State University of New York at Geneseo
ER-16: Faculty Engaged in Sustainability Research

McGarrah, James (Chemistry) I am interested in studying materials that are relevent to solar energy capture and to electroluminescence; more simply put solar cells and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). In my group students synthesize compounds, study their physical properties (absorption, fluorescence, electrochemistry and structural properties) and test for applicability to solar cells and OLEDs. Peterson, Jeffrey (Chemistry) Research in the Peterson group is focused in the areas of materials chemistry and nanoscience and centers on two main goals: (1) the synthesis of novel semiconductor nanostructures and (2) the development of a full understanding of their optical and electronic properties through various spectroscopic techniques. The group has a special interest in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), inorganic particles 10,000x smaller than the width of a human hair that possess unique optical properties and that have applications in renewable energy and biological imaging. As an example of the group’s central research theme, one current project synthesizes lead selenide QDs of various shapes and sizes and then investigates how shape impacts QD’s optical properties using absorption spectroscopy. Isidro Bosch in Biology will very likely receive funding from the Livingston County Planning Department shortly to continue his Conesus Lake Monitoring research--this year he and his students will be examining prevalence of the invasive zebra mussel in the lake. Jim Kernan in Geography has recently submitted a proposal to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support a project that will decrease and monitor invasive plant and insect (ash borer) species and replant mixed hardwood trees in two large tracts of land in Livingston County. He has been working on monitoring ash borer infestation of ash trees for a while now. Steve Padalino from the Physics department is the project director for a recently won RF SUNY Sustainability Fund grant of $7,500 to help support the costs of the wind turbines for the planned eGarden.