Dr. Rafael Adrian

About Me

Rafael A. Adrian, Ph.D. is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela, and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Baylor University in 2004. Dr. Adrian then went on to complete postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Houston and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

In August 2008, Dr. Adrian joined the University of the Incarnate Word as an Assistant Professor, where he now holds the position of Associate Professor. Prior to this, he held a Visiting Assistant Professorship at the Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Dr. Adrian's research focuses on understanding how the structural features of a metal complex affect its cytotoxicity, with the ultimate aim of producing more effective, selective, less toxic, and more affordable chemotherapeutic agents.

Dr. Adrian has taught a variety of chemistry courses at the University of the Incarnate Word, including Chemical Principles, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Union of Crystallography, the American Crystallographic Association, and the American Chemical Society. He has published numerous research papers in various scientific journals, including Inorganic Chemistry, Organometallics, Inorganica Chimica Acta, and IUCrData. Dr. Adrian also serves as a faculty advisor for the UIW Biochemistry and Chemistry Club and is a member of the UIW Grievance Committee.

​

When he is not in the lab, Dr. Adrian enjoys traveling with his wife, Marsha, and their son, Tyler. His hobbies include soccer, photography, astronomy, and anything related to airplanes, drones, and flying in general.