Department of Chemistry
Joanna Atkin
Department of Chemistry
Assistant Professor
Carribeth Bliem
Department of Chemistry
Teaching Assistant Professor
Anna Curtis
Department of Chemistry
Teaching Assistant Professor
Elizabeth Brunk
Department of Chemistry
Assistant Professor
Jillian L. Dempsey
Department of Chemistry
Associate Professor
Research in the Dempsey group aims to address challenges associated with developing efficient solar energy conversion processes. They are particularly interested in charge transfer processes associated with solar fuel production, including proton-coupled electron transfer reactions and electron transfer across interfaces. Dr. Dempsey’s research program bridges molecular and materials chemistry and relies heavily on methods of physical inorganic chemistry, including transient absorption spectroscopy and electrochemistry.
Dorothy Erie
Department of Chemistry
Professor
Leslie Hicks
Department of Chemistry
Associate Professor
https://chem.unc.edu/faculty/hicks-leslie/
The ability to exquisitely differentiate biological molecules dictating metabolism and its underlying biochemistry is a challenging and meaningful endeavor, as it underpins both fundamental biological research and applied bioengineering. With an interest in extending biological frontiers using advanced technologies, the Hicks lab aims to establish methods, methodologies, and concepts to set the foundation for clever, practical, and meaningful applications of mass spectrometry in addressing and answering important biological questions.
Abigail Knight
Department of Chemistry
Assistant Professor
https://www.abigailsknight.com/
Dr. Knight returned to the UNC Chemistry Department in the summer of 2018 – she completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with minors in Mathematics and Biology as a UNC undergraduate, and she completed an undergraduate research in Prof. Marcey Waters’ research group developing new ligands for RNA and DNA structures. After graduating from UNC, Dr. Knight pursued a PhD in the chemical biology program at the University of California, Berkeley in the lab of Prof. Matthew Francis. Her PhD research focused on the development of a platform applying combinatorial libraries for the identification of selective metal ligands to address major challenges in water and environmental remediation and metal poisoning. During her postdoctoral position with Prof. Craig Hawker at the University of California, Santa Barbara, she designed smart nanomaterials with unique architectures and both biological and materials applications. These pursuits provided expertise in materials characterization, supporting the Knight Research Group’s mission to design synthetic nanomaterials that rival the binding capabilities of proteins.
The selective binding ability of proteins is currently unparalleled by synthetic nanomaterials, yet nanomaterials are comparatively unrestrained in chemical diversity and thus offer numerous advantages. Dr. Knight’s research team aims to design novel macromolecular materials with unrestrained chemical diversity and fine-tuned binding profiles inspired by biological systems.
Bo Li
Department of Chemistry
Associate Professor
Nancy Thompson
Department of Chemistry
Professor
Marcey Waters
Department of Chemistry
Glen H. Elder, Jr., Distinguished Professor
Former WOWS Scholar
https://chem.unc.edu/faculty/waters-marcey/
Dr. Waters is passionate about science, education, nature, animals, and her kids.
Danielle Zurcher
Department of Chemistry
Teaching Assistant Professor
Her current interests lie in curriculum development for large introductory courses. She is committed to finding and implementing effective teaching methods that promote student engagement and develop their critical thinking skills.
