Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate
research plays a vital role in the chemistry curriculum at Loyola University.
All majors are encouraged to join a research group early in their academic
studies. It is in the laboratory where students have the opportunity
to apply ideas learned in the classroom to real-world research problems
for which there are no solutions in the back of a book. Students
receive academic credit for participation in a research project during
the academic year or over the summer. During the summer, students may
receive stipends to continue their studies at Loyola . We encouraged chemistry
majors to contact faculty members to discuss research opportunities in
their laboratories
Kurt Birdwhistell, Ph.D., (504)865-3272, birdwhis@loyno.edu
Dr. Birdwhistell's group applies the principles of "Green Chemistry" to
design new environmentally benign synthetic pathways
to inorganic and organic molecules. Green chemistry involves the
application of a set of principles to reduce or eliminate the use or generation
of hazardous materials in the synthesis of chemical products.
His group's current projects in "Green Chemistry" involve the application
of four synthetic strategies: (1) Reducing the energy requirements
of reactions by applying Microwave Assisted Synthesis (MAS); (2)
Eliminating organic solvents in synthetic reactions by using an environmentally
benign solvent such as water or no solvent; (3) Replacing hazardous
mineral acids such as sulfuric or phosphoric acid with safer solid acid
alternatives; and (4) Designing new water-soluble catalysts for
the replacement of catalysts normally used in organic solvents; thus reducing
the need for organic solvents in various catalytic processes. Check
out Dr.
Birdwhistell's website for more information.
Lynn Vogel Koplitz, Ph.D., (504)865-3274, koplitz@loyno.edu
Dr. Koplitz's group does research in a number of areas of physical chemistry,
especially spectroscopy, with applications to materials science, environmental
studies, geochemistry, and photochemistry. Other interests include
hydrogen bonding in cyanomethylpyridinium salts; computational chemistry;
copper/zinc oxide surface science; sediments and aqueous solutions
of environmental and geochemical interest. More information is available
at Dr. Koplitz's website.
Thomas
Spence, Ph.D., (504)865-2266, tgspence@loyno.edu
Dr. Spence is a physical chemisty with extensive experience
in design and construction of spectroscopic instrumentation. Research
interests include laser-based trace-gas detection using cavity ring-down
spectroscopy. His research group is currently developing a system
to determine isotopic abundances using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
Check out Dr. Spence's
website for more information.
Joelle S. Underwood, Ph.D., (504)865-3275,
jsunderw@loyno.edu
Dr. Underwood is an atmospheric physical and analytical chemist
with research interests in two main areas: water uptake processes and
chemical reactions of atmospherically relevant aerosol, and development
of analytical techniques for studying the physical and chemical properties
of atmospheric aerosol. Visit her
Research Group Website for more information.
William Walkenhorst, Ph.D., (504)865-3270, walken@loyno.edu
Dr. Walkenhorst is a physical biochemist with research interests
in the areas of molecular recognition, ligand binding, and protein folding
and design. His research group frequently studies the secondary
structure of large biomolecules using circular dichroisum spectroscopy.
Check out Dr. Walkenhorst's
website for more information.