Faculty
Syed Hussani, Program Adviser
syed-hussaini@utulsa.edu
918-631-3520
Full faculty list
Current Faculty Research Projects
Dr. Jyoti Iyer
Dr. Iyer’s laboratory utilizes genetics, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology approaches to study the molecular mechanisms of cell division and disease progression using the worm C. elegans.
Dr. Angus Lamar
The Lamar Research Group is interested in developing new organic reactions that will facilitate the construction of molecules with biological activity. Our work focuses primarily on using nitrogen-centered radical chemistry to directly incorporate functionality into molecular scaffolds at positions that are either previously inaccessible or would require multiple cumbersome synthetic steps to otherwise achieve.
Dr. Erin Iski
Erin Iski’s research program at TU is centered on the use of ambient, liquid, and electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (EC-STM) to study atomically-thin, thermally stable Ag films on Au(111) and the self-assembly of amino acids on metal surfaces.
Dr. Gabriel LeBlanc
In the LeBlanc Research Group, we are interested in a wide variety of questions. We believe that the interface between electrochemistry and materials science is a treasure trove of new science and potential solutions.
Dr. William Potter
William Potter’s research interests involve the development of non-invasive diagnostics, steroid hormones, and metabolic products with respect to mental health and the intake of fluoride on human health.
Dr. Syed Hussaini
We are interested in developing regio-, chemo-, and stereoselective reactions and using them in medicinal chemistry. Currently, we are using our methods to make anti-smoking agents and cannabinoids.
Dr. Robert Sheaff
Robert Sheaff’s lab investigates the biochemical basis of human diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.
Dr. Kenneth Roberts
Our group is interested in Chemical Toxicology, Biological Nanosensors, Environmental Chemistry, Nanostructured Photovoltaics, Fluorescence, and Raman Microscopy. We are also pursuing research in the separation of cannabinoids from hemp.
Dr. Gordon Purser
We are interested in chlorination chemistry as it pertains to water treatment and biological antioxidants.
Professional Opportunities
The University of Tulsa’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of the best-equipped programs for its size in the country, allowing students to gain experience with a broad variety of equipment used in the field. As a result of a strong commitment to collaboration among the faculty, all instrumentation in the department is available to graduate students to conduct research and prepare them for further study in an advanced degree or for the workforce. With a vast array of equipment available, our students leave our department to become leaders in their fields.
Fast Facts
As a small private school TU offers the benefit of less than five to one graduate student to faculty ratio, giving students plenty of one-on-one time with their faculty advisor. The small size has the advantage that graduate students can mentor undergraduate students. This builds their leadership skills. We have state of the art instrumentation equal to that of a big state school.
The University of Tulsa Institute of Nanotechnology and the Nanolab are housed in the department. Unlike most state schools, students can work with top instruments and graduate students can give guest lectures. This provides them valuable teaching experience if they later want to apply for faculty positions. Application of current research projects include drug discovery, quantum dots, photovoltaics, nanobatteries and interplanetary space travel.
Funding Opportunities
Assistantships covering tuition are available for full-time students and include a monthly stipend. The Wilfred Woobank Assistantship, tuition coverage and stipend up to $20,000 for M.S.E. and M.E. students, is also available. The Bellwether Fellowship is available to doctoral students in their final year. This award includes up to 21 hours of tuition, a monthly stipend and on-campus housing, allowing students the chance to focus on their research. For more information on applying for these opportunities, visit the utulsa.edu/graduate.
Admission Information
- Must hold baccalaureate degree from an accredited university
- Strong GRE general test scores
- TOEFL or IELTS scores required for international students
- For more on how to apply and required documents, visit www.utulsa.edu/ graduate.
Graduate students can pursue two tracks for their degree: chemistry or biochemistry.
Graduate students who are admitted to the biochemistry track will perform medically relevant research involving model organisms, cancer cell lines, drug discovery and CRISPR/Cas9 editing.
We have an active undergraduate research program. Graduate students get to work, teach, and mentor these students, thus allowing them to claim the same in their CVs. These undergraduates can also accelerate Graduate work by helping graduate students with their projects.
Our nine departmental faculty have published 55 articles in peer-reviewed journals in the last five years (2018-2022).
We have several high-end instruments for students to use for their graduate studies. An old list is here. Some new devices include a spinning-disk confocal microscope, a LiCOR Odyssey system for western blot imaging, a Nikon fluorescence microscope, a Biotek plate reader, an ultracentrifuge, laminar flow hoods for cell culture, tabletop centrifuges and agarose gel imagers.
