Department of Chemistry

Ronald L. Musselman

Ronald L. Musselman
Research Professor

Contact Information

Department of Chemistry
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CHE 205A
Tampa, FL 33620-5250

Office: (813) 974-4487, CHE 205
Email: rmusselm@cas.usf.edu

Education

B.S., California State University, Fresno, 1964
M.S., University of California, Davis, 1968
Ph.D, New Mexico State University, 1971

Research Areas

We use polarized specular reflectance UV/vis/IR spectroscopy and semi-empirical MO calculations and electronic state-transition modelling to study solid-state materials such as crystalline porphyrins, one-dimensional conductors and photovoltaic cell components. Specular reflectance means "mirror-like reflectance" and thus any very shiny, crystalline material with minimum dimension of at least 0.03 mm is a candidate for our instrument. The polarization aspect allows us to determine some specifics about electronic transitions, making transition assignments more reliable. In addition, our semi-empirical ZINDO calculations allow modelling of the transitions and orbitals to assign transitions with even more certainty. We also study solid-state effects of molecules, to study orbital perturbations and electron transfer in solids.

Experience

FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

1993 - Present, Professor of Chemistry
1985 - 1993, Associate Professor of Chemistry

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE, Elsah, Illinois

1983 - 1985, Professor of Chemistry
1976 - 1985, Chairman, Chemistry Department
1976 - 1983, Associate Professor of Chemistry
1971 - 1976, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
1965 - 1966, Instructor in Chemistry

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Palo Alto, California

1982, Visiting Scholar

ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY, Argonne, Illinois

1975, Faculty Research Participant

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, Baton Rouge

1973, Visiting Scholar