Rodney C. Austin

Disciplines/Field of Instruction

• Chemistry and Biochemistry

Degrees Received

• Ph.D. 2000 University of Cincinnati
• B.S. 1992 Mount Vernon Nazarene College

Courses Taught

• CHM 111 - General College Chemistry
• CHM 170-The worth of Water (travel course)
• CHM 221 & 222 - Organic Chemistry 1 and 2
• CHM 313 - Biochemistry Laboratory
• CHM 317 & CHM 318 - Biochemistry 1 and 2

Presentations/Publications

• Distributed Analytical Pharmaceutical Laboratory Project

Dr. Austin supervised three students in the levofloxacin Distributed Analytical Laboratory project using HPLC. These students tested over 100 capsules and provided the data to Notre Dame. Elisha Reed, a Noyce scholar, presented the work at the Spring 2023 STEM symposium.

• POGIL Podcast

Dr. Austin was a guest of the POGIL Podcast in the fall of 2022 on an episode dealing with team roles in a POGIL classroom.

• The impact of glyphosate on Pedobacter heparinus growth

  Student Rebecca R. Brubaker worked with me to determine the impact of glyphosate, commercially known as RoundupTM , on the growth of the soil bacterium, Pedobacter heparinus. The work was presented at the Student Symposium on the Environment, which was held on the campus of Westminster College December 3, 2015.

• Mapping drinking water access points in Beaver Falls, PA with Google Earth

  With students Katie Snyder, Sara Anderson, and Brooke Wible. Presented at the Student Symposium on the Environment, which was held on the campus of Westminster College December 4, 2014.

• Analysis of select metals in Beaver River Sediment

  With students Katie N. Cramer, Cassandra K. Milliner, and Samuel J.Robb. Presented at the Student Symposium on the Environment, which was held on the campus of Westminster College December 5, 2013.

• A simplified method for the isolation and purification of glucoraphanin from broccoli seeds
  With student, Andrew Hiser. Presented at the Student-Member research symposium held by the American Chemical Society. April 20, 2013.
• Impact of acid mine drainage on Davidson's Creek
  With student, John Hixenbaugh. Presented at the Student Symposium on the Environment, which was held on the campus of Westminster College December 6, 2012.
• Impact of POGIL instruction on a two-semester biochemistry course at Geneva College
  Examined the impact of small group exercises on student learning. Presented at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (Penn State) August 2012.
• Integrating Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics to Evaluate Global Water Problems
  With Erica Kosal and Carol Lawrence. Journal of College Science Teaching 2010.
• Teaching chemistry as part of Global Water Issues:  A new multidisciplinary course developed with SENCER ideals.Presented at the American Chemical Society National meeting in March 2005 (San Diego).
• Structural aspects of alpha one acid glycoprotein and its interactions
  HB Halsall, RC Austin, JL Dage, H Sun, KT Schuleter. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Serum Albumin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. 2000
• Physical Characterization of Orosomucoid Gene Products I and II. 
  Dissertation. 2000

Current Projects

• POGIL Movement

Dr. Austin is active in the biochemistry wing of the POGIL pedagogical movement, and is chair of the Video Workshop Group. He attended the POGIL national meeting in St. Louis in early June 2022.

• Research on select proteins from the bacterium, Pedobacter heparinus.

  My current work is to isolate and characterize a unique phytochrome from P. heparinus. This phytochrome protein has an associated heme oxygenase that is of interest as well.

• Testing for Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) compounds in drinking water production

  This is a joint project with the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority. Samples are taken at select stages in water product where we analyze for TTHM production.

• River and Stream Analysis
  I work with students to analyze metals in stream water and soil. Recently we have detected elevated levels of certain industrial metals in river sediment.

Professional Societies

• Protein Society
• Society of Analytical Chemistry of Pittsburgh

Miscellaneous

• Running is a favorite past time. I have completed four marathons.
• I enjoy woodworking
• I worship at the  College Hill Church of the Nazarene

Links

• PhGAP Research