Other Info Sources

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2813-3169

ScienCV: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/kevin.owens.1/cv/310973/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zMM2iKIAAAAJ&hl=en

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Education

B.S.   Chemistry, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, May 1982

Ph.D. Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, September 1989

Major: Analytical Chemistry  Minor: Physical Chemistry

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Bachelors Thesis

The Statistical Analysis and Use of Analytical Calibration Curves

A comprehensive statistical background to the calibration problem is presented, emphasizing the practical use of statistics to extract useful chemical information from experimental data.

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Doctoral Thesis

Analytical Applications of Supersonic Jet Spectroscopy and the Application of Correlation Analysis Techniques in Mass Spectrometry

Experiments focused upon efforts made to improve the selectivity of both fluorescence and ionization detection (using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer) through the use of supersonic beam sampling techniques. A dramatic increase in mass resolution due to the geometric cooling effect was demonstrated. The excited state spectroscopy and dynamics of internally cold sample molecules and weakly bound van der Waals clusters produced in expansions of both rare gases and supercritical fluids was studied. In order to perform these experiments a supercritical fluid chromatograph time-of-flight mass spectrometer system utilizing a supersonic jet interface was designed and constructed. Simplex optimization techniques were applied for the improvement of instrument resolution. The application of correlation analysis techniques (from information theory) was examined as both a means of increasing the trace analysis sensitivity of the mass spectrometer and as an alternative tool in the automated identification of compounds from their mass spectra.

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Professional Experience

9/95-present  Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

9/89-8/91, 9/94-8/95  Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

9/91-8/94  DuPont Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

8/87-8/89  Instructor, Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

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Sabbatical Leaves

6/98-8/98     Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY. 

Worked in the Analytical Technology Division under the direction of Dr. Kenji Kawaoka upgrading a Cambridge Instruments Ltd. Laser Ionization Mass Analyzer (LIMA) model 2A for use in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization studies of synthetic polymer systems. Gained experience with: operation of the LIMA-2A; object oriented programming using the Hewlett-Packard VEE (Virtual Engineering Environment) programming language for data acquisition and control.

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2/99-9/99     Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA. 

Worked in the Pre-Clinical Drug Metabolism Department under the direction of Dr. Timothy Olah learning quantitative mass spectrometry. Gained experience in: preparing biological samples using solid phase extraction techniques; analytical scale separations using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography; quantitative mass spectrometry assays using a Sciex API 3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer system and a Perkin Elmer Biosystems (Perseptive Biosystems) Mariner electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometer system.

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Professional Service

Selected, since 2005:

 

Short course co-instructor (with Dr. Martha M. Vestling, University of Wisconsin),"Fundamentals and Applications of MALDI TOFMS", presented at the American Society of Mass Spectrometry Meeting:

San Antonio, TX, June 4-5, 2005
Seattle, WA, May 28-29, 2006
Indianapolis, IN, June 2-3, 2007
Denver CO, May 31-June 1, 2008
Philadelphia PA, May 30-31, 2009
Salt Lake City, UT, May 22-23, 2010

This course covers the basic instrumentation, theory and applications of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). It provides a comprehensive introduction to the technique, as well as a survey of applications of this now widely used analytical technique.

 

Short course co-instructor (with Dr. Chrys Wesdemiotis, University of Akron and Dr. Phil Price, Kureha PGA), "Polymer Mass Spectrometry:

A Short Course", sponsored by the Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group of Pittsburgh, presented at Duquesne University, 11/19/12 (presented section titled: "MALDI Fundamentals and Applications").

 

Short course co-instructor (with Drs. Gary Glish, University of North Carolina, Michael Easterling, Bruker Daltonics, Inc., and Richard Vachet, University of Massachusetts- Amherst), "Mass Analyzers - Everything You Wanted To Know About Common Mass Spectrometers But Didn't Know Who To Ask", presented at the annual American Society of Mass Spectrometry Meeting:

Minneapolis, MN, June 9-13, 2013
Baltimore, MD, June 14-15, 2014

St. Louis, MO, May 30-31, 2015

San Antonio, TX, June 4-5, 2016

Indianapolis, IN, June 2-3, 2017

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Professional Organizations

• American Chemical Society, Divisions of Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Chemical Information

• American Society of Mass Spectrometry

• Society of Applied Spectroscopy

• Sigma Xi

• Delaware Valley Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group

• Chromatography Forum of the Delaware Valley

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Research & Teaching Seminars

The following is a list of seminars that describe the work being done in my research group or in my classes. The presentations can be geared to different levels (general public, undergraduate, graduate, etc.) depending on the make-up of the audience. As our research work covers both biological and synthetic polymer systems, in many cases the examples covered can be customized to the audience as well. Please call or e-mail to set up a mutually agreeable day and time.

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Research Seminars

 

"Quantitative Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: Fact or Fantasy?" (or "The 'Black-Art' of MALDI Sample Preparation")

 

"New Adventures in the MALDI TOFMS Analysis of Biological and Synthetic Polymers" (the emphasis of the seminar can be shifted between biological or synthetic polymer systems)

"The Importance of Sample Preparation for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry"

"Informatics and Mass Spectrometry: Applying Correlation Analysis Techniques to Extract New Information from Mass Spectral Data"

"Monte Carlo Modeling and Instrument Development for Improving Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry"

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Teaching Seminars

"Applying the Basic Principles of Quantitative Analysis to Mass Spectrometry Data"

"Analytical Calibration: What is the Best-Fit Line Through the Data (and What Do I Do Once I Have It)?"

"Screencasts, Blogs and Wikis, Oh My, The Brave New World of Technology & Teaching"

 

Teaching Experience

The following are courses that I am assigned to teach throughout the year. For further information about scheduling see the course schedule at the Student Administrative Services website. The three number code after each course corresponds to the number of: lecture hours/week- lab hours/week- quarter credit hours.

 

Fall Term Courses

CHEM430 Analytical Chemistry I

Prerequisites: CHEM242, CHEM253

Introduction to statistics (particularly development and use of analytical calibration curves), and basic electronics. Principles of spectroscopic methods of analysis, including the interaction of light with matter and basic instrument design. 3-0-3

 

CHEM493-001 Senior Research 3-0-3

 

UNIV201S Your Chemistry Career 1-0-1

Prerequisites: None

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Winter Term Courses

CHEM431 Analytical Chemistry II

Prerequisites: CHEM230/CHEM231, CHEM430

Continuation of CHEM430. Principles of chromatographic methods of analysis. Lab includes experiments on atomic absorption, fluorescence, infrared absorption, UV/visible absorption, gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, basic electronics, and potentiometry/coulometry. 2-4-4

 

Spring Term Courses

CHEM541 Organic Chemistry I (Mass Spectrometry Section)

Covers spectroscopic methods for the determination of the structure of organic molecules. 3-0-3

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CHEM755 Mass Spectrometry

Prerequisites: None

Covers basic interpretive skills for organic and biochemical analysis; basic ion optics design using SIMION; survey of ionization methods, ion selection or separation techniques, and detectors; applications in chemistry and biology. 3-0-3

Note: As of academic year 2000/2001 CHEM755 is the third term of the graduate analytical chemistry sequence.

 

CHEM789 Experimental Design and Statistics in Chemistry

Prerequisites: None

Descriptive statistics; single and multiple linear regression techniques for analytical calibration; analysis of variance methods; basic experimental design, including full and fractional factorial techniques; experimental optimization using steepest ascent and simplex techniques. 3-0-3
 

Other Courses Taught Sporadically

CHEM753 Chemical Instrumentation

Prerequisites: None

Provides hands-on training in the use of various spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV/VIS, fluorescence, AA), chromatographic (packed and capillary column GC, HPLC), and electrochemical (potentiometry, coulometry, polarography) techniques. Involves lectures with self-paced laboratory work. 3 credits

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CHEM680 Special Topics: Lasers in Chemical Analysis

Prerequisites: None.

3-0-3

 

CHEM680 Special Topics: Principles of Computer-Assisted Data Collection

Prerequisites: None.

3-0-3

 

CHEM680 Special Topics: Analytical Chemistry Seminar

Prerequisites: None

A student-led, seminar based course on topics from the analytical chemistry literature. Subject matter is taken from the feature (formerly the A-page) articles of the journal Analytical Chemistry. 3-0-3

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Courses I Taught in the Past

CHEM367/767 Chemical Information Retrieval

Prerequisites: None

Examines methods for retrieving literature information, via standard tabulations, journals, and abstracts, using hard- copy and electronic sources. Includes techniques for on-line searching of databases such as Chemical Abstracts, Beilstein, and crystallographic depositories. 3-0-3

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CHEM530 Analytical Chemistry I (Spectroscopic Methods)

Covers principles and techniques of optical methods of analysis. 3-0-3

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CHEM531 Analytical Chemistry II (Chromatographic Methods)

Covers physical and chemical methods of separation, including distillation, solvent extraction, and chromatographic and ion-exchange techniques. 3-0-3

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