Arpita Saha

Dr. Arpita Saha is a synthetic chemist who has extensive experience in synthesizing metal complexes for a variety of applications in the areas of material science, medicinal chemistry, and environmental chemistry. One of the major areas concentrates on the synthesis of novel coordination polymers for potential applications in lanthanide-based cancer chemotherapy and targeted drug delivery. Another major area of investigation centers on aquatic ecosystem water quality monitoring and assessment with a core interest in designing novel nanomaterials for removing environmental contaminants such as heavy metal, industrial waste, unwanted pesticides, or drug residue in food or water supply.

Saha is passionate about undergraduate research, mentoring, science education, and empowering women and underserved communities to diversify STEM fields. She has experience in student-centered innovative teaching and learning practices that include developing discovery-based Chemistry laboratory courses (such as Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, CURE), Open Educational Resources (OER), and engaging in SoTL research (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) activities.

At Simmons, she is the director of the NASA-supported DREAM_WSTEM program. DREAM is a holistic and tiered mentorship program, and the goal is to provide support and guidance throughout our students' four-year undergraduate college experience. We also offer a DREAM paid summer internship for our first-year DREAM scholars. I am also the faculty coordinator of SURPASs summer internship program at Simmons. I am passionate about student success in STEM and through these mentorship and leadership initiatives, I aspire to create pathways of self-efficacy, motivation, persistence, belonging, career, and academic advancement for all undergraduate students.

It was her honor and privilege to represent Simmons University and the goals, mission, and vision of the DREAM program at the White House at the Women College Coalition (WCC) President Convening Meeting in Washington, D.C., in October 2023.

Education

• Internship, Bioinorganic Chemistry, from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India 
• Post Doc, Organometallic Chemistry, from University of Gӧttingen, Germany 
• PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, from University of Florida 
• MS, Material Science, from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India 
• BS, Chemistry, from Presidency College, India 

Selected Media Coverage

• Simmons.edu: Simmons Receives Award from NASA to Support Women and Minority STEM Students
• TheGeorgiaVirtue.com: Georgia Southern professor, alumnus honored at Regents Scholarship Gala
• Masslive.com: NASA awards grants to Smith, Simmons to bridge STEM gender gap

Courses

• Chem 113 (General and Quantitative Chemistry I)
• Chem 216 (General and Quantitative Chemistry II)
• Chem 354 (Research Method)

Publications/Presentations (Selected)

Book Chapters

Engaging Undergraduate Students in Authentic Research in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Course. Arpita Saha, Leah Williams, Engaged Student Learning: Essays on Best Practices in the University System of Georgia, Volume 3, 2021

Comprehensive General Chemistry. Beulah Narendrapurapu, Debanjana Ghosh, Arpita Saha, Leah Williams, Dawn Cannon-Rech. OpenALG, 2nd Edition, 2022

Publications

• Thermo-catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and HDPE for improving the yield and quality of pyrolysis oil. Md Hafizur Rahman, Prakashbhai R. Bhoi, Arpita Saha, Vivek Patil, Sushil Adhikari, Energy 2021, 225, 120231
• Assessment of common anion and cation contaminants in surface waterbodies in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Arpita Saha, Jennifer O. Ahweyevu, Elizabeth M. Baker, David Penn II, Subhrajit Saha, Earth Systems and Environment 2022, 6, 617-630
• Di-μ-benzoato-di-μ-ethano­lato-tetra­kis­[μ3-5-(hy­dr­oxy­meth­yl)-2-methyl-4-(oxidometh­yl)pyridin-1-ium-3-olato]tetra­kis­[μ3-5-(hy­dr­oxy­meth­yl)-2-methyl-4-(oxidometh­yl)pyridin-3-olato]di-μ3-oxido-hepta­manganese(II,III) ethanol octa­solvate. Arpita Saha, Clifford W. Padgett, Pierre LeMagueres, Kiana Moncur, Glory Onajobi, IUCr data 2021, 6, x201643
• 4. Synthesis, structural variation, and magnetic properties of two polynuclear Mn-based complexes derived from 4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol, Brooke Harris, Nicholas Shumate, Kiana Moncur, Glory Onajobi, Michael Reagan#, Clifford W. Padgett, Eric T. Drew, Z. John. Zhang, Arpita Saha, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2020, 121, 108226
• Synthesis and characterization of two new mixed-valent Mn₆ complexes derived from a well-explored 2- hydroxymethyl pyridine along with the use of newly employed carboxylate ions. Michael Reagan#, Eric T. Drew, Z. John. Zhang, Clifford W. Padgett, Jeffery Orvis, Arpita Saha Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2018, 97, 139
• Removal of a Potentially Hazardous Chemical, Tetrakis (Hydroxymethyl) Phosphonium Chloride from Water Using Biochar as a Medium of Adsorption. Simpo Rose Ogwang Akech#, Olajumoke Harrison, Arpita Saha Environmental Technology & Innovation,2018, 12, 196
• Synthesis, characterization, computational study, and biological relevance of a family of isostructural, mononuclear Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) complexes containing pyridoxine, an essential ingredient of vitamin B6 enzyme. Caitlyn E. Stouder, Khairi J. Warren, Olivia F. Perdue, Amanda L. Stewart, Clifford W. Padgett, Allison J. Amonette , Arpita Saha Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2017, 464, 172
• Hexacoordinate Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts with pH-responsive N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and N-donor ligands for ROMP reactions in non-aqueous, aqueous and emulsion conditions. Shawna L. Balof, K. Owen Nix, Matthew S. Olliff, Sarah E. Roessler, Arpita Saha, Kevin B. Müller, Ulrich Behrens, Edward J. Valente and Hans-Jörg Schanz Beilstein J. Org. Chem., 2015, 11, 1960
• Having fun with your own molecular models. Arpita Saha, VIPEr (Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource) https://www.ionicviper.org/class-activity/having-fun-your-own-molecular-models,Web published July, 2014
• Five Slides About Magnetic Susceptibility. Sibrina Collins, Arpita Saha, Gerard Rowe, Kari Young, Lei Yang, Robert Holbrook VIPEr, Five-Slides About, https://www.ionicviper.org/five-slides-about/five-slides-about-magnetic-susceptibility, Web published July, 2014
• New Mixed-Valent Mn Clusters from the Use of N, N, N', N' –Tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine (edteH₄): Mn₃, Mn₄, Mn₆, and Mn₁₀ Arpita Saha, Khalil A. Abboud, George Christou Inorg. Chem., 2011, 50, 12774
• Family of Double-Cubane Mn₄Ln₂ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) and Mn₄Y₂ Complexes: A New Mn₄Tb₂ Single-Molecule Magnet. Arpita Saha, Mike Thompson, Khalil A. Abboud, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer, George Christou Inorg. Chem., 2011, 50, 10476

Electronic Articles

• Having fun with your own molecular models. Arpita Saha, VIPEr (Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource), 2014 https://www.ionicviper.org/class-activity/having-fun-your-own-molecular-models
• Five Slides About Magnetic Susceptibility. Sibrina Collins, Arpita Saha, Gerard Rowe, Kari Young, Lei Yang, Robert Holbrook VIPEr, 2014 Five-Slides About, https://www.ionicviper.org/five-slides-about/five-slides-about-magnetic-susceptibility.

Presentations

• Invited: A. Saha, "STEM Initiatives in Simmons University and NASA funded DREAM_WSTEM program" at Women College Coalition (WCC) President Convening at the White House October 2023
• Invited Research Talk (Featured Speaker): A. Saha, Northeastern Regional American Chemical Society (NESACS) Meeting, Boston, MA, March 2023
• Attended: A. Saha, HHMI Inclusive Excellence 3 In-Person Gathering at Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA in June 2023
• Invited (Oral): A. Saha, "Dynamic Research Education Academy for Mentoring Women in STEM" at WCU Kickoff Meeting at NASA Langley Research Center In October 2023
• Invited (Oral): A. Saha, "Dynamic Research Education Academy for Mentoring Women in STEM" at NASA STEM Better Together Conference, San Hose, California, November 2023
• Invited (Oral): A. Saha, "DREAM-WSTEM at Simmons University" at International Visitor Leadership Program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Boston, MA, January 2024
• Invited (Oral): A. Saha, "DREAM-WSTEM at Simmons University" at NASA Women History Month and Space Grant and MUREP Engaging Women and Girls in STEM event (virtual), March 2024
• Poster Presentation: A. Saha, M. McCarty, "Dynamic Research Education Academy for Mentoring Womxn in STEM (DREAM-WSTEM) at Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts" American Chemical Society Conference, Colorado, August 2024
• Poster Presentation: A. Saha R. R. Cleversy, "Probing the interaction of lanthanide complex bearing 8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative with DNA for antitumor therapeutics" American Chemical Society Conference, Colorado, August 2024
• Panel Discussion: A. Saha, "Culture Change and Systems Change" at New England Regional HHMI Inclusive Excellence Meeting at Wellesley College, June 2024
• Flash talk and Poster: "Investigation of computational, structural, physicochemical, and biological properties of heteroaromatic ligand coordinating lanthanide metal complexes" A. Saha, ABCChem conference in Marrakech, Morocco, December 2022
• Flash talk and Poster: "Exploring the use of several porous carbonaceous adsorbents in removing emerging chemical contaminants from water" A. Saha, ABCChem conference in Marrakech, Morocco, December 2022
• Poster presentation: "Comparative Approaches in Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis: Evaluating Methodologies for Improved Reproducibility" Arly Reyes, S. Bhattacharya, A. Saha, NSCRC, Boston, MA, April 2024
• Oral Presentation: "How the pandemic taught us to combat isolationism, re-define work-life balance, and restore professional productivity in the workplace". A. Saha, L. Padgett, ACS National Meeting, August 2021
• "Developing a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) for Advanced Inorganic Chemistry laboratory at Georgia Southern University". A. Saha, L. Williams, Virtual ACS National Meeting, April 2021
• "P2:iFREE – Building a Freshman Research Initiative Program at Georgia Southern University". S. Landge, A. Saha, B. Koehler, E. Sargent, J. Lewis, K. Greer, N. Shank, Virtual ACS National Meeting, April 2021
• Oral Presentation: "Textbook transformation journey: From traditional to no-cost materials" B. S. Narendrapurapu, D. Ghosh, A. Saha, D. N. Cannon-Rech, L. Williams, at the SoTL Commons Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, February 2020
• Oral Presentation (Invited): "Women for Women: Supporting each other for sustainable carriers in STEM" A. Saha at American Center at Kolkata, India, January 2019
• Oral presentation: "Elimination of a potentially hazardous, flame retardant chemical consisting of an organophosphorus moiety from water using biochar as an adsorbent" A. Saha, et al. at the 255^th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, March 2018
• Oral presentation: "Syntheses and characterizations of four new ploynuclear Mnx (x = 3, 4, 6, 7) clusters derived from 4, 5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol and 2- hydroxymethyl pyridine" A. Saha, et al. at the 70^th SERMACS conference, Augusta, GA, USA, November 2018
• Oral presentation: "How to Create Your Own Molecular Model to Learn Various Structural Aspects of Coordination Compounds" A. Saha, STEM Teaching and Learning Conference, Savannah, GA, March 2017
• Oral Presentation (Invited): "Investigating Computational, Structural, Physiochemical and Biological Properties of a Family of Pyridoxine-Lanthanide Metal Complexes" A. Saha, et al. at the Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition (FAME), Tampa, FL, USA, April 2016
• Poster presentation: "Exploring medicinal applications of pyridoxine-lanthanides" A. Saha et al. at Gordon Research Conference, Andover, NH, June 2014
• Poster presentation: "Experimental and computational studies of polynuclear Mn single-molecule magnets containing alcohol based ligand" A. Saha, et al. at the 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, April 2013

Awards/Grants/Fellowship

• NASA MUREP award to conduct STEM research on the gender gap in STEM fields in 2023 for an amount of $749,126 as a principal investigator
• Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award by the Board of Regents University System of Georgia (USG) in 2021
• STAR Scholar Award at Simmons University in 2022
• Georgia Southern University (GSU) Academic Excellence Award in Instruction in 2020
• Jean Dreyfus Lectureship grant for Undergraduate Institution by Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation for an amount of $18,500; PI in 2019
• NSF-MRI grant "Acquisition of a Single-Crystal X-ray Diffractometer for Interdisciplinary Research and Enhanced Student Training Supporting Primarily Undergraduate Institutions in Georgia" (Award # 2215812) for an amount of $298,054: Co-PI (PI: Gary Guillet) in 2022
• 7. HHMI-Inclusive Excellence3 Learning Community (HHMI-IE3LC) Grant for an amount of $30,000: Key Personnel (PI: Karelle Aiken) in 2021
• University System Georgia (USG) Chancellor's Learning Scholar Fellowship Award for an amount of $1500: Principal Investigator (PI) in 2020
• Faculty Development Funding by Center of Teaching Excellence, GSU on "Transforming an Existing Traditional Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory to Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE): SoTL Fellowship" for an amount of $1000: PI in 2020
• USG STEM IV Grant Award on "Faculty-Student Learning Communities to enhance academic mindset and undergraduate research opportunities for first-year students" for an amount of $150,000: Key Personnel (PI: Delana Gajdosik-Nivens) in 2019
• USG initiative, Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG) Grant Award on Textbook Transformation Grants, Round Fourteen for an amount $18,500; Co-PI (PI: Beulah Narendrapurapu) in 2019
• NSF-REU Award CollaborativE Multidisciplinary Investigations Through Undergraduate Research Experiences (CEMITURE) (Award amount $280,056; Mentor) (PI: Karelle Aiken) in 2019
• ACS Science Coaches Program organized by the American Association of Chemistry Teachers & American Chemical Society in 2019