National Research Collaboration
June 24, 2015
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Chemistry Professor Participating in U.S. Army Laboratory Summer Research Program
June 24, 2015
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
June 24, 2015
Faculty at The University of Texas at Tyler are once again recognized for being world-class researchers.
Dr. Jason Smee, an associate professor of chemistry, is participating in an open-campus program this summer at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Dr. Michael Odell, vice president for research and technology transfer, announced.
The UT Tyler Office of Sponsored Research and Technology Transfer nominated Smee, who was then recommended by UT System and selected by the U.S. Army after a thorough review of his qualifications.
As part of this initiative, Smee will collaborate with ARL scientists in areas of common research interest at ARL’s facilities. Smee will help develop solar-powered catalysts to aid in the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful organic fuels.
This is the second consecutive year UT Tyler has collaborated with the ARL in this endeavor.
“It is a humbling experience to be selected for this program,” Smee said. “This opportunity has given me the chance to expand my own area of research and develop contacts at the Army Research Labs.”
Serving UT Tyler since 2005, Smee’s research expertise is in nickel, vanadium and inorganic compounds. Since 2007, as a co-principal investigator with the other faculty in the UT Tyler Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, he has helped to secure nearly $300,000 in scholarship funds from The Robert A. Welch Foundation to support undergraduate chemical research.
Smee also has mentored students in the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED Program, which provides economically-disadvantaged, rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in specialized research. His research has been published in prominent journals including Chemical Reviews, Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry.
Smee holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Texas A&M University.
The mission the U.S. Army Research Laboratory is to provide innovative science, technology and analyses to enable full spectrum Army operation, now and into the future. To execute this mission, ARL leverages the substantial intellectual resource represented by the global academic scientific research community.
Formation of a collaborative and transparent relationship with this community, industry and small business through the Open Campus initiative offers the prospect for enhanced discovery and innovation and effective execution of basic and applied research programs in a variety of technical focus areas of high Army interest.
For more information, visit the ARL website.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.