Chemistry Colloquium Program
Day: Friday
Time: 3:30 PM CDT
Location: A101 Annex Auditorium, Life Sciences Building
Unless otherwise noted, seminars will be held on Fridays in the A101 Annex Auditorium at 3:30 PM. Check the individual notices posted on bulletin boards or your e-mail box for confirmation of times and locations.
*Denotes Gameday Weekend
Fall 2024 Schedule
Jason P. LeJeune, Ph.D.
LSU Environmental Health & Safety
Safety Seminar
Host: John A. Pojman
Matthew Chambers, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry
Louisiana State University
Host: Justin Ragains
Manuel Hegelich, Ph.D.
Department of Physics
The University of Texas at Austin
Miles to Meters – Can Laser-driven accelerators supplant large-scale facilities?
B. Manuel Hegelich, TAU Systems Inc. & University of Texas at Austin
Recent years have seen significant advances in laser-driven accelerator systems in terms of reliability and reproducibility as well as in terms of bunch energy, charge and emittance. At UT Austin we have investigated and developed the underlying scientific principles. At TAU Systems, Inc., we aim to integrate those advances into a single system, allowing a transition from the laboratory to the market. We will present recent results on laser-driven particle acceleration and our current plans to utilize such laser systems to generate high-energy electron beams as drivers for table-top synchrotron-like x-ray sources, compact gamma-ray and neutron sources and even compact EUV/X free-electron laser systems. These systems can drive applications in semiconductor R&D and metrology, medical and material science applications as well as fundamental and applied nuclear physics, chemistry, biology and pharmacology. We will show recent advances in wakefield target technology, demonstrating for the first time > 10 GeV electrons from a laser wakefield accelerator and how this enables laser-driven XFELs, as well as recent progress on smaller, compact high repetition rate systems and a laser-based light source service center.
Joint Seminar: Chemistry with Physics & Astronomy
Host: Gerald J. Schneider
Revati Kumar, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry
Lousiana State University
Host: Bin Chen
Patrick Mensah, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Host: John A. Pojman
Haitao Liu, Ph.D.
"Intrinsic surface properties of graphitic carbon materials"
Our research shows that the perceived hydrophobicity of graphitic carbons arises from the adsorption of airborne hydrocarbons on their surfaces. Additionally, this form of contamination significantly influences both the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant and the double-layer capacitance of carbon electrodes. These findings underscore the critical role of surface cleanliness in characterizing and utilizing carbon materials in ambient conditions.
Hosts: Graça Vicente, Slava Baranets
Dongmei Cao, Ph.D.
“Opportunities at LSU’s Shared Instrument Facility”
Host: Gerald J. Schneider
Fall Break - No Colloquium
Ognjen Miljanic, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry
University of Houston
Host: Victor Garcia-Lopez
Rafael Cueto, Ph.D.
"The LSU Shared Laboratory for Macro and Bio-Macromolecular Research (SLMBR) provides advanced equipment for characterization of macromolecules, supramolecular assemblies, colloids, complex fluids, and related materials. This facility was previously known as the Polymer analysis Laboratory (PAL)
The following techniques will be discussed:
- Thermal analysis: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Rheology.
- Gel Permeation Chromatography: Multi Angle Light Scattering GPC (GPC-MALS) and Conventional Calibration GPC.
- Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta Potential.
Frank Fronczek, Ph.D.
A brief outline of structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction will be given. Our diffractometers and software will be described, with emphasis on the advantages and drawbacks of each of our three radiation sources, Ag, Cu and Mo.
Frank R. Fronczek
Department of Chemistry, LSU
“Opportunities at SLMBR and Crystallography”
Host: Daniel Kuroda
Fereshteh Emami, Ph.D.
Southeastern Louisiana University
“Assessment of Chemical Contaminants in Lake Maurepas”
Lake Maurepas in southeastern Louisiana (USA) is a vital aquatic ecosystem with significant ecological, recreational, and economic value. Recently, concerns have arisen regarding the deterioration of aquatic and water quality within the lake, largely attributed to the industrial activities. Our study aims to investigate the chemical contaminants and the quality of water, sediment, and aquatic samples collected from various locations and depths of the lake. The primary objectives of this study are to assess the current state of organic pollutants, nutrients and heavy metal concentrations, and to identify the monthly concentration trends and spatial contaminants distribution patterns throughout the lake. The behavior of these chemicals was analyzed and forecasted using parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses, as well as machine learning-based modeling. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of aquatic ecosystems and provide insights into the effects of pollution on the ecosystem.
Host: John A. Pojman
Elisabeth Fatila, Ph.D.
Louisiana Tech University
Vicky Colvin, Ph.D.
Host: John A. Pojman
Thanksgiving Holiday - No Colloquium
Student Awards Ceremony
Students will be awarded the:
Mary Jo Pribble Inorganic Chemistry Award
Timothy S. Evenson Macromolecular Chemistry Award
H. Dupont Durst Organic Chemistry Award
Neil Kestner Physical Chemistry Award
Dow Chemical Macromolecular Award
Kiran Allam International Award
James G. Traynham Teaching and Research Award
Hosts: David Spivak, Kandace Hurst
Student Award Presentations
Host: David Spivak
SPRING 2025 Schedule
Jason P. LeJeune, Ph.D.
LSU Environmental Health & Safety
Safety Seminar
Host: John A. Pojman
Vicente A. Talanquer, Ph.D.
Host: Zakiya S Wilson-Kennedy
Martin Head-Gordon, Ph.D.
Host: Kenneth Lopata
P. Shiv Halasyamani, Ph.D.
Host: Slava Baranets
Gina Frey, Ph.D.
Host: Zakiya S Wilson-Kennedy
Joseph Schlenoff, Ph.D.
Host: Amy Xu
Erin McCauley, Ph.D.
Hosts: Jose M. Garfias, Fatima Rivas
Scott Snyder, Ph.D.
Host: Fatima Rivas
Mihaela C. Stefan, Ph.D.
Host: David Spivak
Fabrizio Donnarumma, Ph.D.
The LSU College of Science Mass Spectrometry Facility (MSF) is a cost center located on the main campus in Baton Rouge, LA. The facility currently houses six mass spectrometers that are available for organic, inorganic and biological mass spectrometric applications. The facility is directed by Dr. Fabrizio Donnarumma, Ph.D., and employs Dr. Isabel Vitorino Maia as research associate. The team is responsible for operating the instrumentation, maintenance, sample preparation and data analysis. In addition, the MSF provides assistance in experiment design, teaching activities that include mass spectrometry as well as grant writing and design support.
Thomas K. Weldeghiorghis, Ph.D.
The LSU NMR Facility has six instruments with magnetic fields of 400, 500, and 700 MHz, offering both solution and solid-state capabilities. These instruments support routine 1H, 13C, and 31P 1D and 2D experiments, useful for research in chemistry, engineering, biology, and other fields. For more complex needs, the Bruker pulse sequence library and advanced NMR hardware provide enhanced capabilities. We'll explore some of the non-routine experiments possible with our instruments and the research questions they can help address.
“Opportunities created by the Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facilities
at LSU Chemistry and Beyond”
Host: Robert Cook
Spring Break - No Colloquium
Good Friday Holiday - No Colloquium
Reserved: Special Presentation
Yan Xia, Ph.D.
Joint Seminar: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Hosts: Anthony Engler, Donghui Zhang