Jim Barr

Jim Barr Ph.D. Chemistry Office: ANS 109
Lab: ANS 108
Phone: 731-989-6348 Email Me

Education

B.S., Chemistry, Freed-Hardeman University, 1999

M.S., Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004

Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, University of Memphis, 2020

Office Hours

Please email for appointment.

Class Schedule

BPH300/400 Special Topics & Seminar
M: 4:00pm - 4:50pm (BK 152)

BPH300/400 Special Topics & Seminar
W: 4:00pm - 4:50pm (BK 152)

CHE321 Organic Chemistry I
MWF: 8:30am - 9:20am (ANS 105)

CHE322L Organic Chemistry I Lab
T: 12:00pm - 2:50pm (ANS 105)

CHE322L Organic Chemistry I Lab
T: 3:00pm - 5:50pm (ANS 105)

PHS111 Physical Science I
MWF: 12:00pm - 12:50pm (ASC 107)

About Jim Barr

Chemistry has interested me since my first day of high school chemistry when Mr. Luthy ignited a large jug of methanol vapor that singed the ceiling tile leaving a discolored ring. I took an "advanced" chemistry course the subsequent year and have been immersed in the discipline ever since.

I attended Freed-Hardeman University (FHU) after high school and graduated with a degree in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. My intention was to continue into pharmaceutical research, but I always had this nagging interest in physics and, at the last moment, decided to go on to graduate school to pursue a degree in chemical physics. This decision was surely because of my time spent with Dr. DeLay and Dr. Thornthwaite who both, in their own quirky and thoughtful ways, opened my eyes to the fascinating realm of chemistry that I have enjoyed ever since those youthful days.

I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, (UNR) after graduating from FHU and had the opportunity to take part in several different research projects as well as work with the Department of Energy at Sandia National Laboratory in their Combustion Research Facility. I worked with Dr. Cline at UNR and was fortunate to have great success in our projects involved in chemical dynamics and molecular control. In 2005, after graduation, I decided to return to FHU and joined the chemistry faculty.

I began my Ph.D. in 2010 through the University of Memphis and initially worked with Dr. Webster in the area of computation chemistry considering the isomerization pathways of organometallic photochromic targets. I switched groups in 2014 to work with Dr. Wang, which was a tremendous blessing, and continued computation research, but turned to consider plasmonic properties of metal nanoparticles. I finished my Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 2020.

I was greatly blessed while a student at FHU. The faculty were considerate and encouraging, and the Christian atmosphere was nurturing such that I can truly say that I would not be the person I am today without FHU. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work in both experimental and computational chemistry, and I believe this provides me with excellent perspective and experience to help guide the young people I'm around every day. My desire is to continue to help provide a place of learning that will foster academic excellence as well as spiritual growth and maturity.

May God use me to accomplish His will and may I always keep my eyes open to opportunities to be more fully transformed into the image of His Son.

+ - x Curriculum Vita

Education

2020

Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Coursework: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Intermediate Organic Chemistry

2004

M.S. in Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV

Coursework: Advanced Physical Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Mathematical Physics

1999

B.S. in Chemistry, Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, TN

Coursework: Physical Chemistry, Differential Equations

Teaching Experience

2005 to Present

Assistant Professor – Freed-Hardeman University

Courses Taught: Physical Science, Physics, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry, Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics, Special Topics, Science Seminar, Coffee Chemistry

1999 to 2002

Teaching Assistant – University of Nevada

Courses Taught: General Chemistry Lab, Instrumental Analysis Lab, Physical Chemistry Lab

1995 to 1996

Teaching Assistant – Freed-Hardeman University

Courses Taught: Organic Chemistry Lab

Research Experience

Future work to include chemical dynamics and photochemical kinetics.

2014 to Present	Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering – University of Memphis & FHU Computational research investigating the plasmonic optical properties of metal nanoparticles.
2014 to 2015	Pollen Source Determination In Honey – Freed-Hardeman University Cross-disciplinary research focused on using analytical methods to extract and isolate specific flavonoids from various honey samples to determine pollen sources of local honey.
2010 to 2014	Photochromic Isomerization – University of Memphis Cross-disciplinary research focused on molecular dynamics due to photochromic processes. Student research investigated isomerization of 5-coordinate phosphorus compounds at a theoretical level and looking for trends when compared to published experimental data.
2003 to 2005	Nanomotor – University of Nevada The goal was to produce a molecular motor that could be absorbed to a surface an driven by light absorption which would induce isomerization with directionally geared rotation. Functional groups were varied and spectral absorption variations were measured as well as the quantum yields for the (E)- and (Z)- isomers.
1999 to 2003	Bi-molecular Crossed Beam Scattering – University of Nevada Previous projects have included crossed-beam scattering of Ar, Ne, and N2) with NO to investigate the chemical dynamics of the scattering systems. Results show it is possible to generate molecules with a specific sense of rotation, a view toward molecular control.

+ - x Professional Development

Publications

"Insights on the Coupling of Plasmonic Nanoparticles from Near-Field Spectra Determined via Discrete Dipole Approximations", J.W. Barr, S. Gomrok, E. Chaffin, X. Huang, and Y. Wang, J. Phys. Chem. C. 125, 9, 5260-5268 (2021).

"Near-field and far-field optical properties of magnetic plasmonic core-shell nanoparticles with non-spherical shapes: A discrete dipole approximation study", S. Bhardwaj, J. Barr, E. Chaffin, X. Huang, and Y. Wang, AIP Adv. 9, 025021 (2019).

"Controllable self-assembled plasmonic vesiclebased three-dimensional SERS platform for picomolar detection of hydrophobic contaminants", X. Huang, Y. Liu, J. Barr, J. Song, Z. He, Y. Wang, Z. Nie, Y. Xiong, X. Chen, Nanoscale, 10, 13204 (2018).

"Dependence of SERS enhancement on the chemical composition and structure of Ag/Au hybrid nanoparticles", E. Chaffin, R. O'Connor, J.W. Barr, X. Huang, and Y. Wang, J. Chem. Phys. 145, 054706 (2016).

"Photochemistry of Chromium Arene Tricarbonyl Complexes with Tethered Pyridinyl and Propenyl Groups: Investigations of the Effect of Ring Size on Chelate Formation, Structure, and Linkage Isomerization", C.B. Duke, R.G. Letterman, J.O. Johnson, J.W. Barr, S. Hu, C.R. Ross, C.E. Webster, and T.J. Burkey, Organometallics 33, 485-497 (2014).

"Synthesis, structures, and photoisomerization of (E)- and (Z)-2-tert-butyl-9-(2,2,2-triphenylethylidene)fluorene", J.W. Barr, T.W. Bell, V.J. Catalano, J.I. Cline, D.J. Phillips, and R. Procupez, J. Phys. Chem. A. 109, 11650-11654 (2005).

"Ion imaging studies of product rotational alignment in collisions of NO (X²&Pi_1/2, j=0.5) with Ar", E.A. Wade, K.T. Lorenz, D.W. Chandler, J.W. Barr, G.L. Barnes, and J.I. Cline, Chem. Phys. 301, 261-272 (2004).

"Ion imaging measurement of collision-induced rotational alignment in Ar-NO scattering", J.I. Cline, K.T. Lorenz, E.A. Wade, J.W. Barr, and D.W. Chandler, J. Chem. Phys. 115, 6277-6280 (2001).

"Direct measurement of the preferred sense of NO rotation after collision with argon", K.T. Lorenz, D.W. Chandler, J.W. Barr, W. Chen, G.L. Barnes, and J.I. Cline, Science 293, 2063-2066 (2001).

For commentary on this work, also see:

"Close encounters", F.F. Crim, Science 293, 2014-2015 (2001).

"News of the Week: Which way do they spin?", E. Wilson, Chemical and Engineering News 79(38), 9 (17 Sep 2001).

"Search and Discovery: Experiment and Theory Combine to Probe the Quantum Chemistry of Molecular Beams", C. Day, Physics Today 55(1), 13-15 (Jan 2002).

Conferences

"Photoisomerization Kinetics of a Prototype Light-Driven Molecular Motor", J.W. Barr, J.H. Mantha, R. Procupez, N. Hext, T.W. Bell, J.I. Cline, Western Spectroscopy Association, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004, Pacific Grove, CA.

"Collision Induced Product Rotational Orientation in Inelastic Bi-molecular Cross Beam Scattering of NO With N₂", J.W. Barr, J.I. Cline, M.S. Elioff, D.W. Chandler, Western Spectroscopy Association, University of Nevada, Reno and Sandia National Laboratories/CA, 2003, Pacific Grove, CA.

* Award Winner: Best Experimental Poster Presentation
"Collision Induced Product Rotational Orientation in Inelastic Bi-molecular Cross Beam Scattering of NO With Ar, Ne, and N₂", J.W. Barr, W. Chen, G.L. Barnes, J.I. Cline, K.T. Lorenz, M.S. Elioff, D.W. Chandler, Atomic and Molecular Interaction Gordon Research Conference, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and Sandia National Laboratories/CA, 2002, Bristol, RI.*

"Analysis of No-Ar Bi-molecular Cross Beam Scattering", J.W. Barr, W. Chen, J.I. Cline, K.T. Lorenz, D.W. Chandler, Western Spectroscopy Association, University of Nevada, Reno and Sandia National Laboratories/CA, 2002, Pacific Grove, CA.

Presentations

“Computational Investigation of Plasmonic Properties of Metal Nanoparticle Assemblies", University of Memphis, 2020, Memphis, TN.

"Computational Investigation of Plasmonic Properties of Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies", Presented at Materials Day, University of Memphis, 2019, Memphis, TN.

"SERS Enhancement of Gold Nanoparticle Coated Vesicles", J. Barr, E. Chaffin, Y. Wang, Materials Day, University of Memphis, 2017, Memphis, TN.

"Theoretical Study of Phosphoranes Toward an Ideal Computational Model", James W. Barr, University of Memphis, 2014, Memphis, TN.

"Computational Design of Organometallic Photochromic Targets", James W. Barr, Charles Duke, Theodore Burkey, and Charles Edwin Webster, Undergraduate Research Conference, University of Memphis, 2013, Memphis, TN.

"Crossed Molecular Beam Scattering Studies of the Rotational Alignment and Orientation of Nitric Oxide in Inelastic Collisions with Argon Atoms", J.W. Barr, University of Nevada, Reno - Seminar, University of Nevada, Reno, 2002, Reno, NV.

"Structure and Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes", J.W. Barr, University of Nevada, Reno - Seminar, University of Nevada, Reno, 2000, Reno, NV.

+ - x Resources