Graduate Programs - USA
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
The Department of Chemistry of the University of Kentucky offers graduate studies in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Course offerings--including courses in basic radiochemistry, radiochemistry laboratory, nuclear chemistry, nuclear spectroscopy, and modern methods of radiation detection--are provided on a regular basis. Other special topics courses are presented as the demand dictates.

The primary emphasis in graduate study is on creative research. Various facilities at the University which contribute to independent learning and investigation include specially-designed wet radiochemistry laboratories, instrumentation/counting rooms, a sample preparation/clean room, and up-to- date computing facilities which include VAX and supercomputers. Among the major pieces of research equipment are a high-yield Kaman A-711 neutron generator with sample transfer system, isotopic neutron sources, various computer-based and portable radiation analysis systems, a variety of radiation detectors, and extensive supporting nuclear instrumentation. The nuclear chemistry group is a primary user of the University's recently upgraded 7.5-MV Van de Graaff accelerator and also uses facilities at other locations. The radiochemistry group makes frequent use of the high-flux nuclear reactor at the University of Missouri, as well as the Van de Graaff accelerator, and operates a new LAMMA-500 laser microprobe mass analyzer. Joint projects may be arranged with faculty in the areas of biology, medical sciences, physics, geology, and engineering.

Research in the radiochemistry group (William D. Ehmann, Ph.D., Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1957 and J. David Robertson, Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1986) is devoted to the development of innovative techniques for the determination of trace elements utilizing nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, and microprobe mass analyzers. These techniques include radiochemical and instrumental neutron activation analysis, PIXE, PIGE, and RBS and are applied to specific problems in the areas of geochemistry, human neurological diseases, surface analysis, semiconductor characterization, catalyst analysis, and supercomputer analysis.

The complex shape transition between deformed and spherical nuclei has been the subject of intense study by the nuclear chemistry group (Steven W. Yates, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1973). Inelastic scattering, heavy-ion reactions, gamma-ray emission spectroscopy, and neutron time-of-flight methods are extensively utilized to test our understanding of nuclear shapes.

Research and teaching assistantships are available.

For additional information about graduate studies in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, please contact:
Profs. Ehmann, Robertson, or Yates at:
Department of Chemistry
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0055
PHONE: (606) 257-4741
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