The Department of Chemistry at the University of Central Arkansas has been awarded nearly $500,000 in external funding by the National Science Foundation.
Three research grants, totaling $498,622, will fund projects for UCA undergraduate chemistry students to conduct research in gas-phase chemistry, surface chemistry, and archeological chemistry.
“When you consider that these three awards are in the context of a substantial amount of existing external funding, in addition to documented successes in undergraduate research via publications, presentations, and placement of our graduates in top graduate schools in the country, it is clear that the UCA Department of Chemistry has established itself as the premier undergraduate program in chemistry in the state of Arkansas and, arguably, one of the best in the country,” said Dr. Robert Mauldin, professor and chair.
Drs. Bill Taylor, Don Perry, and Karen Steelman recently received notice of their awards. Here is a description of each project:
- Dr. Bill Taylor’s project, entitled “RUI: Exploring Mechanistic Parameters Regulating Bond-Activation in the State-Specific Reactions of Gas Phase Transition Metal Ions with Halogenated Molecules,” will examine the reactions of gas-phase metal ions with a number of small molecules. Understanding the mechanisms of these processes can aid in the design of new and better catalysts for use in chemical synthesis, and in the production of alternative fuels. Undergraduates participating in this work will gain research experience which serves them well in a variety of subsequent career choices including graduate/professional programs and science-related jobs. Dr. Taylor received a $173,413 grant for this project.
- Dr. Don Perry received a $131,611 grant for the project “RUI: Development of Organic and Biological Films on Vapor-deposited Metal Nanostructures.” Silver and gold nanostructures formed on solid supports have a dramatic impact on organic and biological film growth. This work will aid development of new nanoscale metal/organic and metal/biological composites and devices and add to the knowledge of metal nanoparticle interactions with organisms and the environment. The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, Nanochemistry Division of Chemistry through the National Science Foundation supports this work.
- Dr. Karen Steelman is the principal investigator of a two-year grant for $193,598 to investigate the use of supercritical fluids to remove organic contamination from archaeological artifacts prior to radiocarbon dating. Dr. Jerry King of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville is a co-principal investigator on the project. Dr. Steelman’s laboratory has already utilized plasma oxidation to collect microscopic amounts of carbon from an artifact surface non-destructively. An equally non-intrusive pre-treatment method to remove organic contamination from a burial environment is now needed. The grant is from the National Science Foundation’s Archaeometry Program.
“The faculty members in the Department of Chemistry have had a tremendous run of success in securing funding from the National Science Foundation, with these three grants representing only the most recent awards,” said Dr. Steven Runge, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “These grant funds will not only help these faculty members advance their research programs, but many of our undergraduate students in chemistry will have increased access to research opportunities that are truly outstanding. I’m excited for our faculty and students and I’m proud to be a part of so many exciting things that are happening in our College and at UCA.”
