Research at USU

Research in our department includes projects in the traditional areas of analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, as well as interdisciplinary projects.

Analytical chemists at USU are carrying out research on novel optical methods of chemical analysis; white light spectrometry; and the analysis of large, nonvolatile molecules by mass spectrometry. Environmental chemistry is a major focus, with research projects directed towards the development and application of methods for the analysis of small particles in the atmosphere and the application of real-time mass spectrometry for aerosol analysis, and the detection of trace fluorocarbon substances in the atmosphere.

Biochemistry researchers at USU are studying the fundamental structures and functions of a range of biological systems. Ongoing projects include the elucidation of mechanisms of a number of enzymes and metalloenzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, utilization and degradation of hydrocarbons, post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and methylation and the assembly of macromolecular enzyme systems. Our research impacts a diverse range of phenomena including understanding global energy and element cycles, bioremediation, and human health and disease.

In Inorganic chemistry, research is devoted to understanding how metal catalyzed chemical processes occur, and how features associated with the metal center influence the chemistry. In bioinorganic chemistry, approaches involve the synthesis of model complexes that are designed to mimic structural, spectroscopic, and reactivity features of metalloenzyme active site. Comprehensive studies of these model complexes increase our understanding of the chemical principles that control the structure and function of metalloenzymes.

Organic chemistry research at USU focuses in the areas of physical organic chemistry and the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Mechanistic studies using novel kinetic techniques are questioning long-held assumptions about the details of some common chemical reactions. Other projects investigate the details of reactions at the chemistry-biology interface, including the chemistry of phosphate and sulfate esters. Other groups are working on the synthesis of novel unusual sugar-containing antibiotics or anticancer agents, and on studying the structural chemistry of naturally occurring compounds, in order to understand how structure affects stability, reactivity, and biological activity.

Physical chemistry at USU focuses on computational chemistry. Research at USU led to the first experimental and theoretical evidence of aromaticity in all-metal systems. Other work studies the chemistry of superhalogens and tetracoordinate planar carbon. Other projects utilize modern methods of electronic structure theory to understand the fundamental nature of interactions between molecules, chiefly, hydrogen bonds, which are critical to structure and function of biomolecules like proteins. In addition, projects in theoretical chemical physics are directed to studying the dynamics of microscopic and mesoscopic systems (e.g., quantum dots) in the classical limit of quantum mechanics.