Our Students

The Anderson Research Group

Scott Cole

I joined Dr. Anderson's group in March 2012, after spending three semesters doing mass spectrometry in the Yu Xia group at Purdue.  My current research focuses on common student misconceptions in an analytical teaching laboratory, and how the use of visualizations may help them to overcome these limitations.  

Derek Fish

I have been a Masters student with Prof. Anderson part time for the last 4 years. I run an interactive Science Centre in Richards Bay, South Africa, and my Masters focuses on how different school groups’ (urban, township and rural) experiences of our Centre differ, in terms of enjoyment, understanding and visualization of the material we present. I am looking especially at a show we present on the Science of Sound, through the medium of musical instruments. I am demonstrating my hosepipe bugle in my photo.

To learn more about the Unizul Science Centre, please click here.

Sara Johnson

I received my B.S. in Biochemistry and M.S. in Science Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS.  I am interested in students’ understanding of biochemistry, including their ability to interpret and reason with biochemical visualizations. 

Franziska Lang

I received my B.Sc. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Heidelberg University, Germany. In addition, in 2012 I received a Masters-equivalent teaching degree in Chemistry and Biology.

Subsequently, I got the opportunity to work in Dr. Chiorazzi´s and Dr. Sherry´s laboratories in NYC, USA on a project entitled Characterization and Identification of IL-17A-Expressing Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Lymphoid Tissues: Potential role in the disease, which led to the publication Th17 and non-Th17 IL-17-expressing cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: delineation, distribution and clinical relevance (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22058222).

In addition, I had various teaching appointments at the Heidelberg University and the Nürtingen-Geislingen University, Germany, which stimulated my interest in researching students' difficulties with their understanding, learning, visualization of and reasoning about biochemistry phenomena.

Reeh Tekane

My overall research goal is to develop and validate tasks which develop (formatively) and assess (summatively) Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians (SFFP) competencies in the context of chemistry for life scientists and to use these to inform curriculum development.

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The Bodner Research Group

John Grutsch

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The Towns Research Group

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).

Brittland Dekorver

I received a B.A. in chemistry from Grand Valley State University in 2007 and then worked as an outreach specialist for the Institute for Chemical Education at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. My research interests are informal science education and pre-service teacher professional development.

Michael Mack

I am interested in researching students' development of mathematics in the context of chemistry education. Some fundamental questions include: What is the connection between mathematics and chemistry? Is the connection important for students to learn chemistry? This type of research project can be viewed from multiple perspectives, including how developing and applying mathematical skills is a process of enculturation into scientific research (for some, not all, domains of science). I am also interested how students construct and evaluate models in general and physical chemistry.

Before joining Marcy's group, my research focus was on Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory for calculating strong-field phenomena in simple molecules. (TD)DFT is a very active research fields in theoretical and computational chemistry/physics. I think it would be fun to do a DFT-education based project about: 1) students' understanding of models in quantum chemistry and 2) students' understanding of and appreciation for approximations in computational chemistry.

Alena Moon

I am a first year graduate student. I received my B.S. in chemistry at John Brown University in Arkansas. I am now beginning research on students' understanding of physical chemistry and their ability to apply mathematical concepts.

Kinsey Pearson

I am a first year graduate student.  I received my B.S. in chemistry in 2012 from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN.  My chemical education research interests relate to physical chemistry education and students' understanding of mathematical concepts.

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.

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The Weaver Research Group

Nicole Cook

My research focuses on how elementary and secondary teachers implement lessons and strategies from their professional development experiences. In particular, I am focusing on teachers who have participated in the Indiana Science Initiative and Research Goes to School.

Michael Hands

Mike is working with the Slipchenko Group to use computational methods to model the behavior of water-hydrocarbon-alcohol mixtures at the atomic level. He is also researching in assessing the attitudes of the general public towards science and implementing informal education programs with the goal of incorporating science into everyday life.

Tony Chase

After spending two semesters working in synthetic organic chemistry under the direction of Dr. P.V. Ramachandran, I have decided to focus my research on education as it relates to technology, methodology, and student understanding. I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Nebraska where I began my work in education under Dr. Marilyne Stains. This work has resulted in a publication as well as several conference presentations. My current work in the Weaver Research Group will focus on alternative instructional methods using technology and design to engage society with current research practices. 

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.

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