Bruce Branan, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry
Health Professions Advisor

Department: Science & Health

Office: Shaw Collaborative Learning Center 237

Phone Extension: (859) 858-3511, x2307

Biographical Information

At Asbury since 2000. When I’m not in my office, it’s a sure bet you’ll find me at home. My hobbies include biking, hiking, and some woodworking (I’ve made benches for our dining room table, bunk beds, and bookcases). We homeschool our children and I get to teach algebra, geometry, and basic science. I also enjoy reading science fiction and cooking (don’t all organic chemists?).

Education

Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Ohio State University (1994)
B.S. in Chemistry, University of NC at Greensboro (1989)

Courses offered:

CHE 121 / 122 General Chemistry I / II
CHE 115/117 Chemistry for the Health Professions / Lab
CHE 201 / 202 Organic Chemistry I / II
CHE 322 Chemical Instrumentation
PHP 302 Medical Admission Exams Preparation
PHP 393 Seminar in Health Professions Shadowing
BIO / CHE 400 Senior Research
BIO / CHE 475 Senior Seminar

Professional Interests

My research activities vary widely, but always include Asbury students. Recent projects include:

Analysis of antioxidants in municipal wastewater during a pandemic (2020)
Determination of roasting temperature and time on resveratrol content in peanuts (2020)
Comparison of antioxidants, caffeine, and sugar levels in homemade versus commercial kombucha (2020)
Low Field NMR Quantification of Capsaicin in Five Capsicum Varieties (2020)
THC levels in CBD Oil and Cannabinoid Products After Various Chemical Treatments (2019)
Determination of Ochratoxin A in Kentucky Black Walnuts (2017)
Studies towards the synthesis and metal complexing ability of a novel triether (2017)
Analysis of Chemical Differences in Black Teas Based on Picking Season, Clonal or Classical Variation, and Steeping Method (2015)
Rate of Change and Persistence of n-3 PUFA Levels in Egg Yolk from Chickens on Algae Supplemented Feed (2015)

All students are encouraged to present their research at local or national scientific meetings.

Selected/Recent Publications:

Carol Elam, Robin Prichard, Kerry Paumi, Bruce Branan, Tracy Livingston, “Four Institutional Approaches to Offering Clinical Exposure / Shadowing Experiences to Students”, The Advisor, NAAHP, September, 2019, pp. 7-12.

Forry, Bryce; Branan, B.M. “Determination of Ochratoxin A in Kentucky Black Walnuts”, Proceedings of The National Conference On Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2018”, Council on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC; 198-204.

Ogden, T.; Branan, B.M. “Chemical Differences Between Black Teas Prepared by Static and Dynamic Infusions”, Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research 2017, 16(2), 59-63.

Branan, B.; Hart, J.; Kreke, P. “Preparing (and Sharing) for Change: The AAMC Pre-Health Collection”, The Advisor, 2015, 35 (2), 17-23.

Branan, B.M.; Butcher, J.T.; Olsen, L.R. “Use of Ozone in the Undergraduate Chemistry Lab: Ozonolysis of Eugenol”, The Journal of Chemical Education, 2007, 84(12), 1979-1981.

Faulkner, J.R.; Hussaini, S.R.; Blankenship, J.D.; Pal, S.; Branan, B.M.; Grossman, R.B.; Schardl, C. “On the Sequence of Bond Formation in Loline Alkaloid Biosynthesis”, ChemBioChem, 2006, 7, 1078-1088.

Paquette, L.A.; Tae, J.; Branan, B.M.; Bolin, D.G.; Eisenberg, S.W.E. “Synthesis and Conformational Properties of Several Maximally Substituted Hexa(spirotetrahydrofuranyl)cyclohexanes. Assessment of the Pronounced bias of the All-Trans D_3d-Symmetric Isomer for Total Equatorial Oxygen Occupancy” J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 9172.

Presentations:

“Gaining Exposure to HealthCare: Organization of Student Clinical Shadowing Experiences at Four Liberal Arts Institutions in Kentucky.” Co-Presenters: Carol Elam (U. KY), Robin Prichard (Transylvania Univ.), Kerry Paumi (Centre College), and Tracy Livingston (Georgetown Univ.); Presented at the Southeastern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions Meeting. Memphis, TN, May 2019

“Preparing (and Sharing) for Change: The AAMC Pre-Health Collection” Branan, B.; Hart, J. (MCPHS Univ.); Kreke, P. (Mt. Saint Marys Univ.), The Advisor, 2015, 35 (2), 17-23.

“Pre-health Collection Within MedEdPORTAL’s iCollaborative: Shared Resources to Help Science Instructors Address Pre-Health Competencies”, Bruce Branan, Asbury University; Jen Page, Association of American Medical Colleges; an oral presentation for the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Science, Lexington, KY , November 15, 2014.

“iCollaborative of the Association of Medical Colleges” Jen Page, Rishi Dasai, Bruce Branan, Patti Kreke, Janet Hart; 2014 NAAHP National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, June, 2014.

“Share Your Teaching Resource Online: Join the Open Access Community!” Bruce Branan, Patti Kreke, Stephanie Brouet; 2014 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Grand Valley State University, Michigan, August, 2014.

“The ABC’s of Shadowing”, a poster presentation co-authored by Bruce Branan and January Haile, presented at the Academic Leadership Academy (sponsored by the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium), May 17, 2014.

“Comparative Study of Science-Teacher Education at Kentucky Universities”, a report of sabbatical research, Bruce Branan, Fall, 2013.

“HPLC Analysis of Resveratrol in Over-The-Counter Supplements”, co-authored by Heather Stamper and Bruce Branan, an oral presentation for the Undergraduate Research Competition, 2011 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Science, November 5, 2011.

Current research/scholarship:

A new area of interest is to analyze treated wastewater, sampled where it is released back into the environment, for the presence of pharmaceuticals (anti-depressents, birth control, etc.) to first determine the levels present, and to track levels over time to see how they are affected seasonally and (recently) by the pandemic.

A collaboration between Dr. Malinda Stull, Dr. Marvin Ruffner, and me involves a comparative analysis of homemade and commercial kombuchas for antioxidant levels, caffeine, and sugar.

Development of novel experiments for undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory

Affiliations:

CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Associations)

KAS (Kentucky Academy of Science)

NAAHP (National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions)