Program Director
Sherri R. Lovelace-Cameron
5016 Ward Beecher Science Hall
(330) 941-1997
srlovelacecameron@ysu.edu
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry offers a program of study leading to the M.S. degree with concentrations available in:
- analytical,
- biochemistry,
- inorganic,
- materials,
- organic, and
- physical chemistry.
The program prepares the student for practice as a professional chemist by teaching academic fundamentals, creative and independent thinking through independent study and research, and leadership skills through interaction with undergraduate students as graduate teaching assistants. The program is also excellent preparation for further advanced study at other institutions, leading to the Ph.D. degree in chemistry or professional degrees in chemistry-related fields. The department has state-of-the-art instrumentation facilities and a wide assortment of instruments readily available for student and faculty research including: two powder- and three single-crystal X-ray diffractometers, a transmission electron microscope, a Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscopy system, two 400 MHz NMRs, FTIR, ICP-AES, AA, GC-MS, LC-MS, high resolution MS, several HPLCs, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analyzers, differential scanning calorimeter, gel permeation chromatograph, diode array spectrophotometers, and electrochemical systems.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, an applicant for admission to the M.S. degree program in the Department of Chemistry must present an undergraduate major in chemistry or the equivalent. Ordinarily, this entails the completion of at least a year’s study in both organic and physical chemistry. In those cases where the undergraduate preparation is slightly deficient, the applicant may be admitted with provisional status with the approval of the chair of the Chemistry Department and the Graduate Dean. Students must achieve an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination general test (GRE) for admission to the program. The Chemistry or Biochemistry subject GRE test is also required of all students who do not have a B.S. or B.A. in chemistry or biochemistry.
Advisement
Entering students are advised by the program director. Within the first semester of full-time graduate studies, the student should select a thesis advisor, who will assist the student in planning the remainder of the program. Within the first year of full-time graduate studies, the student should select a thesis advisory committee in consultation with the thesis advisor. The committee, including the advisor, will meet periodically with the student to evaluate the progress of the research and to provide guidance.
Ganesaratnam K. Balendiran, Ph.D., Professor
Biomolecular structural biochemistry; structure and function of biological molecules and manipulation of their physiological properties with novel chemicals for health benefits
Larry S. Curtin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Electroanalytical chemistry; synthetic inorganic chemistry; self-assembled monolayers; buckminsterfullerene; conducting polymers and charge transfer salts
Douglas T. Genna, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Merging organic chemistry with metal organic frame-works; stabilization of reactice intermediates
John A. Jackson, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Synthetic organic chemistry; organophosphorus chemistry; synthetic methodology; biologically active compounds; asymmetric synthesis
Brian D. Leskiw, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Mass spectrometric investigation of various compounds, including chemical vapor deposition precursors, substituted phenols, and trace analysis of pyrazines/haloanisoles
Clovis Linkous, Ph.D., Professor
Ceramic electrolytes, polymer membrane electrolytes, solid state hydrogen storage, photovoltaic materials, photocatalytic decomposition of hydrogen sulfide; algae inhibition
Sherri R. Lovelace-Cameron, Ph.D., Professor
Synthesis and electrochemistry of novel organometallic polymers; synthesis of metal organic frameworks
Peter Norris, Ph.D., Professor
Synthesis of novel monomers, oligomers, and polymers derived from carbohydrates; environmentally friendly methods to organic synthesis; catalytic decomposition of natural azide nad diazo
Michael A. Serra, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Effects of free radicals on proteins
Josef B. Simeonsson, Ph.D., Professor
Analytical atomic and molecular spectroscopy; trace and ultratrace analysis; laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy; laser ionization spectroscopy; Raman spectroscopy; environmental analysis
Nina V. Stourman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Studies of bacterial functional genomics during response to stress; bacterial glutahione metabolism and the mechanism and biological role of bifunctional enzyme glutahionyl spermidine synthetase/amidase (GSS) and its products in E. coli
Timothy R. Wagner, Ph.D., Professor
Synthesis of inorganic oxide and mixed-anion materials; structure characterizations using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction; electron microscopy techniques
A minimum of 35 semester hours of credit is required for the M.S. degree.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 6980 | Introduction to Chemical Research (taken the first year) | 3 |
| CHEM 6981 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 6982 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| Content Chemistry Courses | ||
| Select 15 semester hours | 15 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 semester hours in consultation with advisor | 6 | |
| Thesis | ||
| CHEM 6990 | Thesis | 9-12 |
| Total Semester Hours | 35-38 | |
For graduation, the student must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in chemistry and must complete an acceptable research proposal, written thesis, and oral defense of the thesis.
Teaching Assistants
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 6980 | Introduction to Chemical Research (taken the first year) | 3 |
| CHEM 6981 | Seminar 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 6982 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| CHEM 6975 | An Introduction to Teaching Chemistry (taken the first year) | 1 |
| Select one of the following each semester: | 2 | |
| Teaching Practicum in General Chemistry | ||
| Teaching Practicum in Allied Health Chemistry | ||
| Teaching Practicum in Organic Chemistry | ||
| Teaching Practicum for Chemistry in Modern Living Lab | ||
| Content Chemistry Courses | ||
| Select 15 semester hours | 15 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 semester hours in consultation with advisor | 6 | |
| Thesis | ||
| CHEM 6990 | Thesis | 9-12 |
| Total Semester Hours | 38-41 | |
For graduation, the student must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in chemistry and must complete an acceptable research proposal, written thesis, and oral defense of the thesis.
Learning Outcomes
- Graduate students should demonstrate the ability to critically review the literature pertaining to their research projects, and connect the earlier literature to their own results.
- Graduate students should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the applications and basic principles of the chemical instrumentation and/or software vital to their thesis projects.
- Graduate students should demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate their research ideas and findings both orally and in writing.
- Graduate students should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the chemical principles related to their area of research.