Department of Chemistry Announcements

Faculty Accomplishments and Announcements

• Dr. Isai Urasa was recognized in a University News release for establishing a Water Quality Research and Monitoring Laboratory. Read More »
• Dr. Michelle Claville was recognized in a University news release as the lead principal investigator receiving a $2.9 million grant. The grant will aid in establishing a nanoscience concentration.  Read More »
• We are pleased to welcome Dr. Sainath Babu who is performing post-doctoral research , working with Dr. Michelle Claville. The research concentrates on using chemical methods to generate distonic radicals in methionine-containing peptides and will ultimately compare the results with those obtained from gamma irradiation of the same species. The research is funded by NSF.
• We are also pleased to welcome Dr.Sirisoma Wanigatunga and Dr. Grayson Walker as Adjunct professors.
• Dr. Edmund Ndip attended the SC12 conference in Salt Lake City. Dr. Ndip enjoyed the keynote speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku. To read more about the conference, click here.

Student Accomplishments and Announcements

• Ms. Dawanna White defended her master's thesis on November 9, 2012. The thesis is titled "Development of Analytical Methods for the Detection and Characterization of Emerging Contaminants".
• Dr. Patricia Hatch-Hambersham accompanied two students to the 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences held at UMBC on October 20, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Ms. Charmeyce Buck, a Forensic Chemistry major won a second place award for her presentation: "A Comparison of Three Non-toxic Type 2 Rips as a Potential Surrogate for Ricin." Dr. Hatch-Habersham is her research advisor. Ms. Ifeekam Ozonuwe, a Biochemistry major, presented "Development of an Absorbance Based Optical probe for Detection of Iron (ii) Using Sol-Gel Techniques." Her Research Advisor is Dr. Anael Kimaro. For more on the symposium, click here.
• Ms. Ashley Peralta, a junior chemistry major, was awarded two travel grants. One from the ACS National and the other from Hampton Roads ACS local chapter. The awards were used to attend the S.E. Regional Meeting of ACS, held in Raleigh, NC on November 14-17, 2012. The title of her presentation was "Ruthenium(II)-Arene Complexes with Naphthalimide-Tagged Chelating Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis and DNA-Binding Studies."  She conducted her experimental work here at Hampton University with funding from the CREST Center while working with Dr. Kesete Ghebreyessus.
• The Chemistry Club held a food drive during the month of December 2012. All students enrolled in chemistry courses were encouraged to participate. The total food donation to the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula exceeded 100 pounds.

B.S. Degree in Biochemistry

The Department of Chemistry has received a grant of $293,853 from the National Science Foundation to implement a newly established B.S. degree program in Biochemistry. This is a carefully designed curriculum that combines key topics in biological, chemical, mathematical and other sciences to provide the student an educational experience leading to an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. The program will place Hampton University in a rather unique position in three respects: (1) we will be one of very few institutions that offer an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry; only three other HBCUs offer this degree; (2) it will promote our visibility for student recruitment and also enhance our competitiveness for research and other programmatic grants; and (3) the program will provide a suitable medical/biomedical career path alternative for the large number of students who matriculate at HU with medical careers in mind.

Position Announcement - Biochemist
Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at Hampton University invites applications and nominations for a teaching position, starting in the fall, 2012. The Department offers three baccalaureate degree tracks: the traditional B.S. in Chemistry; a B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in Forensic Chemistry; and a B.S. in Biochemistry. The successful candidate's assignments will be primarily in the Biochemistry track. All three tracks are certified by the American Chemical Society. The Department also offers a terminal master's in chemistry. The successful candidate will be expected to hold the Ph.D. in Biochemistry. A cohesive research agenda will be expected. Appointment will be made at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on experience and record of accomplishments.

A transcript of doctoral work is required. Other desirable qualifications include a history of external funding, and a publication record. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The position is available starting with the fall semester, 2012. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The application package should include information pertinent to the stated qualifications; a personal statement on teaching and research; and three letters of reference. These materials should be sent to Dr. Isai T. Urasa, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668. Inquiries about the position may be made electronically at isai.urasa@hamptonu.edu. However, the application materials must be sent in hard copy.

Hampton University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

Doctoral Tracking Record

The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing an educational environment that allows students to acquire essential knowledge and skills for future careers in research, education, industry, and health-related professions. In support of this committment, the Department continues to track student success in degree completion after graduation. Here is the current tracking information.