Assistant Professor of the Practice

Gina Chiarella
Gina M. Chiarella, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Education                      

  • Ph.D. Chemistry – State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2006
  • MS Chemistry – Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru,1984
  • BS Chemistry – Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 1980

Biography

Gina M. Chiarella achieved her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Stony Brook in the area of Inorganic – Bioinorganic Chemistry in 2006.Two weeks after graduation, she moved to Texas A&M University (College Station) as postdoctoral research associate at Dr. F. Albert Cotton’s group (2006 – 2008), working in the synthesis of metal paddlewheel guanidinates and Metal-Metal bonds compounds. Later, she joined Dr. John P. Fackler’s group at TAMU (2008 – 2012) working in the preparation of coinage coordination compounds and organometallics. Dr. Chiarella joined Prairie View A&M University on fall 2012 until now. She prepared: the Most Easily Ionized Molecules and Powerful Reducing Agents (JACS cover page journal), and the Shortest, Unsupported Cu(I)-Cu(I) Interaction.

Social media: Google scholar, Research gate, Linkedin, facebook

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=HKM5pWy2x0MC

Work History

  • Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas. Assistant Professor (September 2018-present)
  • Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas. Adjunct Assistant Professor (September 2012-May 2018)
  • College of Natural Science, Blinn College, Bryan, Texas (2011-2112)
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York. Teaching Assistant (2001-2002/2005-2006)
  • Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Lima, Peru. Associated Professor (1989-2001)
  • Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. Assistant Professor (1988- 1989)
  • School of Environmental Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Ancash “Santiago Antunez de Mayolo”, Huaraz, Peru. Full Professor (1986-1988)
  • Universidad Nacional de Educacion “Enrique Guzman y Valle”, Lima, Peru. Assistant Professor (1979-1984)

Awards and Honors

Department of Chemistry of the Stony Brook University, New York.

  • Chemistry Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research (2) (2005-2006)
  • Chemistry Award for Outstanding Service (2006)
  • Outstanding Advanced Teaching Assistant Award (2) (2004-2005)

Memberships

  • Active member of the American Chemical Society
  • New York Academy of Science
  • Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society

Teaching Interests

Teaching is a commitment extremely important in human development. Acquisition of knowledge is a main contribution to the success of a person in life. Education is a two-way road, where we impart knowledge to our students, and they assimilate and respond with feedback that makes us better teachers.
I believe each student has something unique to contribute to our society regardless of their background and educational strengths, especially in science areas.
A professor is one of the most influent models in student’s development.  Consequently, we teachers must raise our canons to achieve competence and eagerness combining teaching and experience to improve the level of education of our youth.

Courses Taught

CHEM 1106 General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 1203 General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1204 General Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1303 General Inorganic Chemistry I
CHEM 1304 General Inorganic Chemistry II
CHEM 1306 Introductory Chemistry I
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
CHEM 4306 Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 5361 Advance Inorganic Chemistry

Research

Current group members:

Miss Deja Toole (graduate student)
Miss Bre’ayshia Perry (graduate student)
Rukiyah Smith (undergraduate student – chemistry)
Miss Cyrai Young (undergraduate student – chemistry)
Miss Erin Lafleur (undergraduate student – biology)
Miss Mariah Williams (undergraduate student – chemistry)
Mr. Kenton Moore (undergraduate student – biology)

Research Projects

  • Preparation of metal complexes using mixed ligands. This project focuses on synthesizing metal complexes containing amino acids and other type of organic ligands, capable to mimic enzyme active sites. The intention is to prepare metal complexes resembling structure and function of biological molecules, as redox activity, optical, spectroscopic and luminescence properties. We hope to obtain alternative green compounds with catalytic activity to replace industrial catalysts that present polluting byproducts to the environment.
  • Capturing arsenic contaminants using iron complexes. Arsenic compounds interfere with essential chemical process in biological systems. Among others, promote oxidative stress, disrupt enzyme function, inhibit cellular respiration, affect hormonal and immune systems, damage DNA constituting a carcinogenic agent.These toxic effects are due to arsenic chemical and periodic properties. Taking advantage of the mentioned properties, we are capturing arsenic(V) compounds from different sources using iron complexes. We plan to apply these techniques to remediate environmental damage due to arsenic contamination.
  • Synthesis of metal complexes with modified Schiff bases. Schiff bases metal compounds are important due to their flexible chemical properties and diverse applications across fields such as medicinal chemistry, catalysis, material science, and environmental science. We are interested on studying the environmental and medical applications, the electronic and magnetic properties and the redox and catalytic activity of metal amino acid and metal complexes with thio-Schiff bases.

Journal Articles

  1. Joseph Reibenspies, Nadia Small, Nattamai Bhuvanesh, Gina Chiarella, Vivian Salazar, Bréayshia Pery, Rukiyah Smith, Deja Toole, Shamika Hewage, Harschica Fernando and Eric Reinheimer “Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (nitrato-κ2O,O′)(1,4,7,10-tetra­aza­cyclo­do­decane-κ4N)nickel(II) nitrate” Acta Crist. E. 2024, 80, 11, 1157-1160. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989024009496
  2. Coddy Cash; Hashini N. K. Herath, Harshica Fernando, Gina M. Chiarella, G.M.; Zhang, L.; Yang, L.; Hua-Jun Shawn Fan,. “Microwave-assisted synthesis of Bis-histidinato nickel (II) complex and its luminescence properties” International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES). 2023, 11, 53-60. https://www.ijres.org/papers/Volume-11/Issue-10/11105360.pdf
  3. Lei Wang, Lihong Zhang, Zehua Wen, Gina M. Chiarella, Hua-Jun Shawn Fan “The Role of DIX Domain Interactions in Downstream Regulation within WNT Signaling Pathway” International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES) 2023, 11, 328-335. https://www.ijres.org/papers/Volume-11/Issue-9/1109328335.pdf
  4. Gina M. Chiarella, Chao Feng, Carlos A. Murillo, and Qinliang Zhao. “Exploring the Intricacies of Weak Interactions in Metal−Metal Bonds, Using an Unsymmetrical Carbonyl Precursor and a Triple-Bonded W26+ Paddlewheel”. Inorganic Chemistry, 2016, 55, 9471−9481. https:// DOI: 1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01728
  5. Doris Y. Melgarejo, Gina M. Chiarella, John P. Fackler Jr “Cyclic Trinuclear Gold(I) Clusters with N,N and Unusual C,C Mixed- Ligand Bridges”. Inorganic Chemistry, 2016, 55, 11883−11889. https:// DOI: 1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01801
  6. Gina M.; Chiarella, Carlos A Murillo, Mark D.Young, “Soluble paramagnetic Ru6+2 paddlewheels with alkyl-​substituted bicyclic guanidinates”. Polyhedron, 2016. 103(Part_A), 15-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2015.07.031
  7. Lane, Andrew C.; Vollmer, Matthew V.; Laber, Charles H.; Melgarejo, Doris Y.; Chiarella, Gina M.; Fackler, John P. Jr.; Yang, Xinzheng; Baker, Gary A.; Walensky, Justin R.. “Multinuclear Copper(I) and Silver(I) Amidinate Complexes: Synthesis, Luminescence, and CS2 Insertion Reactivity”. Inorganic Chemistry 53(21), 11357-11366. DOI: 10.1021/ic501694d
  8. Gina M. Chiarella, Albert Cotton, Carlos A. Murillo, Karen Ventura, Dino Villagran and Wang, Xiaoping. “Manipulating Magnetism: Ru25+ Paddlewheels Devoid of Axial Interactions”. Journal of the American Chemical Society.  2014136, 9580-9589.DOI: 10.1021/ja5020647
  9. Gina M. Chiarella, F. Albert Cotton, Carlos A. Murillo, and Qinliang Zhao. “A Strong Metal-to-Metal Interaction in an Edge-Sharing Bioctahedral Compound that Leads to a Very Short Tungsten−Tungsten Double Bond”. Inorganic Chemistry. 53, 2288−2295. DOI: 10.1021/ic402992n
  10. Gina M. Chiarella, Albert Cotton, Jason C. Durivage, Dennis L. Lichtenberger and Carlos A. Murillo.. “Solubilizing the Most Easily Ionized Molecules and Generating Powerful Reducing Agents”. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013, 135, 17889−17896.DOI: 10.1021/ja408291k
  11. Gina M. Chiarella, F. Albert Cotton, Sergey A. Ibragimov, Carlos A. Murillo, Chad C. Wilkinson and Mark D. Young. “Syntheses of very soluble alkylated bicyclic guanidinate ligands and structural characterization of a dipalladium paddlewheel”. 2013, 58, 7-12.DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2012.06.002
  12. Gina M. Chiarella, Doris Y. Melgarejo and John P. Fackler, Jr. “Synthesis, characterization and properties of a novel cationic hexanuclear cyclic guanidinate copper(I) cluster of high solubility in non polar solvents”. Journal of Cluster Science. 23(3), 823-838. DOI: 10.1007/s10876-012-0498-3
  13. Gina M. Chiarella, F. Albert Cotton, Naresh S. Dalal, Carlos A. Murillo, Zhenxing Wang and Mark D. Young. 2012. “Direct Evidence from EPR for Additional Configurations in Uncommon Paddlewheel Re27+ Units Surrounded by an Unsymmetrical Bicyclic Guanidinate”. Inorganic Chemistry. 51, 5257-5263. DOI: 1021/ic300169f
  14. Gina M. Chiarella, F. Albert Cotton. Carlos A. Murillo. 2012. “Acetonitrile Activation Promoted by Divalent Nickel Species with Bicyclic Guanidinate Ligands: A Catalyzed Insertion”. Journal of Cluster Science. 23, 673–684.DOI: 1007/s10876-012-0455-1
  15. Doris Y. Melgarejo, Gina M. Chiarella, and John P. Fackler, Jr. 2011. “Novel Mixed Coordination of N and C Donors to Gold-Gold Centers”. Organometallics. 30, 5374–5380. DOI: 1021/om200556x

Conference Proceedings

  1. Rukiyah Smith, Breayshia Perry, Deja Toole, Gina.M. Chiarella “Using ferrihydrite to capture inorganic arsenic from subrogate fertilizers” 2024 Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society Waco, Texas October 20-23, 2024. https://swrm.org/program#b7b21f06-4bf5-4813-ab98-522dceb6d051
  2. Breayshia Perry, Rukiyah Smith, Deja Toole, Gina.M. Chiarella “Capturing inorganic arsenic fron fertilizers by using goethite as a metal complexation technique” 2024 Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society Waco, Texas October 20-23, 2024. https://swrm.org/program#b7b21f06-4bf5-4813-ab98-522dceb6d051
  3. Deja Toole, Gina M. Chiarella, Jessy Ndongou “Synthesis and primary characterization of Histidine-Salicylaldehyde metal complexes using microwave assisted technique” 2024 Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society Waco, Texas October 20-23, 2024. https://swrm.org/program#b7b21f06-4bf5-4813-ab98-522dceb6d051
  4. Gina M. Chiarella, Coddy Cash “Synthesis and crystal structure of the tetramer bis-L-histidine-bis-acetylacetonate di-Copper(II) complex, electrochemical behavior, and proposed reaction mechanism of formation” | Poster Board #188 https://acs.digitellinc.com/live/32/session/535213
  5. Gina M. Chiarella, Coddy Cash “Microwave preparation and effect of the pH on the electrochemical behavior, luminescence properties, and in the speed and mechanism of formation of bis-histidinato nickel(II)” | Poster Board #2004. https://acs.digitellinc.com/live/32/session/535278
  6. Gina M. Chiarella; Coddy Cash; Deja, Toole; Hashini N. Herath.” Copper(II) L-histidine complexes and their derivatives containing carbonyl groups, novel crystal structures, characterization, and electrochemical properties” Abstracts, Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Oklahoma City, OK, United States, November 15-18 (2023), SWRM-475. https://scifinder-n-cas-org.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/searchDetail/reference/672847842aeb724ded197515/referenceDetails
  7. Gina M. Chiarella, Doris Y. Melgarejo, John P. Fackler. Copper and silver guanidinate complexes with luminescence properties 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX, United States, March 16-20, 2014.  https://scifinder-n-cas-org.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/searchDetail/reference/672847af2aeb724ded1977d9/referenceDetails
  8. Doris Y. Melgarejo, Gina M. Chiarella, John P. Fackler. Augmented nuclearity in gold(I) arrays with disparate NN-​, CC-​donor bridges. 247th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Dallas, TX, United States, March 16-20, 2014 https://scifinder-n.cas.org/searchDetail/reference/6728482b2aeb724ded1980ab/referenceDetails
  9. Gina M. Chiarella, Doris Y. Melgarejo, John P. Fackler. Novel polynuclear guanidine, guanidinate and formamidinate complexes of the 11th group. 69th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Waco, TX, United States, November 16-19, 2013. https://scifinder-n-cas-org.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/searchDetail/reference/672848642aeb724ded1984ec/referenceDetails
  10. Doris Y. Melgarejo, Gina M. Chiarella, John P. Fackler. Luminescent gold(I) hybrid dimer and trinuclear arrays with mixed NN-​,​CC-​ligations from dissimilar ligands. 69th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Waco, TX, United States, November 16-19, 2013. https://scifinder-n-cas-org.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/searchDetail/reference/672848802aeb724ded198752/referenceDetails