Susan Citrak

Susan Citrak

Assistant Professor

Chemical & Biological Sciences

Ward Beecher Hall 5023

phone: (330) 941-1997

scitrak@ysu.edu

ysu.edu/people/susan-citrak

Bio

Dr. Susan Citrak is an inorganic materials chemist with a rich background in both research and teaching. She earned her Ph.D. in Inorganic Materials Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz, following a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Mills College in Oakland, California. Her early research at Mills focused on physical organic chemistry, specifically investigating unimolecular solvolysis reactions involving carbocationic intermediates in ionic liquid solvent systems. During her doctoral studies, she shifted her focus to inorganic materials chemistry, exploring the structure, stability, and anion exchange properties of metal-organic coordination polymers, as well as the ionothermal synthesis of metal-substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves with potential applications in catalysis.

In the Fall of 2024, Dr. Citrak joined the faculty at Youngstown State University, bringing over a decade of experience teaching both lower and upper-division chemistry courses. Recently, her research interests have expanded to include a new class of materials called porous liquids, which intriguingly combines her previous work with ionic liquids and solid-state materials into a single, exciting area of study.
Beyond her research, Dr. Citrak is deeply committed to pedagogical advancements, particularly in teaching challenging subjects to first-generation and underserved students. She is passionate about making complex chemistry accessible and engaging for all her students.

Outside of academia, Dr. Citrak holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and enjoys spending her free time gardening, fishing, and playing video games with her family. She is excited to call Youngstown, Ohio, her new home.

Research Interests

Metal Organic Coordination Polymers
Metal Organic Frameworks
Porous Liquids
Ionic Liquids
Metal-Substituted Aluminophosphates

Teaching Interests

General Chemistry Series
Inorganic Chemistry
Instrumental Chemistry