Undergraduate Research Mentors

Many professors support the training of undergraduates in the research setting. Listed below are professors who have active research programs and who have taken undergraduates as volunteers, technicians, and researchers. **Please note that students may be mentored by faculty outside of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry but would need to register for the specific undergraduate research course associated with their outside mentor's department (ie. BIOL 5800 for projects in the Department of Biology).

Name Research Interests Email
Lisa Berreau Light-Induced CO-Releasing Molecules, Synthetic Inorganic, Coordination and Bioinorganic Chemistry,
Reaction Mechanisms
lisa.berreau@usu.edu
Alexander Boldyrev Computational Chemistry a.i.boldyrev@usu.edu
Bob Brown Study of fundamental and applied aspects of mass spectrometry (particularly TOF-MS) of large molecules. Application of mass spectrometry to various chemical problems, with particular emphasis on biochemically relevant systems. Development of laser based ionization methods for mass spectrometry and their application to non-volatile sample characterization. Study of the fundamental processes involved in the matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) process. Synthesis of new MALDI matrix materials. Development of new instrumental designs for TOF-MS. Study of ion detection processes of large m/z ions. Polymer and biopolymer structural characterization utilizing mass spectrometry. Study of aerosols formation and fate using mass spectrometry. Development of laser assisted DART ionization. bob.brown@usu.edu
Tom Chang Dr. Chang has developed his research program that encompasses chemistry, biology, and microbiology. His research team has been engaging in multiple projects that expand from antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer areas with leads identified in every category. His research focuses not only on product development but also on basic science. New projects even include alternative energy development and antiviral agent through green chemistry. tom.chang@usu.edu
Nick Dickenson My research interests mirror my teaching interests in that I am investigating biological processes and interactions using analytical, biochemical, and biophysical techniques. One of the main focuses of the lab, currently, is the investigation of initial pathogen/host cell interaction preceding invasion by Shigella ssp. nick.dickenson@usu.edu
Joan Hevel PRMT, Protein Arginine Methyltransferase, Arginine Methylation, MMA, ADMA, SDMA, SAM/Adomet Joanie.Hevel@usu.edu
Ryan Jackson We use biophysical, structural, microbiological, and biochemical techniques to study the structure and function of bacterial immune systems, and the counterstrategies viruses use to evade them. Our current research aims to determine the structure and function of newly discovered CRISPR systems (e.g. types IV and V). ryan.jackson@usu.edu
Sean Johnson RNA Surveillance, RNA Helicases, Structural Biology, X-Ray Crystallography,
Protein-Protein Complexes
sean.johnson@usu.edu
Gang Li Biomimetic catalysis and metalloenzymes, Mechanistic study of transition-metal catalyzed reactions,
Small molecule activation by transition metal complexes, Synthetic methods
gang.li@usu.edu
Tianbiao Liu Catalysis and electrochemical chemistry related to renewable energy transformations and green chemical transformations • Batteries (redox flow batteries, multivalent batteries, and Li ion batteries) and fuel cell technologies for transportation and energy storage • Physical methods with emphasis on electrochemical methods, X-ray diffraction, advanced NMR techniques, and other spectroscopes; theoretical calculations using Gaussian, Gaussview, Molden, and Cerius2 simulation packages leo.liu@usu.edu
Yi Rao Interfacial Chemistry relevant to environment and energy, heterogeneous catalysis, coherent transport of single crystals and thin films yi.rao@usu.edu
Lance Seefeldt Biofuels, bioenergy, nitrogen fixation, food production, metals in biology. lance.seefeldt@usu.edu