Gaby Avila-Bront
Associate Professor, Health Professions Advisor
Biography
Professor Avila-Bront, who earned her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago, has been with the College of the Holy Cross since 2014.
Research
All of the research in Professor Avila-Bront’s lab is conducted and driven by undergraduate students. These students conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data and are encouraged to present their findings at scientific conferences.
Their research focuses on the investigation of binary self assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of gold in ambient conditions to understand how dissimilar compounds mix in two-dimensions.
Publications & Presentations
Fitzgerald, D.M., Krisanda, E.K., Szypko, C.G., Avila-Bront, L.G., Ambient STM Study of Sequentially Adsorbed Octanethiol and Biphenylthiol Monolayers on Au(111), Surface Science, 2017, 662, 102.
Aravinthan, S., Cummings, M., Gould IV, J., Haddadi, H., Mangiacotti, C., McCabe, K., Roy, C., Avila-Bront, L.G., Characterization of binary self-assembled monolayers formed from the sequential deposition of 2-naphthalenethiol and octanethiol, Surface Science, 2019, 679, 117.
Avila-Bront, L., An Experiential Learning Chemistry Course for Non-majors Taught through the Lens of Science Fiction, Journal of Chemical Education, 2020, 97, 10, 3588–3594.
Jack Sette-Ducati, Ryan Donnelly, Allison J. Molski, Emma R. Robinson, Emma K. Canning, Daniel J. Williams, Elizabeth C. Landis, and L. Gaby Avila-Bront, Understanding the Two-Dimensional Mixing Behavior of 1-Naphthalenethiol and Octanethiol, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2023, 127, 13, 6531–6542.
Speaking Engagements
Invited speaker, Bethune Cookman University October 2023
Invited speaker, New England Association of Chemistry Teachers August 2023
Invited speaker, ACS: Mentoring Undergraduates in Surface Science Research August 2023
Invited speaker, Smith College October 2022
Invited speaker, University of Chicago Laboratory School `` December 2021
Invited speaker Loyola University Chicago Chemistry Course April 2021
“A Career in the Sciences” Outreach to Dedham High School April 2021
Invited speaker Western Connecticut State University Chemistry Department February 2020
Invited speaker Loyola University Chicago Chemistry Department November 2019
Invited speaker University of Rhode Island Chemistry Department March 2019
Invited speaker Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry High School Program July 2016 – 2018, 2020-2022
Oral presentation American Vacuum Society 64th International Symposium November 2017
Invited speaker Fordham University Chemistry Department October 2017
Invited speaker Trinity College Chemistry Department September 2017
Poster Presentation 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting April 2017
Student-presented poster 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting April 2017
Invited speaker William Paterson University Chemistry Department March 2017
Student-presented poster 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting April 2017
Invited speaker American Chemical Society Central MA Sectional Meeting March 2016