Benjamin Knurr, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

508-767-7381 Testa Science Center - Room 210

Degrees Earned

Ph.D., University of Colorado, Chemical Physics, 2014
B.A., Macalester College, Chemistry, 2009

Undergraduate Courses Taught

Chemical Fundamentals for Health Sciences – CHE 102
General Chemistry I − CHE 131
General Chemistry II − CHE 132
Physical Chemistry I − CHE 311
Physical Chemistry II − CHE 312

Publications & Editorships

Morley S.E., Knurr B.J., Probing the Role of the Solvation Shell for the Iodine{Starch Complex Using Millifluidic Devices”, J. Sol. Chem. 2021, 50, p. 833-850

Knurr B.J., Hauri J.F., An Alternative to Recycling: Measurement of Combustion Enthalpies of Plastics via Bomb Calorimetry”, J. Chem. Ed. 2020, 97, p. 1465 – 1469

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Structures of [CoO(CO2)n]− and [NiO(CO2)n]− Clusters studied by Infrared Spectroscopy”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2015, 119, p. 843 – 850

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Structural Diversity of Copper-CO2 complexes ? Infrared Spectra and structures of [Cu(CO2)n]− Clusters”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2014, 118, p. 10246- 10251

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Interaction of Nickel with Carbon Dioxide in [Ni(CO2)n]− Clusters Stud- ied by Infrared Spectroscopy”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2014, 118, p. 8753-8757

Christopher C.R., Lee S.Y., Gwandu F.B., Matsumoto A.J., Knurr B.J., Mahle, T.K., Morrow Z.W., Varberg T.D., “Rotational and Hyperfine Analysis of the E-2 Pi(1/2)-X-2 Delta(3/2) electronic Transition of TaO”, J. Mol. Spec. 2014, 301, p. 25-27

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Infrared Spectra and Structures of Anionic Complexes of Cobalt with Carbon Dioxide Ligands”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2014, 118, p. 4056-4062

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Solvent-Mediated Reduction of Carbon Dioxide in Anionic Complexes with Silver Atoms”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, p. 10764-10771

Knurr B.J., McCoy A.B., Weber J.M., “Vibrationally Induced Charge Transfer in a Bimolecular Model Complex in vacuo”, J. Chem. Phys. 2013, 138, p. 224301

Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Solvent-Driven Reductive Activation of Carbon Dioxide by Gold Anions”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, p. 18804-18808

Knurr B.J., Adams C.L., Weber J.M., “Infrared Spectroscopy of Hydrated Naphthalene Cluster Anions”, J. Chem. Phys. 2012, 137, p. 104303

Adams C.L., Knurr B.J., Weber J.M., “Photoelectron Spectroscopy of 1-Nitropropane and 1- Nitrobutane Anions”, J. Chem. Phys. 2012, 136, p. 064307

Butler E.K., Knurr B.J., Manke K.J., Vervroot T.R., Varberg T.D., \Excited Electronic States of AuF”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 114, p. 4831-4834

Knurr B.J., Butler E.K., Varberg T.D., “Electronic Spectrum of AuF: Hyperfine Structure of the [17.7]1 State”, J. Phys. Chem. A 2009, 113, p. 13428-13435

Presentations

Connecting Bomb Calorimetry to Environmental Issues: Two Applied Bomb Calorimetry Experiments,” (oral) ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, August 2021Z

Using Millifluidic Devices to Investigate the Role of the Solvent Environment for the Iodine-Starch Complex,” (poster) ACS National Meeting (virtual), San Antonio, TX, April 2021

Probing Solvent Effects on an Iodine Clock Reaction using Millifluidic Devices,” (poster) ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 2017

*\Investigating Chemical Reactions using Millifluidic Devices,” (poster) Assumption College Undergraduate Symposium, Worcester, MA, April 2017

“Unraveling the Binding Motifs of CO2 in [Co(CO2)n]−, [CoO(CO2)n]− and [Cu(CO2)n]− Clusters,” (poster) Gordon Research Conference Molecular and Ionic Clusters, Barga, Italy, April 2014 

“Probing Solvation Effects on CO2 Reduction in Metal CO2 Anionic Clusters,” (oral – invited) Gordon Research Seminar Molecular and Ionic Clusters, Barga, Italy, April 2014 

“IR Spectroscopy of [Ag·(CO2)n]− Clusters: Reduction of CO2 Mediated by Solvent Interactions,” (oral) The Ohio State International Symposium on Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 2013 

“Infrared Spectra of [Ag·(CO2)n]−: Implications for Reductive Activation of CO2,” (poster) Gordon Research Conference Molecular Interactions, Galveston, TX, February 2013 

“Reductive Activation of CO2 Mediated by Solvent Interactions in [Au(CO2)n]− and [Ag(CO2)n]− Clusters,” (poster) JILA 50 Year Anniversary Celebration, Boulder, CO, June 2012 

“IR Spectroscopy of Au−·(CO2)n Clusters: Strong Cluster Size Dependence of Metal – Ligand Interaction,” (oral) The Ohio State International Symposium on Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 2012 

“IR Spectroscopy of Au−·(CO2)n Clusters: Strong Cluster Size Dependence of Metal – Ligand Interaction,” (poster) Molecular and Ionic Clusters Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, CA, January 2012 

“Vibrationally Induced Charge Transfer Reaction In CH3NO−2 ·CH3I Clusters,” (oral) The Ohio State International Symposium on Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 2011

Grants and Awards

Gillman Award for Outstanding TA Leadership, 2010-2011

Graduate Teaching Excellence Award 2010

Graduate Teaching Excellence Award 2009