PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 20, 2022) – In August of 2022, the DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority‐Serving Institutions (HBCU/MSI) Science Program announced its award recipients. Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of chemistry and physics at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), was one of 60 university researchers at 43 institutions selected to receive instrumentation awards to enhance their research and education programs. She earned $491,847 for her project “Increasing teaching, research, and outreach capabilities with combined Raman-AFM system.”
Pulikkathara, whose expertise is in nanomaterials, experienced a sense of relief upon learning that the proposal was selected for funding.
Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ph.D.
“My students will gain valuable skill sets with Raman Spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. This equipment will merge these two techniques and offer Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, a correlative spectroscopy/microscopy technique. They will be capable of characterizing samples from chemical functionalization of nanomaterials, nanoformulations, polymers, changes due to radiation environments, and conducting surface studies. These skill sets will make my students competitive as they advance in their careers,” said Pulikkathara.
The collaborative project includes co-principal investigators Kevin Storr, Ph.D., associate professor in the physics department; Osborne Lee, Ph. D., professor in the chemical engineering department; and Richard Wilkins, Ph.D., professor in the department of electrical engineering.
Dr. Pulikkathara stated that the “collaboration with these experienced professors enabled this proposal’s success.”
The current PVAMU Raman spectroscopy system at PVAMU is outdated and inoperable. Investigators must travel to nearby institutions to perform Raman spectroscopy studies for research projects, where they face the additional challenge of limited access. That challenge can be detrimental for graduate students pursuing studies related to materials science and characterizing the effects on these materials from their environment.
She stated, “I want to train my students in cutting-edge research, teach them microscopy and electrical measurements, and involve them in publications. My goal is to progress the research project and hopefully inspire my students to love research as I do.”
“Dr. Merlyn Pulikkathara’s acquisition of a Raman spectrometer for her research on nanomaterials greatly enhances the university’s research capabilities,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA. “It adds to the university’s strength and reputation in attracting undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research using state-of-the-art equipment. R&I is particularly pleased to have supported some of Dr. Pulikkathara’s students through the Faculty RISE program.”
Having an updated Raman spectrometer at Prairie View A&M University strengthens the existing capabilities and allows for research submissions to higher-impact journals because of the data that is acquired. The Raman-AFM system will support ongoing research in nanomaterials, polymers, and materials science by being able to investigate the vibrational spectra of molecules and the surface morphology of materials. This combined Raman-AFM system will strengthen the research capabilities in our physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and biology departments.
Pulikkathara stated, “By involving students and training them in an inclusive research environment, we are building a research culture for our new R2 status that is critical as we move towards emerging research status.”
Karen B. Cotton, MS, MA