Photo of Dr. Dawn Riegner

Dr. Dawn Riegner

Professor of Chemistry

Dawn.Riegner@westpoint.edu

Biography

Dr. Riegner has been teaching in the Department of Chemistry and Life Science since 1994. She earned a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and as an undergraduate she was involved in analytical chemistry research and taught general chemistry labs as a teaching assistant during her senior year. She received a DuPont Summer Resident Research Fellowship and graduated with Honors in Chemistry. At the University of Texas in Austin, Dr. Riegner focused on the development of mass spectrometry and various new types of ionization and detection. While at UT, she received a Monsanto Graduate Fellowship, the H.R. Henze Teaching Excellence Award, and a Professional Development Award. Upon completion of her PhD. in Chemistry in 1993, she conducted post-doctoral research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she designed and built ionization sources for research using ion trap mass spectrometry detection.

As a faculty member in the Chemistry Program, Dr. Riegner is continuously involved in curriculum development, assessment of the Chemistry Major student outcomes, and maintaining American Chemical Society Certification of the Chemistry Program. Dr. Riegner is a member of and the Faculty Advisor for Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the National Chemistry Honor Society. She is also a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and she and her research cadets annually present their work at the local and national ACS meetings. At the Academy level, she is currently serving as co-chair of the Middle States Reaccreditation Governance Working Group. She serves as a Department Academic Counselor and as an Officer Representative for Army Women’s Volleyball. Additionally, Dr. Riegner serves as a mentor for the in-coming junior faculty during the Faculty Development Workshops.

 

Ongoing Research Projects

Dr. Riegner’s research efforts have focused on protecting soldiers by evaluating potential chemical detection technologies, developing new materials for sensing, and characterizing these materials for improved detection. Her research teams work to detect both chemical warfare agents and explosives using a variety of spectroscopic techniques and incorporation of nanoparticles. Additionally, her expertise in chemical analyses makes it possible for her research teams to make significant contributions to a variety of collaborative research endeavors. Examples of these endeavors are studying melt glass for nuclear forensic applications, analysis of firing range lead contamination in the biota, and design and analysis of chemical simulants for munitions filler in high energy laser studies.

Publications & Presentations

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tessy S. Ritchie, Kathleen E. Riegner, Robert J. Seals, Clifford J. Rogers, Dawn E. Riegner, “Evolution of Medieval Gunpowder: Thermodynamic and Combustion Analysis”,   ACS Omega, (2021).

Matthew J. Armstrong, Joshua P. White, Jesse W. Hudgins, Geoffrey R. Bull, Corey M. James, Dawn E. Riegner, April D. Miller, Andrew Biaglow, “Developing Chemical Engineering Acumen, by Brewing Kicking Mule Beer”, Chemical Engineering Education, 53 (2019), 101-111.

D. Mauldin, L. O'Neill, I. De Mallie, F. Arnold, L. A. Florence, J. Hartke, D. O. Kashinski, J. E. Johnson, J. Lamb, R. Huffman, D. E. Riegner, T. Kreidler, G. Tamm and N. F. Fell, “Effects of Rotation and Inert Thermal Sinks on Laser Heating of Cold, Rolled-Steel Cylinders: Preliminary Experimental Results”, J. Directed Energy, 6 (2017), 198-208.

M. A. Butkus and D. E. Riegner, “Lead Stabilization by Polonite and Phosphate Amended Polonite: Modeling”, J. of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 4 (2016), 3562-3569.

M. A. Butkus, D. E. Riegner, and CDT J. Olind, “Immobilization of Lead by Phosphate Amended Polonite”, Chemosphere, 151, (2016), 310-317.

J. D. Moretti, CDT S. M. Harbol, D. E. Riegner, N. Carlucci, J. J. Sabatini, and J. C. Poret, “Single-Point-of-Failure Mitigation: Prove-Out of a Green Light-emitting Illuminant Composition in the Handheld Signal Cluster and 40-mm Parachute Configurations”, Journal of Energetic Materials, 32 (2014), 293-299.

M. Kalainoff, R. Lachance, D. Riegner, and A. Biaglow, “A Computer Algebra Approach to Solving Chemical Equilibria in General Chemistry”, Primus, 22 (2012), 284-302.

Dawn Riegner, Sarah Kaplan, Joy Ginter, John Tokarz III, Augustus Fountain III, “Analytical Method Development for the Analysis of Homemade Explosives by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis with Diode Array Detection”, ECBC Technical Report #681, pp. 1-31, (2009).

M. P. Labare, M. A. Butkus, D. E. Riegner, N. Schommer, and J. Atkinson, “Evaluation of Lead Movement from Abiotic to Biotic as a Small-arms Firing Range”, Environmental Geology, 46 (2004), 750-754.

Charles Harden, Donald Shoff, Dennis Davis, Dawn Riegner, Robert Ewing, “ A Chemical Vapor Detector/monitor You Can Hold in the Palm of your Hand. A Miniature Ion Mobility Spectrometer”, Field Analytical Methods for Hazardous Wastes and Toxic Chemicals, Proceedings of a Specialty Edition, (1997), pp.543-554.

D. E. Riegner, F. Hadjarab, and D. A. Laude, Jr., “Quantitative Assessment of Multiple Excitation Events in Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry”, Int. J. of Mass Spectrom. And Ion Proc., 140 (1994), 149-161.

Dawn Elizabeth Wallace Riegner, Quantitative Evaluation of Ion Signal Detection in Analytically Important Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, (dissertation), (1993).

D. E. Riegner and D. A. Laude, Jr., “Collision-Mediated Axial Ejection of Radially Excited Ions as a Mass Dependent Ion Loss Mechanism in Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry”. Int. J. of Mass Spectrom. And Ion Proc., 120 (1992), 103-116.

D. E. Riegner, S. A. Hofstadler and D. A. Laude, Jr., “Mass Discrimination Due to z-axis ion Cloud Coherence in the Fourier transform Mass Spectrometry Trapped Ion Cell”, Anal. Chem., 63 (1991), 261-268.

Abstracts and Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings

Geoffrey Bull, Dawn Riegner, and Nathaniel Kaminski, “Chemical Analysis of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass (Urban)”, Abstracts of Papers, 256th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2018).

Nathaniel Kaminski, Geoffrey Bull, Dawn Riegner, Robert Gilbreath, Justin Alexander, Michael James, and Daniel Zheng, “Development of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass Representative of an Urban Post-detonation Environment for Forensic Analysis”, Abstracts of Papers, 256th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2018).

Jordan Johnson (CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Investigation and Selection of Inert Substitutes for the Energetic Content of Rolled Steel Cylinders in High Energy Laser Effects Research Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry”, Abstracts of Papers, 255th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2018).

Timothy Naudet (CDT), Danielle Cuomo (CDT), and Dawn Riegner, “Characterization and Optimization of Expanding Foams” Abstracts of Papers, 253rd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2017).

Mark Lister(CDT),  Destinee Morris(CDT), Michelle Hicks(CDT), Janae McNeal(CDT), Dawn Riegner, “Electrospinning of Quantum Dot-Doped Organic Polymers for Differential Detection of Targeted Chemicals”, Abstracts of Papers, 253rd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2017).

Shaun Robertson(CDT), Alex Heflin(CDT), Brian Bui(CDT), Jasmine Lamb(CDT), Caitlin Kneapler, Dawn Riegner, Richard Hoff, “Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Entrained Explosives as Potential Field Calibration Standards for Explosives”, Abstracts of Papers, 249th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2015).

Amanda Swartz(CDT), Dawn Riegner, Michael Butkus, Michael Labare, “Effects of Shortchain Fatty Acid on the release of Dipocolinic Acid from Bacilluds Anthracis Endospores, Abstracts of Papers, 243rd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2012).

Justin Hunter(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Characterization of Solid-phase Micro-extraction (SPME) Using Field Portable GC-MS for Detection of Explosive Taggants EGDN and DMNB”, Abstracts of Papers, 243rd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2012).

Michael Swayze(CDT), Dawn Riegner, MaryAnn Thomas(CDT), Zach Lachance, Sarah Kaplan, “Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Surrogate Detection by Metal-organic Frameworks as Solid-phase Micro-extraction (SPME) Material”, Abstracts of Papers, 241st ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2011).

Michael Labare, Michaela Labare, Lindsey Takacs, Honour Butler, Elaina Yess, Cora Butler, Dawn Riegner, “Antibiotic Resistance in Bateria from Antibiotic-free Poultry Flocks”, Abstracts of Papers, 240th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2010).

Dawn Riegner, Michael Swayze(CDT), Zachary Lachance, “Characterization of Automated Solid-phase Micro-extraction (SPME) with GC-Toroidal Ion trap Mass Spectrometry for Detection of CWA Simulants”, Abstracts of Papers, 239th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2010).

Dawn Riegner, Shuja Kazmi(CDT), Sarah Kaplan, Augustus Fountain, III, “Developing an LC-MS Analysis Protocol for Ammonium and Urea Nitrate”, Abstracts of Papers, 237th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2009).

Theodore, Kaiser, Marc Franciskowicz, and Dawn Riegner, “Quantitative Analysis of Video-based Instruction to Enhance Understanding in General Chemistry”, Abstracts of Papers, 237th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2009).

Melinda Kalainoff, Dawn Riegner, Matthew Deloia, Russ Lachance, Andrew Biaglow, “Learning Equilibrium Chemistry Using the Systematic Approach”, Abstracts of Papers, 232nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2006).

Paula Thomsen, Dawn Riegner, Michael Labare, “Metal Binding Properties of Two Marine Bacterial Isolates”, Abstracts of Papers, 225th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2003).

Nicholas Schommer(CDT), Michael Labare, Dawn Riegner, “Lead Contamination of Soil, Sediment, Water, and Biota on a Firing Range”, Abstracts of Papers, 219th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (2000).

Dawn Riegner, Charles Harden, Donald Shoff, Robert Ewing, “Evaluation of Ion Dynamics in Field Ion Spectrometry”, Proceedings of the ERDEC Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research, (1998), pp.43-47.

Kyle Aemisegger(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “The Evaluation of Military Apparel to Deter Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants”, Book of Abstracts, 215th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1998).

Robert G. Ewing, Dawn E. Riegner, Donald Shoff, and Charles S. Harden; “Separation of Ions at Atmospheric Pressure Using RF and DC Electric Fields”, Proceedings of 7th Annual International Society of Ion Mobility Spectrometry (1997).

James Chung(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Use of the Miniature CAMS for Monitoring Zeolite Degradation of Butyl-Sulfide”, Book of Abstracts, 213th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1997).

Peter Song(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Use of Field Ion Spectrometry for Monitoring Gas-Phase Chemical Agents”, Book of Abstracts, 213th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1997).

Luis Alvarez(CDT), Corey Shea(CDT), Augustus Fountain, Dawn Riegner, Marvin Salin, “Mechanism of Oxidative Bleaching of Chlorophyllin”, Book of Abstracts, 213th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1997).

Fitzgerald, J., Shoff, D.B., Davis, D. M., Katzoff, L., Snyder, A. P., Riegner, D. E., Parsons, J. A., Taylor, S. J., Adams, J. H., Brittain, A. H., “ Relative Performance Characteristics of Hand-held Ion Mobility Spectrometers-the Chemical Agent Monitor and a New Miniature IMS Instrument”,  Proceedings of the ERDEC Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research, (1996), pp. 217-223.

Daniel DeVries(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Kinetic Studies of Gas-phase Ion Formation and Dissociation”, Book of Abstracts, 211th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1996).

Brad Carr(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Novel Instruments for the Characterization of Biomolecules”, Book of Abstracts, 211th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1996).

James Cox(CDT) and Dawn Riegner, “Performance Characteristics of the Mini-chemical Agent Monitoring System (Minicams)”, Book of Abstracts, 211th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, (1996).