Morgan Murphy Email & Phone Number

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md, Us

Completed projects utilizing photochemical methods to synthesize nanothreads, leveraging orbital selection rules to guide the solid-state synthesis, enhancing product selectivity, and enabling insights into new structures and mechanisms.Developed projects centered upon lowering reported nanothread reaction pressures using heat, which enabled large-scale syntheses using a Paris-Edinburgh (PE) press and/or multi-anvil press in collaboration with scientists at Carnegie Institution for Science.Designed strategies to incorporate new and diverse functionalities into nanothread backbones, including eclipsed heteroatoms that collaborators theorized may enable mechanically robust and polarized nanothreads.Led experimental efforts to explore nanothread material properties, where I developed and implemented methods for exfoliation and processing carbon nanothread materials, enabling solution phase and thin film characterization. These advancements are facilitating a transition from nanothread chemistry exclusively as solid-state bulk materials to processable nanomaterials. Funded by a $150,000 SEED grant through NSFMRSEC, we collaborated with five research groups across Penn State and external research institutions.

Worked with over 830 students enrolled in General Chemistry I and II in addition to complementary laboratory courses at University Park (Main campus) and on the World Campus.Engaged with students and improved content comprehension, worked closely with student affairs and disability offices to ensure students completed course requirements, assisted faculty in redesigning assignments for better student engagement, and managed grading responsibilities.

Developed functionalization methods for gold nanoparticles and nanoshells with organic thiolate ligands to modify surface properties. Characterized particles for collaboration with experimental physicists to probe particle dynamics and surface plasmon resonance.

Synthesized amphiphilic glycidyl-carbamate prepolymers and glycidyl-carbamate epoxy coatings for anti-fouling coating applications. Conducted comprehensive characterization and coordinated with groups to evaluate marine anti-fouling capabilities and to learn anti-icing experimental measurements.

Chemistry

Chemistry Graduate Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Chemistry, Mathematics Minor

High School

Activities and Societies: UNFCCC Delegate and Swimming

Bachelor Of Arts, Chemistry And Minor In Mathematics

Ph.D., Chemistry