Contact Information Phone: (773) 995-2171 Email: kmardis@csu.edu Office: SCI-309

Education B.S., Augustana College Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison Postdoctoral fellowship, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Hobbies & Interests bookstore browsing, reading, cat-wrangling

Research Interests

Dr. Mardis' research focuses on understanding electron transfer processes that are critical to improving solar energy driven devices. A key component of this work is the coupling of density functional theory calculations with multi-frequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance experimental data obtained by collaborators at Argonne National Lab. The group builds models of biomimetic systems, hydrogen catalyst, and oligomers and then calculates the magnetic resonance parameters to assess the effects of solvent and conformation on spin delocalization to improve our understanding of natural and artificial solar energy systems.

Representative Publications

• Niklas, J., Kohler, L., Potocny, A. M., Mardis, K. L., Mulfort, K. L., & Poluektov, O. G. (2022). Electronic Structure of Molecular Cobalt Catalysts for H2 Production Revealed by Multifrequency EPR. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 126(29) 11889–11899.
• Mardis, K., & Van Duzor, A. (2021). Which Polymer Is It?. POGIL Activity Clearinghouse, 2(3).
• Mardis, K. L., Niklas, J., Omodayo, H., Odella, E., Moore, T. A., Moore, A. L., & Poluektov, O. G. (2020). One Electron Multiple Proton Transfer in Model Organic Donor–Acceptor Systems: Implications for High-Frequency EPR. Applied Magnetic Resonance, 51(9), 977-991.
• Niklas, J., Zheng, T., Neshchadin, A., Mardis, K. L., Yu, L., & Poluektov, O. G. (2019). Polaron and exciton delocalization in oligomers of high-performance polymer PTB7. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142(3), 1359-1366.
• Niklas, Jens ; Mardis, Kristy L. ; Poluektov, Oleg G. (2018). Spin Signature of the C60 Fullerene Anion: A Combined X- and D-Band EPR and DFT Study. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 9(14), 3915-3921

Representative Presentations 

• Mardis, K. L. and Van Duzor, Andrea (2022). Engaging General Chemistry Polymer Laboratories: POGIL Model and Student Voice. BCCE 2022, Indiana
• Mardis, K. L.  and Mahoney, Ashley (2021) Rethinking Team Formation with an Emphasis on Belonging & Inclusion. POGIL e-series, virtual

Representative Grants & Funding

• 2021, Collaborative Research: Access Expansion: Growing a Network of Equity-Focused Programs in the Physical Sciences, National Science Foundation, Personnel, $35,630
• 2019, Expo: Exploring Polymers in Undergraduate Curriculum, Department of Defense, Equipment, $470,796.00
• 2017, Improving DFT Modeling of EPR Data for Small Molecule Organic Photovoltaics, National Institute of Health, PI, $297,962

Memberships

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• NCAAP 2023 Steering Committee (Pogil meeting)
• Core Organizer Access Network

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