Department of Chemistry

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry

Chemistry, the central science, is an integral part of modern life and forms the basis for advances in nearly all areas of science and technology.  Students and faculty in Chemistry at the University of Maine work together to answer questions related to major societal issues:  energy, the environment, modern materials, and health and medicine.  We invite you to explore our undergraduate and graduate programs and to learn more about our research.  If you have questions or would like to make arrangements for a tour of our department, please contact Dr. Alice Bruce, Chair, 152/271 Aubert Hall, 581-1168/ 581-1182, abruce@maine.edu

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What can you do with a Chemistry degree?

Research Highlights

Recent graduates from Professor Jay Rasaiah’s research group, Dr. Mohsen Farshad and Dr. Dylan Suvlu have taken postdoctoral positions. Mohsen has joined the research group of Professor Michael L. Klein at Temple University and Dylan is a postdoctoral fellow at MIT with Professor Adam Willard. Their recent publications are listed below.

• M.Farshad and J.C.Rasaiah, “Light-nucleotide versus Ion-nucleotide interactions for single nucleotide resolution”,Journal of Physical Chemistry B,  2021, 125, 11, 2863–2870
• D. Suvlu, D. Thirumalai, and J. C. Rasaiah  “Water-Mediated Interactions Determine Helix Formation of Peptides in Open Nanotubes”, J Physical Chemistry B.2021, 125, 3, 817–824.
• M. Farshad, J.C. Rasaiah, “Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of Transverse and Longitudal Ionic Currents in Solid-State Nanopore DNA Sequencing“, ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2020, 3, 2, 1438-1447.
• D. Suvlu, M. Farshad, and J.C. Rasaiah, “Nanocluster Growth and Coalescence Modulated by Ligands“, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2020, 124, 31, 17340-17346 
• M. Farshad, and J. C. Rasaiah “Reverse Translocation of Nucleotides through a Carbon Nanotube” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2020, 21, 124(6):937-943.
• M. Farshad, D. Suvlu, J.C. Rasaiah, “Ligand-Mediated Nanocluster Formation with Autocatalytic and Classical Growth“, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2019, 123 (49), 29954-29963.

Ms. Charitha Perera, a graduate student in Professor Jay Rasaiah’s research group has recently published a paper. She has also been invited to speak on her research at Saint Amselm College in NH on Friday April 9^th. The title of her talk will be “A Density Functional Study of Water Splitting Reaction Pathway on ZnO Nanoclusters.”

• D C. Perera, J. Hewage and J.C.Rasaiah, “AceticAcid and PropionicAcid decarboxylation on Mg(OH)₂ clusters: a density functional theory study“, J.Mater Sci 2020, 55:16914-16927.