W.E. van der Veer, C.R. Bieler, K.C. Janda J. Chem Phys., 128, 134311 (2008).
  • “Three-component synthesis and anticancer evaluation of polycyclic indenopyridines lead to the discovery of a novel indenoheterocycle with potent apoptosis inducing properties” Madhuri Manpadi, Pavel Y. Uglinskii, Shiva K. Rastogi, Karen M. Cotter, Yin-Shan C. Wong, Lisa A. Anderson, Amber J. Ortega, Severine Van slambrouck, Wim F. A. Steelant, Snezna Rogelj, Paul Tongwa, Mikhail Yu. Antipin, Igor V. Magedov and Alexander Kornienko, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 5, 3863-3872 (2007). Link to article
  • “Time and frequency resolved dynamics of ArBr2” Jose Cabrera, Craig R. Bieler, Natalie McKinney, Wytze E. van der Veer, Jordan M. Pio, Kenneth Janda, and Octavio Roncero J. Chem. Phys. 127, 164309 (2007). http://link.aip.org/link/doi/10.1063/1.2794332
  • “Enantioselective alpha-oxytosylation of ketones catalysed by iodoarenes” Richardson, Robert D., Page, T. Keri, Altermann, Sabine, Paradine, Shauna M., French, Andrew N., Wirth, Thomas SYNLETT 4, 538-542 (2007).
  • “New insights from MALDI-ToF MS, NMR, and GC-MS: mass spectrometry techniques applied to palynology” Moore SEM, Hemsley AR, French AN, Dudley E, Newton RP PROTOPLASMA 228(1-3), 151-157 (2006).
  • “Time-dependent pump-probe spectra of NeBr2” Jose A. Cabrera, Craig R. Bieler, Benjamin C. Olbricht, Wytze E. van der Veer, and Kenneth C. Janda J. Chem. Phys. 123, 054311 (2005).
  • “Chemically induced dynamic electron spin polarization-detected energy transfer. Substrate size effects and solvent dependence” V. P. McCaffrey, M.D.E. Forbes, J. of Physical Chemistry A 109 (22): 4891-4898 JUN 9 2005.
  • “Time-resolved EPR studies of main chain radicals from acrylic polymers. Structural characterization at high temperatures” V.P. McCaffrey, M.D.E. Forbes Macromolecules, 38 (8): 3334-3341 APR 19 2005.
  • “A curriculum skills matrix for development and assessment of undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory programs” B. Caldwell, C. Rohlman, M. Benore-Parsons, Biochem Molec Bio Educ., 32(1), 11 (2004).
  • “Tetrahydrofuranylation of Alcohols using Hypervalent Iodine Reagents”, Andrew N. French, J. Cole, and Thomas T. Wirth, Synlett, 2004, 13, 2291.
  • “Iodine Electrophiles in Stereoselective Reactions: Recent Developments and Synthetic Applications” Andrew N. French, S. Bissmire, and T. Wirth, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2004, 33, 354.
  • “Novel Lactonization with Phenonium Ion Participation Induced by Hypervalent Iodine Reagents” Amanda C. Boye, D. Meyer, Crystal K. Ingison, Andrew N. French, T. Wirth, Organic Letters, 2003, 5, 2157-2159.