Nicholas E. Ernst, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Introduction

Nicholas Ernst’s research and teaching focus on organic chemistry, environmental chemistry and supramolecular chemistry.

Research Overview

Nicholas’ research group is currently investigating cotton textile industrial waste water valorization. They are taking waste water from the scouring step of textile production, isolating organic macromolecules like tannins, and finding uses in for these waste materials. This work is in collaboration with the USDA ARS in New Orleans.

I love fantasy books, video games, table-top RPGs, and I think of chemistry as a real-life potion brewing.

Select Publications

• “Computational Investigation of Isotopic Labeling: A pandemic Inspired Activity.” J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100, 9, 3677–3682
• “On the Nature of Guest Complexation in Water: Triggered Wetting-Water-Mediated Binding.” J. Phys. Chem. B 2022, 126, 16, 3150–3160
• “Practical SERS method for assessment of the washing durability of textiles containing sliver nanoparticles.” Anal. Methods, 2020,12, 1186-1196

Teaching Focus

Nicholas is currently focused on teaching General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry with a desire to take on environmental chemistry.

Previous Roles

Nicholas was a full-time custodian while working towards his B.S. in chemistry at PNW.