Chemistry Faculty

Heriberto Hern á ndez is a community-engaged chemistry professor with many years of experience administering education, conducting research projects with undergraduate students, and serving the chemistry community. As a professor at Grinnell College, Heriberto has worked with over 50 students, has...

Professor Kamunde-Devonish studies inorganic chemistry. Her research is focused on the synthetic design of metal complexes that can serve as models for metalloenzymes, and studying the structure-function relationships of these complexes to better understand how they activate small molecules in...

Professor Leggans primary responsibilities are teaching the introductory course and laboratories for the Organic Chemistry (CHM 221-222) and General Chemistry (CHM 129). His research focus is in the semi and total synthesis of biologically active natural products and the development of new synthetic...

We study the molecular pharmacology of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These ligand-gated ion channels are the seat of nicotine addiction and are implicated in a wide range of other neurological abnormalities such as Parkinson’s disease and attention disorders. Most recently, we...

Research: Professor Lyons' research interests center around a class of materials called electrolytes which are ion conducting solutions (liquids or solids). The topic encompasses physical characterization of ion transport with the application of electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. A...

I use electrochemistry to study and design materials and interfaces. I am currently exploring two projects, both motivated by the broad goal of a cleaner, healthier Earth. The first project involves understanding heavy metal ion interactions with oxide surfaces. Understanding these interactions is...

I am interested in investigating the hidden structure and the dipole moment distribution in liquid water and ice. Water is a polar molecule that interacts primarily via short-ranged hydrogen bonds. These strong directional hydrogen bonds adopt local tetrahedral geometries about each water molecule...

Professor Marzluff teaches Physical Chemistry (CHM 363, 364), General Chemistry (CHM 129), Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry (CHM 210) as well as the Policy Studies seminar (PST320) and the Advanced Policy Research course (PST 420). Professor Marzluff's research focuses on the structure and dynamics...

Research Professor Minelli's research deals with the synthesis and characterization of molybdenum compounds. Molybdenum compounds act as catalysts for a number of processes, among them olefin metathesis, and molybdenum is also a cofactor in biological systems. The study of these complexes helps to...

Research Professor Mobley's research interests involve the application of physical organic techniques to organometallic compounds. His current research involves the synthesis of transition metal stannylenes with particular interest in the synthesis of a novel class of these molecules in which the...

Professor Sharpe is interested in the development of environmental chemical sensors based on fluorescent, powdered, semiconductor materials. He and his students have found that these materials indicate the presence of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (precursor of acid rain) by the decrease in the...

Director of the 1995-1997 and 2005-2008 Noyce Science Center Renovation and Expansion Projects. Dean of the College and Vice President of Academic Affairs, 1998-2008. Chair of the Science Division, 1990-1994. Legislative Aide in the Washington D.C. office of Representative Claudine Schneider of...

Professor Trimmer is interested in the structure and mechanism of enzymes. Her research has focused on enzymes that perform oxidation/reduction reactions using the coenzyme flavin.