Professor Suzanne Lunsford is professor at Wright State University and is an electrochemist and an internationally established chemical educator. She has been working with colleagues from international universities on how to integrate interdisciplinary science labs to meet the needs of the 21st century. Her research work for over two decades has been developing novel sensor electrodes (modified electrochemically) to detect common neurotransmitters to detecting common heavy metals Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and toxic metal Indium at low concentrations utilizing electrochemistry techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, square wave anodic stripping voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical techniques and modified electrodes are examined further by such techniques as Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman Spectroscopy to confirm the electrode surface interactions and stability analysis of the sensor(s) developed to assist our students with a variety of analytical instrumentation techniques. She has received over 1 million dollars in external funding for her international and local educational inquiry-based science research programs at Wright State University.
The development of environmental sensors to detect harmful heavy metals and phenols in water have been an increased concern in the last few years. Our interdisciplinary approach to an inquiry -based lab experiences with the development of modified electrode sensors to detect heavy metals and phenols simultaneously without the need for prior separation has built a stronger tie to real world issues. The problem-based approach of how to develop an electrochemical sensor for heavy metal detection has gained momentum due to increased exposure to Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd). Pb and Cd are neurotoxins in children with chronic exposure and there is a need for a reliable method to analyze heavy metals (Lead and Cadmium) in environmental and biological samples. Thus electrochemical techniques were integrated with the development of Carbon Nanotubes with selective polymers modified on to electrode surfaces with nanoparticles to enhance the detection of phenols and heavy metals will be discussed with real-world applications integrated with industry. The students have shown an enhancement in content knowledge gains with the problem-based real-world analysis of sensor development compared to the lecture based format of teaching. Also, students' collaboration among different universities/departments and industrial settings to learn novel instrumentation such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have built upon their interdisciplinary approach as well.
