The Analytical Research Division is known for its Forensic Chemistry program , mass spectrometry and nanomedicine.
Faculty Researchers
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Jixin ChenBiophysical chemistry / microscopy of biosensing platforms; Materials science / surface chemistry functionalizations; Algorithms in data analysis / simulations.
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Katherine CimatuSurface, interfacial molecular studies of surfactants / polymers (self-assembly, adsorption, interfacial interactions) using laser spectroscopy/scanning probe microscopy.
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Howard D. DewaldApplied voltammetry in clinical, environmental and forensic chemistry; fundamental electrochemical studies in chaos and lithium ion batteries.
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Peter de B. HarringtonAutomated chemometrics and machine learning applied to developing intelligent chemical instrumentation. Application areas include forensic analysis, metabolomics, ontologies, bio-analysis, and drug and food safety.
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Mengliang ZhangForensic Chemistry / Food and Agricultural Chemistry / Metabolomics / Environmental Chemistry / Material Science
About the Analytical Research Cluster
Analytical chemistry research focuses on the application of mass spectrometry to study electrochemical reactions and proteomics. Specifically, the development of electrochemical mass spectrometry for sequencing protein mapping disulfide, probing protein-protein interactions and monitoring protein conformation changes. In addition, the research involves the development of novel mass spectrometry techniques to study organometallic and electrochemical reactions.
Another major area of research involves the development of nanosensors, nanodevices and nanosystems for medical applications, including nanodevices for early in vivo and in vitro diagnosis and targeted therapies of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases such as: heart failure, heart attack, aneurism, microvascular damage in diabetes, atherosclerosis and aging, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and stroke.
Additionally, the development of intelligent chemical instrumentation is of high priority, including ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and mass spectrometry (MS). IMS and MS methods coupled with chemometric methods are developed for the rapid identification of bacteria, the identification of drugs of abuse and the identification of explosives and accelerant detection of arson cases.
Research
Each principal investigator in the Analytical Research Division maintains a strong, well-funded research program with access to excellent facilities at Ohio University. Moreover, the interdisciplinary nature of Analytical Research at Ohio University facilitates collaborations with faculty in other chemistry research divisions and in other departments campus-wide.
Many faculty members in the division conduct research projects that are accessible to students of all skill levels, including undergraduates and master's students, allowing virtually any student interested in research to get hands-on laboratory experience.
Another advantage to our students is that research groups in the Analytical Research Division are relatively small, averaging between three to four students per group. The small group sizes allow for enhanced mentoring between the student and his or her adviser, a trademark of Ohio University graduate programs.
Recent graduates in Analytical Research from Ohio University have gone on to exciting scientific careers in academic, government and industrial settings.
Facilities
- Mass spectrometry laboratory
- Nanomedical research laboratories
- Surgery rooms
Hosted Conference
The department hosted the 2017 Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry Conference (MUACC ).