St. Bonaventure chemistry professor Alexander Rupprecht awarded $205,000 NSF grant

St. Bonaventure University has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for $205,241 that will engage chemistry faculty and students over a three-year period beginning Sept. 1.

The project, titled “RUI: Development of pi-Conjugated Carboxylic Acids For Use in Self-Assembling Materials,” is under the direction of Dr. Alexander “A.J.” Rupprecht, assistant professor of Chemistry.

“This project will study how unique molecules can spontaneously arrange themselves into single molecule thick layers on surfaces, known as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). By understanding how these layers form and behave, we can create new materials with improved properties, leading to advancements in future technologies,” Rupprecht said.

“This NSF RUI award is a national and discipline-wide recognition of Dr. Rupprecht’s outstanding work on conjugated self-assembling structures, which is both groundbreaking and highly relevant in many materials applications,” said Dr. David Hilmey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at St. Bonaventure. “The university is excited to see his work funded, the resulting applications, and the outstanding experiential learning opportunities for our students while working on such novel research.”

Rupprecht’s work has the potential to transform molecular assemblies to be more controllable, rigid and even conductive, Hilmey explained.

“This research and commitment to teaching fits perfectly with an already outstanding record within the Chemistry Department and we are thrilled for Dr. Rupprecht, his collaborators and students,” Hilmey said.

The award provides for St. Bonaventure student researchers during both the academic year and the summers through 2027.

“This is an incredible opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to research, particularly during the summer,” Rupprecht said.

The project will dramatically increase the number and scope of research opportunities at SBU. Presently, only assistantships in theoretical/computational research are available. This award will expand the possible opportunities to include synthetic organic chemistry and catalysis, materials chemistry, and spectroscopy.

Rupprecht is an expert in experimental surface chemistry, electrochemistry, organic synthesis, and surface-initiated polymerizations. His doctoral work focused on developing highly active catalysis of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and addition (ATRA) reactions, surfaced initiated polymerizations, and novel surface modifications for corrosion resistance and biomedical applications.

The research in undergraduate institutions awards from the NSF aim to support high-quality research by faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions; strengthen the research environment in academic departments that are primarily oriented toward undergraduate instruction; and promote the integration of research and education of undergraduate students.  

______________

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).