2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Faculty
Chair
Brian M. Cullum
Professor
Brian M. Cullum
B.A., Frostburg State University, 1994; Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1998
Chris Geddes
B.Sc., Lancaster University (U.K.), 1992; Ph.D., University of Wales, 1996
William R. LaCourse
B.S., Charter Oak College, 1982; Ph.D., Northeastern University, 1987
Joel F. Liebman
B.S., Brooklyn College, 1967; M.A., Princeton University, 1968; Ph.D., 1970
Zeev Rosenzweig
B.Sc., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), 1986; Ph.D., 1992
Katherine L. Seley-Radtke
A.S., St. Petersburg Junior College, 1983; B.A., University of South Florida, 1992; Ph.D., Auburn University, 1996
Michael F. Summers
B.S., University of West Florida, 1980; Ph.D., Emory University, 1984
Associate Professor
Songon An
B.S., Yonsei University (South Korea), 1997; Ph.D., University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2005
Bradley R. Arnold
B.S., Dalhousie University, 1983; Ph.D., University of Utah, 1991
Marie-Christine Daniel-Onuta
B.S., University of Rennes (France), 1998; M.S., 2000; Ph.D., University of Bordeaux (France), 2003
Lisa A. Kelly
B.S., State University of New York at Geneseo, 1988; M.S., University of Rochester, 1989; Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, 1993
Minjoung Kyoung
B.S., Ewha Womans University (South Korea), 1998; M.S., 2000; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2008
Marcin Ptaszek
Ph.D., Jagiellonian University (Poland), 2002
Aaron Smith
B.A., Boston University, 2007; M.Sc., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012
Paul J. Smith
B.S., State University of New York Brockport, 1988; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1993
Assistant Professor
Joseph Bennett
B.S., Drexel University, 2003; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2009
Chengpeng Chen
B.S., Ocean University of China, 2011; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2015
Deepak Koirala
B.Sc., Tribhuvan University (Nepal), 2002; Ph.D., Kent State University, 2014
Herana Kamal Seneviratne
B.S., University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka), 2011; Ph.D., Washington State University, 2017
Principal Lecturer
Tara Carpenter
B.A., Thiel College, 1999; Ph.D., Duquesne University, 2005
Tiffany Gierasch
B.S., Trinity University, 1997; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2002
H. Mark Perks
B.S., Bucknell University, 1970; Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, 1980
Senior Lecturer
Allison Tracy
B.S., University of Delaware, 2001; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 2005
Lecturer
Sarah Bass
B.A., Notre Dame of Maryland University, 2006; Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2017
Diana Hamilton
B.S., University of Virginia, 1986; Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1993
Marie van Staveren
B.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2007; M.S., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 2012
Adjunct Faculty
Wuyuan Lu
B.S., Nanjing University (China), 1984; M.S., 1989; Ph.D., Purdue University, 1994
Maja Ponkivar-Svet
Ph.D., University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), 2002
Affiliate Faculty
Matthew Pelton
B.A.Sc., University of Toronto (Canada), 1996; Ph.D., Stanford University, 2002
Professor Emeritus
C. Allen Bush
B.A., Cornell University, 1961; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1965
Arthur S. Hyman
B.S., City College of New York, 1955; Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1964
Richard L. Karpel
B.A., Queens College, 1965; Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1970
Ralph Pollack
Sc.B. Brown University, 1965; Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, 1968
Dale L. Whalen
B.S., Loras College, 1961; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1965
Associate Professor Emeritus
James S. Vincent
B.S., University of the Redlands, 1957; Ph.D., Harvard University, 1963
Instructor Emeritus
Suzanne Rottman
The undergraduate programs in chemistry and biochemistry offer students the opportunity to study in a program tailored to meet their career objectives in a department that is large enough to provide excellent training and research facilities and small enough to encourage a close working relationship with professors. The experienced, dynamic faculty of the department present outstanding credentials, with advanced degrees and post-doctoral training from some of the most prestigious schools in the world. They are devoted to both teaching and research. Their scientific and scholarly achievements attract close to $4 million in funding per year, resulting in many opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research in faculty labs and to gain exposure to cutting-edge science in their classrooms.
The department offers three major programs: the Chemistry, B.S. , a rigorous program certified by the American Chemical Society; a Chemistry, B.A. , which provides the option of an increased number of electives so the student may combine a solid background in chemistry with other areas of interest, such as law, education, business management or environmental sciences; and a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, B.S. (jointly with Biological Sciences ). A combined chemistry B.S./M.S. is available to qualified students. The department also offers a Chemistry Minor . In conjunction with Education , a program leading to a Chemistry Education, B.A. with an emphasis in either biochemistry or physical chemistry may be pursued.
Outside of the major and minor programs, the chemistry curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students with diverse goals. Biological sciences majors, as well as students preparing for entrance into schools of dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or programs in medical technology should complete CHEM 101 , CHEM 102 , CHEM 102L , CHEM 351 , CHEM 351L , CHEM 352 and CHEM 352L . Students preparing for programs in dental hygiene, nursing and physical therapy should complete CHEM 123 , CHEM 124 and CHEM 124L .
The programs of the chemistry and biochemistry department periodically are reviewed by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the professional organization that sets the standards for chemical education, and UMBC chemistry students consistently place at, or above, the norm in their standardized examinations. The Chemistry, B.S. is accredited by the ACS and has received continued approval since first attaining this status in 1970. In a recent report, the ACS commended the UMBC Chemistry Discovery Center, noting its innovative approach to team learning in a chemistry lab setting.
Career and Academic Paths
More than 60 percent of the department’s graduates pursue further education (graduate programs in chemistry and biochemistry) or professional training (medical, dental, pharmacy, nutrition, veterinary medicine, and environmental science) at such distinguished schools as Harvard; MIT; Oxford; The Johns Hopkins University; Stanford; University of Virginia and University of Maryland, Baltimore. Many students choose to continue post-baccalaureate studies at UMBC, enrolling in the M.S. or Ph.D. programs in chemistry, the M.S. or Ph.D. programs in biochemistry (joint with UMB) or molecular and cell biology, or the M.S. program in applied molecular biology (joint with Biological Sciences ).
Academic Advising
The department assigns students to faculty advisors based upon the student’s declared major of either chemistry or biochemistry. After filing a Declaration of Major form, students should contact the department office.
Honors Program
The department does not offer an honors track, however specific honors sections of chemistry courses are offered. CHEM 101H - Principles of Chemistry I - Honors (4) and CHEM 102H - Principles of Chemistry - Honors (4) , are offered in the fall and spring, respectively. In addition, upper-level honors courses are offered in selected topics. Departmental honors are awarded to graduates in chemistry or biochemistry who achieve scholastic excellence, which is defined as a GPA of 3.5 or better in all chemistry and biochemistry courses, combined with an overall GPA of at least 3.5. At least 18 credit hours in the Chemistry or Biochemistry major must be completed at UMBC and no course may be repeated in the major for a better grade.
Special Opportunities
Research
Undergraduate research performed under faculty mentors within the department is encouraged. Participating students may receive credit toward graduation for this research through two upper-level courses. CHEM 399 , provides an introduction to research and may be taken for one to three credits. CHEM 499 is an approved elective for the American Chemical Society-certified Chemistry, B.S. and requires preparation of a formal paper based on the student’s original research. A maximum of six credits of CHEM 499 or a maximum of eight credits from the combination of BIOL 398 , BIOL 399 , BIOL 499 , CHEM 399 and CHEM 499 may be taken. The department also offers industrial internships with various partners for additional hands-on experience. The Vitullo Award is presented each year to a junior or senior student working in a faculty member’s laboratory excelling in undergraduate research in the department.
Teaching
The department offers CHEM 396 - Undergraduate Learning Assistantship (1-3) for undergraduate learning assistants in non-laboratory chemistry courses.
Honors and Awards
A number of awards are conveyed to deserving students each spring. Among them are the Vitullo Award, Mittino award, Creighton award and Satterfield award.
Chemistry Tutorial Center
The Chemistry Tutorial Center is staffed by a full-time chemistry instructor and 25 advanced undergraduates who provide free tutoring for students in introductory and intermediate chemistry courses. Small group tutoring and computer-assisted, special topics lessons are available.
Student Organizations
American Chemical Society Student Affiliate (ACSSA) Chapter Chemistry/Biochemistry Council of Majors. An American Chemical Society (ACS) student affiliate chapter supports an active lecture and tour program to acquaint UMBC students with various career options. The ACSSA outreach program into local elementary schools involves mentoring young students, as well as providing a program of science demonstrations to assist instructors in teaching chemical principles. The ACS affiliate chapter also sponsors the presentation of several undergraduate research projects at the student session of the national ACS meeting each year.
ProgramsMajorMinorCoursesChemistry
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