Jan Sunner, Research Professor

department of chemistry and biochemistry

University of Oklahoma; Norman, OK 73019
Email:  jan.sunner-1@ou.edu

RESEARCH:

• Internationally recognized expert in the field of desorption ionization, i.e. methods in which ions are obtained from involatile materials
• Discovered and named surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry, now a separate field of MS analysis
• Developed the most sensitive method yet for vapor phase analysis of drugs and other substances (gas-phase SALDI); patent holder
• MS analysis of membrane proteins in collaborations with microbiologist and biochemists; proteomics, protein purifications, and protein identification through proteolysis
• Experience with protein sample handling, purification, gel electrophoresis, and capillary zone electrophoresis
• Developed laser-desorption method for fast characterization of asphalts, using both pattern recognition and spectral interpretation approaches of standard and road-exposed, degraded samples
• Worked on bacterial enzymatic degradation of petroleum fractions, with identification of critical enzymes using bacterial proteomic
• Real-time analysis of reactive combustion products using mass spectrometry
• Decade-long interest in this area of mass spectrometry, with a focus on detection of biofilm metabolic states implicated in substrate and petroleum degradation
• Extensive hands-on experience with designing, building, and maintaining equipment, in particular mass spectrometers and ion sources, but also electrophoresis equipment and other laboratory instrumentation

Dr. Sunner is currently utilizing advanced mass spectrometry methods including gas chromatography and liquid chromatography to understand the importance of biofilm community structure and the involvement of bacterial metabolites, including extracellular polymeric substances, in microbially- influenced corrosion (MIC).

SELECT PUBLICATIONS:
Al-Humam, A. A.; Rizk, T. Y.; Sunner, J. A., & Beech, I. B. Effects of nitrate on bacterial communities in an oil field environment. Corrosion 2010 NACE International. March (2010), 14-18.

Alimpiev, S.; Grechnikov, A.; Sunner, J.; Karavanskii, V.; Simanovsky, Ya.; Zhabin, S., & Nikiforov, S. On the role of defects and surface chemistry for surface-assisted laser desorption ionization from silicon.  J. Chem. Phys. (2008), 128, 014711/1-19.

Mori, K.; Asakawa, D.; Sunner, J., & Hiraoka, K. Electrospray droplet impact/secondary ion mass spectrometry: cluster ion formation.  Rap. Comm. Mass Spect. (2006), 20, 2596-2602.

Sunner, J.; Beech, I. B., & Hiraoka, K. On the distributions of ion/neutral molecule clusters in electrospray and laser spray. A cluster division model for the electrospray process. J Amer. Soc. Mass Spect. (2006), 17, 151-162.

Beech, I. B., & Sunner, J. A. Biocorrosion in drinking water distribution systems.  Interface Science and Technology (2006), 10 (Interface Science in Drinking Water Treatment), 245-255.

Beech, I. B.; Sunner, J. A.; Arciola, C. R., & Crisiani, P. Microbially-influenced corrosion: damage to prostheses, delight for bacteria. Intl. J Artif. Organs (2006), 29, 443-52.

Takamizawa, A.; Fujimaki, S.; Sunner, J., & Hiraoka, K. Denaturation of lysozyme and myoglobin in laser spray. J Am. Soc. Mass Spect. (2005), 16, 860-868.

Shiea, J.; Huang, M-Z.; Hsu, H-J.; Lee, C-Y.; Yuan, C-H.; Beech, I., & Sunner, J. Electrospray-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for direct ambient analysis of solids. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry (2005), 19(24), 3701-3704.

Furuya, H.; Fujimaki, S.; Kambara, S.; Suzuki, S.; Hashimoto, Y.; Okazaki, S.; Wada, A.; Beech, I. B,; Sunner, J., & Hiraoka, K. Ion/molecule reactions in the orifice-skimmer region of an atmospheric pressure Penning ionization mass spectrometer. Rap. Comm. Mass Spect. (2005), 19, 2433-2442.

Beech, I. B., & Sunner, J. Biocorrosion: towards understanding interactions between biofilms and metals. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. (2004), 15, 181-186.

Sunner, J.; Avci, R.; Richards, L.; Groenewold, G.; Ingram, J., & Arthun, M.  Preservation of yeast cell morphology for scanning electron microscopy using 3.28 µ IR laser irradiation. J. Microbiol. Meth. (2003), 54, 285-7.