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Joseph Fritsch Faculty Profile

Joseph Fritsch

Divisional Dean (Natural Science)
Professor of Chemistry
Natural Science Division, Seaver College
RAC 108
310.506.6705

Biography

Joe Fritsch is a professor of chemistry in the Natural Science Division at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. Prior to joining the faculty in 2006, he earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota in environmental inorganic chemistry after graduating with a BS degree from Hope College (Holland, MI). As a faculty member, Dr. Fritsch is regular teacher of General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, and his research interests are focused on the synthesis of inorganic complexes that make biodegradable polymers. He has mentored over 20 students in research resulting in conference presentations, honors theses and published papers with undergraduate co-authors.

Education

  • PhD, Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2006
  • BS, Chemistry, Hope College, 1997

 

  • McCollum, A.M., Longo, A.M., Stahl, A.E., Butler, A.S., Rheingold, A.L., Cundari, T.L., Green, D.B., Brereton, K.R., Fritsch, J.M. “Synthesis, spectroscopy, and crystallography of mononuclear, five-coordinate aluminum complexes that act as cyclic ester polymerization initiators.” Polyhedron 2021, 204, 115223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2021.115233
  • He, W.*, Mann, J.C., Fritsch, J.M. “Morphological Control of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Imaged with Scanning Electron Microscopy:  An Integrative Laboratory Module.” The Chemical Educator, 2020, 25, 69-74.
  • Slattery, R.M.*, Stahl, A.E.*, Brereton, K.R.*, Rheingold, A.L., Green, D.B., Fritsch, J.M.  “Ring-opening polymerization and copolymerization of L-lactide and ϵ-caprolactone by bis-ligated magnesium complexes.” Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 2019, 57, 48-59. 
  • Schmitz, L.A.*, McCollum, A.M.*, Rheingold, A.L., Green, D.B., Fritsch, J.M. "Synthesis and structures of aluminum ion-pair complexes that act as L-lactide ring opening polymerization initiators." Polyhedron, 2018, 147, 94-105.
  • Gerling, K.A.*, Rezayee, N.m.*, Rheingold, A.L., Green D.B., Fritsch, J.M. "Synthesis and Structures of Bis-Ligated Zinc Complexes that Initiate L-lactide Ring Opening Polymerization." Dalton Transactions, 2014, 43 (43), 16498-16508.
  • Schmitz, L.A.*, Gerling, K.A.*, Fritsch, J.M., Green, D.B. "Combining FTIR and the Vernier Gas Chromatograph for the Analysis of a Binary Mixture." Chemical Educator, 2014 (19), 1-4.

Affiliations:

  • American Chemical Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Mead Foundation Research Grant (2016-2018)
  • Waves of Innovation Grant (2014-2016)
  • Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (2010-2012)
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Predoctoral Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship
  • Stahl, A.E.*, Brereton, K.R., Fritsch, J.M.. Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Regioselectivity for a Series of Ketoimines with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory. 261st American Chemical Society National Meeting, (online April 2021).
  • Stahl, A.E.*, Fritsch, J.M. Kinetics of well-controlled ring-opening polymerization and characterization of isolated polymeric materials. 259th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (March 23, 2020).
  • Butler, A.S.*, Fritsch, J.M. Ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters with five-coordinate aluminum complexes. 259th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (March 23, 2020).
  • Garcia, D.*, Stahl, A.E.*, Wilson, B.P., Fritsch, J.M.  Computational and experimental comparative study on the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and L-lactide by aluminum ketoiminate complexes. 259th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (March 23, 2020).
  • Mead Foundation Research Grant (2016-2018)
  • Waves of Innovation Grant (2014-2016)
  • Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (2010-2012)
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Predoctoral Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship

Topics

  • Synthesis of new inorganic complexes to act as polymerization catalysts
  • Homopolymers and copolymers that are biodegradable plastics
  • Chemical education

Courses

  • General Chemistry I and II (CHEM 120 and CHEM 121)
  • General Chemistry I and II Lab (CHEM 120L and CHEM 121L)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 390)
  • Inorganic Chemistry Lab (CHEM 390L)