Donna Narsavage-Heald
Department of Chemistry
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510
narsavaged1@scranton.edu




Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, 1991, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
M.S., Chemistry, 1988, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York

B.S., Chemistry 1985, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania
 

Professional Experience Associate Professor, 1999-present Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania


Assistant Professor, 1993-1999

Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania


Visiting Assistant Professor, 1992-1993

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont


Research Assistant, Summer 1992

Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York


Visiting Assistant Professor, 1991-1992

Department of Chemistry, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut


Research Assistant, 1985-1991

Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York


Teaching Assistant, 1985-1986

Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
Research Interests and Experience
Focused on various aspects of materials chemistry, including: synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition of polymer precursors to ceramic products; hybrid organic-inorganic polymers; composite materials; epoxy adhesion.
 
Polymeric Precursors to Ceramics. Synthesis, characterization, and study of the properties of novel silicon polymers, as well as the thermal decomposition to ceramic products. Demonstrated successful conversion of polymer precursors to Si3N4/SiC/BN nanocomposites , as well as the ability to control the ceramic composite composition through the polymer composition. The potential to utilize solution cast polymer films, both spin coated and dip coated, to create a protective ceramic coating is under study.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Polymers. Prepared hybrid polymers using both vinyl polymerization and sol gel methods. Demonstrated the ability to carefully control the degree of crosslinking using hybrid polymers. Investigated the synthesis of silicon and boron based dendrimers.

Composite Materials. Prepared bis-GMA based composites using silsesquioxanes as filler for dental resin applications. Studied the effect of silsesquioxane content and various matrix/filler compositions on water absorption, composite hardness, and volume shrinkage upon polymerization.

Epoxy Adhesion. Studied the effect of adhesion promoters on the wet adhesive strength of epoxy to glass using both silicon and titanium based adhesion promoters. Investigated the effect of adding adhesion promoters directly to the epoxy on the wet adhesive strength and mechanical properties. Performed double cantilever beam testing of specimens.
 

Awards
Goodyear Polymer Science fellowship recipient (November 1990-Spring 1991)
North American Philips fellowship recipient (September 1986-May 1988)


Professional Affiliations and Honor Societies

American Chemical Society, Polymer Science Division and Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Division, 1985-present
Phi Lambda Upsilon, 1985-present
Sigma Xi, 1985-present
Project Kaleidoscope Faculty for the 21st Century
 
Courses Taught General and Analytical Chemistry I & II (Chem 112/113)
Introduction to Polymer Chemistry (Chem 464/564)
Polymer Chemistry Lab (Chem 464L/564L)
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 440/540)
Advanced Inorganic Laboratory (Chem 440L)
Science and Society (Chem 104)
Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I & II (Middlebury College, Chem 431)
NMR Spectroscopy (Middlebury College, team course on spectroscopy)
 
Curriculum Development Developed a new Polymer Chemistry Laboratory course.
Revised the General and Analytical Chemistry Lab (a two semester course taught to ~225 students/semester)
 
Peer Reviewed Publications Schmidt, W. R.; Narsavage-Heald, D. M.; Jones, D. M.; Marchetti, P. S.; Raker, D; Maciel, G. E. "Poly(borosilazane) Precursors to Ceramic Nanocomposites", Chemistry of Materials, 1999, 11, 1455.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Hydridopolysilazane", Polymer Data Handbook; Mark, James E., Ed.; Oxford: New York, 1999.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Poly(N-Methylcyclodisilazane)", Polymer Data Handbook; Mark, James E., Ed.; Oxford: New York, 1999.

Interrante, L.V.; Wu, H.J.; Apple, T.; Shen, Q.; Ziemann, B.; Narsavage, D. M.; Smith, K. "Poly(Silaethylene)--A Novel Analog of Polyethylene", J.A.C.S. 1994, 116, 12085.

Narsavage, D. M.; Interrante, L. V.; Marchetti, P. S.; Maciel, G. E. "Condensation Polymerization of Tetrakis(ethylamino)silane and Its Thermal Decomposition to Si3N4/SiC Ceramics", Chem. Mater. 1991, 3(4), 721.
 
 

Presentations at Professional Meetings (Presenter Underlined)  
Narsavage-Heald, D. M. and Pearson, R. A. "Effect of Adhesion Promoters on the Wet Adhesive Strength of Epoxy to Glass", presented at the Materials Science and Technology Symposium on Adhesives, Newark, New Jersey, November 2000.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Infrared Spectroscopy of Plastics in the General Chemistry Lab", presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, California, March 2000.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Thermalgravimetric Analysis of Commercial Poly(vinyl chloride) Products as an Experiment for the Analytical Lab or the Polymer Lab", presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, California, March 2000.

Howe, J.; Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Poly(borosilazane) Derived Ceramic as a Carbon Fiber Coating", presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, California, March 2000.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M., Hinz, J.A., Maher, E. "Synthesis and Study of Poly(borosilazane) Gels", presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, August 1998.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M.; Schmidt, W.R.; Jones, D.; Marchetti, P.M.; Interrante, L.V.; Raker, D. "Poly(borosilazanes) as Precursors to Ceramic Nanocomposites", presented at American Ceramic Society Meeting, San Francisco, California, October 1997.

Narsavage, D. M; Interrante, L. V. "Synthesis and Thermal Decomposition of Silazane Polymers as Precursors to Ceramic Materials",presented at American Chemical Society National Meeting in Miami, Florida, September 1989.

Narsavage, D. M; Interrante, L. V. "Synthesis and Thermal Decomposition of Silazane Polymers as Precursors to Ceramic Materials", presented at American Chemical Society Northeast Regional Meeting in Albany, New York, June 1989.

Narsavage, D. M.; Interrante, L. V.; Rusiloski, B.; Valade, L. "Studies of the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silazane and Silylamine Compounds", presented at the Frontiers in Materials Advanced Ceramics Symposium, at Alfred University, Alfred, New York, October 1988.
 
 
 

Invited Seminars (Presenter Underlined)
  Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Synthesis and Study of Poly(borosilazane) Gels as Precursors to Ceramic Nanocomposites", presented at Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, October 1998.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Polymer Precursors to Ceramic Materials", presented at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, 1995.

Narsavage-Heald, D. M. "Polymer Precursors to Ceramic Materials", presented at General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center in Schenectady, New York, 1995.

Narsavage, D. M. "Investigation of the Polymerization and Thermal Decomposition of Polysilazanes to Silicon Nitride", presented at Keane College of New Jersey, February 1992.

Narsavage, D. M. "Synthesis and Thermal Decomposition of Polysilazanes as Precursors to Ceramic Products", presented at Siena College, Loudonville, New York, May, 1992.
 
 

Peer Reviewer National Science Foundation
Petroleum Research Fund
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity, 3e, by J. Kotz and P. Treichel, Saunders College Publishing: Fort Worth, 1996.
Chemistry of Materials, an American Chemical Society Journal, (1991-present)
 
External Grants "Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy", submitted to Thomson Consumer Electronics for a Nicolet 520P FTIR spectrometer and Spectra Tech IR Microscope, co-PI: Dr. Christopher Baumann, funded, 1995.

"Thermalgravimetric Analysis in the Undergraduate Polymer Laboratory and Undergraduate Research", submitted to the National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (NSF-ILI) $20,625, funded, 1994.
 
 

University Service University Senate (fall 1999-present)
Natural Science Education Committee, Chair (spring 1999-present)
Health Professions Evaluation Committee (spring 1996-2000)
Marshall of the Graduates (Commencement 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Commencement Committee (spring 1995-spring 1999)
Faculty Advisor to the Royal Ambassadors (1995-1998)
Cultural Diversity Seminar Participant (fall 1997-spring 1998)
Faculty Development Board (fall 1995-spring 1998)
Faculty Research Committee (fall 1994-spring 1997)
Women's Studies Seminar Participant (fall 1996-spring 1997)
Subject Area Observer for chemistry student teachers (1995-1996)
Graduate Dean Search Committee (fall 1994-spring 1995)
 
Departmental Service
Analytical Chemistry faculty search committee, chair (fall 1999-spring 2000)
Biochemistry faculty search committee (fall 1998-spring 1999)
System administrator of the Varian Gemini 2000 NMR spectrometer (summer 1998-present)
Chemistry Department Computer Committee (fall 1996-present)
Faculty advisor to a total of ten undergraduates (1993 to present)
Served on the thesis committee's of forty-one undergraduate students and nine graduate students
Phi Lambda Upsilon faculty moderator (fall 1994-present)
Coordinator for yearly American Chemical Society seminars (fall 1994-spring 1996)
Chemistry department secretary (September 1993 to May 1995)
  Community Service Sponsor and mentor of girls for "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" (1998, 1999)
Volunteer at Mountain View Nursing Home for United Way Day of Caring (September, 1998)
Speaker at the University of Scranton Campus School 7th and 8th grade Career Day (April 1998)
Chairperson of the Education/Special Awards Committee of the Susquehanna Valley Section of the ACS (September 1995-January 1997)