Research & Facilities
Chemistry
Potential research topics for students interested in chemistry include molecular design and synthesis, optical and electrochemical sensors, nanotechnology, design and fabrication of nanodevices for molecular electronics and photovoltaics applications, micro- and nanofluidics, surface science, photonic crystals, crystal engineering, drug design and synthesis, photochemistry and photophysics, spectroscopy. Students in chemistry will have the opportunity to work in tightly focused groups on multidisciplinary projects spanning chemistry, biochemistry, materials science and many of the engineering disciplines. For example, our sensors group combines computational chemistry, organic and peptide synthesis, spectroscopy and materials fabrication. Students can also conduct their research in the Molecular Nanotechnology Initiative (MNI) where three faculty and several graduate students and post doctoral associates work closely on a variety of funded projects, including, for example, chemical surface modification for device fabrication.
Specialty equipment available for research in these areas includes an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and other surface characterization techniques. All the necessary synthetic characterization methods are also available, including high field NMR, GC-MS, HPLC, IR, UV-VIS. Several high peak power lasers are used in transient photochemistry research.
Faculty participating in chemistry research include Prof. Grant McGimpsey, Prof. John MacDonald, Prof. Venkat Thalladi, Prof. James Dittami, Prof. James Pavlik, Prof. Robert Connors, William Yu.
Biochemistry
Potential research topics for students interested in biochemistry include plant - pathogen interactions, study of heavy metal transporters in microbes and plants, analysis of plant transcription factors, anti-microbial peptides and comparisons of terpene production upon alterations in growth conditions. Students will conduct their research as part of a highly integrated team of professionals with expertise in chemistry, biochemistry, plant physiology, molecular biology and enzymology. Other special features of our program include professional training to better prepare students for the duties they will be expected to assume as scientists or other professionals, active participation in seminars and the intensive mentorship available to students at smaller research institutions.
Specialty equipment available for research in these areas include ultracentrifuges, a scintillation counter, phosphoimager, capillary electrophoresis and HPLC.
Faculty participating in biochemical research include Prof. José Argüello, Prof. William Hobey, and Prof. Kristin Wobbe.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: April 15, 2008 11:48:33