Andrea Munro, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Phone: 253-538-6393

Email: munroam@plu.edu

Office Location:Rieke Science Center - Room 245

Office Hours: Tu & Th: 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Website: http://www.plu.edu/chemistry/munro/

  • Professional
  • Biography

Education

  • NSF-ACC Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Neal Armstrong, University of Arizona, 2008-2010
  • Ph.D., University of Washington, 2008
  • B.S., University of Washington, 2003

Areas of Emphasis or Expertise

  • Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal synthesis
  • Colloidal metallic nanoparticle synthesis
  • Ligand exchange studies

Responsibilities

Dr. Munro often teaches General Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, but has taught courses throughout the chemistry curriculum including:

CHEM 103 – Food Chemistry
CHEM 115 – General Chemistry 1
CHEM 116 – General Chemistry 2
CHEM 341 – Physical Chemistry 1 (kinetics & thermodynamics)
CHEM 342 – Physical Chemistry 2 (quantum mechanics)
CHEM 343 – Physical Chemistry Lab 1
CHEM 344 – Physical Chemistry Lab 2
CHEM 410 – Introduction to Research
CHEM 420 – Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 487 – Inorganic Synthesis

WRIT 101 – A writing course for students during their first semester at PLU. Dr. Munro co-taught WRIT 101: Scientific Literacy in the Media in Fall 2016 and taught WRIT 101: Writing and the Scientific Method in Fall 2017 for students in the STEM dorm.

Selected Articles

  • Munro, A. M., Chandler, C., Garling, M., Chai, D., Popovich, V., Lystrom, L., Kilina, S.. "Phenyldithiocarbamate Ligands Decompose During Nanocrystal Ligand Exchange." Journal of Physical Chemistry C Vol. 120, 2016: 29455-29462.

Accolades

  • "Inspirational Woman" - PLU Center for Gender Equity 2018
  • Karen Hille Phillips Regency Advancement Award Recipient 2015-2016, Pacific Lutheran University
  • National Science Foundation American Competitiveness in Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship 2008-2010
  • Nellie Yeoh Whetton American Vacuum Society Graduate Student Award 2007

Biography

Dr. Andrea Munro conducts research with a team of undergraduate students. We investigate colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals and the effects of various ligands on the properties of those nanocrystals as a function of nanocrystal shape.  Students in the Munro Lab synthesize semiconductor nanocrystals using air-free techniques.  We use XRD, TEM, and ICP-MS to characterize the crystal shape and structure.  Student researchers exchange the native ligands on the nanocrystal surface with novel molecules and characterize the effects of ligand exchange using UV/vis absorbance, photoluminescence, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy.

Dr. Munro developed a new course CHEM 103: Food Chemistry, a lab-based chemistry course designed to introduce students to the scientific method and quantitative analysis. The course was designed for students who are not majoring in the sciences.