Academics

STUDENT NSF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!

The Stetson Chemistry-Biochemistry Program will award a total of eight ($9,750/year) scholarships to students entering in 2009. These scholarships are part of a $597,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that was awarded to Stetson in Fall 2007. Student application procedures, eligibility requirements, and further information about this opportunity can be found at the following link:

http://www.stetson.edu/chemistry/custom/nsfscholars/index.html

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

W. Tandy Grubbs, Ph.D., Duke University: physical chemistry, study of polymers and their properties by laser interferometry and various forms of spectroscopy

Pete R. Hauck, Ph.D., Columbia University: organic chemistry, synthetic organic reactions

Ramee Indralingam, Ph.D., University of Florida: analytical chemistry, isolation and identification of chemicals in spices, development of new innovative lab experiments for inclusion in the curriculum

Harry L. Price, Ph.D., University of Illinois: biochemistry, computer modeling of molecular complexes and reactive chemical species and biological fuel 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

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 each of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Calculus, and Physics; plus a semester of Chemical Literature, Senior Research, and either Biochemistry or Inorganic Chemistry (students pursuing the A.C.S. certified degree take both).

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:

• Christina Schafer (Biochemistry, 2008), University of Miami Medical School;
• Ashley Morris (Chemistry, 2008), Georgetown University;
• 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), University of Zaragoza, Spain;
• Alison Fulton (Biochemistry, 2006), Volusia County Environmental Health Laboratory;
• Becky O'Neill (Biochemistry, 2006), Nova Southeastern University Pharmacy School;
• David Piechocki (Chemistry, 2006), Stetson University College of Law;
• Amy Luce (Biochemistry, 2005), University of Florida Dental School;
• Courtney Rouhier Varney (Biochemistry, 2005), University of Florida Veterinary School;
• Erin Hurley (Chemistry, 2004), Notre Dame University;
• Kristin Margadonna (Chemistry, 2004), Environmental Conservation Labs;
• Dominick Mastroianni (Biochemistry, 2003), University of South Florida Medical School;
• Sarah Soisson (Chemistry, 2003), Texas A&M University.