LaDuca | Lyman Briggs College | Michigan State University

Rob LaDuca, Ph.D.

Rob  LaDuca
  • Professor
  • LB Course Subject Area: Chemistry
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Holmes Hall, E-194
  • 919 E. Shaw Lane
  • East Lansing, MI 48825

LBC COURSES

  • LB 171: General Chemistry 1 Lab
  • LB 171L: General Chemistry 1 Lab
  • LB 172: General Chemistry 2
  • LB 492: Senior Capstone

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. LaDuca is on leave for the 2022-23 academic year.

Dr. Rob LaDuca teaches general chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and scientific communication seminars. He and his undergraduate-only research group investigate synthetic metal-organic hybrid crystals as detectors for environmental contaminants, and as catalysts for the safe degradation of toxic dyestuffs.



EDUCATION

  • 1995, Postdoctoral Fellow, Syracuse University
  • Ph.D. 1995 Cornell University
  • M.S. 1991 Cornell University
  • B.S. 1989 Yale University

HONORS & AWARDS

  • 2016 Guest Editor for Undergraduate Research Special Issue, Polyhedron
  • 2014 Michigan State University College of Natural Sciences Undergraduate Teaching Award
  • 2012 American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Research Preceptor Award. One prize awarded nationally per year.
  • 2011 State of Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year, awarded by President’s Council of the State Universities of Michigan. 
  • 2010 Mid-Michigan Alumni Club of MSU Quality in Undergraduate Teaching Award. “In recognition of outstanding undergraduate teaching”; top teaching prize at Michigan State University

RESEARCH

  • National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation: Acquisition of a Duo Source Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer for the Center for X-ray Crystallographic Research at Michigan State University, $277,765, August 2019–July 2020.
  • National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at Michigan State University: Cross-disciplinary Training in Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Processes, $280,000, August 2019–July 2022.
  • National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at Michigan State University: Cross-disciplinary Training in Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Processes, $270,000, August 2014–July 2017

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Celeste R. Czarnecki, R. L. LaDuca, “Structural diversity and dye degradation capability of copper 1,2-phenylenediacetate coordination polymers with flexible dipyridylamide ligands”, Polyhedron, 2019, 161, 161–168.
  • Zaria I. Contejean, R. L. LaDuca, “Nitroaromatic-detecting zinc and cadmium coordination polymers with methyl-substituted aliphatic dicarboxylate and 4,4′-dipyridylamine ligands and diverse topologies”, Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 2018, 266, 44–53.
  • Jack J. Przybyla, R. L. LaDuca, “Control of Chirality and Catenation in Cobalt and Cadmium Camphorate Coordination Complexes”, CrystEngComm, 2018, 20, 280–293. FEATURED FRONT COVER ARTICLE.
  • Jamelah Z. Travis, Brianna L. Martinez, R. L. LaDuca, “Structurally Diverse Divalent Metal Adamantanedicarboxylate Coordination Polymers with Hydrogen-bonding Capable Dipyridyl Pillaring Ligands”, Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie, 2018, 644, 33–42. FEATURED FRONT COVER ARTICLE.
  • Charmaine L. White, R. L. LaDuca, “Nickel Adipate Coordination Polymers with Isomeric Dipyridylamide Ligands: Topological Disorder and Divergent Magnetic Properties”, CrystEngComm, 2016, 18, 6789–6797. FEATURED FRONT COVER ARTICLE.
  • Megan J. Wudkewych, R. L. LaDuca, “Metal-Dependent Ribbon and Self-Penetrated Topologies in Nitroaromatic-sensing Zinc and Cadmium Coordination Polymers with Terephthalate and Dipyridylamide Ligands”, Polyhedron, 2016, 114, 72–79.  INVITED PAPER for UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SPECIAL ISSUE.
  • Margaret E. Robinson, Jessica E. Mizzi, R. J. Staples, R. L. LaDuca, “Structural Chemistry and Properties of Metal Oxalates Containing a Long-Spanning Dipyridyl Ligand: Chain, Interpenetrated Diamondoid, Threaded-Loop Layer, and Self-Penetrated Topologies”, Crystal Growth & Design, 2015, 15, 2260–2271.
  • Lucas E. Weingartz, Joseph H. Nettleman, Gregory A. Farnum, Richard J. Staples, R. L. LaDuca, “Divalent Metal Diphenate Dipyridylamine Coordination Polymers: Supramolecular Polytypism and a Rare 5-connected Topology Based on Arc-like Hexanuclear Clusters”, Polyhedron, 2015, 89, 168-181. FEATURED COVER ARTICLE
  • Jacob W. Uebler, Amy L. Pochodylo, R. J. Staples, R. L. LaDuca, “Control of Self-Penetration and Dimensionality in Luminescent Cadmium Succinate Coordination Polymers via Isomeric Dipyridylamide Ligands”, Crystal Growth & Design, 2013, 13, 2220–2232.
  • Curtis Y. Wang, Zachary M. Wilseck, R. L. LaDuca, “1D + 1D 1D Polyrotaxane, 2D + 2D 3D Interpenetrated, and 3D Self-Penetrated Divalent Metal Terephthalate Bis(pyridylformyl)piperazine Coordination Polymers”, Inorganic Chemistry, 2011, 50, 8997–9003.

LINKS

Curriculum Vitae