Todd Allen, Ph.D.
Biography
Prior to joining Liberty in Fall 2013, Dr. Allen worked in private industry for 15 years on a variety of projects including the development of sensors for chemical warfare agents, integration of sensor networks for homeland security threat detection, and the conversion of algae to biofuels for the Department of Defense. He also helped to develop covert and overt chemical markers and taggants for deterring fraud, counterfeiting, and product diversion.
Dr. Allen joined Liberty in order to use his expertise in chemistry combined with his faith in a way that would impact God’s kingdom and to work in a place where he had the freedom to integrate God’s Word into everyday learning.
Courses Taught
- Chemistry I/II
- CHEM 107 – Essentials of General & Organic Chemistry
- CHEM 121/122 – General Chemistry I/II
- CHEM 135 – Advanced General Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 136 – Advanced General Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM 321 – Analytical Chemistry
- CHEM 322 – Instrumental Analysis
- CHEM 400 – Chemistry Seminar
- CHEM 495 – Directed Research in Chemistry
- CHEM 497 – Special Topics in Chemistry, “Analytical Aspects of Anticounterfeiting Applications – Fighting Fraud in Pharmaceuticals, Foods, Fuels, and Other Fakes”
- CHEM 497 – Special Topics in Chemistry (Study-Abroad), “Integration of Faith & Science in Israel”
Research Interests
Algae Biofuels
Microalgae can be grown to have a high protein and/or lipid content, which can be used for animal feed, biofuel, or both. Dr. Allen’s students uses GC/MS (Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometric Detection) for quantifying the total lipid content in samples obtained from algae biofuels companies who are developing cost-effective ways to optimize growth and harvesting techniques in an effort to convert the lipid fraction of the algae biomass into various types of biofuels.
This work provides students with hands-on, real-world, interdisciplinary training in both chemistry and biology. It will provide them with valuable, transferable skills and knowledge, and prepare them for employment, graduate research, or medical school.
Examples:
- Students will apply fundamental principles of nutrient limitation, stoichiometry, kinetics, and equilibrium learned in their chemistry and biology courses to the preparation and analysis of samples.
- Students will acquire valuable chemistry and biology research experience through literature searches, in sample/standard preparation techniques, in the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation, as well as in data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
- Students will learn how to effectively summarize and communicate scientific information.
Professional Membership
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
- Virginia Academy of Sciences (VAS)
Patents
• Spall, WD; Allen, TM; Goeller, R; and Kottenstette, P., Combination Marker for Liquids and Identification Methods Thereof
Presentations
1. Tyler, M; McCoy, M; and Allen, TM. Temperature Dependent Selective Esterification of Free Fatty Acids in the Presence of Triglycerides. Oral Presentation at Research Week 2023, Liberty University, APR 19, 2023. (3rd Place).
2. Lauder, Addie and Allen, TM. Method Development for the Determination of the Amino Acid Profile of Algae via HPLC. Oral Presentation at Research Week 2019, Liberty University, APR 17, 2019. (2nd Place).
3. Moorman, Ashley and Allen, TM. Algae Lipid Analysis Using Plastic Centrifuge Tubes. Oral Presentation at Research Week 2018, Liberty University, APR 2018. (3rd Place).
4. Sooklal, Shiloh and Allen, TM. Comparison of HPLC and GCMS for Analysis of Atrazine. Poster Presentation at BigSURS, APR 2018, Lynchburg, VA. (3rd Place).
5. Bechtel, O; Carlo, R.; and Allen, TM. Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis of Algal Lipids. Oral presentation at Research Week 2017, Liberty University, APR 12, 2017. (2nd Place).
6. Reddy, D; Allen, TM; and Brigmon, R. Bioremediation of Hexanoic Acid and Phenanthrene in Oil Sands Tailings by the Microbial Consortium BioTigerTM. Oral presentation at Research Week 2017, Liberty University, APR 11, 2017. (1st Place).
7. Orellana, S; Phillips, K; Ehko, M; Allen, TM; and Korn, M. Microbial Effects of Chemically Modified Essential Oils. Poster presentation at the Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science held at Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA, OCT 29, 2016. (Award: $500 Research Grant).
8. Fleming, C; Schreiber, Z; and Allen, TM. Characterization of Algal Pigments Using Absorbance and Fluorescence. Poster presentation at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science at the University of Mary Washington, MAY 19, 2016. (Best Chemistry Poster).
9. McClure, G and Allen, TM. GC/MS MS Quantification of the Biofuel Potential of Algae. Oral Presentation at Research Week 2016, MAR 30, 2016. (1st Place).
Publications
Ketol, R; Kotiaho, T; Cisper, ME; and Allen, TM, “Environmental Applications of Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry”, J. Mass Spectrom. 2002 V37 N5:457-476.
• Allen, TM; Cisper, ME; Hemberger, PH; and Wilkerson, CW., Simultaneous Real-time Detection of VOCs, SVOCs, and Organometallic Compounds in Both Air and Water Matrices using Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry. Invited publication honoring R.G. Cooks, Int’l. J. Mass Spectrom., 201, V212, N1-3:197-204.
• Allen, TM; Falconer, TM; Cisper, ME; and Wilkerson, CW. Real-time Analysis of Methanol in Air and Water by Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 2001 V73, N20:4830-4835.
• Johnson, RC; Cooks, RG; Allen, TM; Cisper, ME; and Hemberger, PH. Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry: Trends and Applications. Mass Spec. Rev., 2000, V19, N1:1-37.
• Allen, TM; Cisper, ME; Wilkerson, CW; and Hemberger PH. Real-Time Broad Spectrum Characterization of Waste by Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry: Preliminary Results. Waste Management Conference Proceedings, Abstract #820, Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 28-Mar. 4, 1999.
• Bezabeh, DZ; Allen, TM; McCauley, EM; Kelly, PB; and Jones, AD. Negative Ion Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry of Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. J. Amer. Soc. Mass Spec., Jun. 1997, V8N6:630-636.
• Allen, TM; Bezabeh, DZ; Smith, CH; McCauley, EM; Kennedy, IM; Chang, DPY; Jones, AD, and Kelly, PB. Speciation of Arsenic Oxides Using Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass.
• Gill, CG; Allen, TM; Anderson, JE; Taylor, TN; Kelly, PB; and Nogar, NS. Low-Powder Resonant Laser Ablation of Cooper. Appl. Opt., Apr. 20, 1996. V35 N12:2069-2082.
• Allen, TM; Anderson, JE; Taylor, TN; Kelly, PB; and Nogar, NS. Depth Profiling of Copper Thin Films by Resonant Laser Ablation. Appl. Phys. A., 1995, V61, N2:221-225.