معرفی
Karen Brewer is the Silas D. Childs Professor of Chemistry at Hamilton College, where she has been a faculty member since 1989. She teaches undergraduate courses in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry, and General Chemistry, and directs Summer Research and Senior Projects.
- Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- B.S., Ohio Northern University
Her research focuses on sol-gel synthesis of silica-based materials doped with rare earth ions (e.g., Eu3+, Tb3+, Er3+), investigating their fluorescence properties and upconversion mechanisms through collaborative laser spectroscopy experiments. Current projects include energy transfer studies between co-doped rare earth ions and incorporation of rare earth nanoparticles into glass matrices.
Her publications span topics from sol-gel processing to chelation effects on luminescence. She has received grants from the Research Corporation, American Chemical Society, and Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
- Professional affiliations: American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society, Sigma Xi
Brewer has advised numerous undergraduate researchers, including Kate Schirmer, Beth Benton, and Timothy J. Reid, whose theses explore functionalization of calixarenes, nanoparticle encapsulation, and hydroxyl concentration characterization. She is on leave during fall 2025.
