A previous research project focused on surface modification of poly(amino)amide (PAMAM) dendrimers.  This
research is
still being performed at Northern Kentucky University, in a joint project between the chemistry and
biology departments.

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a delivery system for drugs that are normally unable to cross
the
blood-brain barrier.  My advisors for this project were Dr. Keith Walters and Dr. Heather Bullen.
Presentations for the dendrimer research include the 2006 and 2007 Kentucky Academy of Sciences, the
2007 American Chemical Society National Meeting in
Chicago, the 2008 ACS National Meeting in New
Orleans, and the 2008 CERMACS Meeting in Cincinnati.  In addition, in 2008, I was a co-author on "
Improved
Methodology for Monitoring (Poly)Amidoamine Dendrimers Surface Transformations and Product Quality by
Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography
," which was published in the Journal of Nanomaterials.

I have also previously assisted with the Ohio Frog and Toad Calling Survey.  Local frog and toad calls can be
found
here.
This page last updated October 14, 2009.
Research
Current research is an attempt to improve solubility of a previously-synthesized supra-molecular system
comprised of fullerenes linked to a transition-metal ligand via a rigid carbon framework.  The near-complete
conjugation of the system provides a fairly-efficient pathway for electron transfer between the TM and the
fullerene.  The ultimate goal of this project is to use this system, which due to the fullerenes has a high
absorbance cross-section of visible light,  to transfer excited electrons to various metals for utilization in
reducing various organic compounds in waste water, or for a new type of solar cell, depending on the metal.