9686 Southwestern University: Profile

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Emily Niemeyer

Professor of Chemistry

Education

PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo 1998
BS, Ohio Northern University 1993

Courses: Spring 2013

General Chemistry II
Intro to Research
Continued Research

Research

My research over the past several years has focused on understanding how macronutrient fertilization affects the production of polyphenolic compounds in the popular culinary herb Ocimum basilicum L. (basil). We have examined the impact of both nitrogen and potassium fertilization on polyphenolic levels and antioxidant activities in three basil cultivars: Dark Opal, Genovese, and Sweet Thai.  We also recently completed a project to determine how cultivar impacts polyphenol production and antioxidant properties in basil.  My research students are currently using mass spectrometry to identify phenolics in purple anthocyanin-containing basil cultivars as well as in other herbs in the Lamiaceae family such as lavender and lemon balm.


Professional Work

Administrative positions:

Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (2006-2010)

Chair, Environmental Studies Program (1999-2002)



Publications

Recent peer-reviewed publications:

Kwee, Eileen M.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Variations in phenolic composition and antioxidant properties among fifteen basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars" Food Chem. 2011, 128, 1044-1050.

Nguyen, Phuong M.; Kwee, Eileen M.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Potassium rate alters the antioxidant capacity and phenolic concentration of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves" Food Chem. 2010, 123, 1235-1241.

Nguyen, Phuong M.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" J. Ag. Food Chem. 2008, 56, 8685-8691.

Johnson, Melissa A.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Ambivalent Landscapes: Environmental Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands" Hum. Ecol. 2008, 36, 371-382.

Freeman, Jessica D.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Quantification of Tea Flavonoids by High Performance Liquid Chromatography" J. Chem. Ed. 2008, 85, 951-953.

Niemeyer, Emily D.; Brodbelt, Jennifer S. "Isomeric Differentiation of Green Tea Catechins using Gas-Phase Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Reactions" J. Amer. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2007, 18, 1749-1759.

Owens, Janel E.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Analysis of Chemical Contamination in a Canal within a Mexican Border Colonia" Env. Pollution 2006, 140, 506-515.

Alter, Krystyn P.; Molloy, John L.; Niemeyer, Emily D. "Spectrophotometric Determination of the Dissociation Constant of an Acid-Base Indicator using a Mathematical Deconvolution Technique" J. Chem. Ed. 2005, 82, 1682-1685.


Seminars & Presentations

·       Kwee, Eileen M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D.  "Effect of cultivar on the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" Effect of Agricultural Practices and Growth Conditions on Bioactive Compounds; 241st American Chemical Society National Meeting, Anaheim, CA (invited, 2011)

·       Flanigan, Patrick;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Variations in anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties among 8 purple basil cultivars (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 241st American Chemical Society National Meeting, Anaheim, CA (2011)

·       Kjolhede, Lauren;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Identification of phenolic compounds in lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and lavender (Lavandula) by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)" 241st American Chemical Society National Meeting, Anaheim, CA (2011)

·       Ritzer, Alexis A.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Influence of sulfur fertilization on the antioxidant properties and phenolic content of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 239th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2010)

·       Kwee, Eileen M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Variations in phenolic levels and antioxidant properties among twenty basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars" 239th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2010)

·       Nguyen, Phuong M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Rate of potassium application alters the antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 239th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2010)

·       Nguyen, Phuong M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Effects of potassium fertilization on the antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 237th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT (2009)

·       Kwee, Eileen M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Impact of cultivar selection on phenolic content and antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 237th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT (2009)

·       Niemeyer, Emily D. "Fertile ground for analysis: how plant nutrition affects the production of polyphenolic antioxidants" Colorado College Chemistry Seminar Series, Colorado Springs, CO (invited, 2007)

·       Freeman, Jessica D.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Analysis of common black tea theaflavins using normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography" 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL (2007)

·       Nguyen, Phuong M.;* Niemeyer, Emily D. "Effects of nitrogen application on the antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)" 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL (2007)

·       Niemeyer, Emily D.; Brodbelt, Jennifer S. "Isomeric differentiation of common tea catechins using gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions" 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2006)

Honors & Awards

Awards:

Exemplary Teaching Award from the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church (2009-2010)
Southwestern University Excellence in Academic Advising Award (2002-2003)


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