Justin Clar
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of Undergraduate Research Program
Department: Chemistry
Email: jclar@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6231
Professional Expertise
Brief Biography
Dr. Clar received a bachelor degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond in 2006. After serving with AmeriCorps, he attended the University of Florida, earning his MS in 2010, studying arsenic mobilization during Aquifer Storage and Recovery Operations. Excited by the growth of nanoscience and nanotechnology, he remained at UF earning his PhD in 2014 studying the environmental implications of carbon nanotube separation and processing. During his graduate study Dr. Clar worked as an NSF GK-12 fellow developing environmental education modules for use in middle school classrooms. After leaving UF, he worked as an ORISE Postdoctoral Participant at the EPA in the Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division (Cincinnati OH) studying the release of nanoparticles from outdoor surface coatings. Dr. Clar is now an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Elon University where his research is focused on both the environmental implications and beneficial uses of nanotechnology.
News & Notes
Education
2014 Ph.D., Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2010 Master of Science, Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2006 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Employment History
2015-2016 ORISE Postdoctoral Participant
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati OH
2014-2015 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2012-2014 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2009-2012 National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Courses Taught
CHM 111 - General Chemistry (I)
CHM 305 - Environmental Chemistry
CHM 311 - Quanitiative Analysis
ENV 4041C – Environmental Analysis,(University of Florida)
ECN 6937 – Advanced Chemical and Bioprocesses Lab, (University of Florida)
Leadership Positions
Health Professions Advisory Committee – Fall 2017 – Current
Preparing Future Faculty Mentor (Robert Carden)– October 2017-Present
Voices of Discovery Speaker Series Organizational Committee – August 2016-Present
Current Projects
1.) Nanopartilce Release from Consumer Products
2.) Nanopartilce Dissolution in Synthetic Lung Fluid
Grants Awarded
Faculty Research & Development: Reassigned Time Fellowship: Spring 2018
Publications
Selected Publications, *Indicates Undergraduate Researcher
Clar, J.G., Li X., Impellitteri, C.A., Bennett-Stamper, C., Luxton, T.P., “Copper Nanoparticle Induced Cytotoxicity to Nitrifying Bacteria in Wastewater Treatment: A Mechanistic Copper Speciation Study by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy” Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01910
Zhao, Y., Clar, J.G., Li, L., Xu, J.,Yuan, T., Bonzongo, J.C., Ziegler, K.J., “Selective Desorption of High-Purity (6,5) SWCNTS from Hydrogels through Surfactant Modulation” Chem. Commun. 2015 DOI: 10.1039/C5CC08530F
Clar, J.G., *Gustitus, S. A., Youn, S. J., Silvera Batista, C. A., Ziegler, K. J., Bonzongo, J. C., “Linking the Electronic Character of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes to their Biological Impacts Using a Model Aquatic Organism” Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015 DOI: 10.1021/es505925m
Clar, J. G., Yuan, T., Zhao, Y., Bonzongo, J. C., Ziegler, K. J., “Evaluation of Critical Parameters in the Separation of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes through Selective Adsorption onto Hydrogels” J. Phys. Chem. C. 2014 DOI: 10.1021/jp503594h
Clar J.G., Silvera Batista, C. A., Youn, SJ., Bonzongo, J.C., Ziegler, K.J., “Interactive Forces between Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Suspended Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Agarose Gels” J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2013 DOI: 10.1021/ja4052526
Presentations
Selected Presentations
Release of Nanoparticles from Surface Coatings: Is this really Nano exposure? Golden, CO, August 15th, 2016, International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials:(ICEENN) 11th Meeting (Oral)
Evaluation of Critical Parameters in the Separation of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes through Selective Adsorption onto Hydrogels Atlanta, GA, November 18th 2014. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) 14th Annual Meeting (Oral)
Linking the Electronic Character of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes to their Biological Impacts Using a Model Aquatic Organism Atlanta, GA, November 18th 2014. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) 14th Annual Meeting (Poster) Award Winner Poster Presentation
Toxicological Evaluation of Electronically Sorted Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTS) on the Freshwater Green Algae: Pseudokirchneriella Subcapitata. San Francisco, CA, August 10th 2014. American Chemical Society (ACS) 248th Meeting (Oral)
High-Fidelity Single Column Separations of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Agarose Gels San Francisco, CA, November 7th 2013. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) 13th Annual Meeting (Oral)
Interactive Forces between SDS-Suspended Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Agarose Gels Indianapolis, IN. September 8th 2013. American Chemical Society (ACS) 246th Meeting. (Oral)
Interactive Forces between SDS-Suspended Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Agarose Gels Gainesville, FL. Monday April 15th 2013. Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment (ESSIE) Poster Symposium (Poster)
Surfactant Driven Surface Changes on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Toxicological Implications Philadelphia, PA. Thursday August 23rd 2012. American Chemical Society (ACS) 244th Meeting. (Oral)
On the Controversial Biological Response of a Model Aquatic Organisms Exposed to Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Milan, Italy. Wednesday May 18th 2011. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SECTAC) Europe 21st Annual Meeting (Poster)
Awards
2013-2014 Teaching Assistant of the Year
Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment, University of Florida