Personnel

Section Contents
Sandra Rosenthal

Sandra J. Rosenthal

Jack and Pamela Egan Professor of Chemistry
Department Chair, Chemistry
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Professor of Physics
Professor of Pharmacology
7819 Stevenson Center
615-322-2633
Email
Website

Overview

In the Rosenthal group we study semiconductor nanocrystals, a novel material whose optical properties and electronic structure can be precisely tuned by controlling the size or composition of the nanocrystal. We perform fundamental optical studies for example: femtosecond florescence upconversion spectroscopy and single nanocrystal spectroscopy. We have developed a method to correlate the photophysics of a nanocrystal with the atomic structure of the exact same nanocrystal.  We are exploiting the properties of nanocrystals for implementation as biological probes for membrane proteins involved in neuronal signaling with the goal of developing quantitate diagnostics and precision therapeutics for mental illness.

Awards

• Herty Medal of the American Chemical Society, Georgia Section, 2018
• VINSE Distinguished Service Award, 2016
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Valparaiso University Alumni Association, 2015
• SEC Faculty Achievement Award, 2014
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011
• Inaugural Jack & Pamela Egan Chair of Chemistry, 2011
• VINSE High Impact Paper Award, 2010, 2012, 2014
• Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2009
• Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, 2006
• Distinguished Faculty Award, 2004
• Madison-Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2004
• NSF CAREER Award, 1999
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1993

Selected Publications

Quantum Dot Fluorescent Imaging: Using Atomic Structure Correlation Studies to Improve Photophysical Properties. Torres R, Thal LB, McBride JR, Cohen BE, Rosenthal SJ, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 128, 3632-3640, (2024) View Abstract

I'm a Quantum Dot Chemist Now!. Rosenthal SJ, World Scientific, , , (2023) View Abstract

Synthesis, surface chemistry, and fluorescent properties of InP quantum dots. Click SM, Rosenthal SJ, Chemistry of Materials, 35, 822-836, (2023) View Abstract

Membrane nanoscopic organization of D2L dopamine receptor probed by quantum dot tracking. Kovtun O, Torres R, Bellocchio LG, Rosenthal SJ, Membranes, 11, 578, (2021) View Abstract

Seasonal effects on bipolar disorder: a closer look. Rosenthal SJ, Josephs T, Kovtun O, McCarty R, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 115, 119-219, (2020) View Abstract

Education

NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, U.C. Berkeley & Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1993-1995

Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1993

B.S. with Honors, Chemistry, Valparaiso University, 1987