Dr. Kesete Ghebreyessus, Chair and Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668

Location: Turner Hall, Room 223
Phone: (757)-728-6184; fax (757)-727-5604
Email: kesete.ghebreyessus@hamptonu.edu

Education:
B.S. Chemistry, University of Asmara, Asmara, Eritrea, 1993
M.S. Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Clark Atlanta University, 1998
Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry, University of Nevada-Reno, 2003
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Iowa State University, 2003-2005

Research Interests

Our research focuses on the design and synthesis of novel photo-responsive hybrid organic-inorganic materials. We use tunable arylazopyrazole based molecular switches to synthesize photo-switchable materials for application in switchable catalysis, soft nanoscale materials development, photo-pharmacology, and solar energy storage. The ongoing research activities are inspired by using light to achieve desired structure-function relationships of the photoactive materials.

Toward this end, current research activities comprise three-interrelated concepts:

photo-responsive supramolecular soft materials and photomechanical actuators
Hybrid organic-inorganic materials for catalytic and biological applications
Nanomaterials synthesis and characterization

Professional Experiences

2023-present Chair and Associate Professor, Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2018 – 2023 Associate Professor, Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2005 – 2017 Assistant Professor, Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2003 – 2005 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Iowa State University
1998 – 2003 Research/teaching assistant, University of Nevada-Reno
1996 – 1998 Research/teaching assistant, Clark Atlanta University

Teaching Experiences

Associate Professor: 2018-present Hampton University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Assistant Professor: 2005-2017 Hampton University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Instructor: undergraduate general chemistry for science majors Iowa State University Ames, IA Fall term 2004
1998-2003: Teaching assistant, introductory general chemistry and advanced inorganic chemistry lab courses, University of Nevada-Reno, NV.
1996-1998: Teaching assistant, introductory general chemistry lab courses, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA.

Professional Societies

American Chemical Society (2000 – present)
American Chemical Society Inorganic Division (2000-present)
American Chemical Society Hampton roads local section (2005-present)

Honors and Awards

2016-2017 Nomination for the Edward L. Hamm Jr. distinguished teaching award Hampton University
Outstanding performance on graduate research award Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada-Reno (2003)
Special recognition and award for participating in a student poster competition, US department of Energy (1998)

External Funding

Granting Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Targeted Infusing Project: Integrating Chemistry Research with Analytical and Forensic Chemistry Education to Enhance Undergraduate Research, Pedagogy, and Workforce Development
PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $399,940.00; Time period: Sept 2025- Aug 2028
Granting Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Title: Major Instrumentation-Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer for research and Education at an HBCU

Co-PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $349,989.00; Time period: Sept 2021- Aug 2024

Granting Agency: National Science Foundation

Title: Hampton-Brandeis Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM-NSF)

Co-PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus Amount: $3.6 mil; Time period: Sept 2018- Aug 2024

Granting Agency: Army Research Office (ARO)

Title: Inorganic perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications

Co-PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $600,000; Time period: Sept 2018- Aug 2022

Granting Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Title: Hampton-Brandeis Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM)

Thrust II Lead: Kesete Ghebreyessus

Amount: $1.26 mil; Time period: Sept 2015- Aug 2018

Granting Agency: Army Research Office (ARO)-Major Instrumentation Title: Purchase of Microwave Reactors for Implementation of Small-scale Microwave-accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory Program in Undergraduate Curriculum and Synthetic Chemistry Research at HU

Co-PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $223,376; Time period: Sept 2014- Aug 2016

Granting Agency: Hampton University Faculty Research Fund Title: Photo-switchable Metal-based Anticancer Agents

PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $5000, Time period: Sept 2013- Aug 2015

Granting Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)-Major Research Instrumentation

Title: Purchase of 400 MHz Magnetic Resonance Instrument for Teaching and Research at HU

Co-PI: Kesete Ghebreyessus; Amount: $308, 800.00; Time period: Sept 2007- Aug 2010

Granting Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Title: Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)

Senior Personnel: Kesete Ghebreyessus

Amount: $10.0 mil; Time period: Sept 2006- Aug 2011

Granting Agency: American Chemical Society Scholars Program Title: Undergraduate student scholarship; Amount: $30,000; time 2017-2020
Granting Agency: United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Title: Undergraduate student scholarship; Amount: $25,000; time 2010-2012

Publications

1. Roback, C. J.; Minnis M. B.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Ryan C. Hayward, C. R. “Visible Light-Triggered Microactuators and Dynamic Surfaces from 2 Hydrogels Containing Photoswitchable Host−Guest Complexes” ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2024, 6, 6627–6634. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.4c00917.

2. Geter, J.; Ghebreyessus, K. “Lanthanide-Metal Ion Triggered Supramolecular Gelation of Visible-Light-Switchable Amino Acid Functionalized Arylazopyrazole Ligands” Proceedings of the Virginia Academy of Science, Virginia Journal of Science, 2023, 74, 29. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/vjs/vol74/iss1/

3. Mikayla Browning, M.; Jefferson, A.; Geter, J.; Ghebreyessus, K. “Metal Ion- Induced Formation of Metallogels by Visible-Light-Responsive Phenylalanine- Functionalized Arylazopyrazole Ligands” Photochem, 2023, 3, 427-441. https://doi.org/10.3390/photochem3040026.

4. Mirbagheri, G.; Uba, I.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Hommerich, U.; Fraden, S.; Stehnach, M.; Geddis, D. “Numerical Analysis of the propagation Modes of Photo-switching PDMS-Arylazopyrazole Optical Waveguide and Thin-Film Spectroscopic Characterization” Proceeding of SPIE-the international society for optical engineering 2023, 12424. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2668000.

5. Mirbagheri, G., Uba, I., Ghebreyessus, K., Hommerrich, U., Fraden, S., Stehnach, M., Geddis, D. “Numerical Analysis of the Propagation Modes of Photoswitching PDMS-Arylazopyrazole Optical Wave-Guide and Thin-Film Spectroscopic Characterization” J. Nanophotonics, 2023, 17, 026014- 1.10.1117/1.JNP.17.026014

6. Uba, I, Geddis, D., Ghebreyessus, K., Hömmerich, U., Dumas, J. “A Study of Wave Confinement and Optical Force in Polydimethlysiloxane–Arylazopyrazole Composite for Photonic Applications” Polymers, 2022, 14, 896. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14050896.

7. Ghebreyessus, K.; Ndip, E.; Waddell, M.; Asojo, O.; Njoki, P. N.* Cultivating Success through Undergraduate Research Experience in a Historically Black College and University. Journal of Chemical Education. 2022, 99, 307-316. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00416.

8. Uba, I.; Geddis, D.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Hömmerich, U.; Jerald Dumas, J. “A Study of Wave Confinement and Optical Force in Polydimethlysiloxane– Arylazopyrazole Composite for Photonic Applications” Polymers, 2022,14, 896-908. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14050896.

9. Yia, M.; Guoa, J.; Hea, H.; Tana, W.; Harmon, N.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Xu, B. “Phosphobisaromatic motifs enable rapid enzymatic self-assembly and hydrogelation of short peptides” Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 8590-8594. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SM01221E.

10. Ghebreyessus, K.; Uba, I.; Geddis, D.; Hommeric, U. Solid-state photoswitching in arylazopyrazole-embedded polydimethylsiloxane composite thin films” J. Solid State Chem. 2021, 303, 122519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2021.122519

11. Uba, I.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Geddis, D.; Hommeric, U. “Tunable Optoelectronic Properties of Polydimethylsiloxane-Arylazopyrazole Flexible Composite” Conference proceeding IEEE SOUTHEASTCON, 2021, 9401853. 10.1109/SoutheastCon45413.2021.9401853.

12. Hommeric, U.; Barnett, J.; Kabir, A.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Hampton, K.; Uba, S.; Uba, I.; Geddis, D.; Yang, C.; Trevedi, S. B.; Fraden, S.; Ali Aghvami, S. “Comparative steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy of Mn-doped CsPbCl3 perovskite nanoparticles and bulk single crystals for photic applications” Proceeding of SPIE-the international society for optical engineering 2021, 11682. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2582217.

13. Sallee, A.; Ghebreyessus, K. “Photoresponsive Zn2+-specific metallohydrogels coassembled from imidazole containing phenylalanine and arylazopyrazole derivatives” Dalton Trans. 2020, 49, 10441-10451. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0DT0109K.

14. Sallee, A; Mukooza, I.; Ghebreyessus, K. “Photo-responsive Metallogels” Proceedings of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 22-24, 2019.

15. Ghebreyessus, K.; Cooper, S. M. Jr. “Photoswitchable Arylazopyrazole-Based Ruthenium(II)-Arene Complexes,” Organometallics, 2017, 36, 3360-3370. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00493.

16. Ghebreyessus, K.; Almutiri, A. A. “Ruthenium(II)-arene Complexes Conjugated With Photoswtichable N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Functionalized Arylazopyrazole Ligands” proceedings of the Virginia Journal of Science, 17-19, 2017.

17. Ghebreyessus, K.; Little, J. “Photoswitchable Arylazopyrazole Ligands; Synthesis and coordination Chemistry”. Proceedings of the Virginia Journal of Science, 18-20, 2016.

18. Ghebreyessus, K.; Peralta, A.; Katdare, M.; Prabhakaran, K.; Paranawithana, S. “Evaluation of Naphthalimide-Tagged Ruthenium(II)-Arene Complexes as Potential Anticancer Agents,” proceedings of the Virginia Journal of Science, 21-23, 2015.

19. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Peralta, A.; Shanthi Paranawithana, S.; Katdare, M., “Ruthenium(II)-Arene Complexes with Naphthalimide-Tagged N, O- and N, N- chelating Ligands: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation” Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2015,434, 239-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2015.05.025

20. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Babu, S. Claville, M., “Rapid Synthesis of Highly Stable Silver Nanoparticles and its Application for Colorimetric Sensing of Cysteine,” J. Expert. Nanoscience, 2015,10, 1242-1255. https://doi.org/10.1080/17458080.2014.994680.

21. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Angelici, R. J., “Isomerizing-hydroboration of the monounsaturated fatty acid ester methyl oleate”, Organometallics, 2006, 25, 3040- 3044. https://doi.org/10.1021/om0600947.

22. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Schiltz, H.; Angelici, R. J., “Partial Separation of polyunsaturated fatty acid esters from FAME mixtures by adsorption of silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel”, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 2006, 83, 645-652. 10.1007/s11746-006-1252-5.

23. Ghebryessus, K. Y.; Ellern, A.; Angelici, R. J., “Equilibrium studies of the binding of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters to palladium (II)”, Organometallics, 2005, 24, 1725-1736. https://doi.org/10.1021/om049009q.

24. Ingram, C. W.; Ghebreyessus, K. Y., “Catalytic and selective behavior of MeAPO-36 in the mild hydrocracking of heavy gas oil”, Per. Am. Chem. Soc., Pet. Div., 2004, 49, 92-97.

25. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H., “Enantioselective Synthesis pure P-chiral (h6-arene) ruthenium(II) complexes using enantiomerically pure ortho-metallated palladium(II) amine complexes”, Organometallics, 2003, 22, 2977-2980. https://doi.org/10.1021/om030172f

26. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H. “Conformationally rigid arene-ruthenium(II) complexes as catalyst for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones”, J. Organomet. Chem., 2003, 669, 48-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-328X(02)02216-7.

27. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H., “Reactions of [(h6-Me₆C₆)RuCl₂(Ph₂PCH=CH₂)] with 1-ethynylcycloalkanols leading to methoxy-alkenyl carbenes via vinylvinylidene and allenylidene intermediates”, Inorg. Commun., 2003, 6, 1044-1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1387-7003(03)00177-1.

28. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H., “(h6-arene)ruthenium(II) complexes with hemilabile 3-dicyclohexylvinylphosphine (DCVP) and h3-diphenylvinyl phosphine (DPVP) phosphaallyl ligands: Formation of an expected trinuclear complex”, Synth. React. Inorg. Met.-Org. Chem., 2003, 33, 1329-1349. https://doi.org/10.1081/SIM-120024313.

29. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H., “Carbene and isocyanide ligation at ruthenium(II) with tethered phosphinopropylarene ligands”, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2003,350, 12-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-1693(02)01492-5.

30. Ghebreyessus, K. Y.; Nelson, J. H., “Synthesis and characterization of tethered arsinopropylarene-ruthenium(II) complexes”, Organometallics, 2002, 21, 1727- 1733. https://doi.org/10.1021/om011092j.

31. Ghebreyessus, K.Y.; Nelson, J.H. “Base promoted hydroalkylations reactions of mesitylene, cymene, durene, hexamethylbenzene, paraxylene, and toluene ligands coordinated to ruthenium(II)”, Organometallics, 2000, 19, 3387. https://doi.org/10.1021/om000375t.

Book Chapters: Cooper, S. M.; Ha, D.; Candace Snow-Davis, C.; Watson, N.; Raymond E. Samuel, R. E.; Ghebreyessus, K.; Du, C.; Huang, Y.; Li, F. “Stimuli- Responsive Nanomedicine”, Book chapter, 2021 page 44. eBook ISBN9780429295294.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty