The field of chemistry is concerned with the structure of matter, its transformations, and the energy changes related to these transformations. The Department of Chemistry at the University of Southern Maine is comprised of active and engaged faculty who are committed to involving students in scientific research and has been a leader in providing students with meaningful research experiences early in the curriculum. Students studying chemistry at USM will gain an understanding of chemistry's place within the sciences and in today's industrial and business world. The Department of Chemistry provides students concentrating in this field with a thorough and practical education that will be useful in teaching or in industrial, technical, or graduate work. We offer a four-year program with three tracks leading to baccalaureate degrees:
  • B.A. in Chemistry
  • B.S. in Chemistry
  • B.S. in Biochemistry
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Submissions from 2020

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The role of chemoenzymatic synthesis in advancing trehalose analogues as tools for combatting bacterial pathogens, Karishma Kalera, Alicyn I. Stothard, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

Submissions from 2019

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Degradation-resistant trehalose analogues block utilization of trehalose by hypervirulent Clostridioides difficile, Noah D. Danielson, James Collins, Alicyn I. Stothard, Qing Qing Dong, Karishma Kalera, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, Brian J. DeBosch, Robert A. Britton, and Benjamin M. Swarts

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Chemoenzymatic radiosynthesis of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-trehalose ([18F]-2-FDTre): A PET radioprobe for in vivo tracing of trehalose metabolism, Santiago Peña-Zalbidea, Ashley Y-T Huang, Herbert W. Kavunja, Beatriz Salinas, Maunel Desco, Christopher Drake, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, Juan J. Vaquero, and Benjamin M. Swarts

Submissions from 2018

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Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Trehalosamine, an Aminoglycoside Antibiotic and Precursor to Mycobacterial Imaging Probes, Jessica M. Groenevelt, Lisa M. Mients, Alicyn I. Stothard, Anne W. Poston, Taylor J. Fiolek, David H. Finocchietti, Victoria M. Mulholland, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

Submissions from 2017

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Rapid One-step Enzymatic Synthesis and All-aqueous Purification of Trehalose Analogues, Lisa M. Mients, Anne W. Poston, Brent F. Piligian, Claire D. Olson, Katherine S. Badger, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

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Tailoring Trehalose for Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications, Mara K. O'Neill, Brent F. Piligian, Claire D. Olson, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

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The trehalose-specific transporter LpqY-SugABC is required for antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of trehalose analogues in Mycobacterium smegmatis, Jeffrey M. Wolber, Bailey L. Urbanek, Lisa M. Meints, Brent F. Piligian, Irene C. Lopez-Casillas, Kailey M. Zochowski, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

Submissions from 2014

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Flipping Crazy: The Large Lecture Flipped Classroom Model at the University of Southern Maine, Lucille Benedict Ph.D.

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Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Trehalose Analogues: Rapid Access to Chemical Probes for Investigating Mycobacteria, Bailey L. Urbanek, Douglas C. Wing, Krystal S. Haislop, Chelsey J. Hamel, Ranier Kalscheuer, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, and Benjamin M. Swarts

Submissions from 2013

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Exploring Transmedia: The Rip-Mix-Learn Classroom, Lucille A. Benedict PhD, David T. Champlin PhD, and Harry E. Pence

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The synthesis and unusual luminescence behavior of 1,1-dimethyl-2,5-di(2-naphthyl)-3,4-diphenylsilole, Katie A. Edwards, Kristopher M. Fecteau, Jaclyn M. Hopkins, Nicholas Benfaremo, James R. Ford PhD, Jerome L. Mullin, Caryn K. Prudenté PhD, and Henry J. Tracy

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Chromate reduction is expedited by bacteria engineered to produce the compatible solute trehalose, Tamlyn M. Frederick, Erin A. Taylor, Jennifer L. Willis, Matthew S. Shultz, and Peter J. Woodruff PhD

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Global Mercury and Selenium Concentrations in Skin From Free-Ranging Sperm Whales (Physeter Macrocephalus), Laura C. Savery, David C. Evers, Sandra S. Wise, Carolyne Falank, James Wise, Christy Gianios Jr., Iain Kerr, Roger Payne, W. Douglas Thompson, Christopher Perkins, Tongzhang Zheng, Cairong Zhu, Lucille Benedict PhD, and John Pierce Wise Sr.

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1,1-Dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole as a Molecular Rotor Probe to Investigate the Microviscosity of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids, Regina E. Scalise, Peter A. Caradonna, Henry J. Tracy PhD, Jerome L. Mullin, and Amy E. Keirstead

Submissions from 2012

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Teaching Chemistry Using Student-Created Videos and Photo Blogs Accessed with Smartphones and Two-Dimensional Barcodes, Lucille Benedict PhD and Harry E. Pence

Submissions from 2011

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Tolyl-Substituted Siloles: Synthesis, Substituent Effects, and Aggregation-Induced Emission, Trevor C. Bozeman, Katie A. Edwards, Kristopher M. Fecteau, Michael G. Verde Jr., Alex Blanchard, Danielle L. Woodall, Nicholas Benfaremo, James R. Ford, Jerome L. Mullin, Caryn K. Prudente Ph.D., and Henry J. Tracy

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A Global Assessment of Gold, Titanium, Strontium and Barium Pollution Using Sperm Whales (Physeter Macrocephalus) As an Indicator Species, John Pierce Wise Sr., W. Douglas Thompson, Sandra S. Wise, Carolyne LaCerte, James Wise, Christy Gianios Jr., Christopher Perkins, Tongzhang Zheng, Lucille Benedict PhD, Michael D. Mason, Roger Payne, and Iain Kerr

Submissions from 2010

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Synthesis and application of organomercury haptens for enzyme-linked immunoassay of inorganic and organic mercury, Caryn K. Prudenté PhD, Rebekah S. Sirois, and Shaun Cote

Submissions from 2009

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A Global Assessment of Chromium Pollution Using Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an Indicator Species, John Pierce Wise Sr, Roger Payne, Sandra S. Wise, Carolyne LaCerte, James Wise, Christy Gianios Jr., W. Douglas Thompson, Christopher Perkins, Tongzhang Zheng, Cairong Zhu, Lucille Benedict PhD, and Iain Kerr

Submissions from 2008

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A Model for Incorporating Research into the First-Year Chemistry Curriculum, James R. Ford PhD, Caryn K. Prudenté PhD, and Thomas A. Newton

Submissions from 2007

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Tunable energy transfer from d10 heterobimetallic dicyanide(I) donor ions to terbium(III) acceptor ions in luminescent Tb[AgxAu1−x(CN)2]3 (x = 0 → 1), Haiyan Lu, Renate Yson, James R. Ford PhD, Henry J. Tracy PhD, Alora B. Carrier, Aaron Keller, Jerome L. Mullin, Michelle J. Poissan, Samuel Sawan, and Howard H. Patterson

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Characteristics of Aggregation Induced Emission in 1,1-Dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl and 1,1,2,3,4,5-Hexaphenyl Siloles and Germoles, Jerome L. Mullin, Henry J. Tracy PhD, James R. Ford PhD, Scott R. Keenan, and Fred Fridman

Submissions from 2006

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A Research-Based Laboratory Course in Organic Chemistry, Thomas A. Newton, Henry J. Tracy PhD, and Caryn K. Prudenté PhD

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Combined application of δ13C and molecular ratios in sediment cores for PAH source apportionment in the New York/New Jersey harbor complex, Beizhan Yan, Teofilo A. Abrajano, Richard F. Bopp, Lucille A. Benedict PhD, Damon A. Chaky, Eric Perry, Jing Song, and Dennis P. Keane

Submissions from 2005

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Enhanced Photoluminescence from Group 14 Metalloles in Aggregated and Solid Solutions, Henry J. Tracy PhD, Jerome L. Mullin, Wim T. Klooster, James A. Martin, Judith Haug, Scott Wallace, Isaac Rudloe, and Kimberly Watts

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Molecular tracers of saturated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon inputs into Central Park Lake, New York City, Beizhan Yan, Teofilo A. Abrajano, Richard F. Bopp, Damon A. Chaky, Lucille A. Benedict PhD, and Steven N. Chillrud

Submissions from 2004

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The Characterization of an Organomercury Hapten and Bioconjugate using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Elizabeth A. Stemmler, Anthony B. Costa, Caryn K. Prudenté PhD, and Margaret C. Hausman PhD

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Trehalose Is Required for Growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis, Peter J. Woodruff PhD, Brian L. Carlson, Bunpote Siridechadilok, Matthew R. Pratt, Ryan H. Senaratne, Joseph D. Mougous, Lee W. Riley, Spencer J. Williams, and Carolyn R. Bertozzi

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Levels and patterns of PAH distribution in sediments from New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex, Beizhan Yan, Lucille Benedict PhD, Damon A. Chaky, Richard F. Bopp, and Teofilo A. Abrajano

Submissions from 2003

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Organomercury Bioconjugate Synthesis and Characterization by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Caryn K. Prudenté PhD and Margaret C. Hausman PhD

Submissions from 2001

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Writing and Computing across the USM Chemistry Curriculum, Nancy R. Gordon, Thomas A. Newton, Gale Rhodes, John S. Ricci, Richard G. Stebbins, and Henry J. Tracy PhD

Submissions from 1999

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Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties of a Series of Group-14 Metalloles, Justin Ferman, Joseph P. Kakareka, Wim T. Klooster, Jerome L. Mullin, Joeph Quattrucci, John S. Ricci, Henry J. Tracy PhD, William J. Vining, and Scott Wallace

Submissions from 1998

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A One-Semester General, Organic, and Biochemistry Course Format Linked by a Molecular Model Project, Henry J. Tracy PhD

Submissions from 1995

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Chemistry Abounds: An Exciting Chemistry Demonstration Program for Elementary Schools, Henry J. Tracy PhD, Chris Collins, and Paul Langevin

Submissions from 1992

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Chemical modification of preceramic polymers: Their reactions with transition metal complexes and transition metal powders, Dietmar Seyferth, Heinrich Lang, Christine A. Sobon, Jutta Borm, Henry J. Tracy PhD, and Nathan Bryson

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Near‐Stoichiometric Silicon Carbide from an Economical Polysilane Precursor, Dietmar Seyferth, Timothy G. Wood, Henry J. Tracy PhD, and Jennifer L. Robison

Submissions from 1991

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Sequential Radical Cyclization/Intermolecular Carbonyl Addition Reactions Initiated by Samarium(II) Iodide, Gary A. Molander and Caryn K. Prudenté PhD

Submissions from 1989

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Intramolecular reductive coupling reactions promoted by samarium diiodide, Gary A. Molander and Caryn K. Prudenté PhD

Submissions from 1988

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Lanthanides in organic synthesis. 9. Samarium diiodide promoted intramolecular pinacolic coupling reactions, Gary A. Molander and Caryn K. Prudenté PhD

Submissions from 1987

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Stereocontrolled intramolecular ketone-olefin reductive coupling reactions promoted by samarium diiodide, Gary A. Molander and Caryn A. Prudenté PhD

Submissions from 1986

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Application of Raman and laser light scattering to the melt polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene. 1, Day Chyuan Lee, James R. Ford PhD, George Fytas, Benjamin Chu, and Gary L. Hagnauer

Submissions from 1985

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Laser light scattering characterization of molecular weight distribution of worm-like chains poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide) in concentrated sulfuric acid, Benjamin Chu, Chi Wu, and James R. Ford PhD

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Characterization of poly(1,4-phenyleneterephthalamide) in concentrated sulphuric acid. 2: Determination of molecular weight distributions, Benjamin Chu, Qicong Ying, Chi Wu, James R. Ford PhD, and Harbans S. Dhadal

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Sedimentation and light scattering studies of copolymer latexes, James R. Ford PhD, A. A. Morfesis, and R. L. Rowell

Submissions from 1984

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Laser light scattering characterization of polyethylene in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, Benjamin Chu, M. Onclin, and James R. Ford PhD

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Laser light scattering characterization of rod-like polymers in corrosive solvents: Kevlar in concentrated sulphuric acid, Benjamin Chu, Qicong Ying, Chi Wu, James R. Ford PhD, Harbans Dhadwal, Renyuan Qian, Jingsheng Bao, Jiyu Zhang, and Chaochou Xu

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Electron-transfer reactions and luminescent quantum yield of the triplet excited state of tetrakis[.mu.-diphosphito(2-)-p,p']diplatinate(II), William B. Heuer, Mark D. Totten, Gary S. Rodman, Eric J. Hebert, Henry J. Tracy PhD, and Jeffrey K. Nagle