Derek L. Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Howard Payne University
dsmith@hputx.edu
Office: Winebrenner 205
Phone: (325) 646-2502 ext. 5402
Education
B.S., Angelo State University-San Angelo, Texas, 1991. M.S. University of Texas at Dallas-Richardson, Texas, 1994. Doctor of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas-Richardson, Texas, 1996 (Inga Holl Musselman, John Hoffman, Jeremiah D. Hogan).
Experience
Assistant Professor at Howard Payne University since 2007.
Process Engineer at Quallion LLC from 2003-2006.
Scientist at Arbin Instruments from 1999-2003.
Sr. Scientist at Electrosource, Inc. from 1997-1999.
Consultant at Lyondell Petrochemical from 1997.
Student Intern at Texas Instruments from 1994-1995.
Responsibilities at HPU
Main responsibilities are teaching Quantitative chemistry, Physical chemistry, and Instrumental analysis. Other responsibilities include teaching General chemistry and Meterology and Earth Science.
Selected Publications
D. Smith, J. Zhang; "A Novel Approach to Battery Charging and Formation;" Proceedings of Power2000; San Diego, CA, September 2000
D. Smith, "Cellular Telephone Testing Systems - What is "GSM" Anyway?", Battery Power Products & Technology, June 2000.
Presented work on ultramicroscopy of polypeptide films as student scholar to joint meeting of Microbeam Analysis Society and Microscopy Society of America-New Orleans, LA, August 1994.
Musselman, D. Smith, E. Enriquez, V. Guarisco, E. Samulski; "Scanning Probe Microscopy of Langmuir-Blodgett-Deposited Films of poly(g-benzyl-L-glutamate);" J. Vac. Sci. Tech. A, 1994.
Presented second-place poster on atomic force microscope studies at American Vacuum Society meeting-Dallas, TX, May 1994.
Professional Organizational Memberships
Texas Academy of Science
American Chemical Society
Interests
My primary research interests relate to analysis of impurities in the gas phase. Typically, analytical methods (chromatographic, spectrometric) are optimized for condensed phases where detection limits may reach sub-ppb levels, but such limits are made much more difficult in gas-phase analysis. Moreover, the problem of sample delivery is often more significant than the quantitation of trace species. Therefore, much of my graduate work required significant instrument modification or re-design in order to facilitate the analyses.