Faculty Spotlight: Darrin Smith
Dr. Darrin Smith is an analytical chemist and key researcher at the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technology (CRAFT). Dr. Smith joined CRAFT’s research team in January 2010 with a primary role of analyzing biomass samples using ambient ionization techniques with mass spectrometry as well as chromatography methods for the development of biofuels. “Dr. Smith brings to the table a vast degree of knowledge on how to analyze a variety of chemicals we are utilizing at CRAFT. He has expertise in complex processes and attains the understanding of many of the products and co-products that need to be analyzed for efficient biofuels production” says Dr. Bruce Pratt, director of CRAFT.
"The most beneficial aspect of working with CRAFT is collaborating with undergraduate and graduate students on CRAFT projects that could potentially have a dramatic effect on our region and nation has been very satisfying. It has been great having students apply their knowledge, assist them when creating experiments to take projects to the next level, and then help prepare our data into oral and poster presentations for local, regional, and national conferences", say Smith.
Gary Selby, a research assistant at CRAFT has been working on a pretreatment study on biomass with Dr. Smith and says “Dr. Smith’s research is vital if CRAFT is to attain its goals. He is developing analytical techniques which can determine the amount of sugar released from biomass as well as algae oil composition.”
Most recently Dr. Smith was named the Undergraduate Research Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research at Eastern Kentucky University. In May 2011 Dr. Smith was awarded a prestigious grant by the Society of Analytical Chemist of Pittsburgh in the amount of $10,000 to analyze lignin degradation after exposure to ionic liquid solutions.
"As an analytical chemist, I have always wanted to explore the components of complex systems. I have been able to develop and use state-of-the-art instrumentation (primarily chromatography and mass spectrometry) for the analysis of specific complex systems relating to CRAFT projects", say Smith.
Dr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Missouri Western State University in 1997 and his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona where his dissertation project was the investigations of low-energy ion collisions on organically modified surfaces using mass spectrometry. After completing his Ph.D. in 2002, he became a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona, developing mass spectrometry methods to analyze peptides for proteomics analysis. In 2003, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University as an Assistant Professor and in 2008 gained tenure and promoted to rank of Associate Professor.
Contact Information
Brad Barnett
brad.barnett@eku.edu
622-7316
Published on May 13, 2011