Research

Research opportunities abound for Albion College chemistry students.One of the benefits of attending a small school like Albion College is the chance to interact directly with the faculty members. The faculty in the Chemistry Department believe that involving students in research is as important to their education as classroom work. The Department of Chemistry has a long history of student-faculty collaborative research. This research is funded through a variety of different sources, including the National Science Foundation and the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (FURSCA) at Albion College.

Research at Albion College is supported through department instrumentation including a 400 MHz NMR, multiple automated Agilent GC/MS's, UV/Vis Spectrometers and more. The Dow Analytical Lab brings together into one place instrumentation that is used across disciplines.

The results of research at Albion College is disseminated through many different avenues including peer-reviewed publications, student poster presentations at national meetings, faculty presentations at national and international meetings and workshops, and student presentations during the summer FURSCA meetings. In addition to research at Albion College, students often participate in off-campus research programs. These programs give students the chance to experience research in areas that are not explored at Albion College.

Faculty Research Interests
The faculty have varied and diverse research interests. Explore the faculty webpages or email the individual faculty members to learn more.

  • Craig Bieler
    • Ultra-fast reaction dynamics studied using laser spectroscopy
    • Understanding funtional group effect on molecular excited states
    • Thermodynamic properties of halogen clathrate hydrates
  • Andrew French
    • The design, synthesis, and evaluation of Chiral Hypervalent Iodine Reagents as Electrophilic Addition Reagents.
  • Cliff Harris
    • Development of new synthetic methods using supported oxidizing agents and organoboranes.
  • Lisa Lewis
    • The chemistry of surfaces, particularly semiconductor surfaces.
    • Laser desorption mass spectrometry
  • Vanessa McCaffrey
    • Synthesis of organic ligands for magnetic materials
    • Study of the oxidation of wine
    • Research into food chemistry
  • Christopher Rohlman
    • RNA structure and catalysis
    • Proteomics