Prof. Dr. Kevin Oshea, Florida International University, United States
Prof. Dr. Kevin E. O’Shea is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University, United States. With a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from UCLA and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin, his research focuses on environmental chemistry, advanced oxidation processes, and the remediation of emerging pollutants. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and delivered around 300 scientific presentations worldwide. A recognized leader in his field, Dr. O’Shea has received numerous awards for excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring, and has secured nearly $4 million in research funding.
Scopus
Summary:
Prof. Dr. Kevin O’Shea exemplifies the spirit of the Research for Outstanding Contribution Award through his extensive scholarly productivity, impactful environmental research, and dedicated mentorship. His contributions have shaped critical areas of environmental chemistry, particularly in water treatment and pollutant remediation, backed by a long history of funded research and international collaboration.
🎓 Education
Kevin E. O’Shea earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with honors from California State University, Sacramento. He pursued a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles under Professor Christopher S. Foote, where his dissertation explored the photoxygenation of complex organic molecules. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin with Professor Marye Anne Fox, focusing on reactive species for anti-cancer agents and photochemistry in supercritical fluids.
💼Experience
Professor O’Shea has held numerous academic positions over his career. He began as an Assistant Professor at Florida International University in 1991, later promoted to Associate Professor and eventually full Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He served in key administrative roles including Interim Dean and Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School at FIU. He has been a visiting professor at institutions such as the University of Miami, University of California Davis, and Georgia Institute of Technology. His extensive teaching experience spans undergraduate and graduate-level organic chemistry, laboratory design, and interdisciplinary honors courses.
🔬Research Focus
His research specializes in environmental chemistry, advanced oxidation processes, photochemistry, and nanomaterials for water purification. He has led investigations into the degradation of cyanotoxins, perfluorinated compounds, and pharmaceutical contaminants using innovative photocatalytic and sonochemical methods. O’Shea has been consistently funded for over three decades, securing approximately $4 million in extramural support from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, EPA, DOE, NIH, and others. He has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students in original research projects, producing substantial contributions to environmental remediation science.
🛠️Skills
Professor O’Shea is highly skilled in organic synthesis, physical organic chemistry, spectroscopic structural elucidation, and environmental contaminant degradation. His publications emphasize both experimental and computational approaches in environmental chemistry. His scholarly output includes over 150 peer-reviewed papers and approximately 300 scientific presentations delivered globally. His research has garnered more than 16,000 citations with an h-index of 65, reflecting significant impact in the scientific community.
🏆Awards
Professor O’Shea has received several accolades throughout his career. These include the FIU University Graduate School Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Research Award, Excellence in Teaching and Advising Awards, and Excellence in Mentoring Award. He was named a Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar and has been honored with honorary membership in the Golden Key Honor Society. His work has also earned recognition such as top-cited and editor’s pick articles in prestigious journals. He has served extensively in leadership roles within the American Chemical Society and other professional organizations.
📚 Publications
- Title: Ultrasound induced mineralization of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Authors: Xuexiang He, Danni Cui, Natalia Soares Quinete, Kevin E. O’Shea
Year: 2025
Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal
- Title: Molecular insights into the bonding mechanisms between selenium and dissolved organic matter
Authors: Zhe Zhang, Lance M. Miller, Huan He, Kevin E. O’Shea, Dionysios D. Dionysiou
Year: 2024
Journal: Science of the Total Environment
- Title: Reaction rate coefficient study of the perfluoroalkyl and ω-Perfluoroalkyloic acid radicals
Authors: Claude Bernard Paultre, Alexander M. Mebel, Kevin E. O’Shea
Year: 2024
Journal: Chemical Physics Letters
- Title: Impact of chromium (VI) as a co-contaminant on the sorption and co-precipitation of uranium (VI) in sediments under mildly alkaline oxic conditions
Authors: Mariah S. Doughman, Kevin E. O’Shea, Nikolla P. Qafoku, Kenneth C. Carroll, Yelena P. Katsenovich
Year: 2024
Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
- Title: Ferrate(VI) mediated degradation of the potent cyanotoxin, cylindrospermopsin: Kinetics, products, and toxicity
Authors: Cen Zhao, Luís E. Vera Arroyo-Mora, Anthony P. DeCaprio, Kevin E. O’Shea, Virender K. Sharma
Year: 2023
Journal: Water Research
- Title: The effects of soil properties and sorbent amendments on immobilization of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in contrasting soils: Experimental and numerical study
Authors: Anahita Esmaeilian, Natalia Soares Quinete, Piero R. Gardinali, Kevin E. O’Shea
Year: 2023
Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Prof. O’Shea is highly deserving of the Research for Outstanding Contribution Award. His body of work reflects sustained excellence, innovation, and global impact. Recognizing his achievements through this award would honor a career that continues to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.