Where We Are
Williams Hall - home of the Brasch Research Group on the KSU main campus in Kent, OH.
The Brasch group resides on the second floor of Williams Hall in the Department of Chemistry of Kent State University’s main campus in Kent, OH. Our mailing address is:
Nicola E. Brasch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
231 Williams Hall
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001
Fax: (+1) 330 672-3816
Phone: (+1) 330 672-9524
Email: nbrasch@kent.edu
For a campus map please click here. Williams Hall is on the south side of the main KSU campus right on E. Summit Street at the intersection where Risman Drive turns into W Campus Center Drive. For directions to our labs in the building please take our Virtual Tour.
The Pufferbelly restaurant in the historic Kent railway station.
Right: Cafes in historic downtown Kent, OH.
If you consider working in our group, you would probably like to know a little more about the area before you come here. Kent - ‘the original tree city USA’ - is located in North East Ohio just east of Akron metropolitan area and about 45min south of Cleveland. Kent has a population of 35,000 and is a typical college town, in which life is dominated by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Kent State University. Historic Downtown Kent boast a number of nice cafes and pubs. There is also plenty of very reasonably priced student housing available - some of which in charming historic buildings.
There is also plenty of very reasonably priced student housing available in Kent, OH - some of which in charming historic buildings.
North East Ohio is in the heartland of the United States of America and has the population to support facilities, clubs and the like that allow you to pursue any imaginable type of hobby. To give just one example, Cleveland is the home of a world-class symphonic orchestra, and their summer home, the Blossom Music Center, is located only about 30min from Kent. Blossom Music Center is one of the United States’ premier amphitheaters, which seats 6,500 people and provides space for another 13,500 on the lawn. The venue has hosted many of the biggest names in popular and classical music, including Leonard Bernstein, Itzhak Perlman, Dave Matthews Band, Journey, and Pearl Jam.
The crowd on the lawn at Blossom Music Center enjoying the traditional mass-picnic at the July 4th concert 2005 for which nearly everybody is dressed in red, white, and blue.
Other Cleveland Highlights include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, a number of fun parks, sports teams of national renown, and so on. I would encourage you to check out for example Cleveland.com and Positively Cleveland for details.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds over the Cleveland Skyline, including Rock&Roll Hall of Fame (left) and Browns Stadium (right) on Labor Day Weekend 2009.
Cleveland gone ‘yuppie’ in some of the old industrial areas.
Lots of people out in their boats on Lake Erie near Cleveland, OH on Labor Day Weekend 2009.
Left: Winter view from the Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Considering the population density of North East Ohio, it comes as a surprise for many how much nature is still close by that is either unspoiled or has been restored to pristine condition to remedy the pollution-sins of previous generations. Kent itself has a range of very scenic parks, but the highlight in the area has to be Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which covers 33,000 acres of land along the winding Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland. Only about 30min away from Kent, here you can choose between countless hikes through the dense forest and along creeks, rivers, and lakes, and since few people ever stray off the beaten path, it is not difficult to find peace and solitude here. Our photo demonstrates that while North East Ohio has hot summers and usually a beautiful spring and fall season, you should expect winters with excellent skiing opportunities!
In addition, the whole area south of Kent and Akron has maintained a very rural atmosphere, and is home to the largest Amish community in the USA. For details see eg. Ohio Parks Amish Country or Ohio’s Amish Country. A virtual must-see is the cattle auction in Kidron, which during the summer months takes place on every Thursday. In my opinion a visit is well worth it, and if it is only to sample the wonderful cheeses and smoked meats, as well as the delicious ice cream - one of the Amish’s few indulgences!
Kidron Cattle Auction in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country.
Last but not least, for those with sporting ambitions Kent State University boasts a state of the art Student Recreation and Wellness Center with a 35-foot climbing wall, leisure and fitness pools, an indoor track, a gymnastics area and aerobics studios.
Overall, I trust that you will find Kent to be a very pleasant place to live in!