Richard A O'Brien

Dr. Richard O'Brien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Alabama, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic career spans decades, with a research focus on ionic liquids, thiol-ene chemistry, and phase transfer catalysis. He earned his B.S. in Professional Chemistry from South Dakota State University (1985), M.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Dakota (1987), and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1992).

• B.S., Professional Chemistry, South Dakota State University (1985)
• M.S., Chemistry, University of North Dakota (1987)
• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1992)

Dr. O'Brien's research, often in collaboration with Dr. John H. Davis Jr., explores novel lipid-inspired ionic liquids synthesized via thiol-ene and thiol-yne reactions. His work investigates how sulfur incorporation and structural modifications affect melting points and thermophysical properties, aiming to develop advanced materials for lubricants, heat transfer fluids, and separation technologies. Recent studies include boronium-based ionic liquids with hydrolytic stability, cyclopropanated lipidic derivatives, and anti-microbial textile dyes.

His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, accountability, and fairness, particularly in laboratory settings. He coordinates chemistry instrumentation for key technologies (NMR, UV-Vis, AA, microwaves, fluorescence, electrochemical systems) and received the Top Prof award from the Azalea Chapter of Mortar Board in 2011. Dr. O'Brien's work bridges synthetic organic chemistry, materials science, and applied engineering, contributing to both academic research and industrial applications.