Rate My Professor Daniela Tapu

Daniela Tapu serves as Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Kennesaw State University, a position she has held since 2016. She joined KSU in 2005 as a Temporary Assistant Professor, progressed to Assistant Professor from 2006 to 2011, and Associate Professor from 2011 to 2016. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from The University of Alabama (2005, advisor A. J. Arduengo, III), an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany, and Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Romania (2000), and a B.S. in Chemistry from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (1998). Earlier roles encompass Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant at The University of Alabama (2000-2005) and Research Assistant at Technische Universität Braunschweig (1999-2000).

Tapu's scholarly pursuits center on the interface between organic, organometallic, and materials chemistry, with a particular emphasis on isolable imidazole-based N-heterocyclic carbenes and their derivatives. Her research involves the synthesis and characterization of novel carbene-derived ligands and corresponding metal complexes for catalytic applications, alongside investigations into non-linear optic chromophores and heterocyclic compounds exhibiting biological activity. Notable publications include “13C NMR Spectroscopy of ‘Arduengo-type’ Carbenes and Their Derivatives” (Chemical Reviews, 2009, with David A. Dixon and Christopher Roe), “A Janus-type Bis(maloNHC) and its Zwitterionic Gold and Silver Metal Complexes” (Organometallics, 2017), and “A stable Janus bis(maloNHC) and its zwitterionic coinage metal complexes” (Chemical Communications, 2014). She has been principal investigator on an NSF-RUI grant (CHE-1464281, $219,000, 2015-2018) and co-PI on multiple NSF-STEM awards. Among her accolades are the Betty L. Siegel Faculty Member of the Year Award (2012), KSU Foundation Prizes for best publications (2010, 2011), Petroleum Research Fund UNI award (2009), and various university nominations for distinguished teaching, scholarship, and advising. Tapu also contributes to undergraduate mentoring and instructs courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and advanced topics.