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Chemistry touches your life every day -- from the air you breathe to the food you eat. The science of chemistry examines the atomic and molecular structure of matter and relates these structural features to the chemical and physical properties of substances. Its practical applications are many -- from medicine and biochemistry to plastics.

Faculty

Helping students do research is a hallmark of Stetson's Chemistry Department. Faculty members and their specialties include:

• William Tandy Grubbs, Ph.D., Duke University; Physical chemistry, study of polymers and their properties by laser interferometry and various forms of spectroscopy
• Ramee Indralingam, Ph.D., University of Florida; analytical chemistry, isolation and identification of chemicals in spices, development of innovative lab experiments for inclusion in the curriculum
• Harry L. Price, Ph.D., University of Illinois; biochemistry, spectroscopic and computational analysis of biomolecular systems, biofuel cells
• John T York, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Inorganic chemistry, computational modeling and synthetic studies of small molecule activation by biologically inspired transition metal complexes

Special Features

Each Chemistry major completes research for a Senior Project, guided by a faculty mentor, and many Stetson Chemistry students have gone on to present their results at scientific meetings.

The Department offers a wide range of scientific instruments dedicated to undergraduate use. These include a 300 MHz NMR spectrometer capable of analyzing hydrogen, carbon, fluorine and phosphorus atoms in a sample; a Typhoon 9410 Phosphor Imager scanner for detection and quantification of fluorescent and radioactive molecules, a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer; a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer detector; two other gas chromatographs with FID detectors; ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer, a fluorescence spectrophotometer; a high-performance liquid chromatography system, and a floor model high speed and ultra high speed centrifuge.

The Department is one of a small number in the United States approved by the American Chemical Society to offer students the prestigious A.C.S. certified degree.

Course Information

Students majoring in Chemistry take a year of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Calculus, and Physics. They also take a semester of Foundations course work in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. In-depth course work of a semester of Advanced Physical Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, and Instrumental Analysis are also taken. A year of Research Proposal / Senior Research serves as a capstone experience.

Research Opportunities

Stetson Chemistry majors are encouraged to do summer research, either at Stetson (often funded by the Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience, or SURE, program) or at other colleges and universities with summer research opportunities. Several recent Stetson Chemistry students have won SURE grants, and others have worked at such schools as Tulane and Georgia Tech.

Career Opportunities

A major in Chemistry prepares you for advanced study in Chemistry -- or in other areas as diverse as the Biological Sciences, health-related fields such as Medicine, or Law. The major also prepares you to go directly into laboratory work in either industry or government in fields ranging from semiconductors to forensics. Some of our alumni teach in high schools, colleges and universities; others work in environmental labs and for manufacturers of healthcare products.

Alumni Highlights

Successful Chemistry/Biochemistry graduates include:

• Becky O'Neill (B.S., Biochemistry, 2006), Pharm.D., Nova Southeastern University Pharmacy School
• David Piechocki (B.S., Chemistry, 2006), J.D. 2009, Stetson University College of Law
• Amy Luce (B.S., Biochemistry, 2005), D.M.D., 2009, University of Florida Dental School
• Courtney Rouhier Varney (B.S., Biochemistry, 2005), D.V.M., 2010, University of Florida Veterinary School
• Erin Hurley (B.S., Chemistry, 2004), Ph.D. 2009, Notre Dame University
• Jon Beusse (Chemistry, 2009), Louisiana University
• Daniel Infield (Biochemistry, 2009), Emory University
• Mary Jane Simpson (Chemistry, 2009), Duke University
• Darash Desai (Biochemistry, 2008), Boston University
• Christina Schafer (Biochemistry, 2008), University of Miami Medical School
• Gail Ferek (Biochemistry, 2007), University of Florida Medical School
• Taylor Lewis (Biochemistry, 2007), University of Florida Medical School
• Aguirre de Cubas (Biochemistry and Chemistry, 2007), Spanish National Cancer Centre, Madrid, Spain
• Alison Fulton (Biochemistry, 2006), Volusia County Environmental Health Laboratory

Clubs and Organizations

Stetson has an active student chapter of the American Chemical Society, which regularly presents Chemistry Magic Shows to fifth-grade classes at nearby schools. This chapter also hosts an annual Boy Scouts Day to help local Cubs and Boy Scouts earn science and medicine merit badges.

Department Awards

The Chemistry Department presents awards each year to the outstanding students in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry; and also recognizes one outstanding graduating senior from the Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.

Contact:
Dr. W. Tandy Grubbs
386-822-8184
wgrubbs@stetson.edu

Full Time Faculty: 4

Degrees Offered:

• A.C.S. Certified Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science

Our Graduates Attend:

• Florida State University
• Georgetown University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Nova Southeastern University
• Stetson University College of Law
• Texas A&M University
• University of Florida Dental School
• University of Florida Medical School
• University of Florida Veterinary School
• University of Miami Medical School
• University of Notre Dame
• University of South Florida
• University of Zaragoza Spain