In the News

Students part of Lt. Col. Kevin Braun’s general chemistry lab course recently conducted preliminary data analysis on metals in an unconventional place — the VMI Museum.

VMI Chemistry Majors Study Antiquities

Cadets in Lt. Col. Kevin Braun’s general chemistry lab took their research to an unlikely place — the VMI Museum on post. The archeology-themed activity called for the cadets to choose unidentified displayed artifacts, and use their prior knowledge of metals to speculate their origin.

3D model of a COX-2 protein molecule using ChimeraX

Computer Software Brings Wonderment and Support to Chemistry

Visualizing three-dimensional (3D) molecules on a two-dimensional piece of paper can be a struggle for any chemistry student. Lt. Col. Dan Harrison ’05, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, used his experience with research software to find a tool to address this challenge.

Stober ’24, Diaz ’23, and Lt. Col. Daniel Harrison ’05 at the American Chemical Society Southeastern Regional Meeting

VMI Chemists Present Research in Puerto Rico

A contingency of two cadets and one professor recently presented research at the American Chemical Society Southeastern Regional Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ACS is the world’s largest scientific association with a membership of over 154,000 chemists, chemical engineers, and others.

Col. Tappey H. Jones ’70, professor of chemistry

VMI Chemistry Professor Published in Preeminent Journal

Col. Tappey H. Jones ’70, professor of chemistry at Virginia Military Institute, has had his findings recently been published in Nature: Communications Biology. This article covers findings of years of research, much collaboration with colleagues, and a bit of providence.

Maj. Shannon Quevedo, assistant professor in the chemistry department at Virginia Military Institute, examines hydrogels in researching ways to detect contaminates in water. -VMI Photo by Marianne Hause.

VMI Hopes to Develop Water Test Kits

Maj. Shannon Quevedo, assistant professor in the chemistry department at Virginia Military Institute and whose specialty is analytical chemistry and detection of small molecules using organic phases, is working on research with two cadets to create handheld methods for testing water.

Owen Ahrens ’24 conducts research on the synthesis and reactivity of cobalt-centered molecules in the lab at VMI.—VMI Photo by Marianne Hause.

VMI Cadet Researches Element Synthesis

Owen Ahrens ’24 researches the synthesis and reactivity of cobalt-centered molecules in his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project titled, “Synthesis and Utilization of Alkyl Cobaloxime Complexes in Cycloaddition Reactions.”

Maj. Kevin Braun watches as Noelle Heilpern ’23 prepares a pottery sherd for analysis

From Incan Pots to Forged Checks

“Chemistry can answer a lot of questions.” So says Maj. Kevin Braun, who was still in college when he discovered that a career in chemistry could allow him to deepen his interests in archaeology, anthropology, and forensics.

Justin Rose ’17, Devon Kirk ’17, and David LaFuze ’18 work with Col. Stan Smith in the lab. – VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

‘Putting Together the Puzzle’

A group of cadets working in the chemistry lab have found compounds effective against leishmaniasis, a parasite-borne disease common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Col. Greg Topasna talks astronomy with science fair participants.

‘Everybody Can Be a Scientist’

VMI professors were among those offering hands-on activities for the estimated 400 young people attending Sunday's Science Fest and Maker Faire in downtown Lexington.

Professor and two cadets in lab

Energy from Carbon Dioxide?

Chemistry assistant professor Maj. Dan Harrison '05 and two cadets research ways to make fuel from carbon dioxide in Summer Undergraduate Research Institute project.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders