For this week’s #FacultyFriday feature, meet Dr. Robert Wilson, associate professor of chemistry. Dr. Wilson has taught at the college since 2012 and specializes in analytical and inorganic chemistry. Previously, he worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a teaching assistant and graduate assistant, and at Andrews University as a laboratory assistant. While he was at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Wilson participated in several research projects, and his graduate research focused on the lipid and protein organization within the cell membrane.
Name: Robert L Wilson
Title: Associate professor of chemistry
Email: rlwilson@puc.edu
Faculty since: July 1, 2012
Classes taught: General Chemistry and its labs; Laboratory Glassblowing; Analytical Chemistry and its labs; Inorganic Chemistry; Topics in Chemistry: Organometallics; Introduction to Research; and Senior Capstone
Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematical studies, from Andrews University, 2007; Ph.D. in chemistry, from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2012
Professional activities:
Wilson, R. L.; Frisz, J. F.; Klitzing, H. A.; Zimmerberg, J.; Weber, P. K.; Kraft, M. L. “Hemagglutinin Clusters in the Plasma Membrane Are Not Enriched with Cholesterol and Sphingolipids” Biophysical Journal. 2015, Vol. 108, Issue 7, pp 1652-1659
Wilson, R. L.; Kraft, M. L.; “Quantifying the Molar Percentages of Cholesterol in Supported Lipid Membranes by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Multivariate Analysis” Anal. Chem., 2013, 85 (1), pp 91-97
Wilson, R. L.; Frisz, J. F.; Hanafin, W. P.; Carpenter, K. J.; Hutcheon, I. D.; Weber, P. K.; Kraft, M. L. “Fluorinated colloidal gold immunolabels for imaging select proteins in parallel with lipids using high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry” Bioconjugate Chem., 2012, 23(3), pp 450-460
Frisz, J. F.; Choi. J. S.; Wilson, R. L.; Harley, B. A. C.; Kraft, M. L. “Identifying differentiation stage of individual primary hematopoietic cells from mouse bone marrow using ToF-secondary ion mass spectrometry” Anal. Chem., 2012, 84 (10), pp 4307-4313
Frisz, J. F.; Lou, K.; Klitzing, H. A.; Hanafin, W. P.; Wilson, R. L.; Carpenter, K. J.; Lizunov, V.; Hutcheon, I. D.; Zimmerberg, J.; Weber, P. K.; Kraft, M. L. “Direct chemical evidence for sphingolipid domains in the plasma membranes of fibroblasts” PNAS Vol. 110 no. 8, E613-E622
Stoffregen, S. A.; McCulla, R. D.; Wilson, R.; Cercone, S.; Miller, J.; Jenks, W. S. “Sulfur and Selenium Ylide Bond Enthalpies” J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 8235-8242.
Merga, G.; Wilson, R.; Lynn, G.; Milosavlevic, B. H.; Meisel, D. “Redox Catalysis on ‘Naked’ Silver Nanoparticles” J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 12220-12226.
What made you decide to be a teacher?
I planned on doing research in the chemical industry; however, I had always enjoyed the academic environment. I was told of an open position here at PUC and applied. I am really happy I did.
What are some of your hobbies?
Glassblowing, board games, camping
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
I have a pilot’s license.
What’s your favorite thing about PUC?
The family-like atmosphere and tall trees.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
In the woods.
What’s your favorite TV show?
“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Study early and often, but never on Sabbath. This is what helped me the most in college and graduate school.
Interested in learning more about PUC’s chemistry program? Visit puc.edu/admissions!