BS Wofford College, 1983
PhD Clemson University, 1987
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Berkeley, 1987-1988
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Washington State University, 1988-1992
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, 1992-1995
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, 1995-2005
Professor of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, 2005-present

Honors and Awards:
Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award, 2010
Cook Faculty Teaching Award, VT Chemistry, 2002
Clemson University Outstanding Young Alumni Award, 2000
VT College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Award, 1996

Our research is aimed at the design, development and synthesis of novel mixed-metal transition metal complexes with applications to molecular devices, anticancer agents, catalysis and photochemical energy storage.

Current projects include:

• The development of second generation molecular devices for photoinitiated electron collection,
• The invention of new photoactivated anticancer agents,
• The development of electrode immobilized catalysts for the catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, and
• The detailed analysis of the spectroscopic, electrochemical and photochemical properties of supramolecular mixed-metal complexes.

Research in chemical education includes the development of integrated molecular modeling, synthesis and spectroscopy laboratories for the undergraduate chemistry curriculum.

1. "Multifunctional DNA Interactions of Ru-Pt Mixed Metal Supramolecular Complexes with Substituted Terpyridine Ligands," Avijita Jain, Emily R. Mashack, Brenda S. J. Winkel, Karen J. Brewer, Inorg. Chem.2009, 48, 9077-9084.
2. "Design Considerations for a System for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water Employing Mixed-Metal Photochemical Molecular Devices for Photoinitiated Electron Collection," Arachchige, Shamindri M.; Brown, Jared R.; Chang, Eric; Jain, Avijita; Zigler, David F.; Rangan, Krishnan; Brewer, Karen J. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 1989-2000.
3. "Synthesis and Study of the Spectroscopic and Redox Properties of RuII,PtII Mixed-Metal Complexes Bridged by 2,3,5,6-Tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine," Shengliang Zhao, Carla Slebodnick, Karen J. Brewer Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47,
   6144-6152.
4. "Ruthenium(II) Polyazine Light Absorbers Bridged to cis-Dichlororhodium(II) Sites in a Bimetallic Molecular Architecture," David F. Zigler, Jing Wang, Karen J. Brewer Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 11342-11350.
5. "Rhodium Centered Mixed-Metal Supramolecular Complex as a Photocatalyst for the Visible Light Induced Production of Hydrogen," Mark C. Elvington, Jared Brown, Shamindri Arachchige, Karen J. Brewer J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 10644-10645.