Weinert Lab

Charles S. Weinert Bio

Scott Weinert was born in Detroit, MI and grew up on the East Side of Detroit, East Detroit (now Eastpointe), and Berkley.  He attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, and did his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.  While there, he conducted undergraduate research with Prof. Arthur J. Ashe III working on the synthesis and gas phase electron diffraction study of an antimony-containing heteroferrocene.  After graduating from UM in 1995, he worked for Selective Technologies, Inc. which is a startup company founded by Prof. Mark Meyerhoff at UM and Dr. Glenn Martin.  He began graduate studies at the University of Chicago in 1996 and worked in the research group of Prof. Lawrence R. Sita, studying lead/oxo/siloxide clusters and also polystannanes.  He obtained a M.S. degree from U Chicago in 1997 and then moved to Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) where he worked with Prof. Duward F. Shriver.  His Ph.D. thesis was focused on the ligand substitution chemistry of clusters containing the {W₆Cl₈}⁴⁺ core.  After obtaining a Ph.D. from NU in 2000, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Prof. Ian P. Rothwell at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN).  His research there involved the synthesis and characterization of tantalum binaphthoxide complexes for use in asymmetryic hydrogenation of prochiral alkenes and carbonyl compounds, as well as on the synthesis and chemistry of germanium(II) aryloxide and binaphthoxide complexes.

Prof. Weinert began his independent career in 2004 at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK).  His research has focused on the synthesis and characterization of oligogermanes, including those having linear, branched, and cyclic geometries.  His research team developed the hydrogermolysis reaction for the systematic construction of these molecules in pure form, and they have used this method to prepare a diverse array of new molecules with varying chain lengths and substitution patterns.  This allows the tuning of the physical properties of these molecules, since their composition and physical properties are intimately related.  His research team has prepared the first structurally characterized branched oligogermane as well as the longest fully characterized linear oligogermane.  The latter species, along with several of its shorter-chain counterparts, is luminescent in the solid state and in solution and these also have the potential to serve as conductive materials when cast into thin films.  The group is currently focused on preparing hepta- and longer-chain oligogermanes in order to ascertain wether these molecules will exhibit new and useful optical and/or electronic properties.

Outside of chemistry, Prof. Weinert is a (highly) amateur musician, and has been playing electric bass guitar for nearly 30 years.  He has recorded several songs with the Detroit-based band Electric Six and has also played in a few bands of his own over the years.  He also enjoys travelling and watching ice hockey, particularly the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets.  He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with his wife Christa and son CJ.

WIth John Nash of Electric Six at Na$hinal Sound Studios (Warren, MI)

Prof. Weinert's CV