Dr. Xiaoping Sun (Program Coordinator)

Why Major in the Chemical Sciences?
Chemistry is the science of matter and how all matter interacts at molecular level. It is an exciting science that relates theory with experience in the laboratory and relates macroscopic (visible) entity and processes to their microscopic constituents (atoms and molecules) and processes. Certainly, it is the only major where you get to blow things up. However, it is also the only major where you can make new substances which have never existed before. Perhaps, that is a good reason to major in chemistry!

What Will I Learn as a Chemistry Major at UC?

• A wide range of courses including calculus, physics, and biology in addition to chemistry.
• The ability to take in information and make logical predictions about outcomes based on the information.
• Hands on experience with state of the art equipment and the latest software available.
• Original chemical research that leads to publication in refereed journals.
• Communication skills in the form of writing journal articles and giving "talks."
• Broader experiences that possibly lead to a dual-major in chemistry and biology.

The New Information and Science Center
The University of Charleston has a new seven-story science and library building containing state of the art Chemistry laboratories. Hands-on experiments will utilize a variety of analytical and research instruments.

An Environmentally Aware Campus
The UC community has also joined in the efforts of making the campus more environmentally aware with recycling bins for paper, glass, and aluminum products. Due to an overwhelming concern by UC students, paper products have replaced all Styrofoam products on campus.

Research Interests
The Chemistry Program consists of interdisciplinary areas of study in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. It is supported by faculty research interests in these areas, including:

• Analytical chemistry research – Studies of analytical methods for inorganic and organic species in aqueous systems facilitated by various instruments and a mobile lab.
• Biochemistry research – Mechanistic studies of ligand binding to heme proteins and its biological consequences.
• Inorganic chemistry research – Spectroscopic characterization of oxometal (oxygen-containing) cations in strongly acidic media.
• Synthetic organic chemistry studies - The C-H bond activation by inorganic cations and related organic functionalization leading to synthesis of industrially important organic compounds.
• Chemical education and theoretical chemistry research - New models for chemical bonding in main group molecules essential for undergraduate chemistry curriculum.

Faculty and Areas of Specialization

Dr. David Haas
Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry
davidhaas@ucwv.edu

Dr. Juliana Serafin
Ph.D. Harvard University
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
julianaserafin@ucwv.edu

Dr. Xiaoping Sun (Program Coordinator)
Ph.D. University of New Brunswick
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Organic, inorganic, and biochemistry
xiaopingsun@ucwv.edu

For more information about the UC Chemistry Degree Program see the UC catalog (under Morris Harvey Division of Arts & Sciences) or call Dr. Xiaoping Sun at (304) 357-4898. Send questions and comments to xiaopingsun@ucwv.edu.