Students Publish Paper in Journal: Letters in Organic Chemistry

Current international students and recent graduates in the Murray State University Department of Chemistry published an article with their professor in the January 2015 issue of Letters in Organic Chemistry. These students, Anusha Tamuluri, Bhanupriya Khanna and Ammar Altalib studied with Dr. Kevin D. Revell, the Assistant Dean of the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology. Their paper, titled "Synthesis and Electro-Optical Evaluation of 2,6-Bis(arylethynyl)anthraxquinones," reported the findings of an experiment they performed. This week, these students were featured as #RacerScholars at Murray State University. The abstract is as follows:

A series of 2,6-bis(arylethynyl)anthraquinones was prepared via double Sonogashira coupling to 2,6-diiodoanthraquinone, and characterized with regard to their optical and electronic properties. Substitution with a derivatized phenylethynyl group produced a lambda(onset) of 366 nm (E-g = 3.4 eV), but the more highly conjugated 2,6-bis(9′-anthracylethynyl)anthraquinones exhibited a lambda(onset) of approximately 540 nm (E-g = 2.3 eV). Poor solubility in the unsubstituted 9′-anthracylethynyl system hampered complete characterization or purification, but the 10′-hexanoylanthrac-9′-ylethynyl analog exhibited significantly better solubility. The preparation of several other functionalized derivatives was also explored, and key synthetic findings are reported.

Synthesis and Electro-Optical Evaluation of 2,6-Bis(arylethynyl)anthraxquinones

By: Anusha Tumuluri, Bhanupriya Khanna, Ammar Altalib

and Dr. Kevin D. Revell

Letters in Organic Chemistry

January 2015, vol. 12(5), pgs. 337–343

doi: 10.2174/1570178612666150203004458

Student Profile: Mohannad Alharbi

Mohannad Hamed Alharbi is an international student at Murray State University. He just finished a Master's degree in Occupational Safety & Health and is now working on his second Master's degree, an MS in Applied Engineering & Technology Management at MSU. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. 

He completed an internship last summer with Parsons Corporation in New York. He also attended the NECA 2014 Safety Professionals Conference, the Electrical Industry's premier safety conference for safety professionals in the electrical contracting industry. This conference was held in Chicago, IL from May 19 until May 21, 2014. 

Alharbi is very active in the Murray State community, and has used his time at Murray State to network with others in his professional field. He is a member of several honors organizations, including:

• Rho Sigma Kappa -National Collegiate Honor Organization
• Gamma Beta Phi -National Collegiate Honor Organization
• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
• American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

Also, he was granted Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designations from the Board of Certified Safety Professional and Associate Safety and a Health Manager (ASHM) designation from the Institute for Safety and Health Management.

Murray State University helped Alharbi develop his occupational safety and health skills, and it encouraged him to apply to another graduate program for Engineering and Technology Management. He has been recognized by several honors societies and has had many opportunities to meet others in his field. As an international student at Murray State, Alharbi has participated in classes, a conference and several networking societies.

Student Profile: Rayan Obaidullah Allehyani

Rayan Obaidullah Allehyani is an international student from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As an undergraduate, he studied Mechanical Engineering. After this, he got a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University.

At Murray State, Allehyani had many opportunities to network and learn. He completed a summer internship and became a member of two honors societies: Phi Kappa Phi and Gamma Beta Phi-National Collegiate Honor Organization. This allowed him to meet others who have excelled academically.


Allehyani also participated in a Safety Professional Conference (NECA) from May 19, 2014 to May 21, 2014 in Chicago, IL, USA. This conference gives safety professionals working in the electrical contracting industry the opportunity to learn about the evolving industry, educational tracks and networking opportunities.

Murray State University helped Allehyani learn more about Occupational Safety and Health, and it introduced him to many others with similar interests. He was recognized by multiple honors societies, and just began a new job in his field. As an international student at Murray State, Allehyani was able to grow from the classes, societies and networking opportunities.

Student Profile: Rasha Khalil

Rasha Khalil is an international student from Jordan who has lived in several Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. She came to Murray State University to study in the Occupational Safety and Health graduate program. Before Murray State, she studied Pharmacy as an undergraduate, then worked for almost five years while raising her family. She came to Murray State in the Fall of 2013 and expects to graduate in May 2015. Last summer, Khalil took and internship at Freescale Semiconductor in Austin, Texas, which gave her experience working in her field.

Murray State gave Khalil the opportunity to learn and grow in the United States of America. As an international student at Murray State, she has taken many classes and and studied with professors in her field to prepare herself for her future career.

Student Profile: Mashael Mothabet AlBaidani

Mashael Mothabet AlBaidani is an international student who will graduate from Murray State University in December 2014. She came to Murray State from Saudi Arabia to pursue a Masters of Science degree in Mathematics. At Murray State, she works as a graduate assistant and is the primary lecturer of MAT 097 Intermediate Algebra. For this position, she helped design a curriculum with exams, she keeps office hours, and she grades written work and exam papers. This has allowed her to develop her teaching skills. She also volunteered as a Math tutor at the East Calloway Elementary School, and she worked as a substitute teacher part time to teach middle and high school mathematics in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.

Before Murray State, she completed a degree in Computer Science from a Saudi Community College, then graduated from King Abdul Aziz University with honors. Her hobbies include collecting information about computer programs and usages, solving puzzles, playing tennis, designing models, reading, traveling and mathematics. She believes that education and mathematics are both very important. She states:

The mathematics field is important to the betterment of any society. I love the fact that many in the field work in distinct areas with special needs and to help individual regardless of culture or age. I will be happy to be part of such community. I, especially, like the fact that the United States of America use modern technologies in teaching and learning of mathematics in universities and in schools, in addition to the great knowledge base that this country has to offer. I am more convinced and have a deep interest in completing my studies in the United States.  I don't remember when I became fond of mathematics. At first, it was fun and exciting to solve problems. Later it became more than a hobby. I enjoyed the feeling of success and fulfillment when I realized that the problem is solved. I tried to have my own way of defining mathematical concepts for myself and I always love to look deeply on the open problems in all working aspects and understand them. I always tried to master the elementary mathematics and I had developed my keen interest in various fields of mathematics. These experiences helped me realize that I will always be enthusiastic about mathematics. I have a great passion for the study, enjoyment and an increase in the knowledge of Mathematics and Computer Science.

 AlBaidani has also attended several conferences. She attended the "A Number Theory Conference" that honored the Batemans at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Discrete Algorithms Analytic Combinatorics and the Analysis of Algorighms (SAIM) Conference, and the Educational Success Concepts Saudi Leadership Development Conference. She has attended American Mathematical Society Conferences as well. She gave a talk at the KYMAA Conference at Murray State University, which gave her the opportunity to work with other mathematicians on research problems.

Her goal is to continue her study of Mathematics in a Ph.D. program, then return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to lecture and teach at a University. Right now, she is preparing to defend her thesis. She states:

My main field of interest is Real and Functional Analysis, Partial Differential Equations. Moreover, I am interested in Abstract Algebra, Topology, Complex Analysis, Combinatorics analysis and number theory. Thus my interest in pursuing my Ph. D. Currently, I am involved in a research project by Professor Dr.Yayenie. Under his guidance, I wrote my thesis about Analytic and Combinatorial proofs of Some Classical Partition Identities and defended it with Honors. Essentially, it consisted an overview of integer partitions, establishing several theorems regarding the relationships between partitions of integers under differing conditions. In the second chapter, we present some basic facts followed by combinatorial proofs for some partition identities. In particular we present a bijective proof that the number of partitions into distinct parts ≅ ±1 (mod 3) equals the number of partitions into 3-distinct parts where no consecutive multiples of 3 appear. In the third chapter, we introduce an integer partition function p(n) by employing a generating function and study some of its properties. In addition, we also provide analytical proofs for some of the results in this field as the Rogers-Ramanujan identities. Furthermore, we give a proof of the explicit formula for p(n) by using the circle method and subtle techniques from complex analysis. During this work I acquired a broad range of research experience and background necessary for further research. 

The Murray State University Mathematics program gave AlBaidani the opportunity to develop her skills and meet other mathematicians with similar interests. As an international student at Murray State, she taught classes and attended conferences, which gave her valuable work experience and the ability to network in her field.

Introduction: International Students at Murray State University's Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Murray State University has several excellent graduate and undergraduate programs for international students. The degree programs are accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET. There are more than forty faculty members in this program who have advanced degrees in mechanical, electrical, civil, environmental, and biosystems engineering, as well as physics, telecommunications, industrial design and architecture. 

The College of Science, Engineering and Technology offers several great programs:

1. Biology

The biology program at Murray State allows students to complete a diverse number of programs, including General Biology, Pre-Medicine, Molecular Biology, Fisheries and Aquatic Biology, Wildlife Biology, and a variety of curricula to support careers in Pharmacy, Dentistry and Physical Therapy. Students can also earn graduate degrees. Students from Murray State perform well on the MCAT test due to the rigorous curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art-equipment at locations like: the Hancock Biological Station (HBS), a premiere biological station on Kentucky Lake; the Mid-America Remote Sensing Center, a satellite imaging lab; Chemical Services Laboratory; and the Center for Reservoir Research.

2. Chemistry

The chemistry programs at Murray State provide hands-on experience with modern experimental and computer-based techniques and instrumentation to prepare students to enter the industry or to enter professional programs. The department provides a creative and supportive atmosphere for faculty-mentored research and student-centered learning.

3. Geosciences

Students can earn graduate and/or undergraduate degrees in geosciences, which focus on spatial technologies as they relate to earth science, geoarchaeology, geographic information science and environmental geology. Students gain experience using modern equipment, participating in internships and conducting research. Students have access to the Murray State Archaeology Lab and the Mid-America Remote sensing Center (MARC).

4. Institute of Engineering

This institute includes programs in engineering, engineering technology, telecommunications systems management, physics, industrial technology and design or applied engineering and technology management. It offers bachelors and masters degrees, and gives students hands-on experience in the field.

5. Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and statistics are used in many different fields, and classes in this program engage a large mathematical community through scholarship and research. It provides students with an understanding of mathematical ideas, the ability to reason mathematically, analyze real world problems with mathematical techniques and continue to read, learn and communicate mathematics.

6. Occupational Safety and Health

Students at Murray State can study graduate- and undergraduate-level occupational safety and health. The program provides a broad educational background in mathematics, science, technology and management with occupational safety and health professionals in state, regional, national and international levels in industry, government and/or academia.

The Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology has several excellent programs that are very popular for international students. These programs give students access to skilled faculty and state-of-the-art equipment. This blog will document some of the exciting things that graduate and undergraduate international students are doing.