The Vassar chemistry faculty pursue research in a wide variety of chemistry
subdisciplines, ranging from the study of biologically active compounds with X-ray crystallographic methods to the investigation of the molecular origins of protein folding and stability. In keeping with the
college’s emphasis on the use of original sources in teaching, the faculty
open their research laboratories to students. It is the department’s belief
that the research experience provides students with essential skills and
insights with which to pursue a career in science, and more broadly, is
also excellent training for nonscientific careers such as law and teaching.
Advanced software technology is used to
generate scientific data and images.
Research opportunities are available to students at all levels of the curriculum
for course credit or for pay through college-supported and externally funded
research positions. The department’s firm belief in the value of original
research for students is evident in the requirement that all chemistry majors
write a senior thesis which presents the results of their senior year independent
research projects. The collaboration between faculty and chemistry students
on original research projects at all stages of the student’s undergraduate
career creates a unique environment where students become scholars and scholars
learn from their students.
Chemistry faculty also participate in Vassar’s Undergraduate
Research Summer Institute, U.R.S.I. This ten-week paid internship
program matches students who have an interest in pursuing research with
Vassar science faculty mentors. A total of approximately 50 Vassar students
participate in the program every summer, of whom ten on average are chemistry
students. The program culminates in a research symposium held at Vassar
in the fall and frequently leads to students co-authoring research papers
with faculty.
- Curt W. Beck - Archeochemistry of tars,
pitches, and fossil resins, including amber
- Marianne Begemann - Geochemical transport of metals, especially aluminum
- Stuart Belli - Environmental chemistry of copper; the interaction
of copper with humic substances
- Zachary Donhauser - Scanning probe microscopy and molecular-scale biophysical measurements
- Eric Eberhardt - Proteomics, molecular origins of protein folding and stability
- Christina Noring Hammond - Organic chemistry education
- Sarjit Kaur - Chemistry of polymers including sulfonated polymers
and biodegradable poly(anhydrides); novel amide mimics, fluorinated
styrene, and parylene monomers
- Miriam Rossi - X-ray crystallography of biologically active compounds
- Christopher J. Smart - Organometallic chemistry of fullerenes
- Edith C. Stout - Archeochemistry of tars,
pitches, and fossil resins, including amber
- Joseph M. Tanski - Low valent early transition metal coordination chemistry, extended structure coordination chemistry and X-ray crystallography
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