Michael Nichols
Associate Professor
Background
Dr. Nichols joined the Chemistry Department in 1994. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Duke University, working with Edward Arnett. He moved to Brown University as a post-doctoral associate in Paul Williard’s laboratory, followed by serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Kansas State and Ohio
Universities.
Dr. Nichols' research interests are currently focused on the elucidation of unusual organic reaction mechanisms and the development of undergraduate spectroscopic experiments. He has served as a research advisor to 5 M.S. and mentor to over 70 undergraduate research students.
He has been involved in many service activities, including collaborating with several environmental organizations and cities on water chemistry-related projects, helped establish the Euclid Creek Volunteer Water Monitoring Program, has mentored over 30 middle and high school students with their science fair projects, is a past JCU representative on the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) Board, helped with the JCU Chemistry Department's Chemistry for Kids Summer Program, served as a co-leader of Spring Break Immersion experiences in Mt. Vernon, KY, Bethlehem Farms, WV. He has provided many reports and commentaries to governmental agencies, local cities, newspapers, TV stations and Popular Science.
He has been recognized as an outstanding mentor by Beaumont High School in 2005, was named “Educator of the Year” by the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District in 2007, received the Lucrezia Culicchia Award for Teaching Excellence in the JCU College of Arts and Sciences in 2011, and was named a “Memorable Educator” in Ohio Magazine in 2011.
Dr. Nichols has served as Chair of the Chemistry Department, on the University Core Committee and Director of the Exploring the Natural World requirement, a member and secretary of Faculty Council, Chair of the Committee on Academic Policies, a member of the University Assessment Committee and has participated in several faculty learning communities.
Areas of Expertise
- Physical Organic Chemistry
Research Interests
Current: Development of Undergraduate Laboratory Experiments involving Spectroscopy and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry; Preparation and Characterization of a Unique Paramagnetic Copper Complex; Studies of Unusual "Rearrangements" and Deuterium Exchange in Organic Reactions; Past: Solution and Solid-State Structural and Thermodynamic Studies of Organolithium and Organoalkali compounds; Use of GC-MS and Chemometrics to Characterize Colognes and Perfumes; Use of GC-MS to Study Lipid Peroxidation Products; Various Environmental Water Chemistry Research Projects Involving Determining the Effectiveness of Constructed Wetlands to Remediate Urban Run-off and Determining the Source of Nutrients in an Urban Watershed.Education
B.S., Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 1986; Ph.D., Duke University, 1990; Post Doctoral Associate, Brown University, 1990-1992; Visiting Assistant Professor, Kansas State University, 1992-1993; Visiting Assistant Professor, Ohio University, 1993-1994.Courses Taught
Most Recent: Organic Chemistry I and II Lecture and Laboratory; General, Organic, and Biochemistry (GOB) Nursing Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory; Instrumental Analysis Lecture and Laboratory; Analytical Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory. Past Courses: General Chemistry Lecture; Honors General Chemistry Lecture; Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry Lecture; Advanced Spectroscopy; Environmental Chemistry.Publications
Michael A. Nichols and Mark J. Waner, “Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies of the Deuterium Exchange in Classical Keto-Enol Tautomeric Equilibrium Reactions,” Journal of Chemical Education 2010, 87(9), 952-55.
Michael A. Nichols, Christina M. Leposa*, Allen D. Hunter, Matthias Zeller, “Crystal Structures of Hexameric and Dimeric Complexes of Lithioisobutyrophenone”, Journal of Chemical Crystallography, 2007, 37(12), 825-829.
Michael A. Nichols, Rachel M. Sobinsky*, Allen D. Hunter, Matthias Zeller, “Crystal Structure of an n-Butyllithium · 1,2-Dipiperidinoethane Dimer Complex”, Journal of Chemical Crystallography 2007, 37(6), 433-438.
Delia Waldmuller, Barbara J. Kotsatos*, Michael A. Nichols, and Paul G. Williard, “Synthesis of [15N,15N’]-N,N,N’,N’-TMEDA and Its Use in Solvation Studies of [6Li]-n-Butyllithium,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 1997, 119, 5479-5480.
