Chemistry

Courses Taught

• CHEM 108 Chemical Reactivity
  Covers the fundamental principles of chemical reactivity, including kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry and thermodynamics. This material will be taught through the lens of a specific theme and highlight applications to convey how chemistry is used to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory work is designed to illustrate and complement materials discussed in class. Spring semester. Three class hours and one laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 107 or CHEM 107 – I.
• CHEM 222 Chemistry: Contemporary Issues and Practices
  Understanding the different subfields of chemistry and the implications of each of those fields on society. This course covers topics ranging from historical development of the field to the medical, environmental, and industrial applications of chemistry on modern society. The laboratory is focused on problem-solving—students refine their hands-on skills, develop independence, and design experiments—and culminates in an independent project. Three class hours and one laboratory. Spring semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 203; Recommended co-requisite CHEM 204.
• CHEM 246 The Physics of Life
  The course is designed to provide a basic familiarity with the most common techniques used in structural biology and their applications to challenging biochemical, biotechnology and medical problems. Course focuses on current state-of-the-art biophysical methods that are being applied to study structure and function of biological macromolecules and biological systems with a focus on the most informative methods, such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and single molecule techniques. Theoretical underpinnings and the practical applications are covered. Three class hours. Spring semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 108, or either PHYS 110 or PHYS 211, or permission from the instructor
• CHEM 290 Mentored Research Internship
  Quarter credit internship graded S/U. Students must consult with faculty member with whom they are interested in working prior to the semester they enroll in CHEM 290. Fall and Spring semesters. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
• CHEM 307 Biophysical Chemistry
  Introduction to biophysical chemistry, with emphasis on thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, and spectroscopy using lectures, readings, problems, and discussions. Both theoretical underpinnings and the practical applications of commonly used experimental and computational techniques are covered. Three class hours, one discussion hour. Prerequisites: CHEM 108, PHYS 110, and MATH 112; or permission of instructor. CHEM 307 and BMB 307 are cross-listed.
• CHEM 333 Biochemistry I
  Detailed study of the structure and function of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies as they pertain to living organisms. Topics include the structure and chemistry of proteins; the mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme catalyzed reactions; and the structure, chemistry, and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and biological membranes. Classic and modern bioanalytical methods are emphasized. Fall semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 204. Three class hours and one laboratory. CHEM 333 and BMB 333 are cross-listed.
• CHEM 358 X-Methods: Salty and Fatty
  Combined upper-level chemistry and physics lab designed to emphasize the use of tools in these disciplines to answer questions in biology. This course concentrates on the role of lipids (fats) and ions (salt) in biology. Utilizing multiple biochemical and biophysical techniques, students will perform multiple experiments to ultimately answer a complex biological problem. Two laboratories. Spring semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 108 and either PHY 110 or PHY 211, or permission from the instructor.