2nd Floor, Room 234
2500 W North Ave
Baltimore, MD 21216
Dr. Fred Nesbitt is a dedicated scholar, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in physical and computational chemistry.
Dr. Nesbitt received his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from West Virginia University. He has conducted extensive research at Brookhaven National Laboratory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research contributions have been significant in the fields of combustion chemistry, stratospheric chemistry, and planetary chemistry.
As an expert in Raman spectroscopy, Dr. Nesbitt has conducted advanced research utilizing the Thermo Fisher DXR Smart Raman spectrometer with a 780 nm laser. His work focuses on the detection and analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly PFHpA and PFOA, in various matrices. He has employed gold and silver nanoparticles as SERS substrates to enhance Raman signal detection in these studies. Additionally, Dr. Nesbitt has investigated the Raman spectra of PFHpA in solid, liquid, and solution states, integrating experimental data with computational modeling using Spartan 24 and Gaussian 16.
Professor Nesbitt has taught and mentored students at Coppin State University for 34 years. He has instructed numerous undergraduate courses, including general chemistry, quantitative analysis, instrumentation, physical chemistry, introduction to research, graduate courses computational chemistry, and advanced instrumentation. In 2002, he received the American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Region E. Emmet Reid Award in recognition of his excellence in teaching.
In his role as the Polymer and Material Sciences (PMS) Program Coordinator, Dr. Nesbitt has played a pivotal role in guiding students through the program. He actively supports students in securing internships and employment opportunities by fostering collaborations with industry leaders such as Early Charm, Pixelligent, Under Armour, DAP, Sft-brands, Pall Corporation, and Merck Pharmaceutical Company. His commitment to student success is further demonstrated through his efforts to organize workshops and mentorship initiatives.
Dr. Nesbitt's academic contributions also extend to curriculum development. He is currently designing a 15-week lab course for CHEM 290, Computational Chemistry, incorporating Spartan 24 and Gaussian 16 software to enhance students' computational skills.
Dr. Nesbitt's dedication to academic excellence, student mentorship, and innovative research continues to make a significant impact in the fields of chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Sunil Yadav, Shaichi Sen Jenny, Asif Ahmed, Lawrence Amdi, Fred Nesbitt, Aisha Ward, William Ghann, Destiny Brown, Jamal Uddin, Md. Faruque Hossain, Md. Nizam Uddin, Natural Light-harvesting Sensitizer for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell, Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3, 94-99, 2015.
William Ghann, Hyeonggon Kang, Tajbik Sheikh, Sunil Yadav, Tulio Chavez-Gil, Fred Nesbitt, Jamal Uddin, Fabrication, Optimization and Characterization of Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell, Scientific Reports, 2016.
William Ghann, Hyeonggon Kang, Edward Emerson, Jiyoung Oh, Tulio Chavez-Gil , Fred Nesbitt, Richard Williams, Jamal Uddin; Photophysical properties of near-IR cyanine dyes and their application as photosensitizers in dye sensitized solar cells; Inorganica Chimica Acta, 467 (2017) 123–131.
William Ghan, Hany Sobhi, Hyeonggon Kang, Tulio Chavez-Gil, Fred Nesbit,
Jamal Uddin; Synthesis and Characterization of Free and Copper (II) Complex of N,N′-Bis(Salicylidene)Ethylenediamine for Application in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 2017, 5, 46-66.
William Ghann, Tulio Chavez-Gil, Carentxa I. Goede, Hyeonggon Kang, Shamsuddin Khan, Hany Sobhi1, Fred Nesbitt, Jamal Uddin Photophysical, Electrochemical and Photovoltaic Properties of Porphyrin-Based Dye Sensitized Solar Cell; Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry, 2017, 7, 148-172.
William Ghann, Hyeonggon Kang, Tajbik Sheikh, Sunil Yadav, Tulio Chavez- Gil, Fred Nesbitt, Jamal Uddin; Fabrication, optimization and characterization of Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell; Nature Scientific Reports, pp1-12, 2017 DOI: 10.1038/srep41470.
Coordinator for the undergraduate chemistry program
Coordinator for the graduate chemistry program
EDUCATION
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry – May 1982
Dissertation: Kinetic Studies of the Methylidyne Radical
M.S. Chemistry – May 1978
Thesis: Kinetic Study of Flue Gas Desulfurization by Limestone.
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
B.A. Chemistry – May 1972
American Chemical Society
BKX Honor Society
CURRENT RESEARCH
Current interests include application of computational chemistry to dye synthenized compounds for solar cells such as, cyanine, porphorins and their metal complexes. Application of computation chemistry to medicinal compounds such as avigan for influenza and ebola and spiroindolone for control of malaria. Application of computational chemistry to polymer and advanced materials design and development.
Application of computational chemistry to PFAS compounds to understand their structure and chemical properties. Application of Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS) spectroscopy to measure PFAS compound at very low concentrations in water.
In 2002, Dr. Nesbitt received the American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Region E. Emmet Reid Award in recognition of his excellence in teaching.
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