Lisa J. Nogaj

Experience
As a physical chemist, I characterize the properties of materials and think about how to use them in new applications. I earned my PhD from the University of Rochester, where I studied how carbon nanotubes produce light. At Gannon, my research team is working to understand the prevalence and identity of nanoparticles in nearby Lake Erie. Our goal is to harvest these particles creatively and efficiently, so that they can be returned into a circular economy.

What I Love About Being a Chemist
I had a hard time choosing a major before college because I enjoyed many different subjects—I didn’t want to choose just one. One of the best surprises of my scientific career has been that I get to explore and develop interests across so many areas. Chemists leverage math to solve problems, read and write research papers, learn from the history of science, consider the economy, design figures and artwork for publications, travel to present at conferences, and more. But best of all, our work as chemists connects us as people because we can address issues that impact the health of our planet and fellow humans.

Fun Facts

I grew up in a small town outside of Buffalo, New York, which instilled a lifelong love of Bills football and “real” pizza and wings.
I met my husband, Gannon's STEM Center Director, in a college calculus class. We have two beautiful children and love being parents!
I am a huge music fan, am obsessed with organizing, and enjoy sharing my favorite chemistry jokes!

Awards-Grants

Selected Awards

2016 Gannon University MCHPS Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award
2013 Gannon University President's Technology Award
2013 American Chemical Society Erie Local Section Member of the Year

Selected Grants

2022 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Inclusive Excellence (IE3) Grant; Principal Investigator.
2021 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Inclusive Excellence (IE3) Learning Grant; Principal Investigator.
2020 Lake Erie Research Institute Hirtzel Foundation. Advanced Mass Spectrometry for Northwestern Pennsylvania; Member of Faculty Leadership Team.
2018 Nanoscale Informal STEM Education Program. Let's Do Chemistry!; Lead Coordinator.
2017 U.S. Department of Education Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. Gannon Advances in STEM Scholarship (GAINS); Member of Faculty Leadership Team.
2016 American Chemical Society, Leadership Development System. Leadership Development Course; co-PI with Erie Local Section ACS Executive Committee.
2015 National Science Foundation, ADVANCE Research Initiation Award.Optical Sensors Based on Carbon Nanotube Fluorescence; Principal Investigator.

Courses Taught

CHEM 111/112: General Chemistry I + Lab
CHEM 114/115: General Chemistry II + Lab
CHEM 331/332: Physical Chemistry I + Lab
CHEM 334/335: Physical Chemistry II + Lab
CHEM 380/381: Undergraduate Research in Chemistry

Educational History

2009 Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, University of Rochester
2006 M.S. in Chemistry, University of Rochester
2004 B.S. in Chemistry, SUNY College at Fredonia

Expertise

physical chemistry, nanomaterials, materials science, optical spectroscopy, chemical education, DEI in STEM

Professional Societies

American Chemical Society (2004-present)

Publications

Nogaj, L. J. Transforming Chemistry Curricula and Courses to Support Adult Learners. In Handbook of Research on Adult Learning in Higher Education; Okojie, M.; Boulder, T. C.; Lawrence, H.; Littell, W. N., Eds.; IGI Global, 2020; Chapter 16.

Nogaj, L. J. Animal Instincts: How to Become a Veterinarian. Private Colleges & Universities Magazine: Health and Medicine Edition, Carnegie Communications LLC, 2016, pp 18–19. (http://www.carnegiecomm.com/media/uploads/file/2016PCU/health_2016.pdf).

Nogaj, L. J.; Smyder, J. A.; Leach, K. E.; Tu, X.; Zheng, M.; Krauss, T. D. Bright Fraction of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes through Correlated Fluorescence and Topography Measurements, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6(14), 2816–2821. (DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b01032).

Cogan, N. M. B.; Bowerman, C. J.; Nogaj, L. J.; Nilsson, B. L.; Krauss, T. D. Selective Suspension of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes using beta-Sheet Polypeptides. J. Phys. Chem. C 2014, 118(11), 5935–5944.

Nogaj, L. J.; Huang, L.; Krauss, T. D. Semiconductor Carbon Nanotube Optics. In Handbook of Carbon Nano Materials; D'Souza, F., Kadish, K. M., Eds.; World Scientific Series on Carbon Nanoscience; World Scientific Publishing Co.: Hackensack, NJ, 2012; pp 245-286.

Lee, A. J.; Wang, X.; Carlson (Nogaj), L. J.; Smyder, J. A.; Loesch, B.; Tu, X.; Zheng, M.; Krauss, T. D. Bright Fluorescence from Individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Nano Lett. 2011, 11(4), 1636–1640.

Leach, K. E.; Pedrosa, H. N.; Carlson (Nogaj), L. J.; Krauss, T. D. Fluorescent Carbon Nanotubes in Cross-Linked Micelles. Chem. Mater. 2009, 21, 436–438.

Haggenmueller, R.; Rahatekar, S. S.; Fagan, J. A.; Chun, J.; Becker, M. L.; Naik, R. R.; Krauss, T.; Carlson (Nogaj), L.; Kadla, J. F.; Trulove, P. C.; Fox, D. F.; DeLong, H. C.; Fang, Z.; Kelley, S. O.; Gilman, J. W. Comparison of the Quality of Aqueous Dispersions of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Surfactants and Biomolecules. Langmuir 2008, 24(9), 5070–5078.

Carlson (Nogaj), L. J.; Krauss, T. D. Photophysics of Individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Acc. Chem. Res. 2008, 41(2), 235–243.

Carlson (Nogaj), L. J.; Maccagnano, S. E.; Zheng, M.; Silcox, J.; Krauss, T. D. Fluorescence Efficiency of Individual Carbon Nanotubes, Nano Lett. 2007, 7(12), 3698–3703.

Service

Service to the University (current appointments)

GU Associate Dean for School of Sciences
GU HHMI Inclusive Excellence 3 Program Director
GU McNair Scholars Faculty Steering Committee
GU Eclipse Committee
GU Retention Committee
GU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Committees (Curriculum, Safety, Student Engagement)

Service to the Profession

Awards Banquet Coordinator, Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society
Website Designer, Erie Local Section of the American Chemical Society (link)
Co-Coordinator, Erie Chapter of MATHCOUNTS (link)

Service to the Community

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum Kooky Spooky Science Demonstration Volunteer
NSF NISENet NanoDays and Let's Do Chemistry! Outreach Coordinator and Volunteer
Ongoing Chemistry Demonstrations and Presentations for Children and Community Groups

I enjoy doing science-themed outreach in our Erie community! Please feel welcome to contact me.