Research Areas and Mentors

Electron transfer reactions involving proteins are essential to the metabolism of all living organisms and are particularly important in phytosynthesis in plants and energy storage in animals. We are interested in understanding how the protein matrix, particularly hydrogen bond networks, modulates teh rates of electron transfer reactions. We are also exploiting protein conformational changes as a means of creating molecular switches that can turn electron flow on and off and ultimately be used as components of molecular electronics devices. Bruce Bowler

Protein expression and purification for biochemical and biophysical studies, in particular nuclear magnetkic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Protein structure, function and dynamics. Molecular mechanism of biological processes. Klara Briknarova

Focus on the effects of soy and phytoestrogenes on CVD, diabetes, and insulin resistance; diabetes prevention in Native Americans, nutritiona nd osteoporosis, and the role of nutrition for decreasing secondary conditions in people with physical disabilities. Blakley Brown

Our research is directed towards understanding the electronic structure, geometry, and dynamics of molecules of technological or fundamental interests. Ab initio or semi-empirical quantum mechanics and numerical approaches are developed to obtain desired results. Xi Chu

Development and application of chemical sensors for aquatic chemistry and carbon cycle research. Michael DeGrandpre

The Natale lab is interested in the role of chirality and conformational dynamics in bioactive small molecules. Specifically, the gorup has developed synthetic methodology which is applicable to the developmetn of Structure Activity Relationships (SAR) for a number of isoxazole containing drug candidates. Nick Natale

Chemical characterization of particulate matter to determine origin. Identification and monitoring of chemical markers of wood smoke exposure. Analytical methods development. Chris Palmer

Recovery and Separation of Valuable Metals from Acid Mine Drainage and Sediments. Ed Rosenberg

1. Using domestic honeybees to sample for environmental contaminants, to perform real-time environmental monitoring and to find compounds of military interest – landmines, hidden explosive caches, chemical agents, and biological agents. 2. Conversion of used cooking oil and virgin vegetable oil into biodiesel, followed by fermentation of byproduct glycerin to value-added chemicals to improve the economic viability of the process. 3. Analysis of particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) associated with wildland fires and urban mountain airsheds. 4. Mathematical modeling and environmental studies of emissions associated with the pulp and paper industry. 5. Analysis of septic effluents for surviving pharmaceutical agents and their metabolites. 6. Constructed wetlands using indigenous plants for nutrient reduction in municipal wastewater. Garon Smith

Research in the Ward lab involves studying the chemistry of air pollution, and how air pollution events, such as winter inversions and smoke from regional forest fires, impact respiratory health among the inhabitants of western Montana. Some of our latest research has dealt with determining the sources of PM2.5 in western Montana communities and developing the Air Toxics Under the Big Sky program in collaboration with western Montana high schools. The Ward lab has also recently begun to investigate the capacity of trees to serve as reservoirs for asbestos fibers. Tony Ward

Wildland fires emit large amounts of trace gases and aerosol and these emissions are believed to significantly influence the chemical composition of the atmosphere and the earth’s climate system. The wide variety of pollutants released by wildland fire include greenhouse gases, photochemically reactive compounds, and fine and coarse particulate matter (PM). Wildland fires influence climate both directly, through the emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols, and indirectly, via secondary effects on atmospheric chemistry (e.g., ozone formation) and aerosol and cloud microphysical properties and processes. Wildland fire emissions contribute to air pollution by increasing the atmospheric levels of pollutants that are detrimental to human health and ecosystems and degrade visibility, leading to hazardous or general nuisance conditions. The air quality impacts occur through the emission of primary pollutants (e.g., PM, CO, nirtogen oxides [NOx]) and the production of secondary pollutants (e.g., ozone and secondary organic aerosol [SOA]) when volatile organic compounds
(VOC) and NOx released by fires undergo photochemical processing. Air quality can be degraded through local, regional, and continental scale transport and transformation of fire emissions.
The air quality and climatic impact of fires depends on meteorology, fire plume dynamics, the amount and chemical composition of the emissions, and the atmosphere into which the emissions are dispersed. Fresh smoke from burning wildland fuel is a complex mixture of gases and aerosols. The amount and composition of fire emissions depends on a wide range of variables related to fuel characteristics (type, structure, loading, chemistry, moisture) and fire behavior.
Shawn Urbanski