The Department of Chemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia offers graduate studies in radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Courses in basic radiochemistry (and laboratory), nuclear chemistry, advanced radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry are offered on a regular basis. Radiation biology, radiopharmacy, nuclear physics and various nuclear engineering courses are offered through the departments of radiology, physics and nuclear engineering. In addition, a minor degree in radiopharmaceutical chemistry is available to students wishing to specialize in one of the other areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical).
The primary emphasis in graduate study is research, and the strength of the radiochemistry program is the breadth of research interests of the faculty, the interdisciplinary research efforts and the available facilities. The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) is the home of the largest university research reactor in the world (10 MW power; MURR). MURR provides radioisotopes for research to various departments on campus and externally to both universities and industry. The Center for Radiologic Research (CRR) allows scientists from the chemistry department, MURR and the radiology department to collaborate in a facility separate from any of the individual departments. In addition to the facilities at MURR, the chemistry department radiochemistry facilities include wet radiochemistry laboratories (for both short and long lived radionuclides), instrument/counting laboratories including a liquid scintillation counter, automatic gramma counter, radioisotope TLC scanner, three state-of-the-art HPLC systems with detectors for gamma and beta emitters, as well as UV- visible detection, NaI(Tl) and Ge(Li) detectors for single and multichannel analyses, a variety of radiation detectors and extensive nuclear equipment. Facilities at CRR include 3 wet chemistry labs, 2 radiochemistry labs, an instrument lab with HPLCs, 2-D radiochromatogram scanner, FT-IR, GeLi gamma analysis system and a 300 MHz NMR. Laboratories at the University affiliated H. S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital are utilized for radiochemical and biological (animal, cell culture, metabolism, etc.) studies.
Research in the radiochemistry/radiopharmaceutical chemistry group is multidisciplinary. The area of radiopharmaceutical research, targeting both diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications, includes (1) development of radiochemical methods for the production and supply of reactor produced radionuclides; (2) synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry to develop chelates for radionuclides as potential radiopharmaceuticals; (3) in vitro and in vivo studies of radiolabeled biologically active molecules (i.e., peptides, antibodies, etc.). These projects are directed by Professors Silvia Jurisson (chemistry), Robert Kuntz (chemistry), Elmer Schlemper (chemistry), Gary Ehrhardt (MURR/chemistry), Kattesh Katti (MURR/chemistry), Alan Ketring (MURR/chemistry), and Wynn Volkert (radiology).
The application of nuclear methods of analysis (neutron activation analysis and gamma ray spectroscopy) to the study of nutritional and health-related problems is directed by Prof. J. Steven Morris (MURR/chemistry).
Research in the area of safe disposal of nuclear waste focusing on the efficient separation of the actinide metals from mixtures containing rare earth metals is directed by Prof. Paul Sharp (chemistry). A separate research program on the separation and/or immobilization of Tc-99 from fuel rod reprocessing is directed by Professors Silvia Jurisson and Kattesh Katti.
The above research programs are interactive and encourage collaborative studies. Research and teaching assistantships are available.
For additional information about graduate studies in radiochemistry/radiopharmaceutical chemistry, please contact:
Prof. Silvia Jurisson
123 Chemistry Bldg.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (314) 882-2107
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