Chemical Research Funding

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation recently awarded Dr. Kurt Winkelmann a 3-year grant to develop new nanotechnology laboratory experiments for freshmen.

Dr. Rudi Wehmschulte received a 3-year, $400,000 NSF grant to synthesize and study novel, highly reactive cationic aluminum and gallium compounds. These materials can be applied as catalysts for important processes, including C-H and C-F activation, arene functionalization, and carbonylation and hydrogenation. An outreach program to nearby colleges and high schools is also planned.

Dr. Virender Sharma received a 3-year, $70,000 NSF award to investigate the electrochemical synthesis of ferrate(VI) salts (Na2FeO4 and K2FeO4). This project is a collaboration with Dr. K. Bouzek of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague. This research program seeks to reveal the mechanism of the processes occurring at the surfaces of silicon and carbidic cast iron anode materials. One practical goal is to enhance the formation of solid ferrate(VI) in electrochemical solution mixtures. Understanding the synthesis of ferrate(VI) is important because ferrate(VI) can be used as an environmentally friendly oxidant, disinfectant, and coagulant for treatment of emerging pollutants and toxins in aquatic systems. Other potential applications include industrial "green" processes for synthesizing environmentally more benign products. This international collaboration will facilitate scientific and educational interaction between US and Czech Republic research groups.

Dr. Clayton Baum was awarded an $18,500 grant "Light Weight Smart Materials for Exploration Applications" from ASRC Aerospace Corporation, a contractor for the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center. The award is to provide both data and analysis for new materials developed by ASRC using departmental equipment, including DART mass spectrometry, FT-NMR spectrometry, FT-IR spectrometry, and thermal analysis.

Dr. Joshua Rokach, Florida Tech Chemistry Professor and Director of the Claude Pepper Institute, has been awarded a four-year $1.3 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute will allow Dr. Rokach to continue his studies on chronic inflammatory diseases.

 

 

 

Interested in Chemistry at Florida Tech?

Are you interested in studying chemistry as a graduate student or undergraduate chemistry major? If so, please contact Dr. Mark Novak by email or phone (321-674-7735) to find out more about our undergraduate program. Future graduate students should contact Dr. Mike Babich by email or phone (321-674-8046). We look forward to talking with you.

Also check out our faculty webpages, research facilities and information for prospective students.

A Special Welcome to Our Alumni

Thank to all our alumni for your continued support.  You can keep up with old friends and network with other chemistry alumni at our Facebook Group.  You can also read our current and previous Alumni Newsletters to find our what's going on in our department.

Thanks to our generous alumni, Florida Tech's 50th anniversary capital campaign was a huge sucess, surpassing our $50 million goal by almost $10 million.  We hope that our alumni continue to support chemistry excellence at Florida Tech.  Please contact Michelle Verkooy (321-674-6852), Office of Advancement, to learn more about supporting our growing department.

Department News

ACS Mössbauer Spectroscopy Symposium

Dr. Virender Sharma is organizing a symposium highlighting the chemical applications of Mössbauer Spectroscopy at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco.  Click here for more information and to submit an abstract by October 19.

Hot Article by Chemistry Faculty

Science Direct has designated Dr. Virender Sharma's recent article, "Silver nanoparticles: Green synthesis and their antimicrobial activities" in Advances in Colloid and Interface Science one of the top 25 "Hottest" chemistry publications from June to August 2009.  See the Science Direct website for the complete list.

Grant Funds Virtual Mars Exploration at Florida Tech

09/24/2009

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Florida Space Grant Consortium has provided $12,426 to associate professor of chemistry Kurt Winkelmann to create interactive virtual laboratory experiments at Florida Institute of Technology. In this project, Winkelmann will create two such experiments based on NASA missions to Mars.

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Florida Tech Research Professor Receives $850,000 NIH Grant for Chronic Inflammatory Disease Studies

09/16/2009

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Joshua Rokach, Florida Tech chemistry professor and director of the university’s Claude Pepper Institute, has been awarded a two-year research grant of $850,000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant, from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute, will allow Rokach to continue his studies on chronic inflammatory diseases and, especially on the design and synthesis of antagonists to the 5-oxo-ETE receptor.

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Students Honored for Excellence in Chemistry

05/26/2009

MELBOURNE, FLA.—At Florida Institute of Technology’s recent Spring Honors Convocation, Jennifer Mumfrey of Midlothian, Texas, and Michael Lucido of Niagara Falls, N.Y., were named the first recipients of the university’s Dr. J.

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