Nancy E. Breen

Academic appointments

Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1990-1991
Post Doctoral Fellow, Advisor: Prof. James J. Valentini

Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 1991-1993
Post Doctoral Fellow, Advisor: Prof. James J. Valentini

Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 1993
Instructor, School of Continuing Studies

Department of Chemistry, University of Notre Dame, 1993-1995
Assistant Professional Specialist

Department of Chemistry, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 1996-2000
Curriculum and Instrumentation Specialist

Department of Chemistry, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 2001-2002
Lecturer and Consultant

Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, 2004-2006
Visiting Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, 2006-2012
Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, 2012-
Associate Professor

Courses Taught

CHEM 191 General Chemistry 1
CHEM 191L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
CHEM 192 General Chemistry 2
CHEM 192L General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
CHEM 191 Online Winter Intercession
CHEM 192 Online Summer Class
CHEM 311 Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 311L General Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 312 Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 312L Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

Grants

2014, TCI/Ozal , “Replication of a non-invasive and non-destructive testing approach for cyanide”, $9400, Roger Williams University.

2011, RI EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences, “The Use of Neutron Activation Analysis as a Method for Chemical Fingerprinting”, $7000, Roger Williams University

2007, RI EPSCOR Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences, “Developing a Quantification Method for Fatty Acid Analysis Using LCMS”, $6000, Roger Williams University.

2007, Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grants Program, “Bringing Modern Instrumentation to the General Chemistry Laboratory”, $10,000, Roger Williams University.

1997-1999, National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education, Instrumentation for Laboratory Improvement Program, "Rapid Kinetic Experiments in the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory", $85,495 with Barry Muhoberac, IUPUI.

1994-1996, National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education, Instrumentation for Laboratory Improvement Program, "Modern Laser Techniques in Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Laboratory", $71,435 with Dennis Jacobs, University of Notre Dame.

Publications

Nancy Breen, Julie Lowenstein, Rebecca Metivier, Lawrence Andrade, Andrew L. Rhyne, “Excreted Thiocyanate Cannot be used to Detect Cyanide Exposure in Live Reef Fish” Submitted PLOS ONE,PONE-D-17-26612

Jason S Broach, Cortney L Ohs, Matthew A DiMaggio and Nancy E Breen, “Evaluation of nutritional and environmental variables during early larval culture of pigfish Orthopristis chrysoptera (Linnaeus)” Aquaculture Research, 25 SEP 2015, DOI: 10.1111/are.12891.

C.L. Ohs, M.A. DiMaggio, S.W. Grabe, J.S. Broach, C.A. Watson, N.E. Breen, F.T. Barrows, "The effects of increasing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in brood diets of Monodactylus sebae on fecundity, egg and larval quality, and egg fatty acid composition", North American Journal of Aquaculture, 75, 285-294 (2013).

Angela R. Possinger, Loren B. Byrne, and Nancy E. Breen, "Effect of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) on soil P availability and organic acids", Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 16, 16-18, (2013).

Chatham K. Callan, Charles W. Laidley, Linda J. Kling, Nancy E. Breen and Andrew L. Rhyne, "The effects of dietary HUFA level on flame angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) spawning, egg quality and early larval characteristics" Aquaculture Research, Aquaculture Research. doi: 10.1111/are.12063.

James A. Morris, Jr, Amber Thomas, Andrew L. Rhyne, Nancy Breen, Lad Akins, and Barry Nash, “Nutritional properties of the invasive lionfish: A delicious and nutritious approach for controlling the invasion”, AACL Bioflux, 4, 21-26, (2011).

Eric J. Cassiano, Cortney L. Ohs, Charles R.Weirich, Nancy E. Breen, and Andrew L. Rhyne, “Performance of Larval Florida Pompano Fed Nauplii of the Calanoid Copepod Pseudodiaptomus pelagicus”, NAJA, 73, 114-123, (2011).

S. O’Shea, B. Bourque, H. Pomeroy and N. E. Breen, "Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Live Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and their Eggs", Raman Spectroscopy, Proceedings 22th International Conference, Ziegler, Champion (eds.), 900-901 (2010).

Y. Mao, N. E. Breen, and J. K. Thomas, "Formation of Methyl Viologen Monopositive Cations and Ensuing Reactions with Polychloroalkanes on Silica Gel Surfaces", J. Phys. Chem., 99, 9909-17 (1995).

K. H. Lee, N. E. Triggs, and J. W. Nibler, "Coherent Raman Studies of the Formation and Phase Transitions of Acetylene Nanoclusters" J. Phys. Chem., 98, 4382-8 (1994).

N. E. Triggs and J. J. Valentini, "Raman Studies of Hydrogen Bonding in Polyamides", Israel J. Chem., 34, 89-93 (1994).

N. E. Triggs, R. T. Bonn and J. J. Valentini, "Are All Solid Amides Hydrogen Bonded? Raman Evidence to the Contrary", J. Phys. Chem., 97, 5535-5540 (1993).

N. E. Triggs and J. J Valentini, "An Investigation of Hydrogen Bonding in Amides Using Raman Spectroscopy", J. Phys. Chem., 96, 6922-6931 (1992).

K. H. Lee, K. W. Brown, N. E. Triggs, A. D. Richardson, N. H. Rich, and J. W. Nibler, "Coherent Raman Observations of Factor Group Splittings and Lattice Vibrations in Nanocrystals Formed in Supersonic Expansions", J. Chem. Phys., 98, 10100 (1992).

N. E. Triggs, M. Zahedi, J. W. Nibler, P. A. DeBarber and J. J. Valentini, "High Resolution Study of the v₁ Vibration of CH₃ by Coherent Raman Photofragment Spectroscopy", J. Chem. Phys., 96, 1822-1831 (1992).

N. E. Triggs, R. T. Bonn and J. J. Valentini, "Hydrogen Bonding and Solvation Dynamics of the Amide Functional Group", Raman Spectroscopy, Proceedings 13th International Conference, Kiefer, Cardona (eds.) Chap. 3, 142-143 (1992).

N. E. Triggs, R. Rodriguez, K. H. Lee, M. Yang and J. W. Nibler, "Low Frequency CARS in Free Jet Expansions", Raman Spectroscopy, Proceedings 11th International Conference, Clarke, Long (eds.) Chap. 3, 167-168 (1988).

N. E. Triggs, B. J. Bozlee, G. A. Pubanz, J. J. Yang and J. W. Nibler, "Low Frequency CARS", Raman Spectroscopy, Proceedings 10th International Conference, Hudson, Peticolas (eds.) Chap. 15, 39-40 (1986).

J. A. Halstead, N. Triggs, A. L. Chu, and R. Reeves, "Creation of Electronically Excited States by Heterogeneous Catalysis", Chap. 17, 17pp., in Gas Phase Chemiluminescence and Chemi-ionization, A. Fontijn (ed.), North-Holland, (1985).

Poster Presentations

“Exploring methods for detecting thiocyanate ion excreted by fish exposed to cyanide”, Rebecca Metivier, Andrew Rhyne, Lawrence Andrade and Nancy Breen, 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2-6, 2017.

“Fatty acid profiles of marine fishes from Rhode Island coastal waters”, Mary Yurkevicius, Joshua Jacques, Nancy Breen and David Taylor, 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2-6, 2017 Poster invited to the "Sci-Mix" session.

“Fatty acid profiles of marine fishes from Rhode Island coastal waters”, Mary Yurkevicius, Joshua Jacques, Nancy Breen and David Taylor, 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2016. Poster invited to the "Sci-Mix" session.

“Fatty acid profiles of Tilapia”, Edward Crosier, Mary Yurkevicius, Andrew L. Rhyne and Nancy Breen, 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 22-26, 2015.

“Fatty acid profiles of marine fishes from Rhode Island coastal waters”, Mary Yurkevicius, Joshua Jacques, Nancy Breen and David Taylor, 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 22-26, 2015.

“Evaluation and Application of a Microwave Assisted Esterification Method”, Edward M. Crosier, Lauren L. Rossi and Nancy Breen, 249th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, March 22-26, 2015.

“Quantification of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters”, Courtney Dennis, Andrew Rhyne and Nancy E. Breen, 245th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 7-11, 2013.

“Analysis of Sr/Ca Ratio in Fish Otolith Bones Using the Technique of Neutron Activation Analysis”, Mark E. O’Brien, Nancy E. Breen, David Taylor and Stephen Guarino, 243rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 25-29, 2012.

“Investigation of Taurine, B vitamins, and Caffeine in Commercially Available Energy Drinks by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry”, Greg Pastore and Nancy E. Breen, 243rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 25-29, 2012.

“Protein-Ligand Binding Studies of Lactaldehyde Dehydrogenase with Pyrazoline Ligands“, Elizabeth Le Masters, Katie Link and Nancy Breen 240th ACS National Meeting, Annaheim, CA, United States, March 26-31, 2011.

“GCMS or LCMS: A Comparison of Techniques for Fatty Acid Profiling“, Heidi Kunkel , Stephen K. O'Shea; Nancy E. Breen 240th ACS National Meeting, Annaheim, CA, United States, March 26-31, 2011.

“A Systematic Approach to Targeted Analysis of Carotenoids in the Skin of False percula anemone fish using LC/MS”, Hayley Crowe; Lucy Fernandes; Kate Yu; Nancy Breen; John Shockcor; Henry Shion; Harold Pomeroy, Bradford Bourque; Alan Millar; and Stephen O'Shea, ,58th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry, Salt Lake City, Utah, May, 2010.

“Effect of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) treatments on available soil phosphorus and oxalate concentrations in a field experiment”, Angela Possinger, Nancy Breen and Loren Byrne, ASPB Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, July 31-August 4th, 2010.

“Development of a Non-Invasive Determination of Carotenoid Concentration in Amphiprion ocellaris Eggs”, Michelle Gladding, Andrew Foley, Nancy Breen and Stephen K. O'Shea, 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010.

“Protein-Ligand Binding Studies of Alcohol Dehydrogenase with four Pyrazoline-Based Ligands using AutoDock“, Elizabeth Le Masters and Nancy Breen 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010.

“Theoretical Docking Between Papain and X-Phenyl Hippurates”, Katie Link and Nancy Breen 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010.

“Comparative Study Between Fatty Acid Contents of Native Indo-Pacific Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) and the Invasive Atlantic Red Lionfish”, Amber R. Thomas, Nancy E. Breen, and Andrew Rhyne, 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010.

“UPLC MS and Raman Spectroscopy Metabolomic approach for Biomolecular Profiling in Eggs of Marine Ornamental Species as a Predictor of Successful Hatch”, Stephen O’Shea*, Kate Yu, Nancy Breen, Jose Castro-Perez, Harold Pomeroy, Michelle Gladding, Andrew Foley, John Shockcor and Bradford Bourque, World Aquaculture National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March, 2010.

“Fatty Acid Composition of Larval Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, Fed Rotifers and Copepods” Amber Thomas, Nancy Breen, Eric Cassiano, CortneyOhs, Andrew Rhyne, World Aquaculture National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2-5, 2010.

“NMR Relaxation Studies of Hydrogen Bonding in Simple Amide Compounds”, Tiffany E. Muns and Nancy E. Breen 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

“Computational Chemistry Studies of Caprolactam in Various Solvation Environments”, Kaely Aikman, and Nancy E. Breen, 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

“Essential fatty acid profiling in early ontogeny of the orchid dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani, reared on Algamac 2000”, Timothy L. Arcand, Stephen K. O'Shea; Nancy E. Breen, and Harold F. Pomeroy, 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

“Effects of diet and breeding pair quality on fatty acid composition during egg development for the false percula anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)”, Caitlin A. Houlihan; Ashley M. Zullo, Stephen K. O'Shea and Nancy E. Breen 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

“Effect of a diet varying in astaxanthin concentrations on coloration and accumulation of dermal carotenoids in the false percula anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris “, Long Fat Ho, Stephen K. O'Shea, Harold F. Pomeroy, Nancy E. Breen, and Kevin G. Jackson, 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

“Validation of an LCMS method for fatty acid quantification”, Kristin E. Murphy, Nancy E. Breen, 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States, April 6-10, 2008 (2008).

"Integrating Advanced Instrumentation in a General Chemistry Laboratory Course”, Nancy E. Breen and Maria R. Walsh, 16th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, July 16-21, 2000, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"Resonance Raman Studies of Simple Amides: The Role of Intermolecular Forces", N. E. Triggs and J. J. Valentini, American Chemical Society, The Fourth Chemical Congress of North America, August 25-30, 1991, New York, New York.

Thesis Students

Rebecca Metivier
Exploring methods for detecting the thiocyanate ion excreted by fish exposed to cyanide

Julie Loewenstein
Development of a standardized high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) protocol for cyanide detection in aquarium fish using the thiocyanate ion (SCN^-)

Mark O'Brien
Analysis of Sr/Ca ratio in fish otoliths using the technique of neutron activation analysis

Tiffany Muns
NMR Relaxation Studies of Hydrogen Bonding in Simple Amide Compounds