Chemistry

Jordan Gunn '09 and Amanda Stegeman '08 purify protein while doing research with Professors Maria Dean and Tom Tauer. Both participated in Coe's Carver Program, which enabled them to get involved in research before their first year at Coe.

Welcome to the Web site for the Coe College Department of Chemistry. Coe's mission is to "provide students an education of superior quality that aims at preparing them for life following graduation." The chemistry department seeks to support that mission by providing students with top-quality instruction and research opportunities. A degree in chemistry from Coe will allow students to pursue a wide variety of opportunities, ranging from careers in local industry to graduate work at top research universities around the world. Many graduates have also found that a chemistry degree is excellent preparation for medical school, Pharm.D. programs, and other health-related areas. For more information, explore the site or contact anyone in our department.

News

  • Seventeen students took part in summer research in chemistry during the summer of 2006. (A total of 88 students have participated in chemistry summer research over the past five years!) Besides many hours of work in the lab, faculty and students also took time for seminars (with snacks), the Cedar Rapids Kernels minor league baseball team, and a day at Professor Herron's beach front home. Funding for the students came from the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society's Petroleum Research Fund, Research Corporation, the city of Cedar Rapids Water Department, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Roy J. Carver Foundation, and Coe.
  • The Chemistry department was fortunate to be able hire three very qualified individuals to fill in while Professors Stoudt and Singleton are on well-deserved sabbaticals. The department welcomes back Dr. Jeff Keiser, who taught organic chemistry at Coe for many years prior to moving into industrial research at Penford Products. Dr. Keiser is teaching Organic Chemistry II. Also returning to Coe is Dr. John Kirk (Coe '00). After completing a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at the University of Illinois, Dr. Kirk is teaching and doing research in chemical education at the University of Iowa, as well as teaching Advanced Analytical Chemistry at Coe. Finally, Dr. Idil Apak Evans is teaching Selected Concepts in Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory. Dr. Evans is an NIH post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa, but is on leave to teach at Coe for the semester.

Why Chemistry at Coe?

What's different about chemistry at Coe? There are many good liberal arts colleges which offer small classes and solid instruction in chemistry. Why should you take a closer look at Coe if you're interested in chemistry?

  1. The quality and quantity of undergraduate research. All of Coe's chemistry faculty carry out research with undergraduate students. This research is supported by competitive grants from the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society as well as by contracts with the city of Cedar Rapids, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen students did research in chemistry during the summer of 2005; these students received stipends and free housing while they worked with Coe faculty on projects ranging from synthesizing new molecules to understanding the production of marine bio-cement. Approximately 45 students did research in the science building over the summer, which emphasizes Coe's commitment to undergraduate research.

    Coe is one of the smallest institutions in the nation to receive a National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates grant. NSF-REU grants "involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects designed especially for the purpose." These grants typically are awarded to large research universities. Coe's program, which is in cooperation with our physics department, brings in students from across the nation to do research at Coe.

    What does this mean for you as a prospective student? When you graduate from Coe with a degree in chemistry, the graduate or professional schools you apply to will take note of your experiences in research. Your employer will notice that you have used a remarkable variety of instruments. These types of experiences make a difference.

  2. ACS certified. The American Chemical Society sets standards for undergraduate degrees in chemistry, and only departments that meet their standards can offer "ACS-certified" degrees. Coe meets and exceeds these standards. You can find out about those standards, and find out what schools meet them, at the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training web site.
  3. Hands-on with the latest and best instrumentation ("This is not your parents' chemistry course.") The faculty is constantly looking for ways to provide students with opportunities to get their hands on state-of-the-art instrumentation. In the past ten years, we have acquired approximately $1,000,000 worth of instrumentation. We have no graduate teaching assistants that run samples for you – you'll use the instruments yourself. You'll have opportunities to use mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and much more!

Coe Chemistry in Atlanta - The chemistry department was well-represented at the 231st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Atlanta from March 26-30 this year. Presenters included (l to r): Lizzie (Johnson) Gibson, graduate student at the University of Iowa; Josh Dettman, Carroll College senior who was a Coe REU participant in the summer of 2005; Jess Brownell, Coe senior who participated in an REU program at the University of Minnesota; Professor Marty St. Clair, who presented work from his current sabbatical; Sharon Beetner, graduate student at the University of Wisconsin; Paul Munson, Coe senior, who presented his work with Professor Scott Stoudt.