Events Calendar

Quinones-Fernandez, Marshall University - Department seminar

When Reactions Slow Down: Mechanistic Insight from Controlled and Confined Chemistry 

Leah Dotson, PhD 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
University of Maryland 

Many chemical reactions of fundamental interest proceed through pathways that are difficult to observe directly because they are either transient, weakly bound, or intrinsically slow. In such cases, kinetics themselves can serve as a powerful probe of mechanism—provided the reaction environment can be sufficiently controlled. In this talk, I will describe two complementary research efforts from our group that leverage confinement, reduced collision rates, and high-resolution spectroscopy to uncover mechanistic detail in slow chemical processes. 

First, I will discuss our work on ion–molecule reactions that proceed through long-lived collision complexes, focusing on the challenge of distinguishing radiative association from three-body stabilization. Using our new glow-discharge ion trap instrument, we measure pressure-dependent reaction kinetics that allow us to decouple these competing pathways and extract mechanistic insight into ion–neutral association reactions under low-collision conditions. 

In the second part of the talk, I will describe recent results on nuclear-spin isomer conversion in molecular hydrogen confined within cryogenic crystalline hosts. By embedding H2 in ordered solids and probing it with infrared spectroscopy, we exploit lattice-induced perturbations to render H2 infrared-active and resolve ortho–para populations spectroscopically. Our measurements reveal that the symmetry of the host crystal field imposes selection rules on nuclear-spin conversion, leading to distinct, symmetry-controlled kinetic pathways. 

Together, these projects illustrate how slowing chemistry down—whether by reducing collision frequency or by confining molecules in structured environments—can expose mechanistic information that is otherwise hidden. More broadly, they demonstrate how modern spectroscopic tools enable quantitative insight into reaction dynamics at the edge of detectability.

A 1-day immersive experience focused on interactive lab activities in chemistry and STEM, mentorship, career pathways, and guided tour of college campus.
Students should use the STEM Outreach Interest Form provided; selected students will receive a short application.

This program supports Engage WVU's goal of endorsing STEM growth by: 

•  Increasing awareness of STEM fields among high school students across West Virginia.
•  Building confidence and interest in pursuing STEM majors in college. 
•  Offering mentorship and real-life context to encourage long-term STEM engagement. 
•  Planting seeds of curiosity and ambition in communities with limited access to STEM experiences. 

Students will leave with new knowledge, personal connections to STEM role models, and tangible resources to continue exploring STEM at home.  

This event is funded by the Engage WVU Giving Circle (https://wvuf.org/engage-wvu-giving-circle) and will be run by chemistry graduate students from the C. Eugene Bennett  Department of Chemistry with assistance from faculty.

Nikita Burrows, Monmouth University, NJ - Department seminar 

STEM Discovery Day is a half-day campus visit for high schoolers designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The event is scheduled for May 9 on the West Virginia University campus, Chemistry Research Lab (Clark Hall, Prospect Street, Morgantown, WV). Students will have the opportunity to participate in several interactive and engaging activities, including:

• A hands-on tie-dye activity while learning the chemistry behind tie-dyeing

• A demonstration featuring a robotic dog from WVU’s robotics department

• An informational session from the WVU Hub on financial aid and scholarship opportunities

• A guided tour of an active chemistry research laboratory

• A presentation from the Office of Undergraduate Research about the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for incoming WVU students

Additional details, including the exact event time and the application to participate, will be shared at a later date! Please fill out the STEM Discovery Day Interest Form if you are interested!

This outreach program is funded by the Engage WVU Giving Circle and will be run by chemistry graduate students with assistance from faculty.