Larry Welch

General Interests
"My students and I have done a wide variety of experiments over the years, starting with electrochemistry and chromatography, but now moving more toward spectroscopy. In particular, we've been looking at the luminescence of the lanthanide metals and their compounds, and have been working with fluorescence anisotropy to probe complex systems."

Years at Knox: 1988 to present

Education
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, 1988, Iowa State University.
B.S., Chemistry, 1983, University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

Teaching Interests
Analytical Chemistry, general Chemistry, environmental Chemistry.

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants

• Knox Faculty Research / Creative Work Grant: Subterranean Radon Monitoring, 2016-2017.
• Knox Mellon Faculty Career Enhancement Grant - Collaborative Research Grant: Subterranean Radon Monitoring, 2016-2017.
• Phillip Green Wright/Lombard College Prize for Distinguished Teaching, Knox College, 2007.
• Dreyfus Foundation Award, 2000.

Publications
"Depth Profiling of Radon in Vertical Shafts Using Electret Ionization Chambers." Welch, Lawrence E., Paul, Brian E.*, Miller, Emily C.*, Chen, Yu-an I.*, Jones, Mark D., Beck, Christopher L. Proceedings of the 2017 AARST International Radon Symposium, pp. 1-18 (2017). Web. 

"Gibbs Energy Changes during Cobalt Complexation: A Thermodynamics Experiment for the General Chemistry Laboratory." DeGrand, Michael J., Abrams, M. Leigh, Jenkins, Judith L., Welch, Lawrence E. J. Chem. Educ., 88 (2011) 634-6.

Welch, Lawrence E., Paul, Brian E. ('13), Jones, Mark D. "Use of Electret Ionization Chambers to Measure Radon in Caves," Proceedings of the 2016 AARST International Radon Symposium (2016): 1-18. Web.

"Use of Electret Ionization Chambers to Measure Radon in Caves." Welch, Lawrence E., Paul, Brian E.*, Jones, Mark D. In preparation for Proceedings of the 2016 AARST International Radon Symposium, pp. 1-18 (2016). Web.

"Determining the Mechanism of Terbium Phosphorescence Quenching." Jenkins, Judith L., Welch, Lawrence E. Journal Chemical Education 86 (2009): 613-616.

"Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Two Laboratory Activities for the Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Course." Co-authored with Kooser, Ara S., and Jenkins, Judith L. J. Chem. Educ. 80 (2003): 86-88.

"Acid-Base Indicators: A New Look at an Old Topic." Kooser, Ara S., Jenkins, Judith L., Welch, Lawrence E. J. Chem. Educ. 78 (2001): 1504-1506.

"High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and electrochemical detection of cephalosporins." Co-authors J.E. McMillin, A.J. Prince, and E.K. Yun. Journal of Chromatography B (1998).

"A consideration of electrode polishing prior to application of pulsed amperometric detection." Co-authors R.L. Earley, A. Inoue, and M.W. Lehmann. Talanta (1998).

"The Application of Flow Programming with Pulsed Amperometric Detection for Liquid Chromatography." Co-authors R.L. Earley and J.S. Miller. Talanta (1998).

Presentations
With Paul, Brian E. ('13) & Jones, Mark D. "Use of Electret Ionization Chambers to Measure Radon in Caves," 30th International Radon Symposium, San Diego, CA. September 18 - 21, 2016.

"Analysis of Racemic Organic Acids by Chiral High Performance Liquid Chromatography." Presentation with Orech, Tara K., and Cermak, Diana, 66th Southwest and 62nd Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2010.

"Thermodynamics of Cobalt Complexation: Measuring Free Energy in the General Chemistry Laboratory." Presentation with Patterson, Sara S., DeGrand, Michael J., Abrams, M.Leigh, and Jenkins, Judith L., 66th Southwest and 62nd Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, Louisana, 2010.

"A New Approach to Finding Formation Constant Values of Terbium/EDTA." (with T. Zessin,) University at Buffalo McNair Research Conference, Buffalo, New York, 2007.

"Spectroscopic Determination of Formation Constant Values for Terbium Complexes." With C.M. Ripperda, National Meeting of American Chemical Society, Atlanta, Georgia.

"Probing the Structure of a Single-Tryptophan Protein: A Guided Inquiry Biochemistry Experiment for the Undergraduate Laboratory." With J.L. Jenkins and C.M. Ripperda, National Meeting of American Chemical Society, Atlanta, Georgia.

Campus & Community Involvement

• Knox Faculty representative to the Midwest Athletic Conference.
• Advisor, Chemistry Club.

What Students Say
"Professor Welch is an easy professor to work with because he has a laid back personality when it comes to the student-professor relationship. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't have high expectations. His classes are demanding, but he's very thorough and makes himself available to his students. He sets high standards. I have worked in his lab for a year and he gives me lots of leeway while nudging me in the right direction when necessary."
-Jason Kesselring, Chemistry Major