Dr. Sarah Harris

Sarah received her bachelor’s in Chemistry at Occidental College and continued her study at the University of Minnesota for her masters and Ph.D. She then taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the State University of New York at Oswego for two years before accepting the position here at Benedictine. As a lanthanide chemist, she is one of the few who talk about the bottom of the periodic table on a regular basis and specializes in metals in medicine and the environment. She is the daughter of a Lutheran pastor and has lived in 7 different states, but was excited about clicking her heels to make BC home.

Classes

• CHEM-1200/1201 General Chemistry I Lecture/Laboratory
• CHEM-1210/1211 General Chemistry II Lecture/Laboratory
• CHEM-3400/3401 Inorganic Chemistry Lecture/Laboratory
• CHEM-4650 Organometallic Chemistry

Education

Doctorate (2017) Inorganic Chemistry

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Thesis: Recognition of Cations and Anions by Lanthanide Complexes
Advisor: Valérie C. Pierre

Bachelors of Arts (2012) Chemistry

Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Minor, Mathematics
Advisor: Michael G. Hill

Research Interests

Metals are present in everything around us: often colorful or magnetic, and capable of providing key solutions to solving medical or environmental related crises.  Investigation of how to selectively recognize and manipulate these metals plays a huge part in moving forward in these fields. My laboratory research interest ranges from which metal and overall optimized molecule can be used to assist in imaging and understanding a common disease to how we can recycle phosphates for fertilizer used in everyday food production.

I am passionate about encouraging student and community interest in science.  I have recently been involved in Chemical Education Research on improving people’s opinion of chemistry through outreach with real-life applications and hands-on activities.  Elements are just the building blocks for life, and it is important to understand the rules and what to expect if we want to generate a better future.

Membership

• American Chemical Society

Publications

Representative Publications

Harris, S.M.; Peterson, K.L.; Bailie, K.M.; Rundle, B. K.; Tower, C.D.; Pierre, V. C. “Design and Evaluation of Environmental Outreach Activity for Middle School Students”, ACS Omega, 2020, 5, 39, 25175-25187. DOI:10.1021/acsomega.0c03194

Raju, M.V.R.; Harris, S.M.; Pierre, V.C. “Design and Applications of Metal-Based Molecular Receptors and Probes for Inorganic Phosphate”, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020, 49, 1090-1108. DOI:10.1039/C9CS00543A

Srivastava, K.; Ferrauto, G.; Harris, S.M.; D.L. Longo, Botta, M.; Aime, S.; Pierre, V.C.“Complete on/off responsive ParaCEST MRI contrast agents for copper and zinc”, Dalton Trans. 2018, Advance Article. DOI:10.1039/C8DT01172A

Harris, S.M.*; Srivastava, K.*; Ziebarth, K.E.; Pierre, V. C. “Achieving selectivity of copper over zinc with luminescent terbium probes bearing phenanthridine antennas”, Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 2202-2213. DOI:10.1039/c7dt04203e
*These authors contributed equally

Pierre, V.C; Harris, S.M.; Pailloux, S. L."Comparing Strategies in the Design of Responsive Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case Study with Copper and Zinc”, Acc. Chem. Res., 2017, 51, 2, 342-351. DOI:10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00301

Harris, S.M.; Nguyen, J.T.; Pailloux, S.L.; Mansergh, J. P.; Dresel, M.J.; Nguyen, T.B.; Gao, T.; Pierre, V.C. “Gadolinium-based Phosphate Recycle System: Catch and Release”, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, 51, 8, 4549–4558. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.6b05815

Kallick, J.; Harris, S.; Udit, A.; Hill, M.G. “A spin column for heterogeneous bioconjugation via azide-ethynyl coupling in aqueous solution” BioTechniques. 2015, 59, 6, 329-334.

Representative Presentations

Oral presentation:

Outreach (8th grade)

Harris, S.M. “The College Experience.” January 2019, Central Middle School, White Bear Lake, MN.

Outreach (6th grade)

Harris, S.M. “Phosphate Testing.” January 2019, Central Middle School, White Bear Lake, MN.

Gordon Research Seminar (GRS)

Harris, S.M. “Altering the Selectivity of Luminescent Terbium Probes for Copper over Zinc via the Number of Antennas.” January 2017, Ventura, CA.

Metallo Protein Interest Group (MPIG)

Harris, S.M. “Hard Metal Complexes for Phosphate Recycling.” March 2016, University of Minnesota.

Orientation Faculty Talk

Harris, S.M. “Metals in Medicine: Research in the Pierre Group.” Fall 2015, University of Minnesota.

Graduate Student Research Symposium - GSRS

Harris, S.M. “Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes for High Selectivity of Copper over Zinc.” Summer 2015, University of Minnesota.

ACS Student Chapter Guest Lecturer

Harris, S.M. “Research: Altering the Nature of the Ligand - Resulting Effects on Selectivity.” Spring 2015, University of Minnesota.

Poster presentation:

Bioinorganic Chemistry Gordon Research Seminar – GRC

Harris, S.M.; Peterson, K.L; Ricks, R.T.; Pierre, V.  “Sparking Interest in 6th Grade Scientists through Outreach: Measuring Phosphate Concentration in Local Waterways.” June 2019, Lewiston, ME.

Bioinorganic Chemistry Gordon Research Seminar – GRS

Harris, S.M.; Srivastava, K.; Ziebarth, K.; Pierre, V.  “Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes for High Selectivity of Copper over Zinc.” January 2017, Ventura, CA.

Chemical Biology Interest Group symposium – CBITG

Harris, S.M.; Srivastava, K.; Ziebarth, K.; Pierre, V.  “Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes for High Selectivity of Copper over Zinc.” Summer 2015, University of Minnesota.

Harris, S.M.; Srivastava, K.; Ziebarth, K.; Pierre, V.  “Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes for Concomittant Monitoring of Transition Metal Ions in Biological Systems.” Summer 2014, University of Minnesota.