Chemistry
“Purification methods for aryl sulfonium ionic liquids” (On-going)
Ionic liquids (ILs) containing aryl sulfonium cations have been proposed as thermally robust solvents, lubricants, and thermal energy storing materials. Because aryl sulfonium salts display an increased long-term thermal stability, these ILs have been considered for use in high temperature conditions. However, the synthesis of these ILs often results in a product contaminated by starting materials. Contamination often results in an adhesive, amorphous product at room temperature and ambient pressure. This amorphous product is difficult to handle and poses a challenge for further synthesis steps or even transfer or measurement. Physical properties, such as melting points near room temperature and an amphiphilic nature that results in increased solubility in both aqueous and organic solutions, can lead to challenging purification. The work presented here includes the identification and analysis of various contaminants resulting from the synthesis. Additionally, purification methods that result in increased product yield and purity have been developed and presented here.
Undergraduate Student Researcher: Ryan Gray
"Argumentation in Chemistry" (On-Going)
Construction of written arguments from evidence is an essential scientific practice for all students (NGSS Lead States, 2013). Unfortunately, many students do not receive opportunities to construct arguments from evidence until later in their academic careers. The purpose of this project is to develop writing prompts to provide explicit instruction and scaffolding around the construction of written arguments in chemistry courses. Through development of the prompts, we will collect data in the form of written arguments which will provide a useful way to assess understanding of scientific concepts, along with students’ abilities to analyze data and generate ideas using evidence. Students interested in this project may join an established research project already in the process of data collection or propose their own specific chemical concept to investigate.
"Student Recruitment and Retention" (On-Going)
A wealth of knowledge exists concerning why and how students choose to pursue STEM degrees (degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics), including information about why students pursue specific degrees, like chemistry. For example, previous studies report that students chose to pursue chemistry degrees based on interest in the material, perceived usefulness of the degree to their future, alignment with career goals, having a sense of belong, and positive experiences in coursework or with professors (Adams, 2016). In contrast, little knowledge exists concerning why and how students choose to pursue a degree in industrial hygiene. Furthermore, there exists a lack of understanding about how students’ reasons for pursuing a degree compare across institution type and region. This project is an exploratory qualitative investigation into the motivation of students in the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Hygiene (DCIH) to pursue degrees in chemistry and/or industrial hygiene. The purpose of this research is to use interviews to identify and characterize the reasons existing students in our department chose to declare and pursue a degree in the DCIH. Students interested in this project will join an establish research project in the process of data analysis.
"Evaluation of a shortened protocol for Controlled Negative Pressure Respirator Fit Testing" (On-Going)
(September 2019 - Present)
- This project aims to evaluate shortened protocol options to measure the effectiveness and accuracy of a fit test as compared to currently accepted protocols (29 CFR 1910.134). The scope and methodology was finalized fall 2019. The project was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, data collection will resume in August 2021.
- Undergraduate student researchers: Riley Duncan, Olivia Dawson, Kinleigh Clanton
"Critical evaluation of air sampling calibration techniques" (Complete)
(August 2018 - December 2020)
- This project aimed to generate data that facilitates the choice of pressure-drop over volumetric flow rate measurement in the calibration of air sampling trains and raise consciousness regarding the need for published performance data on pressure-drop of air sampling equipment so that the choice for volumetric flow rate calibration, either directly or indirectly, can be expanded. The project was completed in two phases.
- Phase I examined the relationship between volumetric flow rate and pressure-drop using a multi-variable evaluation. Pressure-drop at different volumetric flow rates was measured under multiple combinations of sampler design, filter brand, and pump type. Segregated and grouped data were used to find central tendency and dispersion estimators of pressure-drop at each of the flow rates specified by the sampler manufacturer. A manuscript summarizing findings was published in the International Journal of Occupational Hygiene.
- Undergraduate student researcher: Savannah Jones
- Phase II provided a critical review of the NIOSH jarless method for cyclone calibration. It addressed the rationale behind end point test decisions, apparent procedural gaps and, the scrutiny of test accuracy in contrast to flow rate measurements in a well-controlled, jar protocol. A manuscript summarizing findings is under review by the International Journal of Occupational Hygiene.
- Undergraduate student researcher: Kara Nix
- Phase I examined the relationship between volumetric flow rate and pressure-drop using a multi-variable evaluation. Pressure-drop at different volumetric flow rates was measured under multiple combinations of sampler design, filter brand, and pump type. Segregated and grouped data were used to find central tendency and dispersion estimators of pressure-drop at each of the flow rates specified by the sampler manufacturer. A manuscript summarizing findings was published in the International Journal of Occupational Hygiene.
Physics
We believe a well rounded undergraduate physics program should include the opportunity for students to conduct original research under the supervision of a faculty member. All Physics majors are required to conduct a research project before completion of their degree. Students often present their research at state, regional and national conferences where they have frequently won student poster and talk competitions. Our physics faculty conduct research in optics, quantum mechanics and astronomy. See the physics faculty's pages to get more information about their research. Here are some recent projects.
Optics Research
Dr. Brian Thompson
Dr. Thompson joined the UNA faculty in 1999 after working at synchrotron radiation laboratories in the United States, England, and Italy.
At UNA he and his research students first built an optical tweezers and then used it to study fluorescence emission from dye-doped microspheres:
More recently, he and his research students have been studying gemstone reactions with light:
Lately he has been making full-color holograms of opals:
Photos show an Australian black opal with red flash and a full color hologram of the opal. Which is which? At first one might think only red light is needed to make a hologram of this opal, but then notice the white reflected light at the bottom left corner of the opal and its holographic image.
Quantum Mechanics
Image credit: Michael Strock
Dr. Valery Dolmatov
Dr. Dolmatov's research focuses on theoretical atomic and molecular physics, particularly on studying of the structure of atoms and their interactions with photons in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) energy region, and incoming electron beams. Before joining UNA, Val conducted his research in atomic and molecular physics at several research institutions, including the Tashkent Physical-Technical Institute (Tashkent, Uzbekistan), and, as a visiting scientist, at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia), Hamburg University (Germany), Imperial College of London (UK), and Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). Val has over 200 publications in the area of atomic and molecular physics, including about 80 research papers published in top refereed physics journals.
Dr. Dolmatov's publications have received well over 900 citations by fellow researchers to date; see Val’s profile at .
Dr. Dolmatov's students regularly attend state, regional and national conferences to present their research and have gone on to graduate programs in physics.
Astronomy Research
Dr. Mel Blake
Dr. Blake investigates phenomena in the universe that change their properties over time. This primarily involved the study of binary and variable stars. Binary stars consist of pairs of stars that orbit one another in a similar way to the way the Earth orbits the Sun. Various phenomena can occur if the stars a close together, including mass exchanges that can lead to visible changes in their brightness or spectra.
Dr. Blake traveled to Chile in 2011 with student Daniel Johnson to obtain data to search for variable stars in old open clusters. More recently Dr. Blake completed a study of the binary star Delta Scorpius which is a Be star. These stars emit winds consisting of gas streaming from the stars surfaces. In 2011 Delta Scorpius' companion passed near the disk formed by the outflow of gas. Along with collaborators at and undergraduate students Mary McDaniel and Taylor Garber, Dr. Blake studied the interaction of the companion star with the disk. The results were presented by Mary McDaniel at the PhysCon2012 national conference in Orlando, Florida hosted by the Sigma Pi Sigma Physics honors society, where she won first place in the astronomy student poster paper competition. She will present her results again at the spring meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Indianapolis, in June, 2013.
Dr. Blake's future work will use the UNA Observatory to obtain new data on various Be stars and other variable objects.
Physics student Taylor Garber at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute observing Be stars and Delta Scorpius. She won first place at the Alabama Academy of Science meeting in March 2013 for her presentation of this work.