Specialty: Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Education, Archaeological Chemistry, Forensics
Biography: Dr. Braun, a native of McPherson, KS, has been a chemistry professor since 2007. In 2018, he joined the faculty at VMI where he teaches courses in general chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumentation, and archaeological chemistry. He earned a B.A. in anthropology and a B.S. in chemistry before obtaining his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in the groups of Dr. Craig Aspinwall and Dr. Joseph Perry. His graduate research focused on the characterization and application of multiphoton chromophores in micro and nanolithography and on enhancing the electrophoretic detection of neurotransmitters using Hadamard transforms. This was followed by a post-doctoral research position in Dr. J. Michael Ramsey’s group at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill centered on DNA sequencing using micro and nanofluidics. When not working with cadets, Dr. Braun enjoys exploring the region’s vast natural and historical sites with his wife and three daughters.
Academic Interests: Research in the Braun group is divided between three areas: archaeological chemistry and the analysis of archaeological pottery lipid residues; the degradation of inks and pigments as applied to forensic document analysis; and chemical education as it pertains to the development of novel, context-based curricula/resources and the implementation of pedagogical best practice. Additional research interests include the synthesis and analysis of biofuels, characterization of hazardous chemicals used in museums and taxidermy, and signal multiplexing in separation science.
Select Scholarship (Undergraduate researchers underlined)
BOOK CHAPTERS
- J. Labby, K. L. Braun. Preface - Chemistry’s Diverse Application in Art and Archaeology. In Contextualizing Chemistry through Art and Archaeology: Inspiration for Instructors; Braun, K. L.; Labby, K. L., ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C., 2021.
- L. Braun. Integrating Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Collaborations with Museums into the Chemistry Curriculum. In Contextualizing Chemistry through Art and Archaeology: Inspiration for Instructors; Braun, K. L.; Labby, K. L., ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C., 2021.
- L. Braun. Enhancing the General Chemistry Laboratory using Integrated Projects Based on Real-world Questions. In Active Learning Methods in General Chemistry; Blaser, M, Stewart, J. J., Clark, T.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2019.
JOURNAL ARTICLES (Undergraduate co-author)
- S. Harper, F. V. Macdonald, and K. L. Braun. Lipid Residue Analysis of Archaeological Pottery: An Introductory Laboratory Experiment in Archaeological Chemistry. J. Chem. Ed. 2017, 94(9), 1309-1313.
AUTHORED BOOKS
- L. Braun, S. Mohammad, N. Heldt. Interactive Instructor’s Guide for Gilbert, Kirss, Bretz, and Foster. Chemistry: The Science in Context; 6th Ed.; W.W. Norton & Company, Inc: New York, NY, 2020.
- Anthony, K. L. Braun, H. Mernitz. ChemConnections Activity Workbook; W.W. Norton: New York, 2013.
EDITED BOOKS
Contextualizing Chemistry through Art and Archaeology: Inspiration for Instructors; Braun, K. L.; Labby, K. L., ACS Symposium Series, Vol 1386; American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C., 2021
GRANTS
Braun, K. L., Heilpern, N. ‘23. Lipid Residue Analysis of Pottery Fragments Recovered from the Arikara Village of Greenshield, North Dakota Archaeological Society, Cynthia Kordecki Scholarship (2021)
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
- J. Wiltshire, K. L. Braun. The Effects of Degradation on the Differentiation of Quested Documents by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography. VMI Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 26, 2021. (Talk)
- J. Wiltshire, K. L. Braun. Influence of degradation on the analysis of questioned documents by capillary zone electrophoresis. ACS Spring National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, March 2020. (Virtual Poster)
- V. Macdonald, K. L. Braun, W. Green. Mapping Subsistence Patterns at an Arikara Site Using GC/MS Pottery Lipid Residue Analysis. Three Rivers Archaeological Society, Beloit, WI, November 2017. (Talk
- V. Macdonald, K. L. Braun, W. Green. Mapping Subsistence Patterns at an Arikara Site Using GC/MS Pottery Lipid Residue Analysis. 75th Plains Anthropological Conference, Bismarck, ND, October 2017. (Talk)
PRESENTATIONS
- L. Braun. Integrating Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Collaborations with Museums throughout the Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education. West Lafayette, IN, July 2022.
- L. Braun and N. J. Heilpern. Lipid Residue Analysis of Pottery Fragments Recovered from the Arikara Village of Greenshield. North Dakota Archaeological Association Annual Spring Meeting, Bismarck, ND, April 23, 2022.
- L. Braun. Teaching Chemistry through the Lens of Archaeology. 263rd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Expo, San Diego, CA, March 20-24, 2022.
- L. Braun. Applying Chemical Instrumentation in the Museum. 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2017.
Featured in – Arnaud, C. H. New Approaches to Undergraduate Lab Classes. C&EN, 2017, 95(16), 26-27.
POSTERS
- L. Braun. Teaching Chemistry through the Lens of Archaeology. 263rd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Expo, San Diego, CA, March 20-24, 2022. [Invited poster]
HONORS
2022 VMI Research Laboratories, Inc, Wilbur S. Hinman, Jr. 26’ Research Award in the Natural Science
*Recognizes excellence in stimulating, encouraging, and conducting research.