Susan Citrak

Dr. 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 whose research centers on the synthesis-structure relationships of porous and framework materials, with a particular emphasis on ionothermal chemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Inorganic Materials Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz, after completing a B.Sc. in Chemistry at Mills College in Oakland, California. Her early research at Mills focused on physical organic chemistry, examining unimolecular solvolysis reactions and carbocationic intermediates in ionic liquid solvent systems.

During her doctoral work, Dr. Citrak transitioned to inorganic materials chemistry, investigating the structure, stability, and anion exchange behavior of metal-organic coordination polymers, as well as the ionothermal synthesis of aluminophosphate and metal-substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves (AlPOs and MAPOs). This work laid the foundation for her ongoing research program, which explores how ionic liquids function simultaneously as solvents, structure-directing agents, and reactive media in the formation of porous inorganic frameworks.

Since joining the faculty at Youngstown State University in Fall 2024, Dr. Citrak’s research has focused on systematically probing the role of ionic liquid cations and anions in ionothermal synthesis, with the goal of understanding how subtle changes in ionic liquid chemistry influence precursor speciation, nucleation pathways, and framework selection in AlPO and MAPO materials. Her group integrates solid-state characterization techniques, including PXRD, spectroscopy, and solid-state NMR, with mechanistic studies designed to capture transient chemical environments during early stages of crystallization. These materials are of interest for applications in catalysis, separations, and energy-relevant processes.

In parallel, Dr. Citrak is exploring emerging concepts in porous liquids, an area that uniquely bridges her background in ionic liquids and solid-state porous materials, and offers new opportunities for tunable porosity in fluid systems.

Beyond research, Dr. Citrak is deeply committed to pedagogy and student mentorship, particularly in supporting first-generation and underserved students in the physical sciences. She is passionate about making complex chemical concepts accessible through clear structure, active learning, and research-integrated teaching.

Outside of the laboratory, Dr. Citrak holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and enjoys gardening, fishing, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is happy to call Youngstown, Ohio, 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