Chemistry Faculty Research

Jeffrey Bjorklund

Dr Bjorklund's research exploits the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to better understand food chemistry and fermentation processes.  Students working with him have genetically altered yeast and quantitated the difference in the chemical profile of beer brewed with the altered yeast relative to the wild type.  They also are investigating the Maillard reaction which is responsible for the browning observed in cooked foods as well as the generation of many important flavor and aroma compounds.

Nicholas Boaz

He obtained a BS in chemistry (ACS Certified) at Lebanon Valley College in Annville Pennsylvania where he worked under Prof. Tim Peelen to develop asymmetric syntheses of fmoc-protected unnatural amino acids.  After graduating from Lebenon Valley, Dr. Boaz moved to Princeton University where he obtained his PhD in physical organic chemistry.  While at Princeton he worked under the supervision of Prof. Jay Groves where he studied how aliphatic C-H bonds are broken as a part of the Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Funcationalization (CCHF).

Paul Brandt

Paul is an organic chemist whose research interests revolve around methodological studies of a Green process referred to as the BASIL technique.  This technique allows the removal of most, if not all, solvents from the reaction. 

Jeff Jankowski

Prof. Jankowski is an analytical chemist focused on broad application of instrumental analysis and analytical techniques.  He was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois until 1995 when he began working at Nalco Chemical Company in their Mining and Mineral Processing Division.

Nancy Peterson

Prof. Peterson is a biochemist who is interested in understanding fundamental chemical process and applications in Natural Toxins and Pharmacology.  Water molds have been shown to have pathogenic effects on amphibian egg/embryo populations.  Research has shown that these water molds are inhibited by the presence of bacteria found on frog egg masses.  This summer we will work to isolate and identify the molecules responsible for the inhibition of water mold growth by bacteria.

Rebecca Sanders

Prof. Sanders in an analytical and environmental chemist interested in geochemical cycling of elements in a variety of environments including polar and temperate soils, lakes, streams, and oceans. She utilizes solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to study the reactivity of clay minerals and high energy x-ray diffraction for experiments to identify the speciation of various elements in natural samples.