Directory

Katie Peterson
Professor of Chemistry

Biography

I grew up in a small town (population 470) in eastern Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with B.S in biochemistry/molecular biology. I earned my Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota where I studied chemical biology. At BSU, my teaching duties include Medicinal Chemistry, courses that integrate biochemistry and medicine, as well as General and Principles of Chemistry. My research interests focus on the development of fluorescent imaging agents to detect biological small molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide and reactive oxygen species, that are associated with disease states. Additionally, I am involved in outreach efforts that inspire local youth to pursue future education and careers in the sciences. I have always lived in the Midwest (where else can a sunny 80 ˚F day be followed by a snowfall?) and enjoy fishing, biking, gardening, knitting, and baking.

Recent Work

Grants:
  • PI, NSF Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE), S-STEM: Building a Resilience-focused, Social-emotional Support Structure to Enhance Persistence of Academically Talented, Socioeconomically Disadvantaged STEM Students (Award 2321990), 2023-2029
  • BSU Professional Improvement Grant.  Presentation at the Spring 2023 American Chemical Society National Meeting.
  • Beltrami Electric Operation Round Up. Science curriculum enhancing outreach, 2019.
  • BSU President’s Faculty Mini-Grant. Engaging 6th Grade Citizen Scientists: Measuring Phosphate Levels in Surface Water. 2018.
Publications:
  • Harris, S.M.,‡ Peterson, K.L., Bailie,‡M., Tower, C.D., Rundle, B.K., Ricks, T.R., Pierre, V.C. Design and evaluation of an environmental outreach activity for middle school students. ACS Omega, 2020, 5, 25175-25187. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03194
  • Peterson, K.L., Srivastava, K., Pierre, V.C. Fluorinated paramagnetic complexes: Sensitive and responsive probes for magnetic spectroscopy and imaging. Chem. 2018, 6, 160. Invited Review. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00160
  • Srivastava, K., Weitz, E.A., Peterson, K.L., Marjańska, M. and Pierre, V.C. Fe- and Ln-DOTAm-F12 are effective paramagnetic fluorine contrast agents for MRI in water and blood. Chem. 2017, 56, 1546–1557. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b0263
  • Peterson, K.L., Dang, J.V.*, Weitz, E.A., Lewandowski, C.* and Pierre, V.C. Effect of lanthanide complex structure on cytotoxicity and cell uptake. Chem. 2014, 53, 6013 – 6021. doi:10.1021/ic500282n
  • McGarry, K.A., Hurley, K.R., Volp, K.A., Hill, I., Merritt, B., Peterson, K.L., Rudd, P.A., Erickson, N.C., Seiler, L.A., Gupta, P., Bates, F.S. and Tolman, W.B. Student involvement in improving the culture of safety in academic labs. Chem. Edu. 2013, 90, 1414 – 1417. doi: 10.1021/ed400305e
  • Peterson, K. L., Margherio, M.J.*, Doan, P.*, Wilke, K.T. and Pierre, V.C. Basis for Sensitive and Selective Time-Delayed Luminescence Detection of Hydroxyl Radical by Lanthanide Complexes. Chem. 2013, 52, 9390 – 9398. doi: 10.1021/ic4009569
Presentations:
  • Peterson, K.L. Activating Students’ Prior Knowledge, TLC Showcase, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, Jan 4, 2024.
  • Peterson, K.L. and Szrot, L. Do demographic and socioeconomic indicators predict middle school students’ attitudes toward science? (ID 3811797). Poster, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Indianapolis, IN, March 26-30, 2023.
  • Lisle, A.J.*; Klejeski, C.E. *, and Peterson, K.L. Simple fluorescent probes to discriminate H2S over other biothiols (ID 3818800). Poster, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Indianapolis, IN, March 26-30, 2023.
  • Peterson, K.L. and Szrot, L. The design and evaluation of a classroom-based outreach program to increase eighth graders’ attitudes toward science (ID 3664498). Fundamentals of Chemistry Outreach Education: From Program Design to Assessment, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Diego, CA and Hybrid, March 20-24, 2022.
  • Peterson, K. L., Harris, S. M., Ricks, R.T., Pierre, V.C. Design and evaluation of an environmental outreach activity for middle school students. Fundamentals of Chemistry Outreach Education: From Program Design to Assessment, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Abstract accepted Jan 17, 2020 (CHED 54). Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Peterson, K. L., Harris, S. M., Ricks, R.T., Pierre, V.C. Design and evaluation of an environmental outreach activity for middle school students. Sci-Mix, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Abstract accepted Jan 17, 2020 (CHED 54). Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Harris, S. M., Peterson, K. L., Ricks, R.T., Pierre, V.C. Sparking interest in 6th grade scientists through outreach: Measuring phosphate concentration in local waterways. Gordon Research Conference – Chemical Education and Research Practice, Lewiston, ME, June 18, 2019.
  • Peterson, K.L. Active lectures featuring “notes with gaps” and live audience polling with Poll Everywhere. There’s an App for That, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Orlando, FL, March 30 – April 4, 2019, (CHED 229).
  • Baker, Z.D.* and Peterson, K.L. Detection of hydrogen sulfide with a coumarin-based fluorescent probe. Undergraduate Research Papers, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Orlando, FL, March 30 – April 4, 2019, (CHED 255).
  • Baker, Z.D.,* and Peterson. K.L. Detection of hydrogen sulfide with a coumarin-based fluorescent probe. Minnesota State Undergraduate Scholars Conference, St. Cloud, MN, March 25, 2019. Oral Presentations Second Place Winner.

Synergistic Activities

  • American Chemical Society, Member
  • Northern MN Regional Science Fair, Awards Co-coordinator
  • Women United of Bemidji, Member