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Mueller, Anja

Professor

FACULTY

Biography

Dr. Mueller is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Central Michigan University. She started her training with a Diplom (MS) in Biology from Regensburg University, Germany. She then came to the US and earned a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. In her postdoc at the University of Arizona she worked on research on drug delivery, before she started as an assistant professor at Clarkson University. She moved to Central Michigan University in 2005. Her research interests are polymeric materials for skin scaffolds for burn victims, hydrogen fuel cell membranes, and water treatment. An additional, more recent research interest is interdisciplinary education and assessment as well as active learning in Organic Chemistry. Dr. Mueller is part of the Integration of Science, Technology and Engineering (InSciTE) certificate and the Center for Learning through Games and Simulations (CLGS).

More about Anja Mueller

  • Nichols C., Anang E., Busari A., Dusenbury J., Kirisenage P., Myers J., Zulqarnain S., Mueller A., Fahlman B., Marquez I. “Removal of arsenate and ammonia from water by molecularly imprinted polymers”, 2024 NDIA Michigan Chapter, Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, Open and New Topics Technical Session, Novi, MI, 8/2024
  • Kirisenage P.M., Zulqarnain S.M., Myers J.L., Fahlman B.D., Mueller A., Marquez I.” Development of adsorptive membranes for specific removal of contaminants in water”, Polymers 2022, 14, 3146. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153146.
  • Mueller A.* “A Note about Crosslinking Density in Imprinting Polymerization”, Molecules, 2021, 26(17), 5139. 
  • Quast M.J., Mueller A.* “Membrane Preparation from Hyperbranched Perfluorinated Polymers”, Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2019, 57, 961-972.
  • Mann S., Johnson T., Medendorp E., Ocomen R., DeHart L., Bauer A., Li B., Tecklenburg M., Mueller A.* “Pressure-Stable Imprinted Polymers for Water Remediation”, Polymers 2018, 10, 704.
  • Almeida E.D.N., Hirschi S., Mueller A., Rakesh L. “Viscoelastic properties of konjac glucomannan in the presence of salts”, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 2018, 131(3), 2547-2553.
  • Ashraf S.A., Perera R.T., Mueller A.*, “The Binding of Metal Ions to Molecularly-Imprinted Polymers”, Water Science and Technology 2017, 75(7), 1643-1650.
  • Appell M.*, Mueller A. “Mycotoxin analysis using imprinted materials technology: Recent developments”, Journal of AOAC International 2016, 99(4), 861-864. 
  • Quast M.J., Argall A., Hager C., Mueller A.* “Physical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Highly Branched Perfluorinated AB + AB2 Copolymer Systems”, Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2015, 53, 1880–1894.
  • Al-omari M., Liu G., Smith K., Mueller A., Mock A., Ghosh R.N., Kaya T.* “A Portable Optical Human Sweat Sensor”, Journal of Applied Physics 2014, 116, 183102.
  • Willermet C.*, Drake E., Mueller A., Juris S.J., Chhetri P., Upadhaya S. “An Integrated Interdisciplinary Faculty-Student Learning Community Focused on Water Issues: A Case Study”, Learning Communities Research and Practice 2014, 2(1), Article 5. http://washingtoncenter.evergreen.edu/lcrpjournal/vol2/iss1/5.
  • Mueller A.*, Juris S.J.*, Willermet C., Drake E., Upadhaya S., Chhetri P. “Assessing Interdisciplinary Learning and Student Activism in a Water Issues Course”, Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2014, 14(2), 111-132.
  • Appell M.*, Jackson M.A., Wang L.C., Ho C.-H., Mueller A. “Determination of fusaric acid in maize using molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) clean-up with picolinic acid imprinted polymers”, Journal of Separation Science 2014, 37(3), 281-286. 
  • Quast M.J., Mueller A. “Hyperbranched Polyfluorinated Benzyl Ether Polymers: Mechanism, Kinetics, and Optimization”, Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2014, 52, 985–994.
  • Rakesh L.*, Almeida N., Mueller A., Hirschi S. “Rheological Studies of Polysaccharides for Skin Scaffolds”, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 2014, 102A, 1510-1517.
  • Willermet C., Mueller A., Juris S.J., Drake E., Upadhaya S., Chhetri P. “Water as Life, Death, and Power: Building an Integrated Interdisciplinary Course Combining Perspectives from Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry”, Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2013, 13(5), 105-123.
  • Tomasik J. H., Cottone K., Heethuis M., Mueller A. “Development and Preliminary Impacts of the Implementation of an Authentic Research-Based Experiment in General Chemistry”, Journal of Chemical Education 2013, 90(9), 1155–1161.  
  • Zhang T., Li Y., Mueller A. “Phase and Structure of Liposomes in Lipid/PEG-Lipid Mixtures”, Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 2011, 164(8), 722-726.
  • Juris S.J.*, Mueller A.*, Smith B.T. L., Johnston S., Kross R. D., “Biodegradable Polysaccharide Gels for Skin Scaffolds”, Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology 2011, 2(3), 216-225.
  • Randhawa M., Gartner I., Becker C., Student, J., Chai M., Mueller A. “Imprinted Polymers for Water Purification”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2007, 106, 3321-3327.
  • Benson, A. M., Omrane K., Graves, E. M., Haas, A. L., Bryant E., Mandalaywala M., Mueller A. “Synthesis of a Low Thrombogenic Heart Valve Coating with Horseradish Peroxidase”, Polymers for Advanced Technologies 2005, 16, 117-122.
  • Gan, D., Mueller, A., Wooley, K. L. "Amphiphilic and Hydrophobic Surface Patterns Generated from Hyperbranched Fluoropolymer(HBFP)–Linear Polymer Networks: Minimally-adhesive coatings via crosslinking of hyperbranched fluoropolymers", J. Polym. Sci., Part A:  Polym. Chem., 2003, 41(22), 3531-40.
  • Mueller, A., O'Brien, D. F. "Polymerization of Mesophases of Hydrated Amphiphiles", Chemical Reviews 2002, 102, 727-757.
  • Bondurant, B., Mueller, A., O'Brien, D. F. "Photoinitiated Destabilization of Sterically Stabilized Liposomes", Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2001, 1511 (1), 113-122. 
  • Mueller, A., Bondurant, B., O'Brien, D. F. "Light-Stimulated Destabilization of PEG Liposomes", Macromolecules 2000, 33 (13), 4799-4804. 
  • Gooden, J.; Gross, M. L.; Mueller, A.; Stefanescu, A.; Wooley, K. L. “Cyclization in Hyperbranched Polymer Syntheses: Characterization by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 10180-10186. 
  • Mueller, A.; Kowalewski, T.; Wooley, K. L. “Synthesis and Characterization of Hyperbranched Polyfluorinated Polymers”, Macromolecules 1998, 31, 776-786.

Books and Book chapters:

  • Mueller A. “Biomimetic Nanotechnology:  Senses and Movement, 2nd Ed”, DeGruyter 2023, ISBN: 978-3110779196.
  • Mueller A. “Biomimetic Nanotechnology:  Senses and Movement”, DeGruyter 2017, ISBN: 978-3110379143.
  • Willermet C., Mueller A., Alm D. “Transforming awareness into activism: teaching systems and social justice in an interdisciplinary water course”, in “Promoting Social Justice Through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning”, Eds Liston D., Rahimi R.; Indiana University Press 2017, ISBN: 978-0-253-03132-7.
  • Mueller A., Sarkar A., Guieysse B., Eds, “New Membranes and Advanced Materials for   Wastewater Treatment”, American Chemical Society Symposium Vol 1022, 2009.

Selected Presentations:

  • Schoch D., Likavec J., Anang E., Nichols C., Busari A.,​ Marquez I., Fahlman B., Mueller A. “Synthesis of Graphitic Carbon Nitride Functionalized with Imprinted Polymers for the Removal of Arsenate and Ammonia in Water”, Euromembranes 2024, Prague, Czech Republic, September 2024.
  • Atkinson E., Schultz J., Mueller A. “Degradation of hydrogel skin scaffolds”, ACS National Meeting, PMSE, Denver, CO, August 2024.
  • Kirisenage P.M., Myers J.L., Zulqarnain S., Jueckstock T., Ferguson Y., Fahlman B.D., Mueller A., Marquez I. “Synthesis and Characterization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Membrane for the Removal of Arsenate and Ammonia from Water”, 10th International Water Association Membrane Technology Conference, July 2023
  • Mueller A. “Organic chemistry games and higher-level learning in organic chemistry lecture”, ACS National Meeting, Chemical Education, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023
  • Jalkanen J., Schoch D., Mueller, A., “Removal of Zinc Ions from Wastewater Utilizing a Supported Imprinted Polymer Membrane”, ACS National Meeting, Environmental, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023.
  • Andreck N., Mueller, A., “Development of a Proton Exchange Membrane for Use in a Dry Hydrogen Fuel Cell”, ACS National Meeting, PMSE, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023.
  • Kirisenage P.M., Zulqarnain S.M., Myers J.L., Fahlman B.D., Mueller A., Marquez, I.  “Graphitic carbon nitride as initiator and a crosslinker for imprinted polymerization in arsenate and ammonia adsorbents”, ACS National Meeting, PMSE, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023
  • Laubenthal* J., Carson, M. Mueller A. “Excellence in Assessment Leadership”, Assessment Institute in Indianapolis 2022, October 9-11, 2022.
  • Wanzi K.Y., Mueller A. “Optimization of the Mechanical and Physical Properties of a  Polymer Fuel Cell Membrane”, 257th ACS National Meeting, PMSE - Multicomponent Block Polymer Systems Symposium, Orlando, FL, March 31 - April 4, 2019.
  • Argall A., Hager C., Mueller A. “Perfluorinated Block-Copolymers for Dry Proton Exchange Membranes”, 255th ACS National Meeting, PMSE, New Orleans, LA, March 18-22, 2018.
  • Perera R., Ho C.-H., Ashraf S., Mueller A. “The Binding of Metal Ions to Molecularly-Imprinted Polymers”, IWA Water & Industry 2015, Västeras, Sweden, June 2015.
  • Quast M.J., Hager C., Argall A.D., Mueller A. “Synthesis and Physical Properties of Highly Branched Perfluorinated Polymers from AB and AB2 Monomers”, 249th ACS National Meeting, Polymer Division, Denver, CO, March 2015.
  • Rakesh L.; Lysenko I.; Zhao J.; Almeida N.; Mueller A. “The Effect of Curcuminoids on Gelation Behavior of Concentrated Solution of Methylcellulose”, The Society of Rheology 86th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, October 2014.
  • Smith B.T.L., Johnston S., Almeida N., Walker R., Koski L., Webber K., Kross R.D., Hirschi S., Rakesh L., Juris S.J., Mueller A. “Skin Scaffold for Burn Victims Made from Polysaccharide Hydrogels”, Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic, Barcelona, Spain, May 6th, 2011.
  • Assistant Professor, Biomedical and Environmental Materials, Clarkson University, 2001-2005 
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Drug Delivery with Liposomes, University of Arizona, 1998-2001 
  • Ph.D., Polymer Organic Chemistry, Washington University, 1998 
  • Diplom (M.S.), Biology, Universität von Regensburg, 1993     

Imprinted Resins and membranes for water treatment; high-temperature proton exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cells; biodegradable skin scaffold for burn victims from polysaccharides; games for teaching; interdisciplinary education and assessment.

  • American Chemical Society 
  • Materials Research Society 
  • International Water Association 
  • Council of Undergraduate Research 
  • New York Academy of Sciences

Courses Taught

  • CHM 342 Survey of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • CHM 345 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHM 346 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM 343 Organic Chemistry I: Foundations
  • CHM 348 Organic Chemistry II: Bioorganic
  • CHM 349 Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • ENV 351WI Water: Life, Death and Power
  • CHM 560 Biomimetic Nanotechnology
  • CHM 566 Biomaterials
  • CHM 568 Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • CHM 561 Polymer Chemistry
  • CHM 667 Polymer Additives
  • CHM 669 Polymer Processing