Alexis D. Ostrowski

Alexis D. Ostrowski, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
511 Physical Sciences Laboratory Building
419-372-2809
alexiso@bgsu.edu
Research Group Website

Biographical Facts:

Joined the faculty in 2012
Ph.D, University of California, Santa Barbara (2010)
B.A., Occidental College (2004)

Research Interests:

Our research is inspired by the interactions of metal ions in natural systems. We focus on the fundamental photochemistry of metal-coordination interactions in polymers and are also interested in understanding how the photochemical reactions of contribute to metal ion cycling in the watershed. In addition, we use this photochemistry as inspiration, creating new photo-responsive materials. We use coordination complexes, biopolymers, and nanoparticles to design the photo-responsive materials. We have designed photoresponsive materials for wastewater treatment and sustainable bioplastics, and are investigating how the metal ion coordination affects degradation and mechanical properties of the materials. We are also interested in how these biodegradable materials can influence nutrient cycling, plant growth, and microbial communities at the agricultural/watershed interface, particularly in coastal systems like the Great Lakes.

Topics of interest:

photochemistry, materials science, coordination chemistry, polymer synthesis, metals in biology, nanoparticle assembly, biomaterials  

Selected Publications:

Karunarathna, M. H. J. S; Linhart, A.; Giammanco, G.E.; Norton, A.; Chory, J.; Keleher, J. ; Ostrowski, A.D.; “Harnessing Fe(III)-carboxylate photochemistry for radical initiated polymerization in hydrogels” ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2021, 4, 7, 5765–5775 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00525

Karunarathna, M. H. J.; Hatten, Z.; Bailey, K.; Lewis, E.; Morris, A.; Kolk, A.; Laib, J.; Tembo, N.; Williams, R.; Phillips, B.; Ash, B.; Midden, W. R.; Ostrowski, A.D.; “Reclaiming phosphate from waste solutions with Fe(III) –polysaccharide hydrogel beads for photo-controlled-release fertilizer” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2019, 67, 12155-12163 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b02860* front cover article

A.O. Razgoniaev; E.V. Butaeva; A.V. Iretskii; A.D. Ostrowski “Changing mechanical strength in Cr(III)-metallosupramolecular polymers with ligands and light”, Inorganic Chemistry, 2016, 55, 5430-5437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00422

G.E. Giammanco; C.T. Sosnofsky; A.D. Ostrowski “Light-responsive Iron(III)-Polysaccharide Coordination hydrogels for controlled delivery” ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2015, DOI: 10.1021/am506772x