If you are enrolled in one of my classes, your best source of information about that class is Canvas. Short descriptions of the classes I teach can be found below. Check NKU's schedule of classes to see when they are offered.
CHE 120: General Chemistry I
General Chemistry I introduces the principles of chemistry and the conceptual tools used by chemists to study the world. You’ll learn how to describe chemical reactions both qualitatively and quantitatively. Predictions of reaction yields, types of reactions, and their energetic requirements will also be covered. Finally, you’ll be introduced to the structure of atoms and molecules and their study using light.
CHE 120L: General Chemistry I Lab
General Chemistry I lab introduces basic laboratory techniques, such as accurate and precise measurement, titration, and synthesis. Also, students will develop their skills in experiment design and evaluation, hypothesis generation, note keeping, data analysis, and reporting. This is a guided inquiry lab.
CHE 365: Molecular Modeling
Molecular modeling techniques are frequently used in various areas of chemistry. The first section of the course focuses on small molecules and includes an introduction to molecular mechanics, molecular orbital theory, and density functional theory. Students will determine equilibrium and transition-state geometries, calculate orbital energies, and evaluate spectroscopic characteristics of compounds. The second part of the course concentrates on biopolymers and includes an introduction to the 3D structure of proteins and their interactions with small molecules such as drugs. Course participants will visualize protein structures, explore Web-based protein databases, analyze interactions in protein/drug complexes, generate homology models for proteins, and computationally dock small molecules into receptor binding sites.
While short lectures will provide an introduction to underlying theory, this course emphasizes hands-on experience with various software packages, such as Spartan, DeepView, GOLD, and Sybyl
CHE 360: Physical Chemistry I
Physical Chemistry 1 introduces the principles of thermodynamics to explore the energetics of chemical systems and reactions. State functions, their transformations, trends, and uses will be studied. Statistical Mechanics will be covered briefly.
CHE 361: Physical Chemistry II
Physical Chemistry 2 builds off of thermodynamics learned in 360 to explore the dynamics of molecular interactions starting with quantum mechanics and its methods to describe bonding and spectroscopy. Kinetic molecular theory is introduced, and used to understand chemical kinetics and transport properties.
CHE 362L: Physical Chemistry Lab
Physical Chemistry Lab gives you hands-on experience learning about the topics covered in both semesters of physical chemistry lecture. Group-based experiments in calorimetry, kinetics, spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and phase diagrams will let you apply the theories learned in lecture to real data. You will also gain experience in physical chemistry techniques and instrumentation.
CHE 460/460L: Molecular Spectroscopy with Lab
Molecular Spectroscopy will introduce the principles of modern molecular spectroscopy- how light and matter interactions are used to learn about chemical systems. We’ll cover: group theory, electromagnetic energy and its interactions with matter, vibrational, rotational, and electronic spectroscopy, time-resolved spectroscopies, temperature and solvent-dependence, and other topics as time allows.
Molecular Spectroscopy Lab gives you hands-on experience applying modern molecular spectroscopy techniques to chemical systems. Students will rotate through several group-run experiments in techniques including steady-state and time resolved absorption and emission, rotational and vibrational spectroscopy, and solvent and temperature effects. A final group project, on a student-selected topic is included.
CHE 560/PHY 460: Quantum Mechanics
The basics of quantum mechanics will be covered, including the Schrodinger equation and it's use in several model systems, operators, and angular momenta. Advanced topics will also be covered as time allows. Cross-listed with Physics.
CHE 400: Chemistry Seminar
The department of chemistry considers CHE 400 to be its capstone class for its majors. As such, it is an intensive one credit hour course aimed at you utilizing your chemistry knowledge to critically evaluate and present a seminar on a recently published scientific journal article.
CHE 391W: Chemical Information and Writing
CHE 391W is designed to help students develop the skills and strategies for planning, organizing, writing, revising, reviewing and editing the kinds of writing most commonly used to communicate in the chemistry profession. The class is run as a workshop, with input from both peers and the instructor.
CHE 120HL: Honors General Chemistry I Lab
Honors General Chemistry I Lab uses the same guided inquiry format as CHE120L, but includes additional writing and presentation exercises, as well as some more advanced experiments.
CHE 115L: Physiological Chemistry Lab
This course is designed to give students hands-on experience with topics covered in the Physiological Chemistry Lecture course. It covers aspects of general, organic, and biological chemistry.
SCI 100: Introduction to STEM
For NKU STEM Scholars (high achieving first generation students), this is a special introduction to the university that also incorporates topics particular to this population. The courses developed out of the NSF SOAR grant.
SCI 101: Introduction to STEM careers
The second semester course for NKU STEM Scholars (high achieving first generation students). This semester is more focused on STEM career options and preparation. The courses developed out of the NSF SOAR grant