Our Graduate Students

The Anderson Research Group

Derek Fish

Rethabile Tekane

The Bodner Research Group

Greg Durland

John Grutsch

Steve Kaverman

I am currently finishing some work with graduate students who are involved with an interdisciplinary research traineeship regarding their conceptions of the nature of engineering. Shortly, I will begin investigating teachers implimentation of "green chemistry" into the classroom.

Michael Thompson

The Nakhleh Research Group

Nahyr de los a Rovira-Figueroa

Sarah Schlosser

Jessica Weller

The Towns Research Group

Nicole Becker

My research examines how students learn physical chemistry by participating in inquiry-oriented classroom activities. I use Toulmin's model of argumentation as an analytical tool to document the growth of ideas as students participate in small group and whole class discussions. We hope to use the results of this work to inform the design of effective learning environments and to supportclassroom teaching and learning in inquiry settings. 

Daniel Cruz Ramirez

My research project deals with elucidating students' understanding of alkyl halide and alkene chemical reactions for the purpose of designing an assessment instrument on these topics for undergraduate organic chemistry courses.

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where I did my undergraduate studies in chemistry, graduating in 2008. Currently, I am an active member of the Puerto Rican Student Association and the Purdue chapter of the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP).

Marissa Harle

I am interested in exploring what multiple external representations (MERs) reveal about students' understanding of the potassium ion channel protein. Specifically, I'm looking at the extent to which students can use MERs to describe the function of the potassium ion channel protein.

I graduated from North Dakota State University in 2005 with my BS in chemistry. 

Adam Kraft

My research interests are in visualization and representational competence.  My research is on students' understanding of representations used to depict sugar molecules.

I was born in Dayton, OH, but have lived in Arizona, Saudi Arabia, and South Carolina before coming to Purdue.  I received my B.S. in Chemistry from Clemson University in 2009.

Alena Moon

Taylor Owings

I am a first year graduate student.  My interests in Chemical Education are in assessment and curriculum development of general chemistry. 

Ashley Versprille

I received my B.A. in Chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington in 2008 and my M.S. in Chemistry from Ball State University in 2010.

My research project seeks to explore first-year undergraduate chemistry students’ misconceptions on the chemistry underlying global climate change. With the already documented misconceptions work and my qualitative interviews with first-year undergraduate chemistry students, we hope to develop a concept inventory specifically, a chemistry of climate science inventory (CCSI) for first-year undergraduate chemistry students.

The Weaver Research Group

Nicole Cook

Michael Hands

Dustin Hillman

I am working on examining the effects of different media learning environments based on the content provided in our prototype chemistry-based video game.  I am also examining how a student's preferred learning style(s) is / are related to the media learning environment which they are assigned to utilize for the study.

Matt Pilarz

My research look at how student lab groups work to complete a researc-based lab module as part of their high school chemistry curriculum.

Hannah Sturtevant

I am a first year graduate student, joining the Weaver Group in Fall 2011. I received my B.S. in Chemistry from Western Washington University in June 2011, specializing in analytical chemistry. At Purdue, I would like to combine my interests in analytical chemistry with my desire to help people learn chemistry (with methods fostering interest), recognize its incredible applications, and succeed in it. I am currently deciding on a thesis project.

Gabriela Szteinberg

I am a graduate student in Dr. Weaver's group and am working on the CASPiE project, specifically on the longitudinal assessment of implementation of CASPiE at Purdue.