Temple University Department of Chemistry
  • Home
  • Faculty
  • Research
    • Research Faculty
    • Research Institutes
    • Facilities
  • Graduate
    • Apply
    • About our program
    • Program requirements
    • Course offerings
    • Professional Science Masters in Forensic Chemistry
    • Student life
    • Fellowship opportunities
  • Undergraduate
    • Program overview
    • Undergraduate research
    • TU Chemistry Society (TUCS)
    • Scholarship opportunities
  • Alumni
  • Resources
    • Safety
    • Syllabi
    • Book an instrument
    • Ombudsperson
    • Machine shop
    • Library
    • Software
  • DEI
  • Contact
    • Staff
    • TU directory
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Specialties
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Elizabeth Cerkez

Associate Professor of Instruction in Chemistry

Courses:
CHEM 0877 - The Chemistry of Global Environmental Issues
CHEM 1031 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 1032 - General Chemistry II
​CHEM 1953 - Honors General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 1954 - Honors General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 3105 - Introduction to Chemical Research Techniques
CHEM 3398 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II
SCTC 1001 -  First Year Seminar
Office: Beury 222C
Phone: 215-204-7821
Send an email

Biography

2016

2009

Selected Awards
Ph.D. Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

B.A La Salle University Philadelphia, PA

​Italia-Eire Foundation Distinguished Teacher  of the Year Award, 2020.

Interests

My research interests are in the areas of geochemistry and promoting undergraduate research experiences. Specifically, the research aims to understand the interactions of toxic oxyanions, like arsenite and chromate, with mineral surfaces. Using techniques like attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the goal is to understand how these redox active moieties transform on or near a surface, implicating their solubility in environmental waters. These systems can be simple, looking at adsorption on an iron oxide, or complex, working to understand photochemical reactions of iron oxides stored within protein cages. In all of these projects, undergraduates perform the majority of the research and are able to explore their interests while developing laboratory skills. Finally, I work to incorporate research methodology in the undergraduate laboratory courses I teach, hoping to give students a glimpse into the exciting world of research. ​

Select Publications

Reactivity of Binary Manganese Oxide Mixtures Towards Arsenite Removal: Evidence of Synergistic Effects
Song, B.; Cerkez, E. B.; Grandstaff, D. E.; Goodwin, C. M.; Kukulka, M. A.; Beebe Jr., T. P.; Kim, B.
Applied Geochemistry 2021, 130, 104939.

Effects of Ni Incorporation on the Reactivity and Stability of Hausmannite (Mn3O4): Environmental Implications for Mn, Ni, and As Solubility and Cycling
Song, B.; Cerkez, E. B.; Elzinga E. J.; Kim, B.
Chemical Geology 2020, 558, 119862.

Photochemistry of Ferritin Decorated with Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles
Cerkez, E. B.; Dutton, G. K.; Ghidey, Y. G.; Kukulka, M. A.; Valentine, A. M.; Strongin, D. R.
Environmental Science:Nano 2019, 6, 85-93.
 
Coupled Redox Transformation of Chromate and Arsenite on Ferrihydrite
​Cerkez, E. B.; Bhandari, N.; Reeder, R. J.; Strongin, D. R.
Environmental Science & Technology 2015, 49 (5), 2858-2866.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF chemistry

Department of Chemistry
Temple University
1901 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6081
Temple University Cherry and White Directory
Contact
TEMPLE
CST
TUPORTAL
TUMAIL
ACCESSIBILITY
POLICIES
CAREERS
Copyright 2015. Temple University. All rights reserved.