Rafael Adrian, Ph.D.

Rafael Adrian, Ph.D.

Professor, Chemistry Office Location: AT&T Science Center 440 Phone: (210) 254-3611

Dr. Rafael A. Adrian was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1973. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela, and received his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Baylor University in 2004. Dr. Adrian completed his formal training with Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Houston in 2004 and the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2005 to 2007. Before joining the University of the Incarnate Word as an Assistant Professor in August 2008, he held a Visiting Assistant Professorship at the renowned Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

In his free time, Dr. Adrian loves traveling around the country with his wife, Marsha, and his son, Tyler. His hobbies include soccer, photography, astronomy, and anything related to airplanes, drones, and flying in general.

  • Universidad Simon Bolivar (Caracas, Venezuela) Chemistry B.S. 1997
  • Baylor University (Waco, TX) Inorganic Chemistry Ph.D. 200
  • 2013-Present: Associate Professor, Chemistry, University of the Incarnate Word
  • 2008-2013: Assistant Professor, Chemistry, University of the Incarnate Word
  • 2007-2008: Visiting Assistant Professor, Chemistry, Centre College, Danville, KY
  • 2005-2007: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemistry, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • 2004-2005: Welch Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX
  • Adrian, R. A., Lagemann, B. J., & Arman, H. D. (2021). Chlorido[1,2-bis(diphenylphosphan-yl)ethane-κ2P,P′](isonicotinamide-κN)palladium(II) nitrate acetonitrile monosolvate. IUCrData, 6, x211171.
  • Adrian, R. A., Duarte, J. J., & Arman, H. D. (2021). Di-μ-chlorido-bis[(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine-κ3N,N',N')copper(II)] bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate). IUCrData, 6, x211096.
  • Adrian, R. A., Ibarra, S. J., & Arman, H. D. (2021). Bis(isonicotinamide-κN)silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate acetonitrile disolvate. IUCrData, 6, x211073.
  • Adrian, R. A., & Arman, H. D. (2020). Chlorido(4'-chloro-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine-κ3N,N',N')(trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)zinc(II) acetonitrile monosolvate. IUCrData, 5, x2901292.
  • Adrian, R. A., Canales, D., & Arman, H. D. (2020). (4′-Chloro-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3N,N′,N′′)bis(nitrato-κO)zinc(II). IUCrData, 5, x201344.
  • Adrian, R. A., Hernandez, D. R., & Arman, H. D. (2020). catena-Poly[[bis(acetonitrile-κN)(4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2N,N′)(trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)copper(II) triflouromethanesulfonate]]. IUCrData, 5, x201407.
  • Adrian, R. A., Broker, G. A., Tiekink, E. R. T., & Walmsley, J. A. (2008). Palladium(II) complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline: Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination. Inorg. Chim. Acta, 1261-1266.
  • Adrian, R. A., Zhu, S., Powell, D.R., Broker, G. A., Tiekink, E.R.T., Walmsley , J. A. (2007). Dinuclear palladium(II) complexes with bridging amidate ligands. Dalton Trans., 4399-4404.
  • Adrian, R. A., Zhu, S., Klausmeyer, K. K., & Walmsley, J. A. (2007). Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination of monomeric cis-Pd(2,2'-bipyridine)(NO3)2. Inorg. Chem. Comm., 1527-1530.
  • Adrian, R. A., Yaklin, M. M., & Klausmeyer, K. K. (2004). Synthesis and Characterization of New Bi and Tri-nuclear Mo Carbonyl Compounds Obtained by Ligand Exchange Reactions of [Et4N]3[Mo3(CO)9(OMe)3]. Organometallics, 23, 1352-1358.
  • Klausmeyer, K. K., Adrian, R., Khan, M., & Reibenspies, J. H. (2003). Ligand Exchange Reactions of [Et4N]3[W2(CO)6(OMe)3]. A Reactive Binuclear Tungsten(0) Carbonyl Center. Organometallics, 22, 657-662.
  • International Union of Crystallography (2020 - present)
  • American Crystallographic Association (2019 - present)
  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (2019 - present)
  • Representative, UIW Grievance Committee (2019 - present)
  • Texas Academy of Sciences (2012-2016, 2019 - present)
  • Chair, UIW Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (2013-2016)
  • American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (2012 - present)
  • Coordinator, CHEM1101 Chemical Principles I Lab and CHEM1102 Chemical Principles II Lab (2011-present)
  • Faculty Advisor, UIW Biochemistry and Chemistry Club (2008 - present)
  • American Chemical Society (1999 - present)
  • CHEM 1101 Chemical Principles I Lab
  • CHEM 1102 Chemical Principles II Lab
  • CHEM 1203L General Chemistry Lab
  • CHEM 1310 Introductory Chemistry
  • CHEM 1320 Biological Chemistry II
  • CHEM 1301 Chemical Principles I
  • CHEM 1302 Chemical Principles II
  • CHEM 1320L Biological Chemistry II Lab
  • CHEM 1405 Science in Everyday Life
  • CHEM 2112 Organic Chemistry II Lab
  • CHEM 2150 Principles of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Lab
  • CHEM 2311 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 2350 Survey Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 3142 Experimental Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 3342 Coordination and Solid-State Chemistry
  • CHEM 3441 Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 3441L Inorganic Chemistry Lab
  • CHEM 4160/4260 Advanced Chemistry Research
  • CHEM 4399 Special Topics: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 4431 Physical Chemistry and Lab
  • CHEM 4431L Physical Chemistry I Lab
Dr. Adrian's research interest lies in synthesizing novel metallic compounds with potential applications as antitumor agents. Dr. Adrian is particularly interested in understanding how the structural features of a metal complex, including the synergy between the metal and the ligand system, affect its cytotoxicity. His research aims to produce more effective, selective, less toxic, and more affordable chemotherapeutic agents.