Educational Background:

Ph. D. in Analytical Chemistry__________________________________________________ _Fall 2009
University of Delaware, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Newark, Delaware
Dissertation: PDF

Advisor:  Dr. Douglas P. Ridge
Research Focus: The comprehensive theme of my graduate research is the application of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to environmentally relevant macromolecules. The work I have done can be separated into two categories: (1) a mechanistic study of ozone oxidation effects on peptide fragmentation patterns using energy-resolved SID, RRKM modeling and Molecular Dynamics and (2) understanding metal sulfide cluster nucleation in aqueous systems through gas phase ion-molecule reactions and DFT calculations.

Relevant Course Work: Principles of Mass Spectrometry, Analytical Spectroscopy, Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics, Multidisciplinary Biotechnology, Protein Structure and Function, Chemical Dynamics, Surface Analysis, Pedagogy, Learning, Faculty Roles.

B. A. Chemistry ______________________________________________________________May 2003
College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

Relevant Course Work:  General Chemistry I & II, Quantitative Analysis I & II, Instrumental Analysis, Organic Chemistry I & II, Physical Chemistry I & II, Organometalic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics I & II, Calculus I & II.

Research Experience:

Research Assistant___________________________________________________January 2004-Present
University of Delaware, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Newark, Delaware

Research centers on the characterization of environmentally significant macromolecules using Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and computational chemistry.

Research Fellow_______________________________________________ __July 2004-September 2004
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Richland, Washington

Focused on the gas phase fragmentation energetics and mechanisms of oxidized peptides using SID ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry, RRKM modeling and Molecular Dynamics.

Independent Study__________________________________________________August 2002-May 2003
Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

Thesis completed on the development of ion selective electrode methodology for the analysis of cyclohexyl phosphoserine small molecule analogs.

Research Assistant_________________________________________________ _May 2002-August 2002
Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio

Synthesized multi-block polymer “brushes” on solid substrates using atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized using NMR, ATR-FTIR, TGA, Tensiometry, and Ellipsometry.

Research Assistant_____________________________________________ _ _May 2001-September 2001
Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

Utilized TGA and DSC to determine the importance of drying analytical primary standards in undergraduate chemistry laboratories.

Research Assistant________________________________________________ __May 2000-August 2000
Food and Animal Health Department, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio

Conducted focused research on the Human Rotavirus using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay experiments for monoclonal-antibody detection.

Teaching Experience:

Teaching Fellow_______________________________________________________June 2007-Present
University of Delaware and New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, Newark, DE

Designed problem based learning (PBL) activities, aligned with curricular needs, allowing students to experience the benefits of guided-inquiry learning environments.

Guest Lecturer__________________________ __________________ _Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Fall 2007
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Provided lectures for Chem 437:  Instrumental Methods of Analysis and Chem 624:  Principles of Mass Spectrometry.

Teaching Assistant________________________________________ _ _Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Fall 2006
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Laboratory Instructor for Chem 438: Instrumental Methods Laboratory.  Responsibilities included providing pre-lab instruction, grading laboratory reports, instrument maintenance, and maintaining a safe working environment.  Conducted educational research on the effects of reciprocal peer teaching on student performance.

Teaching Assistant__________________________________________________________Spring 2006
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Laboratory Instructor for Chem 120: Quantitative Methods Laboratory.  Responsibilities included teaching students proper quantitative techniques, laboratory set-up and maintaining a safe working environment.

Student Instrument Instructor____________________________________ __September 2000-May 2003
Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

Designed problem based learning activities for local high school students to get hands on experience with chemical instrumentation.  Specialized in the use and instruction of FT-IR, TGA and DSC. 

Publications:

Gas Phase Ion-Molecule Reactions of Metal Salt Clusters with Hydrogen Sulfide, Spraggins, Jeffrey; Papson, Kaitlin; Zeringo, Nick; Ridge, Douglas; Manuscript in Preperation.

Metal Salt Nucleation Observed using ESI FT-ICR MS, Spraggins, Jeffrey; Kim, Una; Ridge, Douglas; Manuscript in Preperation.

Hydrothermal Vents: Discovery of a New Ecosystem, Spraggins, Jeffrey; Problem-Based Learning Clearinghouse: http://www.udel.edu/pblc (2009).

Fragmentation Mechanisms of Oxidized Peptides Elucidated by SID, RRKM Modeling and Molecular Dynamics, Spraggins, Jeffrey; Lloyd, Julie; Johnston, Murray; Laskin, Julia; Ridge, Douglas;  J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. (2009), 20(9), 1579-1592.

Peptide Ozonolysis: Product Structures and Relative Reactivities for Oxidation of Tyrosine and Histidine Residues, Lloyd, Julie; Spraggins, Jeffrey; Johnston, Murray; Laskin, Julia; J. Am. Soc. Mass Spec. (2006), 17(9), 1289-1298.

Is it necessary to dry primary standards before analysis?, Spraggins, Jeffrey; Williams, Theodore; J. Chem Ed. (2005), 82(2), 311-312.

Presentations: See presentations (click here)

Fellowships and Awards:

Fellowship________________________ _________________________________June 2007, June 2008
Graduate Teaching Fellows Program in K-12 Education, National Science Foundation, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.

Award_________________________________________________________________ __ __May 2008
Graduate Student Travel Award, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.

Award_____________________________________________________________________April 2007
Student Travel Award, Delaware Valley Mass Spectrometry Disscussion Group, Philadelphia, PA.

Award____________________________________________________________________March 2007
Elizabeth Dyer Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.

Award__________________________________________________________________ __ _May 2006
Graduate Student Travel Award, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.

Fellowship____________________________________________________________ ___ __June 2004
Summer Research Institute Fellowship in Interfacial and Condensed Phase Chemical Physics, U.S. Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Fellowship_____________________________________________________________ __ __June 2003
Integrative Graduate Education Research and Training (IGERT) Fellowship, National Science Foundation, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.

Award_________________________________________________________________November 2002
Dow Prize for Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio.

Award_____________________________________________________June 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002
Academic Achievement Award, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio.