Washington and Lee University Chemistry Department

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Steven G. Desjardins, Ph. D. Chemistry from Brown University Phone Number: (540) 458 - 8873 E-mail: desjardins@wlu.edu Office Number: A330B

Courses Taught:

• Chem 106 Disorder and Chaos
• Chem 112 Aqueous Inorganic Chemistry
• Chem 260 Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems

Research Interests: Research interests: statistical mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, chemical kinetics

Education:

• 1985 The University of Texas, Austin, TX
  Postdoctoral Research Associate with Dr. Peter J. Rossky
  Research: Theoretical Studies in Statistical Mechanics; Development of Interaction Site
  integral equation theory for molecular fluids such as water.
• 1984 Brown University, Providence, RI
  Ph.D., Physical Chemistry
  • Thesis Advisor: Professor Richard M. Stratt, Department of Chemistry, Brown
  • Thesis Topic: Theoretical Studies in Statistical Mechanics
    1) Quantum effects on the conformational behavior of small molecules and polymers
    2) Interaction of intramolecular degrees of freedom with a condensed phase environment
    3) Classical and quantum behavior of lattice spin systems, such as the Ising-Lenz and Heisenberg models
• 1980 B.A., Chemistry and Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, Clark University, Worcester, MA

Grants: Jeffress Research Grant, 1989, $12,600; Dr. Scholl's Foundation, 1999, $25,000, W. Keck Foundation, 2001, $500,000

Publications:

• Holland, M. G.,  Griffith, V. E., , France, M. B., and Desjardins, S. G.,  “Kinetics of the Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of a 7-Oxanorbornene Derivative by Grubbs’ Catalyst”,  J. Poly. Sci.: Part A: Poly. Chem., 41, 2125-2131 (2003)
• Williams, H. T.; Goodwin, L.; Desjardins, S. G.; Billings, F. T.; "Two-Dimensional Growth Models," Physics Letters A, 1998, 250, 105.
• Easton, R. E.; Murray, W. R.; Desjardins, S. G. "Fractal Analysis of Trajectories in Two Dimensional Argon Clusters.," J. Mol. Graphics (1992)
• Desjardins, S. G.; Stratt, R. M.; "The Statistical Mechanics of a Liquid of Breathing Hard Spheres.," J. Chem. Phys. 1989, 90, 6809.
• Stratt, R.M.; Desjardins, S. G.; "The Solvation of the Methyl Radical and its Implications.," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 256.
• Desjardins, S. G.; Stratt, R. M.; "The Statistical Mechanics of a Liquid of Two-State Molecules.," II. "The Competition between Quantum Mechanics and the Condensed Phase.," J. Chem. Phys. 1984, 81, 6232.
• Stratt, R. M.; Desjardins, S. G.; "Quantal Effects on Conformational Equilibria.," J. Chem. Phys., 1982, 76, 5134.
• O'Gara, J.; Jones, A.A.; Desjardins, S. G.; "Spin Relaxation and Local Motion in Four Structurally Related Dissolved Polycarbonates," 1981, Macromolecules 14, 64.

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