Wyatt Murphy, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
I joined the faculty at Seton Hall University in 1984. In my 26 years of service to the University, I am most proud of my contributions to research and teaching in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. My research is in the field of bio-inorganic chemistry and I use spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, Circular Dichroism, UV-Vis and Fluorescence spectroscopy to understand how metal complexes bind to DNA. The ultimate aim of this research is to better understand the structure of DNA and to develop new therapies for treatment of disease. In my teaching, I am most proud of my involvement with the CHEM 1107-1108 course, which is the standard course for all Chemistry and Biochemistry majors. In the Spring semester, I invented the research experience program in which all freshmen join a research group and engage in a real research project for the entire semester. This is a great way to get started in undergraduate research and build a long term relationship with a faculty mentor. I also enjoy teaching upper level and graduate courses in inorganic chemistry.
Education
- Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- M.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- B.S. Hampden-Sydney College
Scholarship
- "Diffusion Coefficients, Solution Radii and Fluorescence Quenching of Pyrene Labeled
Poly(aryl ether) Monodendrons"
Macromolecules, 34(6), 1797- 1809, April 2001 - "Nonradiative Decay in Rhenium(I) Monometallic Complexes of 2,3-Di(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and 2,3-Di(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline", The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 99(50), 17680- 17690, December 1995
- Binding of Co(III) to a DNA Oligomer via Reaction of [Co(NH3)5(OH2)3+ with (5 medC-dG)4, Biochemistry, 34, 13841- 13846, April 1995
- "A New Class of DNA Metallobinders Showing Spectator Ligand Size Selectivity: Binding or Ligand-Bridged Bimetallic Complexes or Ruthenium (II) to Calf Thymus DNA", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 115(14), 6424- 6425, July 1993
- "Nonradiative Decay in Rhenium(I) Monometallic Complexes of 2,3-Di(2-pyridyl)pyrazine", Inorganic Chemistry, 30(24), 4594- 4598, November 1991
- "The Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Thin-Layer Chromatography, Part II: Qualitative
Applications", Spectroscopy, 6(34), April 1991
Accomplishments
Awards
- The Sister Marian Jose Smith Award for Excellence in Education, 2008, by the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society
- University Research Council Award, 2008, Seton Hall University
Grants
- National Science Foundation
- "Expansion of the NMR Facilities in the Department of Chemistry at Seton Hall University and Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer” Co-PI J. E. Hanson, R. D. Sheardy, M. Chiu, C. Marzabadi, S. Sowa
- February 2001, $466,000
- Hoffman-La Roche, Inc.
- "Quantitative Analysis of Cuprous Ion in a Catalyst Solution” Co-PI: J. Sowa
- May 2001-August 2001, $19,600.
- Pfizer Undergraduate Research Experience Grant, Pfizer Corporation, $9,000, August 2007
- Pfizer Undergraduate Research Experience Grant, Pfizer Corporation, $9,000, August 2008