Sally S. Hunnicutt
 |
Associate professor
|
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~sshunnic
Education
B.S., Duke University
M.S., University of Utah
Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Research interests
Our research focuses on applications of the chemometric analysis tool alternating least squares. This is a collaborative project with Sarah Rutan's research group. Currently, we are studying two problems: 1) to characterization of binary solutions of water and a small organic solvent such as methanol using the fluorescent probe molecule Prodan and 2) kinetic analysis of the cis-trans isomerization kinetics of disubstituted phenylazo dyes under a variety of conditions. The Prodan project may contribute to the molecular understanding of liquid chromatography. Azo dyes, specifically their cis-trans reaction, have a variety of applications including, for example, chemical switches. Much of the research on both projects has been carried out by area high school chemistry teachers participating in VCU's Research Experience for Teachers program.
We are also interested in chemical education research. We are working with faculty and teaching assistants to introduce active and cooperative learning tools into chemistry classes. For the next five years, we have a $1.85 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, titled "Project PRISM: Producing Results in Science and Mathematics, to improve student learning in gateway level math, chemistry, and biology courses." In addition, we are developing a new liberal arts curriculum for prospective elementary school teachers through another U.S. Department of Education grant.
Publications
- Carol A. Holden, Sally S. Hunnicutt*, Raymundo Sánchez-Ponce, John M. Craig And Sarah C. Rutan "Study of Complexation in Methanol/Water Mixtures by Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy and Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least-Squares Analysis" Applied Spectroscopy, May 2003.
