Jessica L. Gray
Jlgray6@crimson.ua.edu
JGray9190@yahoo.com
(205) 239-8573
http://www.linkedin.com/in/JLGchemist
Education
- Ph.D., Chemistry
Anticipated Graduation December, 2019
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Concentration in Biochemistry/Inorganic - Masters, Chemistry
Anticipated Graduation May, 2019
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Graduated December, 2013
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Publications
- Manuscript in Progress: Singlet Oxygen and Photodissociation: How Small Structural Changes Affect Light-Activated Ruthenium Anticancer Prodrugs
Gray, J. L.; Park, S.; Qu, Fengrui; Mcfarland, S.; Schmehl, R.; Kim, Y., Papish, E. T., Journal and Date are TBD - Manuscript in Progress: The Influence of Hydrophobicity and Uptake on the Toxicity of Light Activated Ruthenium Anticancer Prodrugs
Gray, J. L.; Park, S.; Harriston, A.; Altman, S. Kim, Y.; Papish, E. T., J. Inorg. Biochem., 2019, TBD - Ruthenium Complexes are pH-Activated Metallo Prodrugs (pHAMPS) with Light-Triggered Selective Toxicity Toward Cancer Cells
Qu, F.; Park, S.; Martinez, K.; Gray, J. L.; Kim, Y.; Papish, E. T. et al., Inorg. Chem., 2017, 56, 7519-7532 - Crystal structure of (perchlorato-jO)(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-j4N)copper(II) Perchlorate
Gray, J. L.; Gerlach, D.; Papish, E. T., Acta. Cryst., 2017, E73, 31-34 - Bis(1-(2,6-Xylyl)-2-Imidazolidinethione Gold(I) and Copper(I) Halides: Synthesis, Characterization and Structure
Quillian, B.; Haddock, J. W.; Padgett, C. W.; Gray, J. L.; Schanz, H. J.
Struct. Chem. & Cryst. Comm. 2015, 1, 1.5. - Getting down to the Fundamentals of Hydrogen Bonding: Anharmonic Vibrational Frequencies of (HF)2 and (H2O)2 from Ab Initio Electronic Structure Computations
Howard, J. C; Gray, J. L.; Hardwick, A. J.; Nguyen, L. T.; Tschumper, G. S.
J. Chem. Theory Comput., 2014, 10 (12), 5426-5435
Conferences
- Development and study of novel ruthenium complexes as potential light-activated anticancer prodrugs: determining which characteristics have the highest impact on toxicity
Gray, Jessica L.; Park, J.; Qu, F.; Kim, Y.; Papish, E. T. et al.
257th National Meeting of The American Chemical Society, Orlando, FL March 2019 - Development and study of novel ruthenium complexes as potential dual-activated anticancer prodrugs: The role of pH in uptake and the use of cytotoxic ligands
Gray, Jessica L.; Qu, Fengrui; Park, Joe; Kim, Yonghyun; Papish, Elizbeth T. et al.
255th National Meeting of The American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA March 2018 - Ruthenium Complexes as Potential Anticancer Prodrugs that are Activated by low pH and Light
Gray, Jessica L.; Qu, Fengrui; Lundeen, John A.; Chambers, Nicole S.; Park, Joe; Kim, Yonghyun; Paul, Jared J.; Merino, Edward; Schmehl, Russell H.; Papish, Elizabeth T.
253rd National Meeting of The American Chemical Society, San Francisco, CA April 2017
Feeding and Powering the World, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS. July 2017 - Efforts towards the synthesis of catalytic Antibiotics via attachment of a Metal Binding Domain to Vancomycin
Jessica L.Gray, John A. Lundeen, Patrick J. Loll, Elizabeth T. Papish
250th National Meeting of The American Chemical Society, Boston, MA August 2015
1St Annual Chemistry Graduate Students’ Poster Session and Vendor Show, Tuscaloosa, AL September 2015 - Straightforward Synthesis of Monoarylethylenediamines – Easy Access to Unsymmetric N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands
Gray, Jessica L.; Schanz, Hans J.
65th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Atlanta, GA, 2013
Research Projects
If you wish to receive a comprehensive summary of my graduate research, please contact me via email.
- Graduate Research, PI: Dr. Elizabeth T. Papish
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
August 2014-present
Graduate research projects have focused on the development and study of light-activated ruthenium anticancer prodrugs as well as efforts towards the development of a catalytic antibiotic via the synthetic modification of vancomycin, a stoichiometric antibiotic. Relevant research has been published/featured in the following journals and conferences: J. Inorg. Biochem., 2019; Inorg. Chem, 2017; Acta. Cryst. Sec. E. 2017; Feeding and Powering the World, Univ. of Miss. 2017; National ACS Spring 2019, Spring, 2018, Spring 2017, and Fall 2015. - REU Research, PI: Dr. Gregory Tschumper
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
May 2013-August 2013
Using the MP2 level of theory, the vibrational frequencies of HFn (n=1-5) clusters were computed while systematically increasing the size of the basis sets. This research was completed under a 10-week REU program funded by the NSF. This research contributed to work published in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 2014. - Undergraduate Research, PI: Dr. Hans Schanz
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
August 2012-December 2013
In order to improve the Z selectivity of Ru-based Grubbs catalysts, this research focused on synthesizing a novel N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) based bidentate ligand to be coupled with the catalysts. This research was presented at the 2013 South Eastern Regional Meeting for the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) and contributed to a publication in Struct. Chem. & Cryst. Comm., 2015.
Experience and Related Skills
Graduate Research Assistant
The University of Alabama
August 2014-present
- The ability to design novel synthesis routes as well as follow previously reported procedures to generate desired target compounds.
- Design and synthesis of small molecule organic and inorganic compounds for medicinal chemistry applications
- Designed experiments for the purpose of elucidating mode of action and mode of uptake mechanisms for organometallic anticancer prodrugs
- The ability to perform experiments under strict air, moisture, and light sensitive conditions including common Schlenk and glovebox techniques.
- Proficient with chemical characterization techniques including but not limited to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and single crystal XRD.
- Laboratory management skills including inventory management and upkeep, ordering lab supplies (<$1000), and training new personnel on proper research, safety, and chemical handling/storage techniques.
- Submit research updates on a weekly basis as well as formal bi-annual reports
Graduate Laboratory Teaching Assistant
The University of Alabama
August 2014-present
- Instructed general chemistry (honors and standard) lab courses of 20+ students three times a week
- Organized and prepared reagents for 10 different labs relating to the general chemistry course material to be conducted by students
- Evaluated laboratory assignments from 60+ students and provided fair assessment
- Provided detailed explanation on processes that were demonstrated in lab experiments
- Ensured that students were able to maintain a safe laboratory environment including proper hazardous waste management and disposal, following OSHA and EPA safety standards, and proper PPE techniques
REU Research Assistant
The University of Mississippi
May 2013-August 2013
- Capability to generate models and programs in psi4 and python programming languages
- Ability to work with and extract information from large data sets
- Created effective visual representations of models and data sets
Organic Lab Prep Technician
Georgia Southern University
May 2012-December 2013
- Prepared reagents in a timely manner for use in organic chemistry labs (100+ students/experiment, 10 experiments/semester)
- Ensured that reagents were prepared in high enough quality for use and was available to address any problems related to the lab if they arose
- Assisted in maintaining inventory
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Georgia Southern University
August 2012-December 2013
- Related skills to this position are comparable to those of the Graduate Research Assistant position
Jessica L. Gray 