people
|Faculty
|Joseph Grabowski
 |
Joseph Grabowski Department of Chemistry |
Research in the Grabowski group is directed towards defining and utilizing the fundamental dynamics of organic reaction mechanisms and the intrinsic properties of reactive intermediates. To overcome limitations imposed by conventional strategies, state-of-the art experimental techniques from other fields of science are employed in characterizing all aspects of how and why organic transformations occur (i.e., what goes on, quantitatively, behind the window shade). 
Emphasis is placed on conversion of specific observations and deductions to deriving unique solutions to outstanding problems. Current research efforts are equally divided between condensed-phase and gas-phase, each increasingly augmented by theoretical studies.
The focus of research in the condensed-phase is the utilization of pulsed laser photoacoustic calorimetry to determine the energetics and lifetimes of key species along reaction coordinates. Problems being uniquely solved include characterization of photodissociation processes, precise measurements of bond dissociation energies (the carbon-cobalt bond in Coenzyme B12; X-H bonds in organic molecules), the dynamics of reactive intermediates which lack chromophores (e.g., simple alkyl radicals), and heats of formation, heats of solvation and heats of reaction of carbenes, diradicals, and coordinatively unsaturated organometallics.
Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of organic reactions in the gas-phase are carried out using a custom-built tandem mass spectrometer. Several of the many on-going projects include: the ionic chemistry of Freons and the feasibility of charge-induced ozone recovery schemes; characterization of substitution reactions at non-carbon centers (e.g., as postulated to occur for certain carcinogens); the competitive nature of proton transfer reactions (and their use in deriving condensed phase data); the chemistry of radicals as probed via radical ions; the specific physical properties of carbenes and diradicals; and the design and evaluation of analytically useful chemical approaches for dioxin identification and protein sequencing reactions.
Additional collaborative research projects with faculty in this department, other University of Pittsburgh Departments, and with other Universities are also underway. These include the design, construction, characterization, and utilization of a new mass spectrometer dubbed the SWISS-484 (an ESI-based, quadrupole-octopole-quadrupole instrument). Another collaboration is focused on instrument design, construction, and utilization for the real-time characterization of aerosols in the work environment. A third collaboration is the development of a Virtual Mass Spectrometry Laboratory educational tool. Several other Chemical Education web-based projects are being developed, including a student self-assessment tool for Gen Chem and for Orgo, called PittLearn.
Awards
NSF Presidential Young Investigator, 1986-91; American Society for Mass Spectrometry "VG Instruments Research Award in Mass Spectrometry", 1986; Fellow of the AAAS, 1991; Director, Undergraduate Research, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh (2003-); Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award (Univ. of Pittsburgh), 2003; Carnegie Science Center Award for Excellence, 2003: University/Post-Secondardy Educator
Selected Publications
"Analysis of Tear Glucose Concentration with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry," Christopher R. Taormina, Justin T. Baca, David N. Finegold, Sanford A. Asher, and Joseph J. Grabowski, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 2007, 18, 332-336
"What is the Demand for Undergraduate Research? A Multi-year Study of the NSF REU Chemistry Applicant Pool," Devin M. Coon, Randolph S. Duran, David R. Haines, and Joseph J. Grabowski, J. Chem. Ed., 2007, under revision
"Mass Spectral Determination of Fasting Tear Glucose Concentrations in Non-Diabetic Subjects," Justin T. Baca, Christopher R. Taormina, Eleanor Feingold, David N. Finegold, Joseph J. Grabowski, and Sanford A. Asher, Clinical Chemistry, 2007, accepted for publication
"Active Learning Using the Virtual Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (Chapter 13)," Mark E. Bier and Joseph J. Grabowski, Symposium Series No. 970 Active Learning: Models from the Physical Sciences (Editor: Patricia Ann Mabrouk), 2007, 970, 171-187
"The Office of Experiential Learning: Supporting Faculty, Engaging Students," Margaret E. Heely and Joseph J. Grabowski, CUR Quarterly, 2006, 27, 74-79
"Projecting Computer Generated 3D Molecular Images in a Chemistry Lecture Hall," Joseph J. Grabowski, ConfChem, 2005, Winter, http://www.ched-ccce.org/confchem/2005/a/index.html
"Didehydro Radical Anions from Ketones via O•– Chemical Ionization," Mingxiang Lin and Joseph J. Grabowski, Int. J. Mass Spec., 2004, 237, 149-165
"Simple HTML Templates for Creating Science Oriented Jeopardy! Games for Active Learning," J.J. Grabowski and M.L. Price, J. Chem. Ed., 2003, 80, 967
"The Anionic Oxy-Cope Rearrangement: Using Chemical Reactivity to Reveal the Facile Isomerization of the Parent Substrates in the Gas Phase," S. M. Schulze, N. Santell, J. J. Grabowski, and J. K. Lee, J. Org. Chem., 2001, 66, 7247-7253
"Photoacoustic Calorimetry: An Advanced Undergraduate Physical-Organic Chemistry Laboratory," B. Fletcher, J.J. Grabowski, J. Chem. Ed., 2000, 77, 640