ESU Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty and Students Present Research at National Conference

East Stroudsburg University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was represented the National American Chemical Society Spring Conference earlier this month. One faculty member and three students represented ESU by presenting their research.

Steven Boyer, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, accompanied Carolyn Knowlton, a senior majoring in chemistry from Long Pond, Pa.; Journey Lopez, a senior majoring in chemistry from Easton, Pa.; and James Heath, a junior majoring in biochemistry and chemistry secondary education from Mount Bethel, Pa., to the conference at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Along with presenting their research, the conference also allowed students to attend professional workshops and a graduate school fair.

Knowlton presented research on "Photodegradation of phenazopyridine under visible light irradiation with metal-organic framework and semiconductor composite: HKUST-1@TiO₂." She worked on the research project with Dr. Boyer, partially funded by a S.U.R.E. grant awarded during summer 2023.

Lopez presented research on "Characterization of potential photodegradation products of phenazopyridine via GC-Mass spec." Lopez, a ClearPath scholar, worked on the research project this year with Dr. Boyer.

Heath presented his research on "PFM Analysis on Recrystallized MAPbI_3." Heath completed this research at Binghamton University during the Smart Energy REU Program during summer 2023.

Dr. Boyer presented his work on "Using second semester general chemistry to prepare students for CUREs."

For more information about the conference and research presented, please contact Dr. Boyer at [email protected].