June 19-24, 2016
Kevin L. Braun teaches general chemistry, instrumentation, and quantum mechanics at Beloit College in Beloit, WI. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ where he studied two-photon absorption & lithography and Hadamard transform capillary electrophoresis in the Perry and Aspinwall groups. His postdoctoral research at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill under Michael Ramsey focused on DNA translocation through nanochannels. Since 2007, he has been a faculty member at Beloit College where he also serves as a health professions advisor and assistant men’s basketball coach. His current research focuses on characterizing lipid residue from archaeological pottery sherds, forensic applications of capillary electrophoresis, and chemical education. He has lead faculty workshops on renewable energy through the NSF-funded cCWCS program since 2010 and co-authored the ChemConnections Activity Workbook in 2013.
Workshop Goal(s) – To facilitate a collaborative workshop environment in which all participants can actively contribute.
George Lisensky is Professor and chair of chemistry at Beloit College in Wisconsin. He teaches introductory, analytical, inorganic and nanochemistry courses. He received his bachelors degree from Earlham College and his Ph.D. from Caltech. He began as a bioinorganic chemist, moved to semiconductor materials chemistry, and then to nanochemistry. He has been a member of quite a few education projects that range from the Materials Science Companion for General Chemistry, topical modules for the ChemLinks project, solid state and polyhedral model kits and optical transforms from the Institute for Chemical Education, the Video Lab Manual for Nanoscale Science and Technology with UW-Madison MRSEC, the NISE network for informal science education, and he also co-directs the CCWCS workshop on Materials Science and Nanotechnology.
Workshop Goal(s) – To learn from workshop participants how they teach renewable energy and do labs.
Ruquia Ahmed-Schofield teaches lecture and laboratory courses in organic chemistry in the undergraduate as well as the post-baccalaureate premedical program at her Alma mater, Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. Prior to her appointment at Goucher, Ruquia lived in New Orleans and has taught at Dillard University and Xavier University of Louisiana. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland College Park where she studied synthetic organic photochemistry in Partick S. Mariano’s research group. She continued a similar area of research in her postdoctoral work at the University of Virginia with Richard J. Sundberg. Although her current research interest still focuses on synthetic organic photochemistry, she also has a keen interest in renewable energy. During the Fall 2016 semester, she will be offering, for the first time, a lecture/laboratory hybrid course entitled “Alternative Energy for Everyone.” The course is intended for science and non-science students and came out of her desire to help promote science literacy as well as her involvement in outreach activities at STEM Expos.
Workshop goal – To acquire some strategies/resources that could be developed and incorporated into a course “Alternative Energy for Everyone” that will be offered in the Fall 2016 semester.
Patrick S. Barber is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Williams College in Williamstown, MA and teaches Instrumental Methods and Inorganic Chemistry. He’ll be teaching Materials Chemistry in the fall of 2016. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Nevada-Reno, working with Ana de Bettencourt-Dias on luminescent lanthanide ion complexes, and did postdoctoral research with Robin D. Rogers at The University of Alabama utilizing ionic liquid technology to prepare biopolymer materials for uranium adsorption. Since 2014, he has been a visitor at Williams College and is actively seeking a tenure-track appointment at a 4-year college. His research interests are in developing luminescent lanthanide complexes for environmental and biological imaging.
Workshop goals: To understand and develop a renewable energy focus for a Materials Chemistry course and to network with chemical educators across the country.
Vassil Boiadjiev is an Assistant Professor (Non-Tenure Track) at Temple University, Department of Chemistry in Philadelphia, PA teaching general, analytical and writing-intensive physical chemistry labs, and general and analytical chemistry lectures. He received his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee studying chemical vapor deposition of inorganic and organic thin films on alumina and silica surfaces predominantly by infrared spectroscopy in Dr. Wilfred Tysoe's group. His postdoctoral research with Dr. Zhu at University of Minnesota - Minneapolis focused on molecular design, preparation and characterization of functionalized organic self-assembled monolayers on silicon surfaces, subsequent DNA attachment and hybridization in microfluidic sensor arrays. Then he started as a Postdoctoral Fellow and continued as a Research Assistant Professor developing ultrasensitive micromechanical sensors for detection of hexavalent chromium in ground water and explosives in air at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Nanoscale Science and Devises group led by Dr. Thomas Thundat. He has been teaching at Rowan University, NJ since 2005, then at Temple University since 2007.
Steven M. Boyer is a rising 5th year graduate student at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY. He has TAed for general chemistry and intermediate inorganic chemistry at Binghamton. His graduate work focuses on vapor phase polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as a hole transport layer and synthesis of ruthenium dyes to polymerize with PEDOT in solid state dye sensitized solar cells. He has been active in department related outreach including Go Green which is a 2 week camp for rising 5th graders in the area. When he graduate he plans on teaching inorganic chemistry at a 4-year college.
Workshop Goal – To gain knowledge that can be used for improving Go Green this summer and designing a special topics course when I begin a faculty position.
Franklin Chen is an Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He teaches general chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, and Environmental Science at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Franklin obtained his PhD at Princeton University in 1977, studying protein folding in the lab of Professor Walter Kauzmann. From 1977 to 1980 he worked at the Colgate-Palmolive Company; Johnson and Johnson Company from 1980 to 1984 and Kimberly-Clark Company from 1984 to 2002. Je joined chemistry faculty at UW-Green Bay in 2002 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2008. His research focuses on computational chemistry as well as practical approached on enhancing nutrient retention in soil.
Workshop goals – To learn about various approaches to renewable energy besides CO2 reduction, and how to incorporate more renewable energy content into the general, organic, and inorganic chemistry curriculum, and possibly in my research as well. I also want to meet and connect with other educators interested in renewable energy. Also to learn more materials so that I will be a more effective Environmental Science Instructor.
Mary Robert Garrett is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. She received her B.A. in Chemistry from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2002 and her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007. Her doctoral research was in synthesis and methodology, specifically, the enantioselective, phosphite-catalyzed nucleophilic C-acylation of α,β-unsaturated amides and nitrones. She first held a tenure-track position at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, but has been teaching at Berea College since 2009. There she teaches a range of courses from introductory chemistry for natural science majors, or for non-science majors, to Advanced Organic Chemistry and an Advanced Lab series. She has successfully implemented numerous art applications in her introductory chemistry classes that she learned from the NSF-funded cCWCS Chemistry in Art Workshop. The most recent Advanced Lab course topic was Green Chemistry and Polymers, but she plans to implement Renewable Energy Workshop content for her future course. Her research will take a new direction this fall as she begins a sabbatical at the University of Nottingham developing thermoelectric materials.
Workshop Goal(s) – Develop a deeper understanding of the chemistry of thermoelectric materials for both scholarly activity and the development of an Advanced Lab course on thermoelectric materials to teach at Berea College.
Dr. Kimberly Fay Greve - I obtained my PhD from Northeastern University in Analytical Chemistry. My thesis was about the separation of Peptides and Proteins by Capillary Electrophoresis, under the direction of B.L. Karger, Ph.D. (Northeastern University) and D.E. Hughes, Ph.D. (Bristol-Myers Squibb). I was a researcher at Pfizer (Upjohn Co) for 10 years until Pfizer eliminated their R&D presence in Michigan. I then began teaching at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where I am currently a tenured faculty member in the chemistry department. I teach general chemistry I and II, organic chemistry I and II, material science, and chemical instrumentation (analytical chemistry).
Workshop Goal – to find some interesting ways to update some of my college’s chemistry lab experiments for the classes that I teach.
Kyle A. Grice is an Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at DePaul University. He teaches general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry at DePaul University, as well as a MS-level bioinorganic chemistry class. Kyle obtained his PhD at the University of Washington in 2010, studying the chemistry of platinum complexes towards C-H bond functionalization in the lab of Professor Karen Goldberg. From 2011 to 2013 he was a postdoctoral Scholar in Professor Clifford Kubiak’s group at the University of California at San Diego, studying electrochemical CO2 reduction. Since 2013, he has been an Assistant Professor at DePaul University. His research focuses on CO2 reduction using homogenous transition metal complexes, C-H activation by platinum complexes, and collaborative bioinorganic chemistry projects related to drug interactions with metal centers. He is engaged in outreach with a local high school through the ACS Science Coach program and is also working on a collaboration with a university in Spain in an attempt to start a study abroad program for science students.
Workshop goals – To learn about various approaches to renewable energy besides CO2 reduction, and how to incorporate more renewable energy content into the general, organic, and inorganic chemistry curriculum, and possibly in my research as well. I also want to meet and connect with other educators interested in renewable energy.
Bonnie Hall is an assistant professor at Grand View University. She earned her PhD at the University of California, Davis, studying the v-erbA oncogene and related nuclear hormone receptors. Her current research focuses on engineering novel enzymes for medical and chemical synthesis applications. Bonnie teaches a variety of biochemistry courses, as well as general chemistry, general/organic/biochemistry for nursing majors, and science courses for nonmajors. She is also developing a freshman seminar course “Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse”. This is her second cCWCS workshop.
Workshop goals – To learn about renewable energy in the chemistry curriculum, especially for organic chemistry, nonmajors courses, and a revision of our general chemistry curriculum.
Kelly E. Johanson teaches biochemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA. She received her Ph.D. at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA where she studied transcription termination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Linda Hyman's group. Her postdoctoral research at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA under Andrew Hollenbach focused on the role of transcription factors in the development Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Since 2008, she has been a faculty member at Xavier University of Louisiana. Her current research focuses on DNA-protein interactions with a emphasis on those that are modified due to changes in protein structure. She is also active in the chemical and biochemical chemical education fields. She is also part of the team that directs Xavier's NIH funded Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) program. This will be her second cCWCS workshop.
Workshop Goal(s) – To gain experience with renewable energy concepts and experiments that can be used to design curriculum for general chemistry and biochemistry students.
Charles A. Mebi is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR. He teaches General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Community Management of Hazardous Materials. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Nevada-Reno, working with Dr. Brian Frost on water-soluble organometallic ruthenium complexes. Charles did postdoctoral research at The University of Arizona working with a collaborative research team headed by Dr. Richard Glass, Dr. Dennis Lichtenberger, and Dr. Dennis Evans. The research focused on designing, synthesizing and characterizing novel hydrogenase models. His research interests are in the areas of renewable energy, green chemistry, and catalysis.
Workshop goals: To learn more about renewable energy and to obtain some resources that could be used in my environmental and green chemistry courses.
Krista Noren-Santmyer teaches general chemistry I and II lectures and labs, general chemistry for engineers, and will just be returning from leading a class on renewable energy in Denmark before the cCWCs workshop. She earned her masters from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, FL where she studied the organic synthesis of nanomaterials in Dr. Newkome’s group. She has been a full-time faculty member at Hillsborough Community College since 2007 where she has served as variously as science department chair, as a health professions advisor, and as academic affairs representative. She has also led high school teacher development workshops on biotechnology through collaborations with the NSF-funded FLATE, CERHB and NBC2 programs, and has served as a robotics coach for 9-14 year-olds for the First Lego League (FLL).
Workshop Goal – To gain new ideas and skills so I can incorporate topics of renewable energy into my chemistry classes, in particular into my general chemistry for engineers class which studies chemistry through applications of modern technology.
Mya A. Norman - I have been an instructor at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville for a little over ten years. I teach general chemistry I & II as well as courses for nursing majors and non-science majors. My MS was under the direction of Lothar Schafer at UA-Fayetteville doing molecular dynamics modeling of clay mineral surfaces. My PhD was under the direction of Carl Koval at CU-Boulder working toward a non-mechanical pumping mechanism using redox chemistry and membrane transport. After about 8 years exclusively teaching (and raising my son) I have started back doing research with Rob Coridan. We are looking into colloidal self-assemblies as a template for advanced photonic materials.
Workshop goal(s) – to get my hands dirty in the lab, to network and to bring back some neat experiments to share with the department. I think teaching about alternative energy and understanding of the issues surrounding transitioning from fossil fuels are very important.
Jason J. Pajski teaches general, physical, inorganic, and environmental chemistry at the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, NC. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA using rotational spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance dispersion to study molecular dynamics. He has been teaching at the University of Mount Olive for the past five years and will return as an associate professor this fall.
Workshop Goal – To get information/resources to develop some labs that will be interesting to students and relevant to current world concerns.
Richard Wallace - I have taught organic chemistry (both sophomore and several upper-level courses) at the university level for >25 years. I received my BS in Chemistry from Armstrong State College in 1984, Ph.D. from Clemson University in 1988 and carried out post-doctoral studies at Colorado State University from 1988-1990. I was a faculty member at the University of Alabama starting in 1990 and in 1995 I joined the faculty at Armstrong State University. Over the course of my career I have carried out research in the areas of asymmetric organic synthetic methodology (employing boronic esters and nitrile oxide 1,3-dipolarcycloadditions in particular). I have also carried out studies in the area of plant biotechnology (in particular the development of new tropical fruit and flower varieties) and plant tissue culture looking at secondary metabolites, rapid propagation and mutation breeding. Over the last decade I have been involved in projects exploring and trying to better interpret the chemistry associated with the work of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, George Washington Carver and the chemurgy movement in general.
Dr. Amy Junhua Xin teaches general chemistry, modern instrumentation in chemical analysis, and introduction to nanotechnology at Butler County Community College in Butler, PA. She received her Ph.D. at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. In graduate school, she studied different supramolecular systems including ruthenium based molecular squares and hydroquinone encapsulated cyclic polyoxometallate through electrochemistry method. She has also studied electrocatalytic oxygen reduction at polyoxametalate/Au-nanoparticle hybrid thin films formed by layer-by-layer deposition. Since 2008, she has been a faculty member at Butler County Community College. She currently focuses on chemical education. She has developed many interesting research projects that are suitable for sophomore level students such as the determination of mercury level in fish using cold vapor atomic absorption method and quantitative applications using ATR-FTIR.
Workshop goals – To enrich the contents of the courses I am currently teaching “general chemistry” and “Introduction to Nanotechnology” by incorporating the interesting topics or labs through the workshop.