Chemistry Department Faculty

Dr. Philip L. Kumler
Professor of Chemistry
210 Houghton Hall
SUNY College at Fredonia
Fredonia, NY 14063
Tel: (716) 673-3582
Fax: (716) 673-3347
Philip.Kumler@Fredonia.edu

Research

My primary current research emphasis is on the chemistry of Concord grapes and grape products; we are currently funded by the New York State Wine & Grape Foundation and collaborate with the Cornell Vineyard Laboratory in Fredonia. Resveratrol and its glucoside (piceid) are important polyphenolic constituents of grapes and have been shown to have very positive health benefits. Resveratrol is suggested to be responsible for the “French Paradox”. The incidence of coronary heart disease in France is significantly lower than predicted, considering the French dietary habits and lifestyle. A variety of studies have suggested that resveratrol, present in significant amounts in red wine, exhibits cardioprotective effects. In the US it is known that New York grapes typically contain higher levels of resveratrol than grapes grown in the western US.
Our research group (see picture below) is actively studying the levels of resveratrol found in Concord grapes grown in western New York. Our long term goal is to determine the parameters – environmental, horticultural, viticultural – that determine or control the levels of resveratrol. This project relies heavily on the use of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) utilizing the recently acquired triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrospray interface. In addition to Fredonia undergraduate students, active collaborators include Lee Servatius from Fredonia, and Terry Bates and Hans Walter-Peterson from the Cornell Vineyard Laboratory in Fredonia, NY.
Other research interests include preparation of small peptides via automated syntheses and a continuing interest in applications of thermal analysis to synthetic and biopolymers.

Teaching

The major emphasis of my teaching continues to be organic chemistry, especially the laboratories. Every semester I teach one or more sections of the regular or advanced organic laboratory. I continue to teach upper level elective courses on a regular basis. Recent offerings include Bioorganic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Combinatorial Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry, and Natural Products Chemistry.