The Master of Science in Chemical Sciences (MSCB) is a thesis-based program with tracks in Chemistry and Biochemistry. The MSCB offers a flexible curriculum, individually tailored to the student's background and research interests. The program is 33-credit-hours of coursework with research opportunities in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry, from synthetic organic chemistry to enzymology. Current research areas include the traditional sub-discipline areas of chemistry and biochemistry as well as interdisciplinary areas such as chemical biology, astrochemistry, and materials science including nanochemistry. Ongoing projects are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health, the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement, and the Petroleum Research Fund. The MSCB will prepare students to think in an interdisciplinary fashion about problems in chemistry, biochemistry and many other related areas of study. This program is designed to allow students to complete course work and thesis research within two academic years.
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Theses from 2024
CORRELATING THE CARBONYL INDEX TO CONTACT ANGLE OF WEATHERED PLASTICS, Dhimani Still
Impact of Deep Eutectic Solvents on the Structure and Dynamics of Protein and Enzyme, Anusha Bhattarai
Investigation of Surface Chemistry from Electron Irradiation of Synthetic Schreibersite, Tyler Davis
Mass Spectrometry Investigation of the Gas Phase Degradation of Pesticides and their Interaction with Biomolecules, Mubassarah Munjirin Sazmi
Modulation of Optoelectronic Properties of Electron Rich Pyrrolopyrroles via Peripheral Alterations, Lillian Daniel
Noncovalent Peptide Stapling and Antiviral-Cell Penetrating Peptide Conjugations Targeting the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2, Md Ackas Ali
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND APPLICATION OF VISIBLE LIGHT-ABSORBING, FLUORESCENT-QUENCHING THIOPHENE-BASED o-NITROBENZYL PHOTOLABILE PROTECTING GROUPS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF HYDROXAMIC ACIDS, Ophelia Asantewaa Adjei-Sah
Theses from 2023
Adsorption of Organic Pollutants onto Microplastics, kirstin goff
Azomethine-Containing Moieties for Simple and Degradable Conjugated Polymers, Kimberley Bartlett
Elucidating the Impacts of Learning Communities on Retention, Student Sense of Belonging, and Self-Efficacy in STEM, Honour Williams
Interpretation of Infrared and Raman Spectra Using Driven Molecular Dynamics Method, Oluwaseun Omodemi
Multi-techniques Characterization of Mechanochemically Synthesized Deep Eutectic Solvents, Oluseyi Olawuyi
Novel Polydentate Bis(Amidines): A Topological Approach to Intertwined Copper(I) Clusters, Keri Dowling
Pyrrolopyrrole-Based Materials for High-Contrast Electrochromics, Allison Marie Hawks
Theses from 2022
Analyzing the interactions of thermoresponsive coacervate-forming biodegradable polyester encapsulation on model protein structure and activity, Conner Casterline
Determining the Structure and Activity of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Protein, Ivyp2, Katherine Letsinger
Introduction of a Novel Family of Bitopic N-Heterocyclic Carbenes, Simon Young
Oxidation of Microplastics: Evidenced by Spectroscopy, Hydrophilicity, and Heavy Metal Uptake, Sydney Diehl
Probing Convergence in Orthogonal Conjugated Catalysis by T4 Lysozyme Utilizing Biophysical Characterization, William Turner
Simplified Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers Enabled via 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole, Kenneth-John Jack Bell
Superoxide-assisted solid-state synthesis of birnessite type MnO2 materials: physiochemical properties and electrochemical viability, Armando Rodriguez Campos
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND THERMAL INVESTIGATION OF METAL PHOSPHITES AND POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ASTROBIOLOGY, Kimberly Faye Meyberg
THE IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE FLAME RETARDANTS IN RAW MATERIALS UTILIZED IN POLYURETHANE PRODUCTION, Lindsay Tudor
Theses from 2021
BIFUNCTIONAL BF2 COMPLEXES OF POLYDENTATE BIS(AMIDINATES): SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURES, AND PHOTOLUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES, Alvaro Calderon-Diaz
Binding Affinity of Flavins to the Dehydrogenase Domain of SpNOX, Quinesha Williams
Characterizing the Vibrational Spectra of Hydrogen Bonded Systems with Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Quantum Chemical Methods, Dalton Boutwell
Desorption of Non-Exchangeable Radiocesium in soil from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Grayson Phillips
Explorations of Thermus thermophilus HB8 Transcription Factors TTHA1437 and TTHA1719 using the Combinatorial Selection Method REPSA, Sarah Claire Sneed
METHOD DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD DILUTION ANALYSIS ON MOLECULES AND DISSOLUTION STUDIES OF IBUPROFEN TABLETS ALONG WITH COMMON BEVERAGE CONSTITUENTS, Scott Richardson
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGHLY FLUORESCENT TUNABLE AZABORINE PHOTO-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER GLUCOSE SENSOR, Robert Bernard Hughley Jr.
Theses from 2020
Determination and Dissection of DNA-binding Specificity for the Thermus thermophilus HB8 Transcriptional Regulator TTHB099, Kristi Moncja
Mineral-Surface Chemistry of Hydroxyapatite and Urea-Rich Solutions, Estefania Garcia
Synthesis of the Natural Alkaloids Angustureine, Cuspareine, Galipeine, Galipinine using α-Aminocycloalkyl Copper Reagents, Zane Bertoli
USING A NOVEL CELL- PENETRATING PEPTIDE TECHNOLOGY TO INDUCE PLURIPOTENCY, Laura-Maria Oja
Theses from 2019
A More Efficient Method for Extracting and Analyzing Pesticides in Baby foods, Oluwatobi Fabunmi
Characterization of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Serine-600 Phosphorylation, Kevin Patel
Intrinsic Cleavage Inhibition by Thermophilic Type II-S Restriction Endonucleases, Dino Jake Ciccone
NOVEL ETHYLENE-BRIDGED HEXADENTATE BIS(AMIDINES), BIS(AMIDINATES), AND MULTINUCLEAR COINAGE METAL BIS(AMIDINE) COMPLEXES, Omar Ugarte Trejo
Simultaneous Delivery of CRISPR/Cas Complexes and Donor DNA Using Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Adaptors, Maria Mugure Mbugua
USE OF POPE ENGAGEMENT INDEX TO MEASURE COGNITIVE LOAD OF PHYSICAL MODELING ACTIVITIES IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Jenifer Calvert
Theses from 2018
CERBERUS-TYPE TRISANIONIC TRISNHC AND ITS ZWITTERIONIC GOLD AND SILVER COMPLEXES, Maleek Montgomery and Daniela Tapu
Fast Identification of Components Commonly Used in Homemade Explosives by Spectroscopic and Chemometric Methods, Deidre Day Vandenbos, Huggins Msimanga, and Christopher Dockery
USE OF BIOMETRICS TO DETERMINE BIOCHEMISTRY KNOWLEDGE LEVEL DIFFERENCES IN READING AND PROCESSING METABOLIC PATHWAYS, Kim Kammerdiener
Theses from 2017
Design of 3D Macroporous Inverse Opal TiO2 Binary and Ternary Composites Sensitized with Gold Nanoparticles and CdS Quantum Dots for Photocatalysis, Daniel A. Corella
Dianionic Janus-Type N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and their Zwitterionic Gold and Silver Metal Complexes, Ashley N. Carter
Hydrogen Peroxide Inhibition and Inactivation of Bicupin Oxalate Oxidase, John M. Goodwin VII
I) Hv1, LBP and LCF reconstitution in Liposomes II) Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: CPP Technology Delivers Active Protein Cargo, Aaron I. Ledet
Synthesis of α, β-Substituted Alkenylphosphonates from α-Phosphonovinyl Triflates: I) Palladium Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-coupling with Aryl Boronic Acids II) Palladium Catalyzed Reduction, Ronald laryea Mensah
The Direct Dissociation of Methanol on V(100) Surfaces, John Allred
The Study of Zirconium Hydroxide and Zirconium (IV) Metal-Organic Frameworks as Reactive Substrates for the Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agents, James W. Kollar
Toward the Synthesis of Trianionic Cerberus-Type N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and their Zwitterionic Gold and Silver Complexes, Richard W. Justice
Theses from 2016
A New 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole-Fused N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Its Metal Complexes, Ossie J. Buckner
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry Uncovers Substrate Promiscuity of Bicupin Oxalate Oxidase, Hassan Ali Rana
Lead-Free Gunshot Residues as Forensic Evidence, Lashaundra A. Fambro
Novel Cell Penetrating Peptides Effect Endosomal Escape and Deliver Protein Cargos into Living Cells, Verra M. Ngwa
Synthetic Methods for the Preparation of 1,3-S,O-Esters, α-Phosphonovinyl Triflates, and α-Alkynylphosphonates, David P. Kercher
Understanding the Surface Induced Phosphorylation of Prebiotic Molecules by Schreibersite, Danna Qasim
Theses from 2015
Analysis and Comparison of the Photodecomposition Reaction of Methanol on CeO2 Impregnated TiO2 Surfaces Versus Bare TiO2 Surfaces, Christopher A. Estes
Investigation of Spontaneous Combustion Inhibition of Coal Fires Utilizing Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis, Christopher J. Raymond
The Role of EphA Receptor Signaling in Neuroblast Survival During In Vitro Differentiation, Tasia M. Nabors