Lori Zaikowski

Professor of Chemistry, Chemistry/Physics Department Chair

Dowling College

Chemistry and Physics Department

Contact Information:
150 Idle Hour Boulevard
Oakdale, NY 11769
(631) 244-3180
zaikowskium@gmail.com

Education
Stony Brook University	B.S.	1986	Biological Sciences
Stony Brook University	M.S.	1991	Chemistry
Stony Brook University	Ph.D.	1996	Chemistry

Positions & Employment
2008 - present	Professor, Dowling College
2000 - 2008	Associate Professor, Dowling College
1996 - 2000	Assistant Professor, Dowling College
1992 - 1996	Instructor, Dowling College
1987 - 1991	Grades 5-12 Science/Math Teacher, Schools in Sachem S.D., Copiague S.D., and Guatemala

Research Interests

1. Electron Transfer Research at BNL: The two major areas are “Energetics of Electron Transfer” and “Molecular Wires”

a. Energetics of Electron Transfer and Charge Separation
Energetics of charge separation are examined as a function of solvent polarity and electrolyte concentration utilizing UV/vis spectroscopy and electrochemical conductivity. We study a variety of quinone-metallocene redox pairs in acetonitile and THF with and without electrolyte. We quantify “ion pair charge transfer complex” formation by measuring conductivity and comparing to spectroscopic data. Equilibrium constants and Gibbs Free Energies are calculated from absorptions and extinction coefficients using Beer’s Law. These values and redox potentials are compared as a function of solvent polarity, solute concentration, and electrolyte concentration. Future work will extend this to non-polar solvents, to new quinone-metallocene pairs, and to analyses with the Laser Electron Accelerator Facility. The overarching goal is to establish a mathematical relationship that enables chemists to determine redox potentials as a function of solvent polarity, because redox potentials are typically reported in polar solvents. New organic materials that could have application to solar energy storage, for example, would be in a non-polar environment. Therefore, knowledge of redox potentials in non- polar solvents is essential to developing new organic materials with high energy storage and transfer capabilities.

b. Molecular Wires
Electron transfer and delocalization of electrons in oligofluorene molecular wires are examined by UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy and semiempirical calculations. We determine how many electrons can be captured by a series of oligofluorenes in the presence of sodium or NaK, and quantify the relative amounts of anion to dianion to trianion to tetraanion by conducting titrations with strong electron acceptors. We use pulsed radiolysis at the Laser Electron Accelerator facility to provide a verification of anion identity and its extinction coefficient. We perform semiempirical calculations to get theoretical electronic spectra, energies, geometries, and HOMO/LUMO orbitals. We also examine fluorescence spectra of each oligofluorene. Future explorations could include similar studies on other polymers.

2. Chemistry in Action Research Program: Projects primarily examine water quality on tributaries of the South Shore Estuary, and quantify sediment contamination at stations on three South Shore Estuary tributaries. This fundamental research has the goal of leading to actions for practical land use improvements that may be implemented by governmental agencies in order to enhance water quality and the maritime economy. Collaboration with Uniondale High School extended the program to include natural products projects that involve extraction, purification, and identification of compounds with bioactivity: anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, allelopathy, etc. Natural products from terrestrial and marine plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms are studied. Other students examined cryptobiotic soil in the Pine Barrens and are developing a method for soil stabilization. Natural products projects are amenable to undergraduate and high school student researchers, and offer many opportunities for integrating biological applications, such as using chemical structure to elucidate evolutionary relationships, identification of new herbal medicinals and natural pesticides.

Publications

Zaikowski, L. and Friedrich, J.M. (Eds.) (2008) Chemical Evolution across Space and Time: From the Big Bang to Prebiotic Chemistry. American Chemical Society Books #981. New York: Oxford University Press.

Zaikowski, L., Seidel, S.R., and Friedrich, J.M. (2008). “Spectroscopy and the cosmos: Applications in the chemical sciences”. In Zaikowski, L. and Friedrich J.M. (Eds.) Chemical Evolution across Space and Time. (pp. 339-352). New York: Oxford University Press.

Zaikowski, L., McDonnell, K.T., Rockwell, R.F., and Rispoli, F. (2008). “Spatial and temporal variations in water quality in South Shore Estuary tributaries: Carmans, Patchogue, and Swan Rivers”. Estuaries and Coasts 31(1):85-100.

Zaikowski, L., Wilkens, R.T., and Fisher, K. (2008). “Science and the concept of evolution: From the Big Bang to origins and evolution of life”. Evolution Education and Outreach 1(1):65-73.

Zaikowski, L. and Lichtman, P. (2007). “Environmental research puts science into action”. The Science Teacher, 74(4):47-51.

Zaikowski, L., Lichtman, P., Quarless, D. (2007). “Scientific discovery for all: Keys to developing and sustaining a successful research program”. The Science Teacher, 74(3), 28-33.

Grants Awarded (past 7 yrs.)

NSF Robert Noyce Supplemental Funding for Master Teaching Fellows

Faculty and Student Teams (FaST) Research Fellowship funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) -  Research on Moleculear Wires

American Chemical Society Project SEED - Dowling College approved as an ACS Project SEED Institution

Symposia and books on Chemical Evolution I and II

Faculty and Student Teams (FaST) Research Fellowship funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) -  Research on Effects of Polarity on Charge Separation

Department of Energy funding for Dowling Noyce Scholar Juan Alicea in SULI Internship program at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Co-op Internship Program through Dowling College

NSF Supplemental funding for Dowling Noyce Scholars Juan Alicea and Paul Guzzardo to Conduct Research and Develop Educational Modules in the Pre-Service Teacher Program and the SULI Internship Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory

NSF Supplemental Funding for Dowling Noyce Scholar Paul Guzzardo to Conduct Research and Develop Educational Modules in the Pre-Service Teacher Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Noyce Scholarship Program for Future Math and Science Teachers in High Need Schools

New AA and GC/MS instruments for teaching and research funded by Dowling College through science department budgets and LRPDC Research and Travel Funds pooled over two years among science faculty

Idle Hour Flyfisher’s Association Fellowship - Secured annual donation to support one student per year on a Research Fellowship to work in the Chemistry in Action research program

Research Mentoring

Over 30 Undergraduate students in chemistry and estuarine research resulting in numerous presentations at national and local meetings and to governmental entities, and peer-reviewed publications.

Institution/Departmental Committee Memberships

Chair of the Chemistry and Physics Dept since 1995
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Faculty Development and Curriculum Committee since inception
Established/oversee Early College Program in Chemistry
Founder/Director of Chemistry in Action Research Program

Professional Memberships

American Chemical Society
AAAS
NY Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Biological Sciences
National Science Teachers Association

Honors and Awards

-Elected to Board of Directors of American Chemical Society New York Section (2009 term)
-Appointed to NSF Project Advisory Board (Chemistry representative) for development of NSF-funded website on "Understanding Science" at U.C. Berkeley. (2006-present)
-Appointed Member of American Institute of Biological Sciences Education Committee (2004-present)
-Research Hero Award for mentorship of minority research students at Uniondale H.S. (2004)
-Honored by South Country School District Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum for mentorship of Bellport H.S. research students. (2001)

Collaborators

John Miller, BNL
Jon Friedrich, Fordham University
S.R. Seidel, Dowling College
Paul Lichtman, Uniondale HS

Synergistic Activities or Collaborations

National Council for Science and the Environment Encyclopedia of Earth: Topic Editor for Environmental Chemistry (2006-present)
Appointed Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, American Chemical Society New York Section (2008-present)
American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education National Conference Programming:  Symposium Organizer (2006-08)

Existing Institution Research Laboratory or Research Center

Chemistry Research Laboratory - an undergraduate research laboratory
Installation to begin in January 2009, expected completion date of August 2009
Funding Agency - Dowling College
Role of Professor Zaikowski - Plans: equipment and facility, Budget: estimates, requests, purchase orders, Execution: oversee installation

BNL Experiences

Year 1 - Dates: 6/5/06 through 8/11/06

Mentor - John R. Miller

Departments - Chemistry

Project Name - Energetics of Charge Separation

Description - Reduction reactions of quinones with metallocenes and oligofluorene reductions with sodium.

Number of participants - 5

Year 2 - Dates: 6/4/07 through 8/24/07

Mentor - John R. Miller

Departments - Chemistry

Project Name - Electron Transfer in Oligofluorene Molecular Wires

Description - Reduction reactions of oligofluorenes with sodium under vacuum

Number of participants - 5

Year 3 - Dates: 7/1/08 through 8/29/08

Mentor - John R. Miller

Departments - Chemistry

Project Name - Titrations of Reduced Oligofluorenes with strong electron acceptors

Description - Performed to ascertain the number of electrons captured by each oligofluorene

Number of participants - 1

Personal Comments

I have always been a proponent of integrating research with teaching, and the FaST experience has provided me with new research topics to integrate into my teaching. Being a participant in the research enables me to speak about it to my classes with more enthusiasm and knowledge. I have learned quite a bit about electron transfer reactions in the process, and have become well-versed in several techniques that were new to me. I also was reminded that there are plenty of good research questions that can be tackled with equipment accessible to undergraduates and undergraduate courses.

One of the highlights of the FaST program is participating in the collaborative research environment, and the FaST faculty and students are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with BNL scientists who are such excellent collaborators and mentors. Everyone I have met at BNL has been very helpful to us in all respects, despite the fact that undergrads and HS students can be "high maintenance". However, the undergrads and HS students were able to accomplish a remarkable amount of good research in the BNL programs.

For more information about the Faculty and Student Team program, contact:

Noel Blackburn
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Building 438, PO Box 5000
Upton, New York 11973-5000
(631) 344-2890
(631) 344-5832 fax