I earned my Bachelor of
Science in Chemistry (ACS Certified) from the University
of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. UWSP has an
excellent Chemistry program with more faculty that many small graduate
programs. My first research project was under the guidance of Dr. Steve
Bondeson looking at the dynamics of acetonitrile mixtures by Electron
Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Although we weren't successful in
answer the questions we wanted to answer, it was a very useful project
and a few years later another group published a study that addressed
the same system. I also worked on a few service-oriented projects with
Dr. C. Marv Lang looking at display case experiments and the
reclamation of silver from aqueous waste produced in various lab
courses. In addition to my chemistry major, I also earned a minor in
mathematics. I really enjoyed exploring the connections between
analytical geometry, group theory, spectroscopy, and synthetic
chemistry, and continue to marvel at the symmetry of the natural world.Graduate School:
After completing my BS degree, I moved
on to the University of
Michigan for graduate school. I thought I wanted to study physical
chemistry, but came to realize that all of the aspects of physical
chemistry I loved were actually related to inorganic chemistry. I also
liked that inorganic chemistry took advantage of organic synthesis
(ligand design and synthesis) and a comprehensive array of analytical
techniques. In most ways, inorganic chemistry is the most diverse field
of chemistry, especially transition metal coordination chemistry. My
graduate mentor was Dr. Vincent L. Pecoraro and I worked on copper(II)
beta-aminohydroximate metallacrowns. This graduate work continued my
trend for a broad foundation in chemistry; the majority of the Pecoraro
group worked on bioinorganic projects so I gained exposure to to
biological side of chemistry, but my project was more materials science
oriented.Post-Doctoral Training:
Following
my graduate work, I took a position as a Visiting Research Associate
with Dr. James K. McCusker at Michigan State University.
Jim is a physical inorganic chemist who studies electron transfer and
molecular mechanics using nanosecond and femtosecond laser
spectroscopy. My project involved the design and synthesis of manganese
dimers coupled to electron-transfer partners to explore the dynamics of
electron transfer coupled to the redox chemistry of the manganese
dimers. This was another opportunity for me to broaden my experience as
an inorganic chemist to include a much more theoretical and physical
project.
