The Brasch Group

We are always looking for qualified, self-motivated people to join our group, be it as undergraduate researchers, PhD students, or postdocs. The availability of funding of course varies over time, so if you are interested, please contact me as early as possible so that we can explore different options.

Even if I don’t have any funded open positions at the time, there are various funding opportunities available, including for international students, that you could explore on your own or with my assistance. Please see the Scholarships Page. for details.

Extra Information for PhD Students

For those of you that are more “Bio” focused, our department not only offers PhD’s in Chemistry, but also in Biomedical Sciences. As part of this program, Kent State University also has a joint PhD program with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, which is conveniently located ~ 1 hr from Kent. Some of the PhD students in the Brasch Group are therefore part of the Biomedical Sciences KSU/CCF program, and are co-supervised and carry out research in the laboratory of our collaborator, Dr. Donald Jacobsen, Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Information concerning how to apply to the Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences PhD programs is available at http://dept.kent.edu/chemistry/ and http://www.kent.edu/biomedical/ and/or by contacting Dr. Brasch (nbrasch@kent.edu).

Extra Information for Kent State University Undergraduate Students

Would you like to put some of the material you learn in lectures and chemistry labs into practice? If yes, consider joining our lab for a research experience! Carrying out a research project in a laboratory is not only of benefit to students contemplating going to graduate school, but also can boost your Resume when it becomes time to apply for a job or apply to specialized degree programs such as Medical School. Students often find their classes become easier and make more sense after they become involved in undergraduate research. In addition, students learn valuable skills such as scientific writing and presentation skills (we have a weekly group meeting where research results and literature are presented and discussed in an informal, supportive environment), and may even obtain a research publication and/or present their results at a conference. To ensure that your research experience is productive, not intimidating, undergraduate students in our lab will initially be co-supervised by a senior graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The photo on this page shows undergraduate researcher Brenda Dougan presenting the results of her work in the Brasch Group at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in San Diego, CA in 2005. For more details check out Brenda Dougan’s report about her experience as an undergraduate researcher in the Brasch Group, or contact Dr Brasch at nbrasch@kent.edu.

Our department offers two undergraduate research courses. Students can carry out research in our lab and obtain credit towards their degree through the Department’s Individual Investigation (CHEM 40796) course. Students should ideally be in their sophomore or junior year, and must have at least a GPA of 2.5 in Chemistry. Students who plan to graduate with University Honors can also carry out research in our lab as part of the Department’s Senior Honors Thesis (CHEM 40099, HONR 40099). Please contact our departmental secretary Arla Dee McPherson (WMH room 208) and/or Dr. Brasch at nbrasch@kent.edu for further details on both these courses.