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Arpita Saha

Associate Professor

I am a synthetic Chemist and have over 20 years of experience in synthesizing metal complexes for a variety of applications in the areas of material science, medicinal chemistry, and environmental chemistry. One of the major areas concentrates on the synthesis of novel coordination polymers for potential applications in metal-based anti-cancer drugs, metal-DNA nanostructures, and high-density digital data storage devices. Another major area of investigation centers on aquatic ecosystem water quality monitoring and assessment with a core interest in designing novel magnetic nanomaterials and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for removing environmental contaminants such as heavy metal, industrial waste, unwanted pesticide, or drug residue in food or water supply.

I am passionate about undergraduate (UG) research, mentoring, science education, empowering women and underserved communities to diversify STEM fields. I have over a decade of experience in student-centered innovative teaching & learning practices that includes developing discovery-based Chemistry laboratory courses (such as Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, CURE), Open Educational Resources (OER) for General Chemistry courses for engineering majors and engaging in SoTL research (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) activities. I am passionate about student success in STEM and have extensively worked towards the self-efficacy, motivation, persistence, and academic advancement of UG students. Currently, at Simmons University I am working on developing Inquiry-based Learning modules for General and Quantitative Chemistry Labs.
 

Education

  • University of Florida (Inorganic Chemistry)
  • University of Gӧttingen, Germany (Organometallic Chemistry)
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India (Materials Science)
  • Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India (Bioinorganic Chemistry)
  • Presidency College, India (Chemistry)

What I Teach

  • General and Quantitative Chemistry
  • Research Method
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Independent Study with Thesis

Publications/Presentations

Book Chapter

Engaging Undergraduate Students in Authentic Research in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Course. Arpita Saha, Leah Williams, Engaged Student Learning: Essays on Best Practices in the University System of Georgia, Volume 3, 2021

Publication

  1. Thermo-catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and HDPE for improving the yield and quality of pyrolysis oil. Md Hafizur Rahman, Prakashbhai R. Bhoi, Arpita Saha, Vivek Patil, Sushil Adhikari, Energy 2021, 225, 120231
  2. Assessment of common anion and cation contaminants in surface waterbodies in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Arpita Saha, Jennifer O. Ahweyevu, Elizabeth M. Baker, David Penn II, Subhrajit Saha, Earth Systems and Environment 2022, 6, 617-630
  3. Di-μ-benzoato-di-μ-ethano­lato-tetra­kis­[μ3-5-(hy­dr­oxy­meth­yl)-2-methyl-4-(oxidometh­yl)pyridin-1-ium-3-olato]tetra­kis­[μ3-5-(hy­dr­oxy­meth­yl)-2-methyl-4-(oxidometh­yl)pyridin-3-olato]di-μ3-oxido-hepta­manganese(II,III) ethanol octa­solvate. Arpita Saha, Clifford W. Padgett, Pierre LeMagueres, Kiana Moncur, Glory Onajobi, IUCr data 2021, 6, x201643
  4. Synthesis, structural variation, and magnetic properties of two polynuclear Mn-based complexes derived from 4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol, Brooke Harris, Nicholas Shumate, Kiana Moncur, Glory Onajobi, Michael Reagan#, Clifford W. Padgett, Eric T. Drew, Z. John. Zhang, Arpita Saha, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2020, 121, 108226
  5. Synthesis and characterization of two new mixed-valent Mn6 complexes derived from a well-explored 2- hydroxymethyl pyridine along with the use of newly employed carboxylate ions. Michael Reagan#, Eric T. Drew, Z. John. Zhang, Clifford W. Padgett, Jeffery Orvis, Arpita Saha Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2018, 97, 139
  6. Removal of a Potentially Hazardous Chemical, Tetrakis (Hydroxymethyl) Phosphonium Chloride from Water Using Biochar as a Medium of Adsorption. Simpo Rose Ogwang Akech#, Olajumoke Harrison, Arpita Saha Environmental Technology & Innovation,2018, 12, 196
  7. Synthesis, characterization, computational study, and biological relevance of a family of isostructural, mononuclear Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) complexes containing pyridoxine, an essential ingredient of vitamin B6 enzyme. Caitlyn E. Stouder, Khairi J. Warren, Olivia F. Perdue, Amanda L. Stewart, Clifford W. Padgett, Allison J. Amonette , Arpita Saha Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2017, 464, 172
  8. Hexacoordinate Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts with pH-responsive N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and N-donor ligands for ROMP reactions in non-aqueous, aqueous and emulsion conditions. Shawna L. Balof, K. Owen Nix, Matthew S. Olliff, Sarah E. Roessler, Arpita Saha, Kevin B. Müller, Ulrich Behrens, Edward J. Valente and Hans-Jörg Schanz Beilstein J. Org. Chem., 2015, 11, 1960
  9. Having fun with your own molecular models. Arpita Saha, VIPEr (Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource) https://www.ionicviper.org/class-activity/having-fun-your-own-molecular-models, Web published July, 2014
  10. Five Slides About Magnetic Susceptibility. Sibrina Collins, Arpita Saha, Gerard Rowe, Kari Young, Lei Yang, Robert Holbrook VIPEr, Five-Slides About, https://www.ionicviper.org/five-slides-about/five-slides-about-magnetic-susceptibility, Web published July, 2014
  11. New Mixed-Valent Mn Clusters from the Use of N, N, N', N' –Tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine (edteH4): Mn3, Mn4, Mn6, and Mn10 Arpita Saha, Khalil A. Abboud, George Christou Inorg. Chem., 2011, 50, 12774
  12. Family of Double-Cubane Mn4Ln2 (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) and Mn4Y2 Complexes: A New Mn4Tb2 Single-Molecule Magnet. Arpita Saha, Mike Thompson, Khalil A. Abboud, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer, George Christou Inorg. Chem., 2011, 50, 10476

Presentation (Selected)

  1. Invited Research Talk: A. Saha, International Conference (Virtual) Emerging Areas in Science & Technology, Assam, India, June 2021
  2. Oral Presentation: “How the pandemic taught us to combat isolationism, re-define work-life balance, and restore professional productivity in the workplace”. A. Saha, L. Padgett, ACS National Meeting, August 2021
  3. “Developing a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) for Advanced Inorganic Chemistry laboratory at Georgia Southern University”. A. Saha, L. Williams, Virtual ACS National Meeting, April 2021
  4. “P2:iFREE – Building a Freshman Research Initiative Program at Georgia Southern University”. S. Landge, A. Saha, B. Koehler, E. Sargent, J. Lewis, K. Greer, N. Shank, Virtual ACS National Meeting, April 2021
  5. Oral Presentation: “Textbook transformation journey: From traditional to no-cost materials” B. S. Narendrapurapu, D. Ghosh, A. Saha, D. N. Cannon-Rech, L. Williams, at the SoTL Commons Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, February 2020
  6. Oral Presentation (Invited): “Women for Women: Supporting each other for sustainable carriers in STEM” A. Saha at American Center at Kolkata, India, January 2019
  7. Oral presentation: “Elimination of a potentially hazardous, flame retardant chemical consisting of an organophosphorus moiety from water using biochar as an adsorbent” A. Saha, et al. at the 255th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, March 2018
  8. Oral presentation: “Syntheses and characterizations of four new ploynuclear Mnx (x = 3, 4, 6, 7) clusters derived from 4, 5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol and 2- hydroxymethyl pyridine” A. Saha, et al. at the 70th SERMACS conference, Augusta, GA, USA, November 2018
  9. Oral presentation: “How to Create Your Own Molecular Model to Learn Various Structural Aspects of Coordination Compounds” A. Saha, STEM Teaching and Learning Conference, Savannah, GA, March 2017
  10. Oral Presentation (Invited): “Investigating Computational, Structural, Physiochemical and Biological Properties of a Family of Pyridoxine-Lanthanide Metal Complexes” A. Saha, et al. at the Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition (FAME), Tampa, FL, USA, April 2016
  11. Poster presentation: “Exploring medicinal applications of pyridoxine-lanthanides” A. Saha et al. at Gordon Research Conference, Andover, NH, June 2014
  12. Poster presentation: “Experimental and computational studies of polynuclear Mn single-molecule magnets containing alcohol based ligand” A. Saha, et al. at the 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, April 2013

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • American Chemical Society (2008-present)
  • Council of Undergraduate Research (2013-present)
  • Co-advisor of Chemistry Club at SVSU (2011-2012)
  • Ionic VIPEr (2014-present)
  • American Men and Women of Science (AMWS)(2019-present)

Awards/Grants/Fellowship

  1. Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award by the Board of Regents University System of Georgia (USG) in 2021
  2. Georgia Southern University (GSU) Academic Excellence Award in Instruction in 2020
  3. Jean Dreyfus Lectureship grant for Undergraduate Institution by Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation for an amount of $18,500; PI in 2019
  4. NSF-MRI grant “Acquisition of a Single-Crystal X-ray Diffractometer for Interdisciplinary Research and Enhanced Student Training Supporting Primarily Undergraduate Institutions in Georgia” (Award # 2215812) for an amount of $298,054: Co-PI (PI: Gary Guillet) in 2022
  5. HHMI-Inclusive Excellence3 Learning Community (HHMI-IE3LC) Grant for an amount of $30,000: Key Personnel (PI: Karelle Aiken) in 2021
  6. University System Georgia (USG) Chancellor's Learning Scholar Fellowship Award for an amount of $1500: Principal Investigator (PI) in 2020
  7. Faculty Development Funding by Center of Teaching Excellence, GSU on “Transforming an Existing Traditional Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory to Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE): SoTL Fellowship” for an amount of $1000: PI in 2020
  8. USG STEM IV Grant Award on “Faculty-Student Learning Communities to enhance academic mindset and undergraduate research opportunities for first-year students” for an amount of $150,000: Key Personnel (PI: Delana Gajdosik-Nivens) in 2019
  9. USG initiative, Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG) Grant Award on Textbook Transformation Grants, Round Fourteen for an amount $18,500; Co-PI (PI: Beulah Narendrapurapu) in 2019
  10. NSF-REU Award CollaborativE Multidisciplinary Investigations Through Undergraduate Research Experiences (CEMITURE) (Award amount $280,056; Mentor) (PI: Karelle Aiken) in 2019
  11. ACS Science Coaches Program organized by American Association of Chemistry Teachers & American Chemical Society in 2019
  12. ACS Certificate of Merit for outstanding first oral presentation by the division of Environmental Chemistry in 255th ACS national conference at New Orleans, LA in 2018
  13. NSF granted professional development workshop, VIPEr: Bioinorganic Applications of Coordination Chemistry at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 2014
  14. SVSU Research Award to support the research project entitled ‘Synthesis of 3d and 3d/4f Metal Clusters and their Supramolecular Arrangement in Light of Making Quantum Devices’ at SVSU, MI.
  15. Poster award winner at the FIMS conference “Synthesis, Structure and Magnetic Properties of Mn12 Complexes Incorporating the Anion of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine”, UF, Florida in 2008
  16. Graduate Student Council (GSC) Travel Grant (UF) for 239th ACS National Meeting in 2008
  17. Recognition for excellence in teaching, Department of Chemistry, UF, FL in 2007
  18. Prof. Kaushal Kishore Summer Research Fellowship, IISc Bangalore, India in 2003
  19. 'Merit-cum-Means' Scholarship, 2003-2004, IIT Kanpur, India in 2003
  20. T.S. Starling Scholarship, from Presidency College, India in 2001
  21. National Scholarship from the Govt. of India in 1999