Kyle A. McDonald, Ph.D. (he/his/him)

Experience

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  University of South Florida

  Aug 2010 - May 2013

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Chemistry

  Advisor: Dr. Michael J. ZaworotkoMetal-organic materials (MOMs), constructed via self-assembly of metal nodes and organic linkers, offer the potential to address vital challenges in the realm of gas separations and storage. Some MOM platforms make use of pillaring ligands linking metal-organic sheets to form 3D-scaffolds, thereby increasing porosity and stability to loss of guest species. We report herein a series of pillared sheet MOMs, [Co(bpy)2(SiF6)], [Co(bpy)2(TiF6)], [Co(bpy)2(SnF6)], and [Co(bpy)2(ZrF6)] (bpy= 4,4’-bipyridine), synthesized via room temperature diffusion and solvothermal methods from readily available starting materials. These MOMs exhibit high relative CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 uptake in comparison to other MOMs with similar surface areas, relevant to carbon capture. Alternative synthesis methods have been examined. We aimed to examine the effect of subtle changes in framework composition on CO2 adsorption selectivity for energy-related applications.Advisor: Dr. Brian B. Spacerht-type MOFs are an emerging class of (3,24)-connected isoreticular MOFs that are constructed from dendritic hexacarboxylate ligands coordinated to Cu2+ ions. This series of compounds exhibits packing of three different types of polyhedra: cuboctahedra, truncated tetrahedra and truncated octahedra¹. By understanding the functional groups that attract certain small molecules with a high affinity, new MOFs can be designed to optimize the material for certain applications. To achieve this, fragments are selected from a MOF framework and partial charges are fit to the electrostatic potential surface of the fragment. Subsequently, hydrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms are simulated and compared to experimental measurements for the rht-type MOF PCN66. With a better understanding of the functionalities in the framework that attract the gas molecules, optimized isostructural derivatives of these MOFs can be developed. Show less

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  University of Michigan

  Jan 2014 - Sept 2017

  Advisor: Dr. Adam J. MatzgerRackham Merit Fellow (RMF)2014 National Science Foundation (NSF) GRFP FellowBudget Committee Member for the 2014-2017 Karle SymposiumMember of the Chemistry Professional Development Organization (CPDO)Additional coursework: Patent Law and Strategy

  • Ph.D. Student

    Jun 2013 - Sept 2017

  • Graduate Student Instructor - CHEM 216 (Organic Chemistry II Lab)

    Jan 2014 - May 2014
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  Dow

  Dec 2017 - now

  • Research Scientist

    Jun 2022 - now

  • Associate Research Scientist

    May 2021 - Jun 2022

  • Senior Chemist

    Dec 2017 - May 2021