Get to know the Department of Chemistry

Join us at our 65th Annual Commencement and Award Ceremony June 14th, 2024

Faculty in the our department are leaders in their fields, working to address major challenges facing the world today. In the Chemistry Department, students can work with faculty on the cutting edge of research in areas including cancer and blindness, green energy, and environmental advocacy. We bring authentic research into the classroom with Course-based undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) labs and special topics courses like BioPhysical Chemistry.

This page includes a collection of faculty statements about their research, classes, and interests centered around four broad areas of strength in our department: fostering community, student success, global wellness, and future readiness. You will also find links to groups and resources in the department and across PSU. Get to know the department through our stories and consider joining us by enrolling or donating to one of our funds.

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Fostering Community
Student Success
Global Wellness
Future Readiness

Fostering Community

Community is a core component of the Chemistry experience at Portland State University. Our research focuses on exploring the connections between students’ feelings of belonging and their success in courses and our faculty serve as guides for positive changes for students and communities. We offer student-centered groups that support Women in Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and are allies of BIPOC communities.

Explore student groups, events, and our faculty research labs to learn more about how we foster community at PSU. Some of the links below will take you to groups across PSU that many of the students in our department become involved with.

Group: GSM-STEM

Chem seminars

student wellness

PSU Student Orgs

Volunteer groups

Sustainability

Dr. Tami Clare on recovering lost community knowledge

In my lab, we use chemistry to connect people across time and space, through stories revealed from cultural heritage objects. In Alaska, we’re working with the Alaska State Museum and the Chilkat Dye Working Group to understand the dyes weavers of the Chilkat style used to make their ceremonial blankets. Knowing which dyes their ancestors used will allow the Chilkat Dye Working Group to make their own dye choices, such as, whether to use extracts from foraged natural materials or synthetic dyes. Our research can help people feel a greater connection with the past, recover lost knowledge, inform future choices, and prepare students for the workforce through scientific training. Learn more about Clare Lab research here

Dr. Gwen Shusterman on using theater to advance equity

I began my educational journey in chemistry at a time when there were few women chemists represented among the faculty. While this percentage has grown over my career there is still not equal representation, and the numbers are even worse for women of color. The Equity Theater Project was developed through a collaboration with theater faculty from the PSU College of the Arts. Several fictional scenarios exposing inequities were performed by a professional acting ensemble. These formed the basis of an equity focused workshop that used a Forum Theatre-like structure where participants generate ideas for changing the scenarios with the goal of creating a more equitable situation. I have found this a very effective, non-threatening way to bring a broad spectrum of university people into a discussion of the experiences of diverse individuals in our STEM communities. Learn more about projects the Shusterman group is working on here

Dr. Jack Barbera on feelings of belonging when learning

The norms and practices within a classroom can provide strong messages of who belongs and is included within a given science course or discipline. As a first-generation college graduate, I often questioned myself, "Do I belong?". My students and I study how students perceive their learning environment. Digging deeper, we want to know if potential precursors to belonging impact feelings of belonging within a course. I hope that our work will allow instructors to continually monitor and improve the inclusivity of their courses – after all, it is in everyone's best interest when students succeed; as that's how we build a strong STEM-educated workforce and scientifically literate public. Learn more about Barbera Group research here.

Theresa McCormick takes undergraduate and graduate students working in her lab on a group outing.

Dr. David Peyton wears a clown nose and presents at a seminar.

Dr. David Peyton presents at one of the Department's weekly seminar events.

Dr. Dean Atkinson discusses work at his desk with a student.

Dr. Dean Atkinson discusses class work with a student in his office.

Graduate and undergraduate students present a chemistry demo at a STEM event.

Student Success

Portland State University is a large urban-access institution, with 54% of entering students identifying as non-white, 65% of students receiving financial aid, and 46% receiving federal Pell grants in 2021-22. The Chemistry faculty recognize the challenges students face and are working to help breakdown barriers. From researching the factors that limit student success, to supporting active engagement in the classroom and guiding our students through the many aspects of academic life, increasing student success is the greatest benefit that we can offer our students.

Dr. Shuvasree Ray on using a growth mindset when motivating students to succeed

Teaching is my passion and it brings me joy to be able to play a role in helping develop the careers of professionals who are going to play a huge role in the future of humanity and our planet. As an organic chemistry Instructor, I am always looking for ways to encourage and motivate my students to pursue a career in science technology, engineering, or mathematics fields. I share with my students ‘My Belonging Story’ which talks about my journey in STEM. With my growth mindset, I believe that with a little guidance, good resources, hard work and perseverance, everyone can grow into loving the sciences. Organic chemistry helps students pursuing their goals of becoming doctors, pharmacists, scientists, or engineers. As an educator, I take great pride seeing my students succeed. Their success is our success.

How to transfer ochem credits

Dr. Eric Sheagley on the value of office hours as mentorship opportunities

When I was an undergraduate, I learned the value of meeting with my professors during office hours. As a faculty member, I express that value to students. Office hours provide the opportunity for professors and students to develop stronger mentoring relationships that are not always possible to engage with in the classroom setting. Some students just need additional support to bolster their confidence or organizational skills. Others need help with understanding concepts, rearranging equations, or grasping the principles of chemistry. I appreciate this time because I know that I'm helping students build the necessary skills to succeed. Because the majority of students I teach are freshmen, I see these students develop as they navigate their undergraduate careers. In continuing these relationships, some of these students return to my classroom as Learning Assistants and help other students learn chemistry. One of the greatest joys of teaching chemistry at PSU is seeing my students succeed and running into them in the hallways as graduate students.

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Dr. Dean Atkinson on helping students succeed in and out of the classroom

As I write this, I am isolated at home recovering from COVID-19. I was on a zoom with a student this morning and she said "you are looking pretty chipper" - I certainly didn't feel very chipper, but I could understand why she would say that - I really enjoy my interactions with our students. As an academic adviser and Professor for over two decades, I've had similar discussions with several generations of students: How will they respond to a tough situation?, How will they plan a future career?, And what should their pathway look like between where they are and where they want to end up? There is a lot more to learn during University than what is offered in the classroom and I try to provide students with as much information as I can about strategies that have allowed others to succeed. But each student is unique and I always try to respect their experiences and decisions and provide support.

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Advancing learning for students

Grad students in our department offer tutor room hours with throughout each term for students in chemistry lecture and lab course.

View chem tutor room hours

Advancing teaching for faculty

Faculty in our department regularly participate in professional development programs through the Office of Academic Innovation.

Discover current OAI offerings

Students in a classroom looking at a whiteboard with tutor.

Dr. Jack Barbera on investigating different pathways to success for students

To truly diversify the STEM workforce, chemistry educators must understand (and then support) the various pathways that lead to student success. Therefore, my research students and I are measuring and modeling some of the most salient non-content factors, like motivation and engagement, that increase exam and course performance. While the nationwide move to student-centered practices has opened the doors to more inclusion and equity for students from all backgrounds, we are investigating which practices work best and for whom. Our results inform the chemistry education community on the impacts of practices such as virtual laboratories, flipped learning environments, and collaborative learning, allowing them to tailor these environments, and ultimately drive student success in chemistry. As a self-supported first-generation college graduate, I have experienced many roadblocks to success, which is why I have committed my research to increasing student success. Learn more about Barbera Group Funding and Collaborators here.

Dr. Gwen Shusterman on implementing cutting edge research on learning into our classrooms

My earliest memory of asking scientific questions was wondering how steam engines worked. How could that stuff produced by boiling water move something like a train? It took me a long time to understand the answer and throughout my formal education I saw many people that just gave up seeking answers or trying to understand the world around them. Those observations fueled my passion for improving student learning outcomes in STEM and particularly for increasing the participation of historically underserved groups. In one aspect of our work, we have focused on the classroom experience, building on the work of Dr. Lisa Weasel, developing and implementing deliberative democracy (DD) modules in the core introductory science courses. Using this modular, case study format students work in peer groups to reach a consensus on a scientific topic or policy relevant to both real-world issues and course content. The focus on current scientific research and addressing issues of public policy is intended to engage students and increase understanding of the relevance of science to current issues and challenges. Implementation of DD in STEM classrooms allows instructors to deepen student understanding of fundamental course concepts by asking them to apply their knowledge to real world problems, to challenge students to explore differences, and expose them to academic and civil discourse. Learn more about teaching practices through the STEM Education and Equity Institute here.

Global Wellness

Our faculty are leaders in their fields, working to address major challenges facing the world today. In the Chemistry department, students can work with faculty on the cutting edge of research in areas including cancer and blindness, green energy, and environmental advocacy. We bring authentic research into the classroom with Course-based undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) labs and special topics courses like BioPhysical Chemistry.

Dr. Theresa McCormick on generating solar fuels to help solve energy demands

To build a sustainable earth for future generations, I believe that to meet our energy demands we must capture and store energy from the sun. In my lab, my students and I are excited about hydrogen peroxide for that purpose as a solar fuel. It avoids a lot of the storage and transportation concerns of hydrogen gas (another solar fuel), and it can be used in a simple fuel cell to generate electricity. However, current methods to make hydrogen peroxide use more energy than can be captured by using it as fuel. We are developing ways to transform water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide using energy from the sun. Our solution would allow for this simple molecule, which is mainly known as a hair-dye or disinfectant, to be used to power our cars and our houses with no carbon emissions. I also get to share my expert knowledge of this field through a course that I teach on Photochemistry. Being able to translate results from my research lab into the classroom is one of the many things that I love about PSU. - Learn more about McCormick Lab research here

Dr. John Perona on publishing literature to help people fight climate change

Acting on my deep concern for the environment, I decided that I needed to act outside of my traditional academic role and write a guidebook empowering everyone to act. My new book From Knowledge to Power: The Comprehensive Handbook for Climate Science and Advocacy (K2P) provides a thorough, accessible narrative covering the entire field, and is written to empower citizen advocates to influence community, business and government leaders to take aggressive action on the climate problem. The book dives deeply into cutting-edge science and policy approaches at the federal and state/local levels, and explains how to advocate for solutions. Most importantly as a professor, K2P is structured to be a useful platform for university classes in green business, law, environmental humanities and allied fields. Writing K2P and anticipating its many positive impacts on students, in particular, has been the most gratifying part of my career. - Read more about John's research here.

REU Summer 2022: Undergrad research experiences list

This summer faculty from chemistry, biology, environmental science, computer science, physics, and many others are joining together to offer research based course experiences this summer. Get involved with climate and atmospheric (or microscopy and microanalysis) research with PSU faculty. A fully virtual REU is also available.

Woman selects a book from a large bookshelf.

Learn more about the book that brings climate activism to the people

"From Knowledge to Power: The Comprehensive Handbook for Climate Science and Advocacy" book gives readers insight into making the efforts of layperson climate advocates much more effective.

Get connected with chemistry faculty for a research experience

Research experiences while still receiving an undergraduate education have been shown to increase engagement and success. On our Research page you can complete an simple form indicating your interest in joining one of our labs. If you are interested in a specific lab, follow the guidance there and also email the faculty directly.

Dr. Mark Woods on chemical discovery to fight medical pollution

My abiding chemical interest involves exploring the interactions between rare earth metals and the ligands that can be used to develop new diagnostic imaging agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); my research interests have tended to focus towards the biomedical. However, since boyhood I have had a passion for the natural world and there is a growing body of evidence that MRI contrast agent use is leading to pollution of surface waters with the rare earth metal gadolinium. I feel great disappointment that the discipline that I have immersed myself in for so long is having a damaging effect on the environment that I care so much about. One of the major research themes in my lab is the production of more environmentally contrast media for MRI. This involves two themes: reducing the amount of gadolinium that is used in each scan by improving effectiveness; and developing the technology to intercept the what gadolinium is used before it reaches the water treatment facility. Learn more about Woods Group projects here.

Get involved in undergraduate research

Are you a PSU student interested in joining an Chemistry Lab as an undergraduate researcher? Either reach out to a faculty member directly or complete the Research Interest form linked here.

Dr. Robert Strongin on fighting cancer through cancer cell detection

I have been dedicated to contributing to the fight against cancer my entire career, after losing my dad and sister to cancer, and celebrating my mom as a breast cancer survivor. Watching their struggles and wishing that I could switch places, led me to put to work my skills as a chemist to create chemical tools and methods for the study of cancer as well as other devastating diseases and biomedical issues. A recent area of great progress by my group is in pacreatic cancer imaging and detection. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent form of pancreatic cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. We have created a fluorescent dye that selectively "lights up" human PDAC versus healthy tissue. Moreover, the dye also stains pre-cancerous lesions for early detection. Unlike related dyes and methodology, it is based on inexpensive and stable, fully synthetic material affording visualization within minutes, rather than hours-to-days. It also is unique in enabling objective, quantitative cancer margin assessment. Learn more about Strongin Lab research here.

Chemistry in the News

Faculty are seen standing in front of a blue wall

Scientist stands with hands inside specialized chemical hood.

Smoke swirls in the leaves of an evergreen tree.

Portland State University Researchers Jane Kelly and Papireddy Kancharla recently received a pair of NIH grants (~$3.7million) which will support the continued development of drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of malaria and the treatment of leishmaniasis.

NIH grant for malaria research

Faculty and students in the Department of Chemistry are regularly publishing, presenting, and discussing research with the scientific and general communities. Browse the growing list of achievements and awards earned by faculty, students, and alumni.

Accomplishments & awards page

Multiple PSU departments joined together and secured a $500k grant from local M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust for a new NMR instrument that will support both undergraduate teaching courses and research at PSU.

Grant for new NMR

Faculty professor and researcher Theresa McCormick was featured in the full length document Picture a Scientist that explores gender and minority discrimination in STEM disciplines while providing a new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.

Picture a Scientist video

Faculty professor and researcher Robert Strongin and his research group (including undergraduate, graduate, and career scientists) discover pine rosin present as toxic additive in cannabis vaping oils.

Toxic additives in vape oil

Future Readiness

Higher education serves a critical role in preparing students for the workforce. Our faculty lead research projects that are on the cutting edge of technology. Our students gain knowledge and skills they can apply to a wide range of jobs, including some that do not yet exist. Our successes are measured by the jobs landed by our graduates. We don’t like to name drop, but name a successful company, and know that our graduates work there.

Dr. Skankar Rananavare on studying small things to save big while preparing students for the future

By studying very small things, I've learned that big changes are possible in the field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is defined by the size of the things being studied, which are about a billionth the size of a child. While the nanoworld may be too small to actually see, the results of it are not: my Ph.D. student, Nabil Mistkawi, developed a new environmentally-friendly chemical formulation that has saved semiconductor companies such as Intel hundreds of million dollars. President Obama showcased this research as an inspiration to the nation. More than a dozen high school students have conducted original research in our laboratory, securing first or second-place awards at Intel international science fairs. These students have found their way into leading universities such as Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. Inspiring students ranging from high school to graduate level to explore the beauty of nanoworld remains my central focus. Learn more about Rananavare Lab research here.

Dr. Dirk Iwata-Reuyl on turning a childhood fascination into a determination to reveal the workings of the natural world

As a child, I was fascinated with the natural word. Whether it was the plants and animals that inhabited the canyons around my home or the wilderness areas I visited on family trips, the experience of discovery when exploring these environments filled me with excitement and wonder. While this interest initially led me to study biology, it was organic chemistry that captured my imagination with its ability to reveal the natural world at the molecular level. The love of discovery has remained with me and lies at the heart of research in the Iwata-Reuyl lab. As a biochemical laboratory we are focused on discovering and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying biological phenomena, especially those relevant to the storage and expression of genetic information. While elucidating the molecular basis of life is our primary goal, illuminating these processes also forms the knowledge that will be the foundation for advances in biomedicine, new biotechnological tools, and environmentally benign industrial biocatalytic processes. Explore distinct course pathways that help prepare students for a variety of future careers.

Dr. Steve Benight on detecting diseases using molecular probes for targeted therapeutic treatments

I apply my training as a biophysicist to understand how and why molecules interact, and ways to manipulate these interactions. Physical interactions of molecules, like therapeutic drugs binding to their targets and proteins aggregating, are directly involved in either treatment of diseases or in many disease states like cancer, Alzheimer's and viral infection. Research from my lab has resulted in patented technologies for drug discovery and biological therapeutics based on the physical behavior of DNA and proteins. I'm excited because recently we have shown that drug binding to Covid-19 can be directly detected, distinguished and analyzed by the physical behavior of bound virus particles. This new insight into infection provides a direct avenue with which to screen for novel drugs against the infection. Read more about biomarker research with the Benight group here.

Preparing future scientists is a task we take seriously. Learn more about the graduate programs offered in the Department of Chemistry and discover how a graduate degree can help you become more involved in the future. Programs exist for both working professionals returning for a degree to advance their career and for those looking to join or rejoin the workforce with an advanced degree. Whether it is experience with instrumentation and professional skills or a more exploratory chemistry experience, our advisors can help tailor a degree experience to meet your needs.

Learn about graduate programs

Dr. Andrea Goforth on applying technologies developed in research labs to the outside world

I used to imagine that I was going to be an astronaut, traveling over large length scales. Who knew that by becoming a nanoscientist I'd actually study things smaller than a human hair? My undergraduate and graduate students are developing new methods to optimize the properties of nanoscale materials, which leads to new materials for new possibilities, like faster computers, more efficient lighting, greener chemical transformations, and novel medicinal agents. For example, our methodology to make highly X-ray opaque bismuth nanoparticles and microparticles has allowed us to develop not only future X-ray contrast agents, but also a patented technology for a flexible, greener and safer radiation shielding fabric, that we expect to be an alternative to lead personal protective equipment. This fabric is in early commercialization stages with our spin-out company Stark Street Materials, Inc.. That one new material has such a wide range of applications shows how vast the opportunities are in nanotechnology. I'm most excited when my students land amazing jobs using skills that they learned in my research lab. Learn more about Goforth Lab research here.

Dr. Tami Clare on protecting outdoor structures from corrosion through new coatings and early detection

I never would have guessed that when I grew up I’d study old rusty metal. I see corrosion differently now. Corroding metal forms layers that reflect the environment to which the metal was exposed. Corrosion is not only a fascinating process for chemists; it is an enormous economic problem that is estimated to consume 3.4% of the Global GDP annually. As a professor, I’ve worked to reduce corrosion’s economic toll and its environmental impact as a non-renewable resource. In my lab, we are working to prevent corrosion and detect its earliest signs. We’ve developed protective coatings that have chemical functional groups which do not breakdown under solar radiation and they have nano-clays dispersed within, making our coatings superior water-barriers than existing coating materials. We’ve also made sensors that can detect when a protective coating starts to breakdown as well as identify the presence of early markers for corrosion so that we know it is time to re-coat the metal. This work has led to patents and collaborations with industrial partners. That's what is so powerful about our chemical research: our technologies are ready to make a positive impact on the world. Learn more about Clare Lab research here.

Support students in our department by donating funds

Chemistry faculty at Portland State University engage students by fostering community and supporting student success. With a focus on global wellness and addressing the issues of the future, faculty led research at PSU allows students to gain practical hands-on experience and knowledge as they earn a degree. Join us as a student or show your support by donating funds to support programs that support students in the Department of Chemistry at PSU.

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