Kathryn Kloepper
Department of Chemistry - Mercer University
Research in the Kloepper lab focuses on using analytical techniques to address “real world” problems. One project involves quantifying the desorption and adsorption of various metals from kaolin, which is mined in the region. Another research project aims to identify and characterize new biosurfactants from bacteria.
There are over 40 Mercer undergraduates currently
performing chemistry research with the guidance of
faculty mentors. Students in the Kloepper lab can
expect to gain experience with wet-lab techniques,
departmental instrumentation, the primary
literature, and scientific writing.
Kloepper research students will have opportunities
to attend and present at local, regional, and national conferences. Conferences that students have participated in include Mercer University’s BEAR Day, ACS meetings, and Pittcon.
expect to gain experience with wet-lab techniques,
departmental instrumentation, the primary
literature, and scientific writing.
Kloepper research students will have opportunities
to attend and present at local, regional, and national conferences. Conferences that students have participated in include Mercer University’s BEAR Day, ACS meetings, and Pittcon.
Research openings: if you are interested in discussing undergraduate research opportunities, please send an email to kloepper_kd AT mercer DOT edu
Publications
Undergraduate co-authors are underlined.
10. Lemkau, L. R.; Comellas, G.; Kloepper, K. D.; Woods, W. S.; George, J. M.; Rienstra, C. M., “Mutant protein A30P alpha-synuclein adopts wild-type fibril structure, despite slower fibrillation kinetics.” J. Biol. Chem. 2012, 134, 5090-5099.
9. Comellas, G.; Lemkau, L. R.; Nieuwkoop, A. J.; Kloepper, K.D.; Ladror, D. T.; Ebisu, R.; Woods, W. S.; George, J. M.; Rienstra, C. M. “Structured regions of alpha-synuclein fibrils include the early onset Parkinson’s disease mutation sites.” J. Mol. Biol. 2011, 411, 881-895.
8. Kloepper, K. D.; Hartman, K. L.; Ladror, D. T.; Rienstra, C. M. “Solid-state NMR spectroscopy reveals that water is nonessential to the core structure of alpha-synuclein fibrils.” J. Phys. Chem. B, 2007, 111, 13353-13356.
7. Woods, W. S.; Boettcher, J. M.; Zhou, D. H.; Kloepper, K. D.; Hartman, K. L.; Ladror, D. T.; Qi, Z.; Rienstra, C. M.; George, J. M., “Conformation-specific binding of alpha-synuclein to novel protein partners detected by phage display and NMR spectroscopy.” J. Biol. Chem. 2007, 282, 34555-34567.
6. Kloepper, K. D.; Zhou, D. H.; Li, Y.; Winter, K. A.; George, J. M.; Rienstra, C. M., “Temperature-dependent sensitivity enhancement of solid-state NMR spectra of alpha-synuclein fibrils.” J. Biomol. NMR. 2007, 39, 197-211.
5. Franks, W. T.; Kloepper, K. D.; Wylie, B. J.; Rienstra, C. M., “Four-dimensional heteronuclear correlation experiments for chemical shift assignment of solid proteins.” J. Biomol. NMR. 2007, 39, 107-131.
4. Zhou, D. H.; Kloepper, K. D.; Winter, K. A.; Rienstra, C. M., "Band-selective 13C homonuclear 3D spectroscopy for solid proteins at high field with rotor-synchronized soft pulses." J. Biomol. NMR 2006, 34, 245-257.
3. Kloepper, K. D.; Woods, W. S.; Winter, K. A.; George, J. M.; Rienstra, C. M., "Preparation of alpha-synuclein fibrils for solid-state NMR: Expression, purification and incubation of wild type and mutant forms." Protein Express. Purif. 2006, 48, 112-117.
2. Kloepper, K. D.; Onuta, T.; Amarie, D.; Dragnea, B., "Field-induced interfacial properties of gold nanoparticles in AC microelectrophoretic experiments." J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 2547-2553.
1. Morris, T.; Kloepper K. D.; Wilson, S.; Szulczewski, G., "A spectroscopic study of mercury vapor adsorption on gold nanoparticle films." J. Coll. Inter. Sci. 2002, 254, 49-55.
Kloepper Group Presentations
Undergraduate co-authors are underlined. Presenting author(s) indicated with *.
Oral Presentations (Mercer Work. For full CV, please email me.)
*Kloepper, K. D., Let’s give them something to talk about: participation strategies that improve student engagement and learning. The Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Atlanta, November 15, 2013. Invited symposium speaker.
*Kloepper, K. D., From ancient oceans to modern marinas: analytical chemistry at an undergraduate institution. Fall 2013 Auburn University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Colloquium. Auburn, AL, October 10, 2013.
*Knapper, K. A., Kloepper, K. D., From the pit to the product: analysis of metal desorption from industrial kaolin. Chemistry Department Senior Research Symposium. Mercer University, April 26, 2013.
*Miller, K. L.; Crawford, G. L.; Kloepper, K. D., Biosurfactants: a biological approach to oil recovery. BEAR Day. Mercer University, April 11, 2013.
*Kloepper, K. D., Strategies to improve the quantity and quality of student participation in Analytical Chemistry. Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Baton Rouge, LA, November 2012.
Knapper, K. A.; Ford, A. M.; Cicerchi, B.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; *Kloepper, K. D., Collaborating with industry to create new opportunities for undergraduate research. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, State College, PA, July 30, 2012.
*Montanari, D. E.; Kloepper, K. D., Biosurfactant discovery and characterization. Chemistry Department Senior Research Symposium. Mercer University, April 27, 2012.
*Montanari, D. E.; Kloepper, K. D., Separation and characterization of biosurfactants produced by bacteria. BEAR Day. Mercer University, April 19, 2012.
*Miller, K. L.; Montanari, D. E.; Kloepper, K. D., Identification of biosurfactants produced by Bacillus subtilis. Summer Student Research Seminar Series. Mercer University, October 24, 2011.
*Kloepper, K. D.; *Knapper, K.A., Bioavailability of trace elements from kaolin: from the classroom to the research lab. 2011 Environmental Workshop of the Georgia Mining Association, Macon, GA, Invited lecture, April 27, 2011.
*Kloepper, K. D., Quantitative analysis of industrial kaolin: detection and repurposing of bio-available metals. Chemistry Symposium. Mercer University, November 5, 2009.
Poster Presentations (Selected Mercer work. For full CV, please email me.)
*Quattlebaum, C. L.; Oliver, E. L.; Knapper, K. A.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Spectroscopic analysis of metal desorption from industrial Georgia clay. The Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Atlanta, November 2013.
*Armstrong, J. L.; *King, A. P.; Miller, K. L.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Crawford, G. L.; Kloepper, K. D., Discovery of robust biosurfactants for agricultural and environmental applications. The Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Atlanta, November 2013.
*Rogers, C. C.; *Fenn, B. B.; Armstrong, J. L.; Kloepper, K. D., How sweet it is: developing an undergraduate laboratory experiment on the spectroscopy of sweet tea. The Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Atlanta, November 2013.
*Armstrong, J. L.; Miller, K. L.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Crawford, G. L.; Kloepper, K. D., Characterization of biosurfactants for use in marine environments. Gamma Sigma Epsilon Biennial Convention, Frostburg, MD, October 2013.
Knapper, K. A.; *Quattlebaum, C. L.; Bowen, M.; Cicerchi, B., Ma, D., Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Environmental conditions affect metal release from Georgia clay. Herty Medalist Undergraduate Research Symposium, September 2013.
*Armstrong, J. L.; Miller, K. L.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Crawford, G. L.; Kloepper, K. D., Characterization of biosurfactants for use in marine environments. Herty Medalist Undergraduate Research Symposium, September 2013.
*Knapper, K. A.; *Quattlebaum, C. L.; Bowen, M.; Cicerchi, B., Ma, D., Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Environmental conditions affect metal release from Georgia clay. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2013.
*Armstrong, J. L.; Miller, K. L.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Crawford, G. L.; Kloepper, K. D., Characterization of biosurfactants for use in marine environments. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2013.
*Knapper, K. A.; Cicerchi, B.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Impact of environmental conditions on metal desorption from industrial kaolin. Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Baton Rouge, LA, November 2012. 1st place best poster
*Miller, K. L.; Sinha, A.; Montanari, D. E.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Kloepper, K. D., Separation and characterization of biosurfactants for environmental applications. Herty Medalist Undergraduate Research Symposium, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, September 2012.
*Knapper, K. A.; Cicerchi, B.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Quantification of metal desorption from industrial kaolin as a function of environmental conditions. Herty Medalist Undergraduate Research Symposium, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, September 2012. 1st place best poster
*Kloepper, K. D., “Stoplight quizzes” and “around-the-world” discussions: strategies to increase class participation in the Analytical Chemistry sequence. Biennial Conference on Chemical Education. State College, PA, August 2012.
*Knapper, K. A.; Cicerchi, B.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Quantification of metal desorption from industrial kaolin as a function of environmental conditions. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2012. 1st place best poster
*Miller, K. L.; *Sinha, A.; Montanari, D. E.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Kloepper, K. D., Separation and characterization of biosurfactants for environmental applications. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2012.
*Montanari, D. E.; Miller, K. L.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Kloepper, K. D., Separation and identification of biosurfactants by RP-HPLC. Fall National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Denver, CO, August 2011.
Ford, A. M.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; *Kloepper, K. D., Partnering with industry in the undergraduate research laboratory and classroom. Fall National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Denver, CO, August 2011.
*Miller, K. L.; *Montanari, D. E.; Sastoque, E. L.; Kloepper, J. W.; Kloepper, K. D., Separation and identification of biosurfactants produced by Bacillus subtilis. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2011.
*Knapper, K. A.; *Rak, G.; Ford, A. M.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Detection of bio-available metals in industrial kaolin samples using inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Mercer University BEAR Day Poster Symposium, April 2011.
*Knapper, K. A.; *Rak, G.; Ford, A. M.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Detection of bio-available metals in industrial kaolin samples using inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Joint Southwest Regional Meeting and Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA, December 2010.
*Knapper, K. A.; *Rak, G.; Ford, A. M.; Ma, D.; Carter, R. D.; Kloepper, K. D., Detection of bio-available metals in industrial kaolin samples using inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Mercer University Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 2010. 3rd place best poster
(For my detailed CV and references, please email me at kloepper_kd AT mercer DOT edu)
