You are here

Home

Febee Louka, Ph.D.

Professor
Analytical/Environmental/Medicinal Chemistry

Montgomery Hall, Room 124

P.O. Box 43700
Lafayette LA 70504
337-482-5671
frl6631@louisiana.edu

Education

  • 2004: Ph.D. [Analytical (electrochemistry/Medicinal Chemistry], Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701. Thesis title: “Interdependence of Endothelium Dysfunction and the Lifespan of the Cardiovascular System” supervised by Prof. Tadeusz Malinski
  • 1996: M.Sc. (Physical Organic Chemistry), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
  • 1985: B.Sc. (Chemistry), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Professional Experience

  • Aug. 2014 - present: Associate Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA
  • Aug. 2011- 2014: Assistant Prof., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
  • Complete list of Professional Experience

Awards and Honors

  • April 2018: Eminent Award, Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA
  • February 2018: Outstanding Faculty of Universities of Louisiana System 2018.
  • Fall 2017 - present: Member in University Senate
  • 2017: Awardee of Awardee of Royal Society of Chemistry Books for contents. organization and presentation in ICBIC 18th, Florianópolis, Brazil.
  • Complete list of Honors and Awards.

Research Interests and Experience

  • Synthesis of polynuclear Cu(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) complexes used in the DNA cleavage and anticancer.
     
  • Monitoring the environmental pollution caused by chlorinated hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons in biota and sediment samples using gas chromatography technique. [Certified Trainee by Marine Environment Laboratories (Monaco) International Atomic Energy Agency] 1992-1998.
     
  • Extraction and removal of pollutants from environmental samples and removal of oil spills from environmental systems.
     
  • Fabrication of microsensors for direct electrochemical measurements of nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite in biological samples from rats, mice and rabbits.
     
  • Synthesis of surfactants that can be used for preventing pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from penetrating the soil layer and reach the plants roots.
     
  • Synthesis of porphyrin analogs and metal complexes that can be used as coatings for microsensors.
     
  • Dye removal using ecofriendly adsorbents.
     
  • Extraction and purification of β-carotene and ascorbic acid from different types of algae. Characterization of these antioxidants using high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric techniques.
     
  • Hands on GC, GC-MS, Atomic absorption, ICP, and UV-vis instruments.

Selected Recent Publications:

  • Klerks, P. L.; Kascak, A.; Cazan A. M.; Deb Adhikary, N.; Chistoserdov, A.; Shaik,A.; Osman, S. Y.; Louka, F. R. “Effects of the razor clam Tagelus plebeius on the fate of petroleum hydrocarbons; a mesocosm experiment” Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in press 2018.
     
  • Massoud, S. S.; Louka, F. R.; Ducharme, G.; Fischer, R.; Mautner, F. A.; Vanco,J.; Herchel, R.; Trávníček, K.;  “Copper(II) complexes based on tripodal pyrazolyl amines: Synthesis, structure magnetic properties and anticancer activity” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.  2018, 108, 36-46.
     
  • Louka, F. R.; Junk, T.; Massoud, S. S., “DNA Cleavage by Bicompartmental Dinuclear Metal(II) Complexes”. J. Biolog. Inorg. Chem. 2017, 22, S137-S137.
     
  • Louka, F. R.; Massoud, S. S.; Haq, T. K.; Henary, M. M.; Vicente, R.; Fischer, R. C.; Mautner, F. A. “Synthesis, structural characterization and magnetic properties of one-dimensional Cu(II)-azido coordination polymers” Polyhedron. 2017, 138, 177-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2017.09.035
     
  • Louka, F. R.; Osman, S. Y.; Terracina, T.; Khamidullina, N. “Assessing Ecofriendly Wastes in Removal of Pyrene as a Model of Oil Spills” International Journal of chromatography and separation techniques 2017, 1, J102-106.
     
  • Massoud, S. S.; Williams, G. F.; Louka, F. R.; Henary, M. M.; Herchel, R.; Trávníček, K.; Fischer, R. C. Mautner, F. A. “Croconato-bridged copper(II) complexes. Synthesis, structure and magnetic characterization” New J. Chem., 2017, 41, 3846-3856. http://dx.doi:10.1039/C6NJ03943J
     
  • Massoud, S. S.; Louka, F. R.; Mautner, F. A. “Structural characterization of metal(II) thiocyanato complexes derived from bis(2-(H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl)amine” Polyhedron 2017, 124, 237-242.
     
  • Satbhai, K. M.; Louka, F. R.; Klerks, P. L. “Individual and combined effects of petroleum hydrocarbons phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene on reproductive behavior in the amphipod Hyalella azteca” Journal Water, Air & Soil Pollution 2017, 228: 91. DOI 10.1007/s11270-017-3276-x
     
  • Complete List of Publications.

Selected Recent Meetings

  • Louka, F. R.; Malinski T. International Conference on Chemistry Progress for Sustainable Development’ (ICCPSD 2017), Alexandria, Egypt, September 23 — 27, and Swedish Institute, Alexandria, Egypt 2017. “Endothelial Cells Dysfunction and Cardiovascular System Life Span”
     
  • Louka, F. R.; Junk, T.; Massoud, S. 18th International Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry, Florianópolis, Brazil, July 31- August 4, 2017. “DNA Cleavage by Bicompartmental Dinuclear Metal(II) Complexes” Awarded the outstanding contents, organization, and presentation by Royal Society of Chemistry Books.
     
  • Louka, F. R.; Malinski T. World Congress and Expo on Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering, Dubai, UAE, March 25-29, 2017 (Invited speaker, Chair of a session). “Assessing nano-sensors in determination of the degree of endothelial dysfunction and lifespan of the cardiovascular system””
     
  • Klerks, P. L.; Cazan A. M.; Kascak, A.; Shaik, A.; Deb Adhikary, N.; Chistoserdov, A.; Louka, F. R. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) World Congress / SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, Nov 6-10, 2016. “Effects of razor clams and ghost shrimp on the distribution and fate of hydrocarbons in nearshore environments”
     
  • Complete List of Meetings.

Recent Research Proposals

  • PI of a proposal submitted to STEP Technology Fee. “Economical Micro scale Equipment in Chemistry Labs” Submitted July, 2015. $ 16,843.41
  • PI of a proposal submitted to Louisiana Board of Regents. “Enhancement of Metal Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry in Chemistry and Biology Research and Education” Submitted October, 2014. $99,830
  • PI of a proposal submitted to Marion Milligan Mason Award for Women in the Chemical Sciences - Application. “A Step Towards Healthier Environment Using EconoTrace Parallel SPE System” Submitted September, 2014. $35,150.45
  • Instructor Mini-grant “Enhancement of Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Techniques” Funded October, 2014. $849.00
  • Instructor Mini-grant “Enhancement of Teaching Techniques in Chemistry Lectures”
    Funded December, 2012. $ 475.00.
  • Co-PI of a proposal submitted to Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). “The effect of sediment bioturbators on the biological degradation of petroleum in coastal ecosystems” Funded August, 2012. $1,025,091
  • Complete List of Research Proposals

Undergraduate Research

The Spring 2018 Undergraduate research students include:

  • Taylor Terracina* - Chem 462
  • Wesley Davis* - Chem 362
  • Alexandra Arcement* - Chem 362
  • Luke C. Konur - Chem 362
  • Ashley T. Nguyen - Chem 362
  • Kristin L. Pacetti - Chem 362
  • Ashley G. Lambert Dolmo -  Chem 362

A complete list of all former Undergraduate Research Students is available.

Activities and Services

  • Supervises undergraduate research (all students in my group either persuade their studies in graduate school, medical, pharmacy or chemical engineering school).
  • Advisor for pre-pharmacy students since 2007.
  • An active member in Department and University Committees and Community Service
  • Complete List of Activities.