Seeing the Light: Reflections of a Spectroscopist

Dr. Mullin’s presentation will provide an overview of his continuing journey as a teacher/scholar with emphasis on the development of his research program in the applications of luminescence spectroscopy. 

Some of his earlier work in chemiluminescence and bioluminescence will be discussed, as will his current work involving the characterization of new compounds with unusual fluorescence characteristics and the potential for use in optoelectronic devices.

The Ludcke Chair

In 2004, Eleanor Ludcke, 1926 Westbrook College alumnae, bequeathed to Westbrook College an endowed professorship to be awarded annually to a tenured member of the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences in recognition of their accomplishments. The Ludcke Chair is awarded to a dedicated educator and productive researcher who has given generously of his or her time to the University over a significant period.  The recipient has a one-year tenure as chair holder, and is also awarded a stipend to use in support of his or her scholarship.

About Dr. Mullin

Dr. Mullin received his B.S. degree in chemistry from LeMoyne College and earned his Ph.D. degree in analytical chemistry from the University of New Hampshire. He joined the faculty of the University of New England in 1990 as a member of the Department of Life Sciences. In 1998, he was appointed as the founding chair of the newly-formed Department of Chemistry and Physics, and served as department head for ten years. He teaches courses in General Chemistry, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, and Instrumental Methods of Analysis and maintains an active program of research involving extensive undergraduate participation.

Dr. Mullin’s research has been focused in two main areas: applications of luminescence spectroscopy and environmental analysis, the former stemming from his graduate and post-doctoral research in chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, and fluorescence. The consistent theme in all of Dr. Mullin’s research activities has been the use of spectroscopic techniques – methods that are based on observing the interaction of light with matter. His current work is aimed primarily at the spectroscopic characterization of a family of compounds called metalloles, many of which have interesting and unusual luminescence characteristics, making them intriguing candidates for use as the light-emitting species in a variety of optoelectronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and chemical sensors. This project, a collaborative effort with colleagues at the University of Southern Maine, has provided rich research experiences for dozens of students over the past several years.

Extramural support for Dr. Mullin’s research and teaching efforts has been provided by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grants Program, and EOSAT Corporation. Much of this grant support has enabled the acquisition of state of the art chemical instrumentation, as well as summer support for a number of undergraduate research students. Most recently, an NSF Major Research Instrumentation grant funded the acquisition of sophisticated fluorescence lifetime instrumentation.

Results of work conducted by Dr. Mullin, his students, and collaborators have appeared in journals including Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, the Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials (JIOPM), the Journal of Luminescence, and Chemical Physics Letters, among others. Dr. Mullin’s research students have presented their work in numerous venues, including several American Chemical Society National Meetings. Dr. Mullin has received invitations to contribute a paper to a special edition of JIOPM, a chapter in a forthcoming book on Aggregation-induced Emission (AIE), and a talk at an international symposium on AIE. Some of Dr. Mullin’s earlier course and curriculum development work has appeared in the Journal of Chemical Education, including one of the first papers to describe the use of electronic spreadsheets in analytical chemistry courses.

In addition to his research and teaching activities, Dr. Mullin has been active in curriculum development and program review. He served for several years on the American Chemical Society College Chemistry Consultants Service and continues to be invited to complete program reviews for chemistry departments at primarily undergraduate institutions. During the fall semester, Dr. Mullin spends some of his “free” time serving as assistant coach to the UNE women’s and men’s cross country teams.