Dr. Gija Geme

Educational Background

• B.S. Chemistry, Arkansas State University (2002)
• M.S. Chemistry, University of Memphis (2005)
• Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Memphis (2007)

Academic Bio

Dr. Geme joined the faculty at of SAU in the fall of 2012. Previously she was an associate professor of chemistry at UCM where she was employed from 2007.  Her primary duties are teaching general chemistry, analytical chemistry, and mentoring undergraduate researchers and director of the NRRC.  This is Dr. Geme’s second appointment after graduating from The University of Memphis in the summer of 2007.

Dr. Geme’s research interests are in the area of drinking water. Water is one of the most abundant compounds on Earth and is very special because all life-forms on Earth are totally water dependent. While at the graduate school, Dr. Geme developed a method for detecting drinking water disinfection by-products. Now, she is interested in the chemistry behind this established method. Dr. Geme particularly is interested in the chemical kinetics of drinking water disinfectants and disinfection by-products. Kinetic studies are carried out using UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometers and a flow injection analyzer. Other aspects of Dr. Geme’s research deals with the miniaturization of existing methods for detection of disinfectants and disinfection by-products in drinking water. Miniaturization of instruments is a very hot topic in analytical chemistry and is being explored in great deal.

Dr. Geme is also interested in exploring alternative methods for detecting disinfectants in drinking water. A huge portion of the world’s population does not have reliable methods for detecting disinfectants in drinking water and they are in need for such inexpensive and simple methods. If you are interested in research, come and talk to Dr. Geme. There is always interesting work going on in Dr. Geme’s research group or somewhere else in the chemistry department.