Jason Bennett, Ph.D.

Jason Bennett, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry
[email protected]
814-898-6123
31 Hammermill
Mailing Address:
PENN STATE BEHREND
1 PRISCHAK BUILDING
ERIE PA 16563

Experience

  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, 2006-2008
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Associate Professor of Chemistry, July 2014 – Present
    Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA

Teaching 

Teaching Specialties

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Quantitative and Instrumental Analysis

Teaching Statement

Analytical chemistry is based on the notion that we cannot understand what we cannot measure. No matter what area of science an individual goes into, they will have to make reliable measurements and interpret data in order to fully understand their results. My teaching philosophy is based upon this tenet and I use it to motivate students to go beyond simple memorization and apply their newly found knowledge to every aspect of their science education. My teaching interests involve General Chemistry II (CHEM 112), Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 227), Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 440 & 441). Analytical Chemistry deals with learning how to make analytical measurements, and how our understanding of chemical behavior in a given sample affects these measurements. The Instrumental courses focus on giving students a solid foundation of instrument operation and attempts to remedy a student's "fragile black box" perception of scientific instruments and let them see what is inside an instrument and how different settings impact the analytical measurements. The experiments are designed to encourage a student to be independent and confident in the laboratory.

Research

Research Interests

My research expertise is in the broad area of electrochemistry, specifically electrocatalysts, sensors, and materials. My research involves two main projects. The first is the development of electrochemical sensors to study dissolved gases in biological and environmental media. For example, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) are three gases produced endogenously within the body know as gasotransmitters. These molecules serve several physiological functions and may be involved in several neurological diseases. Electrochemistry is ideal for monitoring these gases in real-time due to its potential for sensitivity, selectivity, and miniaturization. However, due to current material limitations, there is no way of selectively monitoring one gas in the presence of the other two. This is extremely problematic in ascertaining specific roles of each molecule and understanding how they interact with each other. We are currently investigating potential electrocatalytic materials that will selectively oxidize H2S over both NO and CO.

The second project utilizes a collaboration with Dr. Justik to utilize hypervalent iodine complexes in conjunction with electrochemistry to develop a senor capable of detecting various phenolic compounds. These compounds are important in several industrial processes and are environmentally hazardous. It is important to develop a method that would allow for continuous monitoring from industrial process to confirm that these hazardous chemicals do not enter the environment.

Funded Projects and Grants

  • Bennett, J. A. (Principal Investigator), Grant, "RUI: Advancing Electrodeposited Dicyano-ferriprotoporphyrin as an Electrocatalytic Material Capable of Selectively Oxidizing Hydrogen Sulfide Over Interfering Gasotransmitters," National Science Foundation. $243,462. Funded: July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2016.
  • Boyer, E. W. (Principal Investigator), Bennett, J. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Naber, M. D. (Co-Principal Investigator), Grant, "Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in the Great Lakes Region of Pennsylvania," COP: PA Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. $304,636.00. Funded: July 20, 2012 - September 30, 2013.
  • Bennett, J. A. (Principal Investigator), Grant, "Fundamental Investigation of Electrocatalytic Materials to Promote the Preferential Oxidation of H2S over Interfering Gasotransmitters," Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Corporations. $35,000.00. Funded: July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013.
  • Bennett, J. A. (Principal Investigator), Grant, "Teaching & Learning with Technology Campus Innovation Grant," Penn State University Education Technology Services, Penn State. Total awarded: $2,000.00. (submitted: June 2012, funded: 2012).
  • Boyer, E. W. (Principal Investigator), Bennett, J. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Naber, M. D. (Co-Principal Investigator), Grant, "Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in the Great Lakes Region of Pennsylvania," COP: PA Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. $152,318.00. Funded: June 15, 2011 - September 30, 2011.
  • Improving Sensor Selectivity Using Electrocatalysts. Bennett, J.A. (principal investigator). Research Incentive Grant Program for Early Career Faculty, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. $2500. November 2008.

Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons. My main interest is to use this principle to develop a sensor capable of detecting hydrogen sulfide, a gaseous molecule produced in the body in very small quantities that is directly related to cardiovascular and central nervous system health. Additional projects in my group involve using electrochemical methods in order to better understand various reactions that involve electron transfer.

Spectroscopic and Electrocatalytic Studies on the Reaction of NOx with Human Serum Albumin-Heme Complex, Current Topics in Biochemical Research - September, 2021
Collaborators: Mary Grace Galinato, Co-Author; Ashley Lombardo, Student Author; Emily Luteran, Student Author; Robert Fogle III, Student Author; Kevin Kang, Student Author; Gary Fye, Student Author; Amanda Dynoske, Student Author

Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy and First Principles Calculations of Ferriprotoporphyrin Adsorption and Polymerization, Langmuir - August, 2018
Collaborators: Daniel Miller, Co-Author; Scott Simpson, Co-Author; Eva Zurek, Co-Author; Marcela Rodriguez, Student Author

Complete Coating of Underlying Pt Electrodes by Electrochemical Reduction of Graphene Oxide , Electrochimica Acta - 2016
Collaborators: Issaka Agbere, Student Author; Matthew Moesta, Student Author

Electronic Structure of Iron Porphyrin Adsorbed to the Pt(111) Surface, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C - November, 2016
Collaborators: Daniel Miller, Primary Author; James Hooper, Co-Author; Scott Simpson, Co-Author; Paulo Costa, Co-Author; Nina Tymińska, Co-Author; Shannon McDonnell, Student Author; Axel Enders, Co-Author; Eva Zurek, Co-Author

Electrochemical Reduction of 3-Phenyl-1,2-benzisoxazole 2-oxide on Boron-Doped Diamond, Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry - 2014
Collaborators: Martin Kociolek, Co-Author; Jerry Casbohm, Student Author

Metal Substitution of Electropolymerized Ferriprotoporphyrin: A Simple Electrode-Modification Process for Developing Electrocatalytic Materials, ECS Electrochemistry Letters - July 16, 2013
Collaborators: Karissa Sterling, Student Author; James Pander III, Student Author

Exploring Dicyano-ferriprotoporphyrin as a Novel Electrocatalytic Material for Selective H2S Gasotransmitter Detection, Electrochimica Acta - January, 2013
Collaborators: Christopher Wheeler, Student Author; Karissa Sterling, Student Author; Andrea Chiodo, Student Author

Cyanide-Coordinated Fe(III) Meso-Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) Porphyrin as a Possible Electrocatalytic Material for Selective H2S Oxidation, Journal of the Electrochemical Society - February 29, 2012
Collaborators: Marc Neiswonger, Student Author; Christopher Wheeler, Student Author; James Pander III, Student Author; Stephanie McKinney, Student Author

Cyanide-Treated Fe(III) Porphyrins as an Electrocatalytic Material for Selective H2S Oxidation, ECS Transactions - 2011
Collaborators: Marc Neiswonger, Student Author; James Pander III, Student Author; Stephanie McKinney, Student Author; Christopher Wheeler, Student Author

Investigating the Viability of Electrodeposited Vanadium Pentoxide as a Suitable Electrode Material for In Vivo Amperometric Hydrogen Sulfide Detection, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry - February 23, 2011
Collaborators: James Pander III, Student Author; Marc Neiswonger, Student Author

Investigating the Nucleation and Growth of Electrodeposited Pt on Polycrystalline Diamond Electrodes, Journal of the Electrochemical Society - 2010
Collaborator: G Swain, Co-Author

Conductive diamond as an advanced electrocatalyst support material, Electrode Processes VII - 2005
Collaborators: Y. Show, Co-Author; J Wang, Co-Author; G. Swain, Co-Author

Pulsed galvanostatic deposition of Pt particles on microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond thin-film electrodes I: Characterization of as-deposited metal/diamond surfaces , Journal of the Electrochemical Society - 2005
Collaborators: Y Show, Secondary Author; S Wang, Secondary Author; G Swain, Co-Author

The effects of sp2-bonded nondiamond carbon impurity on the response of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond thin-film electrodes, Journal of the Electrochemical Society - 2004
Collaborators: J Wang, Co-Author; Y Show, Secondary Author; G Swain, Co-Author

Ph D, Chemistry, Michigan State University

BS, Chemistry, The State University of New York at Oswego

Chemistry, St. Bonaventure University