Laurance G. Beauvais, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry Club Faculty Advisor

Dr. Laurance Beauvais has been at PLNU since 2013. He has conducted research in a range of subfields spanning inorganic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, and solid-state physics. These experiences enrich his general and inorganic chemistry courses and serve as the foundation for his research program in inorganic and materials chemistry. His research projects focus on the synthesis of new materials and their structural characterization. Beauvais also advises students interested in graduate school.

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley
  • B.S., Chemistry, University of Houston

Courses Taught

  • General Chemistry I – CHE 1052
  • General Chemistry II – CHE 1053
  • Instrumental Analysis – CHE 3070
  • Instrumental Analysis Lab – CHE 3070L
  • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II – CHE 4068 
  • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lab – CHE 4067
  • Environmental Chemistry – CHE 4070
  • Environmental Chemistry Lab – CHE 4070L
  • Research in Chemistry – CHE 4099

Experience in Field

  • Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA), Associate Professor, 2014 – present
  • San Diego State University (San Diego, CA), Assistant Professor, 2006 – 2013
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA), Postdoctoral Associate, Mentor: Professor Stephen J. Lippard, 2002 – 2006
  • University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Advisor: Professor Jeffrey R. Long, 1997 – 2002
  • University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Advisors: Professors Darleane C. Hoffman & Angelica Stacy, 1994 – 1996
  • University of Houston (Houston, TX), Undergraduate Research Assistant, Advisor: C.W. Paul Chu, 1992 – 1994

Professional and Community Involvement

  • American Chemical Society

Awards and Honors

  • Mortar Board Award for Outstanding Faculty and Staff, SDSU, 2007 – 2008
  • National Cancer Institute Cancer Training Grant Postdoctoral Trainee, 2002 – 2005

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

  • Dissertation: "Toward Functional Coordination Solids: Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Cluster- and Transition-Metal Cyanide Frameworks." Ph.D., 2002 (UC Berkeley)
  • Schumacher, W. T.; Mathews, M. J.; Larson, S. A.; Lemmon, C. E.; Campbell, K. A.; Crabb, B. T.; Chicoine, B. J.-A.; Beauvais, L. G.; Perry, M. C. “Organocatalysis by site-isolated N-heterocyclic carbenes doped into the UIO-67 framework.” Polyhedron 2016, 114, 422-427.
  • Servati-Gargari, M.; Mahmoudi, G.; Batten, S. R.; Stilinović, V.; Butler, D.; Beauvais, L.; Kassel, W. S.; Dougherty, W. G.; VanDerveer, D. “Control of Interpenetration in Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks by Modification of Hydrogen Bonding Capability of the Organic Bridging Subunits.” Cryst. Growth Des. 2015, 1336-1343.
  • Smythe, N. C.; Butler, D. P.; Moore, C. E.; McGowan, W. R.; Rheingold, A. L.; Beauvais, L. G. “A heterobimetallic metal–organic framework with tunable reactive metal sites: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity.” Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 7855-7858.
  • Newcomb, M.; Lansakara-P., D. S. P.; Kim, H.-Y.; Esala, R.; Chandrasena, P.; Lippard, S. J.; Beauvais, L. G.; Murray, L. J.; Izzo, V.; Hollenberg, P. F.; Coon, M. J. “Products from the Enzyme-Catalyzed Oxidations of Norcarenes.” J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 1128–1133.
  • Newcomb, M.; Esala, R.; Chandrasena, P.; Lansakara-P., D. S. P.; Kim, H.-Y.; Lippard, S. J.; Beauvais, L. G.; Murray, L. J.; Izzo, V.; Hollenberg, P. F.; Coon, M. J. “Desaturase Reactions Complicate the Use of Norcarane as a Mechanistic Probe. Unraveling the Mixture of Twenty-Plus Products Formed in Enzyme-Catalyzed Oxidations of Norcarane.” J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 1121–1127.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “Synthesis and Characterization of Prussian Blue Analogues Incorporating the Edge-Bridged Octahedral [Zr6BCl12]2+ Cluster Core.” Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 236–243.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Lippard, S. J. “Reactions of the Diiron(IV) Intermediate Q in Soluble Methane Monooxygenase with Fluoromethanes.” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2005, 338, 262–266.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Lippard, S. J. “Reactions of the Peroxo Intermediate of Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Hydroxylase with Ether Substrates.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 7370–7378.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “Co2[Co(CN)5]2: A Microporous Magnet with an Ordering Temperature of 38 K.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12096–12097.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “Cyanide-Limited Complexation of Molybdenum(III): Synthesis of Octahedral [Mo(CN)6]3- and Cyano-Bridged [Mo2(CN)11]5-.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2110–2111.

See More Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

  • Bennett, M. V.; Beauvais, L. G.; Shores, M. P.; Long, J. R. “Expanded Prussian Blue Analogues Incorporating [Re6Se8(CN)6]3-/4- Clusters: Adjusting Porosity via Charge Balance.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 8022–8032.
  • Wierczinski, B.; Gregorich, K. E.; Kadkhodayan, B.; Lee, D. M.; Beauvais, L. G.; Hendricks, M. B.; Kacher, C. D.; Lane, M. R.; Keeney-Shaughnessy, D. A.; Stoyer, N. J.; Strellis, D. A.; Sylwester, E. R.; Wilk, P. A.; Hoffman, D. C.; Malmbeck, R.; Skarnemark, G.; Alstad, J.; Omtvedt, J. P.; Eberhardt, K.; Mendel, M.; Nahler, A.; Trautmann, N. “First Chemical On-Line Separation and Detection of a Subsecond a-Decaying Nuclide, 224Pa.” J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 2001, 247, 57–60.
  • Bennett, M. V.; Shores, M. P.; Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “Expansion of the Porous Solid Na2Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2·9H2O: Enhanced Ion-Exchange Capacity in Na2Zn3[Re6Se8(CN)6]2·24H2O.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 6664–6668.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Shores, M. P.; Long, J. R. “Cyano-Bridged Re6Q8 (Q = S, Se) Cluster-Cobalt(II) Framework Materials: Versatile Solid Chemical Sensors.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 2763–2772.
  • Shores, M. P.; Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “[Cd2(H2O)4][Re6S8(CN)6]·14H2O: A Cyano-Bridged Cluster-Cluster Framework Solid with Accessible Cubelike Cavities.” Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 1648–1649.
  • Shores, M. P.; Beauvais, L. G.; Long, J. R. “Cluster-Expanded Prussian Blue Analogues.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 775–779.
  • Beauvais, L. G.; Shores, M. P.; Long, J. R. “Cyano-Bridged Re6Q8 (Q = S, Se) Cluster-Metal Framework Solids: A New Class of Porous Materials.” Chem. Mater. 1998, 10, 3783–3786.
  • Eggert, J. H.; Hu, J. Z.; Mao, H. K.; Beauvais, L.; Meng, R. L.; Chu, C. W. “Compressibility of the HgBa2Can-1CunOn+2+d (n = 1, 2, 3) High Temperature Superconductors.” Phys. Rev. B 1994, 49, 15299–15304.
  • Xue, Y. Y.; Huang, Z. J.; Qui, X. D.; Beauvais, L.; Zhang, X. N.; Sun, Y. Y.; Meng, R.; Chu, C. W. “Pb-Doping Effects in Hg1-xPbxBa2Ca2Cu3O8+d.” Mod. Phys. Lett. B 1993, 7, 1833–1842.
  • Meng, R. L.; Beauvais, L.; Zhang, X. N.; Huang, Z. J.; Sun, Y. Y.; Xue, Y. Y.; Chu, C. W. “Synthesis of the High-Temperature Superconductors HgBa2CaCu2O6+d and HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+d.” Physica C 1993, 216, 21–28.
  • Gao, L,; Huang, J. Z.; Meng, R. L.; Lin, G.; Chen, F.; Beauvais, L.; Sun, Y. Y.; Xue, Y. Y.; Chu, C. W. “Study of Superconductivity in the Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O System.” Physica C 1993, 213, 261–265.