Ken Nicholson
Ken
Nicholson
Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Department Chair
Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
(773) 442-5691
Courses Taught
CHEM 319
CHEM 331
Research Interests
Environmental Chemistry & Surface Analytical Chemistry; My research interests lie in using scanning probe microscopy to investigate the environmental response characteristics of a class of red-light photoreceptors, specifically bacteriophytochromes. The SPM will be used to determine if there is a connection between the molecular structure of the photoreceptor and the magnitude of its fluorescence emission quantum yield. Both wild-type and engineered fluorescent mutants will be examined. I am also interested in identifying and quantifying petroleum based pollutants and additives in natural water systems, the transport of these pollutants from their source(s), and potential methods of remediation. This project involves field work, on-site analysis, and laboratory experiments, particularly chromatography.
Education

University of Michigan| PhD-Chemistry

Selected Publications

Sorenson, BA; Westcott, DJ; Sakols AC; Thomas, JS; Anderson, P; Stojkovic EA; Tsonchev, S; Nicholson, KT, “Domain Structure of a Unique Bacterial Red Light Photoreceptor as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy”, MRS Proceedings, Vol. 1652, 2014, DOI: 10.1557/opl.2014.259.

Marie E. Kroeger, Blaire A. Sorenson, J. Santoro Thomas, Emina A. Stojkovic, Stefan Tsonchev, and Kenneth T. Nicholson, “Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using Peak-Force Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping,” J. Vis. Exp., in press.

Ken Nicholson is the corresponding author and was invited to submit this publication by the editor at the Materials Research Society Fall National Meeting.

F. G. Tobias, A. Gawedzka, M. S. Goldmeier, A. C. Sakols, E. A. Stojkovic, S. Tsonchev, and K.T. Nicholson, “Scanning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red-Light Photoreceptors”, Online Proceedings of the Materials Research Society, 2012, Vol. 1465, DOI: 10.1557/opl.2012.1006.

White, M. L., Reggie, S., Naguib, N., Nicholson, K., Gilliland, J., Walters, A., “The Preparation of World-Class Single Crystal Silicon Carbide Wafers Using High Rate Chemical Mechanical Planarization Slurries”, Materials Research Science Forum Vols., 2009, 600-603, 839-842.

Nicholson, K. T., Minton, T. K., Sibener, S. J., “Spatially Anisotropic Etching of Graphite by Hyperthermal Atomic Oxygen ” J. Phys. Chem. B., 2005, 109, 8476. ()

Selected Exhibitions

Recent Presentations:

Ken Nicholson, “Domain Structure of a Unique Red-Light Photoreceptor as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy” NEIU Faculty Research and Creative Activities Symposium (November 2013)

Ken Nicholson, “Domain Structure of a Unique Red-Light Photoreceptor as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy” Materials Research Society Fall National Meeting (Boston, MA, December 2013)

Ken Nicholson, “Domain Structure of a Unique Red-Light Photoreceptor as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy” NEIU Faculty Research and Creative Activities Symposium (November 2013)

“Blaire A. Sorenson, Daniel J. Westcott, Sarah A. Vorpahl, Alexandra C. Sakols, Emina A. Stojkovic, Stefan Tsonchev, and Ken T. Nicholson, “Structural Conformations of a Red-Light Photoreceptor Using Atomic Force Microscopy”, NEIU  3nd Annual Faculty Research & Creative Activities Symposium, November 2012

Ken Nicholson, “Domain Structure of a Unique Red-Light Photoreceptor as Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy” Materials Research Society Fall National Meeting (Boston, MA, December 2013)

"Scanning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red-Light Photoreceptors" presented by K.T. Nicholson at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

"Structural Conformations of a Red-Light Photoreceptor Using Scanning Probe Microscopy", presented by K. T. Nicholson at the NEIU Faculty Research and Creative Activities Symposium, 2012, Chicago, IL.

BBH 218G
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

(773) 442-5691
Office Hours
By appointment
Main Campus