Join us at our seminar series

For the current term, seminars are held each Friday afternoon and start at 3:30 PM in the Vernier Science Center, Room VSC 105, 1025 SW Mill St, Portland, OR 97201. Chemistry seminars are in person unless noted otherwise; seminars are free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided.

The Department of Chemistry hosts eminent scholars from throughout the field of chemistry at our weekly seminar series.

We have an exciting lineup of scientists who will be joining us. If you would like to be added to our seminar mailing list, please send an email to chemistry@pdx.edu and let us know!

Meng Yang (Matt) Wu, a tan man wearing glasses and a dark blue suit, in a professional portrait outside.

October 30th, 2026
Dr. Meng-Yang (Matt) Wu, Assistant Professor

The Ohio State University

Meng-Yang Wu received a BS in Biochemistry at the University of California Los Angeles in 2013. By 2016, he obtained his MS, under Dr. Thomas Bussey, in Chemistry from the University of California San Diego. He obtained his PhD from Purdue University in 2020 working with Dr. Minjung Ryu. As a postdoctoral researcher at Miami University, he worked with Dr. Ellen Yezierski and Dr. Roy Tasker on the VisChem Institute, an intensive summer professional development program for in-service high school chemistry teachers. In 2022, Dr. Wu was also selected to be a CADRE Fellow. Currently, Dr. Wu is interested in understanding chemistry graduate teaching assistants and how enacted pedagogy can fulfill excellence and effectiveness in chemistry learning. Dr. Wu is Co-PI on a project funded by NSF IUSE, PI on a project funded by NSF BCSER, and PI on a project funded by the Spencer Foundation.

Presentation Title: Mobilizing New Assets for Chemistry Education Research and Practice

A selfie portrait of an asian woman wearing clear framed glasses and medium length hair. She is smiling and standing in front of a whiteboard with red text on it.

November 13th, 2026

Dr. Tran Nguyen, Associate Professor (remote)

University of California, Davis

Dr. Nguyen is an Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology at the University of California Davis. She received her PhD in Chemistry from The University of California Irvine. Her postdoctoral training was in Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology as an NSF and Stanback Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Nguyen’s research at UC Davis investigates the chemistry that govern the formation, sinks, or climate and health properties of aerosols. Her recent work have focused on ambient, combustion, indoor, and electronic cigarettes aerosol systems. In addition to her academic research, Dr. Nguyen also directs the ICARUS Database for chamber atmospheric research in the United States. Her recent honors include the Friedlander and Whitby Awards from the American Association for Aerosol Research, the CAREER Award from NSF, and the PECASE Award from the U.S. Office of the President.

Presentation Title: Chemical and toxicological profiles of e-cigarette (vaping) products

SPRING 2026

Matthew Sigman, a white man with short grey and black hair, smiling in front of a blurred background with chemical structures.

Ashlie Sarsgard, a light skinned older woman with black and grey hair and wearing a purple shirt, smiles in front of Portland State's greenery.

Morgan Balabanoff, a white person with long brown hair and brown eyes, smiling in a professional portrait with grey background.

"Developing Data Science Tools for Synthetic Chemists"

Dr. Matthew Sigman, Distinguished Prof. of Chemistry, PhD
University of Utah

"Precision Metathesis Polymerizations for Well-Defined Functional Materials"

Jake Nicholson, PSU Alumni
Texas A&M

"Using AI for Teaching and Learning"

Dr. Ashlie Kauffman Sarsgard, Educational Technology Specialist
Portland State University

"From Molecule structure to Mechanisms: Unraveling Chemical Bioactivity Using Zebrafish"

Dr. Robyn Tanguay, University Distinguished Professor
Oregon State University

"From Design to Use: Developing and Implementing a General Chemistry Assessment Instrument"

Morgan Balabanoff, Assistant Professor
University of Louisville

WINTER 2026

Professional photo of Theresa McCormick, a white woman with midlength brown hair and glasses.

Jonathan Gross, a white man with a blonde beard and long hair, is wearing glasses and a raincoat. He's smiling in front of a scenic view of hills and a sunset.

Michael Cohen, a white man with a shorn head and a full beard of black hair, is leaning his should against a wall in a black t-shirt and smiling at the camera

Lyniesha Ward, a black woman with short black hair and round glasses, smiling in front of a blurred background of an educational building.

"AI use: a curious approach"

Dr. Theresa McCormick, PhD, Professor and Chair of Chemistry
Portland State University

"Quantum computing for quantum chemistry"

Dr. Jonathan Gross, PhD, Senior Research Scientist
Google Quantum AI

"Decoding ADP-Ribosylation: Chemical Tools and Therapeutic Frontiers"

Dr. Michael Cohen, PhD, Professor
OHSU

"Is Specifications Grading Meeting Specs? It's Complicated."

Dr. Marilyne Stains, PhD, Professor
University of Virginia

"Detangling Energy and Stability in Organic Chemistry"

Dr. Lyniesha Ward, PhD, Assistant Professor
Indiana University Indianapolis

FALL 2025

Flyer for Making Bonds With The Chemistry and Physics Departments, includes the information listed below. Text is brightly covered and flyer includes clip-art images of shaved ice, electron rings and chemical vials.

Paul Blakemore, a white man with short dark hair, is wearing a blue-grey flannel in front of a white background.

Douglas Reed, a light skinned man with short black hair and glasses, is standing in front of a blurred background of a triangular patterned building and smiling.

Eric Wiedner, a light-skinned man with a shirt dark hair and a beard, smiling in front of a white background.

"Making Bonds with Chemistry and Physics Departments (3rd Annual Event)"

"Toxicology, human health, and Emerging Tobacco-Nicotine and THC products"

Irfan Rahman, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Rochester Medical Center

"Synthetic Studies Directed at the Polyketide Natural Products Mensacarcin and Chalaniline A"

Paul Blakemore, PhD, Professor of Chemistry
Oregon State University

"Supramolecular Approaches to New Porous Conductors and Magnets"

Douglas Reed, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Washington

"Design Principles for Accelerating Hydride Transfer in Molecular Catalysis"

Eric Wiedner, PhD, Team Leader for Molecular Catalysis
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

SPRING 2025

Gang Lin, an asian man with short black hair and glasses looking at the camera.

Akhilesh Tripathi, a brown-skinned man with short black hair and glasses, is smiling in front of a blue watery background.

Amanda Cook, a white woman with long brown hair and glasses, is wearing a yellow blouse with flowers in front of a backdrop of greenery.

Hoby Wedler, a white man with short dark hair, is wearing a suit. The photo is in black and white.

Sachin Nedungadi, a brown-skinned man with long black hair and a full beard, is smiling in front of a grey-blue background and wearing a purple button-down.

Laurie Barge, a white woman with long blonde hair, is smiling in front of a white scientific instrument.

"Treating Microbial Infections with Species-selective Proteasome Inhibitors"

Gang Lin, PhD, Assistant Professor
Weill Cornell Medicine

"Beyond the Peaks: Advanced Applications of Powder XRD in Science and Industry"

Akhilesh Tripathi, PhD
Rigaku Americas Corporation

"Transformations of Alkenes using Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Nickel-Hydride Catalysts"

Amanda Cook, Assistant Professor
University of Oregon

"Making Chemistry Accessible One Atom at a Time: A Journey through a Graduate Career in Chemistry as a Blind Scientist"

Dr. Hoby Wedler
Chemist & Entrepreneur

"Obtaining Validity Evidence During the Development of Formative Assessments in Organic Chemistry"

Sachin Nedungadi, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Nebraska - Omaha

"Searching for Signs of Life and its Origin on Other Planets"

Laurie Barge, PhD, Research Scientist
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab

WINTER 2025

Lei Wang, a young asian man with short black hair and glasses, is seated with a german shepard dog. Both are looking at the camera.

Molly Atkinson, a thin white woman with long brown hair is smiling at the camera in a grey dress.

Sieun Chae, a young asian woman with long brown hair pulled back from her face smiling a the camera.

James Frank, a white man with short red hair and beard.

Paul Kempler, a young white man with short brown hair and a puffy vest on.

"The Chemistry Behind Improved Surgical Outcomes with NIR Nerve-Specific Contrast Agents"

Lei Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor
OHSU

"Characterizing Student Understanding of Visual Chemistry Representations: Interpretation of Infrared Spectra"

Molly Atkinson, Assistant Professor
University of North Texas

"Integrated Theoretical and Experimental Materials-Design for Energy-Efficient Microelectronics"

Dr. Sieun Chae, Assistant Professor
Oregon State University

"Chemical biology approaches for controlling cannabinoid signaling pathways with light"

James Frank, Assistant Professor, PhD
Oregon Health & Science University

"Ions, interfaces, and ironmaking"

Paul Kempler, Assistant Professor
University of Oregon

FALL 2024

Three people stand in front of light colored brick work buildings and a low wall.

Professional photo of Dr. Tobi Odeleye, a black woman with long black braided hair. She is wearing a red, high-neck blouse with a black dot design. She is seated and smiling with a blurred outdoor background.

"My Sabbatical Year"

Dr. Tami Lasseter Clare, PhD, Professor of Chemistry
Portland State University

Dr. Oluwatobi Odeleye, Assistant Professor
West Virginia University

Hosted by Graduate Student Committee, Rachael Mayhew

Spring 2024

Andy McNally, a white man with short brown hair and glasses, looking toward the camera with his arms crossed. He is leaning against a glowing purple sphere in a black puffer jacket.

A placeholder image of a disembodied white hand sketching out a chemical formula on a clear surface facing the camera.

Recent Advances in Fe-Catalyzed Multicomponent Cross-Couplings

Professor Osvaldo Gutierrez
Texas A&M University

Andy McNally, Professor
Colorado State University

"Porphyrins and Hyperporphyrins"

Carl Wamser, Professor
Portland State University

Undergraduate Honors Symposium

WINTER 2024

"3M Graphic Films and Sustainability"

Ryan Carns
3M Director Business Supply Chain

"Representational competence under the magnifying glass: Instructional landscape, student competence, and a refined model of representational competence skills"

Maia Popova, Professor
University of North Carolina - Greensboro

"Synthetic strategies toward fluorosulfurylation of organic molecules and sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx)"

Nicolas Ball, Professor
Pomona College

FALL 2023

Anne Bentley, a white woman with short red hair, smiling.

Professor Mooring, a black person with short black hair, smiling and wearing a black blazer.

Lattice Planes, Crystal Facets, and Nanoparticle Shape Control

Professor Anne Bentley
Lewis & Clark College

Adventures in Aryne Chemistry

Professor David Stuart
Portland State University

Chemistry-specific mindset beliefs of undergraduate students: measurement and implications

Professor Suazette Mooring
Georgia State University

SPRING 2023

Robert Knowles is smiling for the camera standing in front of a light colored wall wearing a white polo shirt

"Developing a coherent practical curriculum"

Dr. Michael Seery, Head of Digital Learning
Cardiff Metropolitan University

"Organic Synthesis Away from Equilibrium"

Dr. Robert Knowles, Professor of Chemistry
Princeton University

"Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate: insight from manipulating adsorbate affinity"

Dr. Kelsey Stoerzinger, Assistant Professor
Oregon State University

"Transformation, reaction and organization of functional nanostructures using microreactor-assisted nanomaterial deposition processes"

Dr. Chih-Hung Chang, Professor of Chemistry
Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs
Oregon State University

WINTER 2023

view of Mt. Hood downtown Portland, Oregon

"Natural Product Inspired Novel Antimalarials"

Dr. Papireddy (Reddy) Kancharla, Research Assistant Professor
Portland State University

"Imaging research at NTNU Colourlab and its applications in cultural heritage"

Dr. Jon Y. Hardeberg, Professor, Department of Computer Science
Norwegian University of Science and Technology

"Measurement, Modeling, and Mountain Biking: How I Spent My Sabbatical Year"

Dr. Jack Barbera, Professor of Chemistry
Portland State University

"A Pictorial History of Hookah Tobacco Use and Hookah Devices"

Dr. Nada Kassem, Research Scientist, Director & Founder, Hookah Tobacco Research Center
Associate Director, Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health
San Diego State University School of Public Health

"Developing a versatile contrathermal Cope rearrangement platform for enantioselective synthesis"

Dr. Alex Grenning, Associate Professor
University of Florida

FALL 2022

"Integrating rehearsal training in a mixed-reality teaching simulator to support graduate teaching assistants in active learning environments"

Dr. Erin Saitta, Assistant Professor
University of Central Florida

"My Chemical Adventures with Crystals and Nanocrystals"

Dr. Andrea Goforth, Associate Professor
Portland State University

"Documentary screening: Chilkat Dye Project"

Dr. Tami Lasseter Clare, Associate Professor
Portland State University

"Brief introduction to energy system modeling methodology and results"

Dr. Pat DeLaquil, Chief Executive Officer
DecisionWare Group, LLC

"Pulling oxygen from air, the story of a start-up"

Dr. Theresa McCormick, Associate Professor
Portland State University

SPRING 2022

"Controlled self-assembly of peptides for cancer detection and therapy"

Dr. Adem Yildirim, Assistant Professor of the Division of Oncological Sciences and CEDAR
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine

"An Alum's Tale: EXAFS, silent kinetics, and tackling the bioinorganic chemistry of Te!"

Dr. Kelly Chacón, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Reed College

"Design of Advanced Functional Surfaces using Oxygen-tolerant Photopolymerization"

Dr. Christian Pester, Thomas K. Hepler Early Career Professor in Chemical Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University

"Promoting Student Engagement in Active Learning Environments: Characterizing Task Design and Implementation"

Dr. Renée Cole, Professor & Associate Chair
Chemistry Department, University of Iowa

"Luminescent polymer nanoparticles for diagnostics and imaging"

Dr. Zachary Hudson, Associate Professor
The University of British Columbia

"Directed α-C(sp3)–H lactonization of acid-tethered lactams: Direct access to [3-2-1] bicyclic lactam-lactones"

Dr. Timothy Beng, Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry
Central Washington University

"Volatile organic compounds in urban buildings: sources, removal, transformation"

Dr. Elliott Gall, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Portland State University

"Roles of Electrostricted and Structural Hydration in Modified DNA Duplex Stability"

Dr. Luis A. Marky, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center

WINTER 2022

"New Synthetic Methods for C–F Bond Formation: From Fundamental Science to Applications"

Dr. Melanie Sanford, Professor
University of Michigan

"Nanomaterial structure and induced toxicity: A review of structure-activity relationships in nanotoxicology"

Dr. Christie Sayes, Associate Professor
Baylor University

"The Molecular Chemistry of Extended Solids"

Dr. Hemamala Karunadasa, Associate Professor
Stanford University

"Things Fall Apart: The Surprising Photochemical Fragility of Paul Cézanne’s and Edvard Munch’s Masterpieces"

Dr. Jennifer Mass, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Cultural Heritage Science
Bard Graduate Center, Carnegie Mellon, President of the Scientific Analysis of Fine Art, LLC

View seminar

"Molecular Chemistry at the Intersection of Self-Assembly and Renewable Energy"

Dr. Timothy R. Cook, Associate Professor
University at Buffalo

"Elucidating Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Mechanisms Underpinning the Catalytic Generation of Renewable Fuels"

Dr. Jillian Dempsey, Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Do We Ask Students to Do What We Want Them to Learn? An Investigation of the General Chemistry Laboratory Course"

Dr. Erin Duffy, Assistant Professor
Western Washington University

Fall 2021

Robert Fitzmorris holding glowing test tube

"Nanoparticle Design Rules for Colorimetric Plasmonic Sensors"

Dr. Paige Hall, Assistant Professor
University of Portland

"Technology Trends and Challenges Driving Nano-Electronics Scaling"

Dr. Nabil Mistkawi, Senior Staff Engineer/Technologist
Samsung

View Dr. Mistkawi's seminar presentation

"Safety and Inclusivity through Access"

Ashley Neybert, Curriculum Designer
Independence Science

View Ashley's seminar presentation

"The Power of Mindset: Making Chemistry Accessible One Atom at a Time"

Dr. Hoby Wedler
Chemist & Entrepreneur

View Dr. Wedler's seminar presentation

"Novel Interactions of DNA Oligomers with Gemini Surfactants"

Dr. Richard D. Sheardy, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Woman's University

"Quantum Dots as Narrow Bands Emitters in Solid State Lighting"

Dr. Robert Fitzmorris, Research Scientist

View Dr. Fitzmorris's seminar

"An exploration of chemistry students' conception of light and light-matter interactions in the context of fundamental experiments"

Dr. Alena Moon, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
University of Nebraska Lincoln

"Dynamic ensembles: novel features of multivalent IDP assemblies in Hippo signaling"

Dr. Afua Nyarko, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Oregon State University

"Physical organic chemistry models for synthetic organic chemistry applications"

Dr. David R. Stuart, Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Portland State University

SPRING 2021

"Hybrid Organic Electro-optics: Computational Chemistry to Commercialization"

Dr. Lewis Johnson, Research Scientist, Department of Chemistry
University of Washington

View Dr. Johnson's seminar

"Inflammasome assembly - an example of balance control in the immune system"

Dr. Liman Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry
Oregon Health & Science University

"Next generation computing enabled by organic electro-optic materials and other real-world applications of materials chemistry"

Dr. Stephanie Benight, Founder, President, and Principal Scientist
Tactile Materials Solutions

"Course-level social belonging: Effects on student performance and persistence in General Chemistry"

Dr. Gina Frey, Ronald and Eileen Ragsdale Professor of Chemical Education and professor in chemistry
University of Utah

View Dr. Frey's seminar

"Generation and Application of Novel Chemically Induced Dimerization Domains"

Dr. Zachary Hill, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder
Soteria Biotherapeutics

"Shining a light on biology"

Dr. Sally Plush, Associate Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry
University of South Australia

"How do cells sense force and why is it important?"

Dr. Swetha Murthy, Assistant Scientist & Assistant Professor
Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University

View Dr. Murthy's seminar

"Large Isotope Effects, Reclaimed Catalysts, and Air Exclusion in Organometallics "

Dr. Miriam Bowring, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Reed College

View Dr. Bowring's seminar

"De-freebasing: The Chemical Secret behind the Fabulous Success of both Traditional Cigarettes and JUUL"

Dr. Robert Proctor, Professor of the History of Science
Stanford University

WINTER 2021

ariel view Portland State University campus

4th year graduate student presentations
Avik Bhattacharjee, McCormick Lab
"Computational study of hydrogen gas production mechanism by nickel (II) tris-pyridinethiolate catalysts"
Dayalis Santiago-Vazquez, McCormick Lab

4th year graduate student presentations
Megha Gupta, Strongin Lab
"Elucidating the role of copper and homocysteine-related free radical and oxidative damage to biomolecules"
Russell McFarland, Reichow Lab
"Molecular shapeshifters: Novel Fibrillar Aggregates of the Lens Alpha-Crystallins"

"Name of the Game: supporting transgender authors in a technologically biased world"

Irving Rettig, McCormick Lab

View Irving's seminar

"The Phenomena of Interview Assessments in an Undergraduate Biochemistry Lab"

Dr. Nikita Burrows, Assistant Professor
Monmouth University

"Plasmonic Electricity: Fluorophore-Induced Plasmonic Current"

Dr. Christopher D. Geddes, Professor
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

View Dr. Geddes's seminar

"Cross-disciplinary practice focused undergraduate laboratory transformation (X-labs)"

Dr. Joi Walker, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education
East Carolina University

"Equity & Inclusion Frameworks for Human-Centered Practice"

Jaime Wood, Program Manager for Educational Initiatives
Office of Academic Innovation, Portland State University