November 2018
— Prof. Sivey gave his Fisher Endowed Chair Lecture. Congratulations and good job!
October 2018
— Prof. Sivey was selected as a finalist for a University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Research.
— Group members Mark Niedzwiecki and Marella Schammel presented posters at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Marella won the first place award within her group for her presentation. Congratulations!
Mark Niedzwiecki presenting his research at the UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Marella Schammel presenting her research at the UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium.
— Group members Marella Schammel and Prof. Sivey were recognized at the TU President’s address for their work on the group’s recent publication.
— Congratulations to group members Mark Niedzwiecki, Marella Schammel, and Garrett Alexander II for receiving undergraduate research grants from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics!
August 2018
— We welcome new undergraduate researchers Olivia Driessen and Klein Arias to the lab! Klein also researched with us as a summer intern. Welcome Olivia and Klein!
— The group’s recent publication was featured in a Towson University article.
— Congratulations to alumnus Nick Race for his completion of an MS in Chemistry at the College of William and Mary! We wish him continued success as an analyst at Enthalpy Analytical.
July 2018
— Group members Marella Schammel, Klein Arias, and Prof. Sivey served as co-authors on an article detailing the recent tour of the Montebello Water Filtration Plant. The article featured in July issue of the local ACS, Maryland Section, Chesapeake Chemist newsletter.
— Tyler Swanson successfully presented and defended his Honors Thesis. Congratulations, Tyler!
June 2018
— Prof. Sivey and collaborators at the University of Buffalo published a paper entitled, “Sunlight and Photolysis of 2,4-D Herbicides in Systems Simulating Leaf Surfaces.”
— Marella Schammel attended the AWWA National Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV to accept the 2018-2019 Vernon Lucy/SUEZ Scholarship.
Pictured here with (left to right) AWWA CEO, David LaFrance, Marella Schammel, SUEZ representative, Andrew Sparkes, and AWWA President, Brenda Lennox.
— The research group participated in a tour of one of Baltimore’s three drinking water treatment plants.
— The group’s recent publication on the quenching and quantifying of free chlorine/bromine has been designated a HOT paper (top 10%) by the editors of Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology.
— The group welcomes Klein Arias to the laboratory as a summer research intern. Welcome, Klein!
— Group members/alumni Ryan Dias, Kayla Martin-Culet, Nick Race, and Marella Schammel are co-authors on a paper published in Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology. This work was performed in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Lau (Stanford University), Prof. Lynn Roberts (Johns Hopkins University), and Prof. Keith Reber (Towson University).
May 2018
— Congratulations to Ryan Dias on receiving an ACS Environmental Chemistry Undergraduate Student Award!
— The Sivey group and colleagues from Towson University celebrated the completion of another successful year with their annual party at Prof. Sivey’s home.
— Group members Kayla Marin-Culet, Tyler Swanson, and Ryan Dias graduated with their Bachelor of Science degrees. Kayla has accepted the position of Field Service Engineer with Agilent. Tyler will be pursuing a Master of Science in Forensic Science at Towson University. Ryan will be entering the graduate program in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta. Congratulations to all!
Group members Marella Schammel, Tyler Swanson, Prof. Sivey, Kayla Martin-Culet, and Ryan Dias celebrate after commencement.
— Ryan Dias successfully presented and defended his Honors Thesis. Congratulations, Ryan!
— Kayla Martin-Culet successfully presented and defended her Honors Thesis. Great job, Kayla!
April 2018
— Prof. Sivey gave the faculty address at the Towson University Honors College Breakfast in conjunction with the TU4U program.
— Group members were joined by students from Patapsaco High School in delivering our annual outreach program at General John Stricker Middle School. The program, entitled The Mathematics of Color and Light, uses hands-on water chemistry activities to illustrate the importance of mathematics to scientific questions and careers.
Photo credit: Mr. Brian Wagner, Principal, General John Stricker Middle School
March 2018
— Prof. Sivey has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure (effective August 2018). Many thanks to the hard working students who made the Sivey Group highly productive during our first six years at Towson University.
— Mark Niedzwiecki was awarded a Raspet Summer Research Fellowship. Congratulations, Mark!
— Group members Tyler Swanson, Marella Schammel, and Prof. Sivey presented research findings at the ACS National Meeting in New Orleans.
Tyler Swanson at the ACS National Meeting in New Orleans.
Marella Schammel at the ACS National Meeting in New Orleans.
— Congratulations to Marella Schammel, who was awarded the 2018-2019 Vernon Lucy/SUEZ Scholarship from the American Water Works Association. The scholarship is awarded to one undergraduate student per year in North America.
— Congratulations to Kayla Martin-Culet, who was selected to receive the Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society Award.
— Congratulations to Ryan Dias, who was selected to receive the Greater Washington Institute of Chemists Award.
January 2018
— Marella Schammel and Tyler Swanson each received a travel grant from the TU Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry to support their trip to the American Chemical Society National Meeting this coming March in New Orleans, LA.
— Congratulations to Marella Schammel on being selected as a campus nominee for a Goldwater Scholarship!
— Group alumnus Matthew Broadwater’s research on the chlorination and bromination kinetics of salicylic acid has been published in Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology. Group member Tyler Swanson served as a co-author. The paper was selected by the editors for inclusion in the journal’s Emerging Investigators Series. Congratulations!
— Group member Garrett Alexander II was admitted to the TU Honors College. Congratulations, Garrett!
December 2017
- Garrett Taggart graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree. Congratulations, Garrett! We wish you continued success in the PhD program at the University of Delaware!
Prof. Sivey and Garrett Taggart at the December 2017 TU Commencement.
— Prof. Sivey received the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics 2017 Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship (Research).
— The group welcomes Mark Niedzwiecki to our research team.
November 2017
— The group welcomes Garrett Alexander II to our research team.
October 2017
— Each current undergraduate member of the group was awarded a research grant from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics at Towson University. Excellent job, Kayla Martin-Culet, Ryan Dias, Tyler Swanson, and Marella Schammel!
— Prof. Sivey and a team of chemistry and physics faculty members at Towson University (led by Prof. Mary Devadas) was awarded a grant from the Fisher College Endowment. The project is entitled, Cross-Disciplinary Research Experience in Chemistry and Physics for Undergraduates to Catalyze Programmatic Enhancements and for Value-Added Employability.
September 2017
— Prof. Sivey presented a seminar in the Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Buffalo.
August 2017
— The group’s research efforts were featured in the ARCS Foundation Newsletter.
— Prof. Sivey presented the group’s bromination research to 150 international experts at the Gordon Research Conference on Disinfection By-Products in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
July 2017
— The group’s bromination research was highlighted in the TU Alumni Newsletter. Great job!
— Garrett Taggart produced an informational video that encourages undergraduate students to participate in research. Nice work, Garrett!
— Prof. Sivey was featured in a Towson University video.
— Summer research is in full swing in Smith Hall, but the group managed to sneak outside for a quick team photo:
Back row: Prof. Sivey, Tyler Swanson, Garrett Taggart, Ryan Dias, Zach Clark; Front row: Marella Schammel, Kayla Martin-Culet, Farzin Farhad
June 2017
— The Sivey research group was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to study the environmental fate of herbicide safeners. Collaborators on the project include Profs. Christopher Salice (TU Biology), David Cwiertny (University of Iowa, Civil and Environmental Engineering), and Hans-Joachim Lehmler (University of Iowa, Occupational and Environmental Health).
— Prof. Sivey’s HONR227 (The Polluted States of America) class visited the Philip Merill Environmental Center in Annapolis, MD, in order to learn more about improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
— Farzin Farhad and Zachary Clark join the group as summer research interns. Welcome!
— Students from Prof. Sivey’s HONR227 (The Polluted States of America) course discovered environmental impacts associated with acidic precipitation and storm-water runoff in TU’s Glen Arboretum.
May 2017
— Matthew Broadwater graduated with hid bachelor of science degree. Congratulations, Matthew! Best wishes in your next adventure at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
— Garrett Taggart delivered his Honors Thesis seminar. Nice job, Garrett!
The Sivey lab and friends celebrate graduating research students and welcome new research students.
— Matthew Broadwater developed a video overview of how to conduct halogenation kinetics experiments. Check out the video here.
April 2017
— Members of the Towson University’s Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, their advisor (Prof. Keith Reber), and some TU alumni gathered at Prof. Sivey’s home for an afternoon of food and games.
— Matthew Broadwater successfully defended his undergraduate Honors Thesis. Great job, Matthew!
— Garrett Taggart will begin graduate work this fall in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware. Congratulations, Garrett!
— Ryan Dias, Kayla Martin-Culet, Prof. Sivey, and AP biology students from Patapsaco High School facilitated The Mathematics of Color and Light outreach event with math students at General John Stricker Middle School. This event was covered by two news outlets:
— Kayla Martin-Culet, Ryan Dias, and other TU researchers presented their work at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco.
Kayla Martin-Culet at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco.
Ryan Dias at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco.
March 2017
— Group alum Allison Ricko co-authored a paper that was accepted for publication in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Prof. Sivey and collaborators from the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University also served as co-authors of this work.
— Marella Schammel joins the group as a new undergraduate researcher. Welcome, Marella!
— Garrett Taggart, Kayla Martin-Culet, and Ryan Dias received research grants from the Towson University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry. Nice work!
— Kayla Martin-Culet and Ryan Dias received travel grants from the Towson University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry. Congratulations!
February 2017
— Garrett Taggart received a research grant from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. Great job!
— Group member Matthew Broadwater will begin PharmD studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill beginning in Fall 2017. Congratulations, Matthew!
— Prof. Sivey delivered a seminar to the Bromine Specialties group at the Albemarle Corporation in Baton Rogue, LA.
January 2017
— Prof. Sivey received a CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The CAREER grant is the NSF’s most prestigious award for early-career faculty members who have demonstrated potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. This award will advance the group’s bromine-related research and expand the group’s outreach effort in Baltimore County Schools.
December 2016
— Tyler Swanson joins the group as an undergraduate researcher. Welcome, Tyler!
— Alumni gathered for a holiday party at Prof. Sivey’s home.
— Prof. Sivey presented an invited research seminar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Temple University.
November 2016
— The group is featured in a TU Research Spotlight article.
— Kayla Martin-Culet and Ryan Dias received undergraduate research grants from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. Congratulations, Kayla and Ryan!
October 2016
— Matthew Broadwater delivered a seminar to discuss the results of his Raspet Summer Research Fellowship. Great job, Matthew!
— Group photo for Fall 2016:
August 2016
— The group was awarded a Pepsi Grant to support our ongoing outreach program entitled, The Mathematics of Color and Light in Baltimore County Public Schools.
— Prof. Sivey co-organized a symposium at the ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia. The symposium was entitled, Advanced Teaching and Learning in Environmental Chemistry Courses: Innovative Tools and Techniques. Prof. Ning Dai (University of Buffalo) and Prof. Amisha Shah (Purdue University) were also co-organizers.
— The research group gathered at Prof. Sivey’s home for their annual summer BBQ.
May 2016
— Matthew Broadwater received an Undergraduate Environmental Chemistry Award from the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry. Well done!
April 2016
— Prof. Sivey directed an educational outreach activity with mathematics students at General John Stricker Middle School. The outreach activity was co-facilitated by members of the Science Club from Patapsaco High School.
— Undergraduate researchers Garrett Taggart and Matthew Broadwater presented research posters at the TU Research Expo. Nice job!
— Group alum Allison Ricko received a Graduate Student Research Award from the Office of Graduate Studies at Towson University for her thesis entitled, “Anaerobic abiotic reduction of dichloroacetamide safeners: Effects of manganese oxides and agrochemical co-formulants“. Congratulations, Allison!
— Group alumnus Nick Race will begin graduate studies in the Department of Chemistry at the College of William and Mary in Summer 2016. Congratulations, Nick!
— Group alumnus Nick Sapienza will begin doctoral work in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech in Fall 2016. Congratulations, Nick!
March 2016
— Matthew Broadwater was awarded a Raspet Summer Research Fellowship by the Department of Chemistry at Towson University. Congratulations!
— Prof. Sivey directed an educational outreach activity with 100 local 6th grade mathematics students.
— Prof. Sivey presented an invited research seminar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Villanova University.
— Garrett Taggart, Matthew Broadwater, and Prof. Sivey presented research at the ACS National Meeting in San Diego, CA. Garrett and Matthew received travel grants from the Towson University Office of Undergraduate Research and the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. Nice work!
Garrett Taggart at the ACS National Meeting in San Diego.
Matthew Broadwater at the ACS National Meeting in San Diego.
January 2016
— The group’s research involving “inert” ingredients in herbicide formulations was spotlighted in a segment on NPR’s Academic Minute.
— Group members Garrett Taggart, Matthew Broadwater, and Prof. Sivey coordinated an educational outreach event with the Science Club students at Patapsaco High School.
November 2015
— Kayla Martin-Culet and Ryan Dias join the group as new undergraduate researchers. Welcome Kayla and Ryan!
— Nick Race successfully defended his undergraduate honors thesis. Congratulations, Nick!
Nick Race at his thesis defense seminar.
September 2015
— Allison Ricko, Prof. Chris Salice, and Prof. Sivey, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Iowa, published a review article focusing on safeners in Environmental Science and Technology Letters. Congratulations!
August 2015
— Prof. Sivey was appointed as the Fisher Endowed Professor in the Biological and Physical Sciences (2015-2018).
— Allison Ricko presented the results of her thesis research at the ACS National Meeting in Boston, MA. Well done, Allison!
July 2015
— Prof. Sivey and colleagues from the Departments of Chemistry and Biology have been awarded a Major Research Instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation to purchase an ultra performance liquid chromatograph interfaced with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.
— Prof. Sivey delivered an invited lecture to undergraduate researchers at the University of Iowa. 
June 2015
— Allison Ricko successfully defended her Master of Science thesis. Excellent job!
— Prof. Sivey served as an invited panelist for the “Research and Teaching at Primary Undergraduate Institutions” workshop at the AEESP conference at Yale University.
May 2015
— Group members Mark Burton and Mark Bickley received their Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry with Departmental Honors. Congratulations!
Group members Mark Burton, Allison Ricko, Mark Bickley, and Prof. Sivey after the May 2015 FCSM Commencement.
— Allison Ricko received an ACS AGRO Division 2015 Education Award, which includes a travel grant to attend the ACS National Meeting in Boston, MA this August. Congratulations!
April 2015
— Mark Bickley received an Undergraduate Environmental Chemistry Award from the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry. Well done!
— Congratulations to Mark Bickley for successfully defending his undergraduate honors thesis!
— Matthew Broadwater joins the group as a new undergraduate researcher. Welcome, Matthew!
— Mark Burton successfully defended his honors thesis. Mark will begin PhD studies in the Fall 2015 in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. Great job, Mark!
— Mark Bickley was selected to be the Honors College banner carrier at the May 2015 commencement ceremony. Congratulations, Mark!
— Garrett Taggart joins the group as a new undergraduate researcher. Welcome, Garrett!
— Group members Mark Bickley, Prof. Sivey, and group alumnus Dan Victor co-authored an ACS Symposium Series, peer-reviewed book chapter entitled, “Catalysis of DBP-Precursor Bromination by Halides and Hypochlorous Acid.”
— Prof. Sivey was selected as one of four international finalists for the ACS AGRO Division’s New Investigator Award.
March 2015
— A kinetic study of anisole bromination (co-authored by undergraduate group member Mark Bickley and unndergraduate alumnus Dan Victor) has been published in Environmental Science and Technology. Great job!
— Group members Allison Ricko, Mark Burton, and Prof. Sivey implemented an educational outreach activity entitled The Mathematics of Color and Light at a local middle school.
Mark Burton and Allison Ricko at 6th grade math educational outreach event.
— Prof. Sivey presented an invited research seminar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware.
— Mark Bickley is the recipient of the Greater Washington Institute of Chemists Student Award for outstanding overall achievement in chemistry. Congratulations, Mark!
February 2015
— Prof. Sivey delivered an invited research presentation in the Department of Chemistry at Bucknell University.
January 2015
— The group welcomes Nick Race as a new undergraduate researcher.
December 2014
— In 2015, Alyssa Allen will begin doctoral studies in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Central Florida. Way to go!
October 2014
— Group member Mark Bickley has been offered admission to the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Congratulations!
August 2014
— Mark Bickley delivered a presentation at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA. Nice job, Mark!
Mark Bickley at the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco.
July 2014
— Mark Bickley was awarded a Wingrove Scholarship. Congratulations!
June 2014
— Prof. Sivey was awarded a grant from the ACS Petroleum Research Foundation. 
May 2014
— The group gathered with friends for a BBQ at Prof. Sivey’s home to celebrate the end of another successful semester:
— Allison Ricko successfully defended her MS thesis proposal. Congratulations, Allison!
— Congratulations to Nick Sapienza and Dan Victor on receiving their Bachelor of Science degrees at the Spring 2014 commencement !
— Dan Victor successfully defended his undergraduate honors thesis. Congratulations, Dan!
April 2014
— Prof. Sivey was inducted into the Towson University Academy of Scholars. The TU Academy of Scholars inducts up to three junior faculty members per year from across the University. Inductees are selected based on the impact of their research programs.
— The group represented at this year’s TU Research Expo. Congratulations to presenters for a job well done: Nick Sapienza, Mark Bickley, and Mark Burton.
— Mark Bickley has been awarded a Raspet Summer Fellowship for Summer 2014. Congratulations!
March 2014
— Congratulations to the Department of Chemistry award recipients from our group: Mark Bickley was awarded the Floyd Blankenship Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in physical chemistry and the Maryland Section of the ACS Achievement in Chemistry Award; Alyssa Allen was awarded the Greater Washington Institute of Chemists Student Award.
— Mark Burton and Dan Victor presented their research at the ACS National Meeting in Dallas, TX. Great job!
Mark Burton at the ACS National Meeting in Dallas.
Dan Victor at the ACS National Meeting in Dallas.
— Mark Bickley received a travel grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research to attend the 248th ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA. Congratulations!
— Congratulations to Mark Bickley and Nick Sapienza on their receipt of Undergraduate Research Grants from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics and from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
January 2014
— Mark Burton and Dan Victor each received travel grants from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics to attend the 247th ACS National Meeting in Dallas, TX. Congratulations!
November 2013
— Prof. Sivey was invited to serve as a lead reviewer at the USAID – Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Water and Environment Review Panel in Washington, DC.
October 2013
— The Office of Undergraduate Research at Towson has awarded research and travel grants to Mark Burton and Dan Victor.
— Dan Victor and Mark Burton each received an Undergraduate Research Grant from the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. Congratulations!
August 2013
— Congratulations, Alyssa Allen, recipient of the 2013 Alan and Eileen Wingrove Scholarship!
July 2013
— Prof. Sivey (along with Profs. Soto, Ma, and Preisler) was awarded a Fisher Endowment Grant for a project entitled “Enhancing research experiences for early-career undergraduate students: Interdisciplinary investigations in biophysical chemistry”.
June 2013
— We welcome Allison Ricko to our group. Allison is pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science.
— The group welcomes Nick Sapienza as an undergraduate researcher.
May 2013
— Alyssa Allen joins the group as a new undergraduate researcher. Welcome, Alyssa!
April 2013
— We welcome Mark Burton and Mark Bickley to the group as undergraduate researchers.
— Prof. Sivey gave a platform presentation at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
— Congratulations Mark Burton, the 2013 Analytical Chemistry Award Recipient at Towson University!
January 2013
— We welcome Steven LeVine and Dan Victor as new undergraduate researchers.
— Prof. Sivey was awarded a grant from the Maryland Water Resources Research Center to examine reactive brominating agents in chlorinated drinking water.