The SUNY Cortland Chemistry department has faculty active in research areas ranging from biochemistry to environmental chemistry to materials to synthesis. Read more about active projects and how to get involved below!
Work in the lab of Dr. Katherine Hicks is focused on determining the structure and function of proteins involved in bacterial metabolism. We use a variety of techniques in these studies, including enzyme kinetics and X-ray protein crystallography. Hicks Lab Website
Dr. Greg Phelan's research lab is interested in exploring new materials that benefit society. We focus on the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymeric based materials for use in organic electronics, lithium-ion batteries, and other related areas. Phelan Lab Website
Research in the lab of Dr. Lynn Schmitt bridges chemistry and art by using spectroscopy to study pigments, trace restoration histories, and inform the conservation and restoration of artworks. Currently, I am investigating Iris Green, a rare and little-understood pigment derived from the petals of blue iris flowers, to uncover its true chemical identity and guide the preservation of art that used it. I also apply these techniques to understand and contribute to conservation efforts of artwork within the SUNY Cortland permanent collection. Projects range from synthesis and structural analysis of pigments to stabilization of artwork through spectroscopy and chemical processes.
Dr. Jeff Werner's research is centered around using analytical chemistry to understand processes in the environment. He's worked with microbiologists on monitoring microbial communities in bioreactors and in the human gut, and more recently he's started working on the fate of organic pollutants in the environment. This environmental fate research is on compounds such as the artificial sweetener compound sucralose, and compounds that leach from PET plastics in the environment. Werner Lab Website
Dr. Sarah Wolf and her students study the behavior of amorphous solids, whose properties (including solubility, flexibility, and uniformity) make them promising materials for fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics, while their lack of thermodynamic stability pose difficulties for these applications. Specifically, we study effects of storage conditions, chemical structure, and preparation methods on glass properties over time. Wolf Lab Website
Get Involved
Opportunities to join a lab in the Chemistry Department at SUNY Cortland include paid fellowships (typically over the summer) and lab work completed for credit during the semester. Explore the active projects described here, and reach out to faculty members directly to ask questions, find out more, and begin the process of joining a research lab!