Our faculty are not only seasoned educators and researchers but also committed mentors dedicated to your success.
How committed? They will integrate you into their cutting-edge research projects and work closely with you to help you achieve your post-graduation aspirations, ensuring you gain invaluable experience and personalized education throughout your academic journey.
Marco Bisoffi
Associate Professor, Associate Program Director of Chemistry and Biochemistry
bisoffi@chapman.edu
Dr. Bisoffi is a molecular biologist who specializes in field cancerization, prostate cancer, tumor-adjacent tissues, biomarker, natural products and experimental cancer therapeutics.
Elaine Benaksas-Schwartz
Associate Professor, Program Co-Director of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Assistant
Dean of External Relations
eschwart@chapman.edu
Dr. Benaksas-Schwartz is a bio-organic chemist who specializes in drug discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development of small molecules of medicinal importance.
Nicolai Bonne
Assistant Professor
bonne@chapman.edu
Dr. Bonne is a molecular biologist who specializes in virology, biochemistry and undergraduate laboratory instruction. His teaching interests include Socratic teaching methodologies that promote active learning and communication skills.
Warren de Bruyn
Professor of Chemistry
debruyn@chapman.edu
Dr. de Bruyn is an analytical and physical chemist who specializes in atmospheric chemistry, the oxidative capacity of the troposphereand global climate change.
Houston Cole
Instructional Assistant Professor of Chemistry
hocole@chapman.edu
Dr. Cole is a medicinal chemist who specializes in synthesizing light activated anti-cancer compounds.
Daniel Dries
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemistry Education Research
ddries@chapman.edu
Dr. Dries (pronounced “Dreez”) is a chemistry education researcher who specializes in using student feedback to provide more effective learning environments. Research interests include student motivation, STEM identity, autonomy (becoming a self-directed learner), curiosity, and assessment.
Nadia Hirbawi
Instructional Assistant Professor of Chemistry
hirbawi@chapman.edu
Dr. Hirbawi is an organic chemist who specializes in using transition metal catalysis for cross-coupling and cross-electrophile coupling reactions. She is focused on teaching organic chemistry lecture and lab courses.
Molla Islam
Instructional Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
islam@chapman.edu
Dr. Islam is a Polymer and Materials chemist who specializes in self-assembly, molecular recognition, surface chemistry, hydrogels, bioconjugation, sensing and nanomaterials.
Matthew Gartner
Associate Professor
gartner@chapman.edu
Dr. Gartner is an analytical chemist who specializes in atmospheric chemistry and chemistry laboratory instruction. He is the lead general chemistry lab professor.
Christopher Kim
Professor, Associate Dean of Academic Programs
cskim@chapman.edu
Dr. Kim is an environmental geochemist who specializes in the environmental impact of mine waste and contamination, including metal contamination, bioaccessibility, chemical speciation and x-ray spectroscopy.
Jerry L. LaRue
Associate Professor, Program Director of Chemistry and Biochemistry
larue@chapman.edu
Dr. LaRue is a physical chemist who specializes in using spectroscopic techniques (light) to observe and control the fundamental molecular interactions that occur during chemical reactions on the surfaces of metal catalysts.
Cecilia Lopez
Assistant Professor
ceclopez@chapman.edu
Dr. Lopez is an assistant professor whose research interests include cell signaling and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs).
Andrew Lyon
Professor and Founding Dean of the Fowler School of Engineering
lyon@chapman.edu
Dr. Lyon is a materials and physical chemist who specializes in microgels, hydrogels, extracellular matrix, colloid chemistry, nanomaterials and regenerative medicine.
Nataliya Markina
Instructional Assistant Professor of Chemistry
markina@chapman.edu
John Miklavcic
Assistant Professor
miklavcic@chapman.edu
Dr. Miklavcic is a nutritional pharmacologist who specializes in functional foods, nutrigenomics and nutraceuticals. He researches how dietary lipids interact with and regulate gene function in neonatal health and development.
Cedric P. Owens
Assistant Professor
cpowens@chapman.edu
Dr. Owens is a physical biochemist who specializes in biological nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase, bacterial iron uptake, hemophore, bioinorganic chemistry and structural biology.
Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith
Associate Professor
rowlandg@chapman.edu
Dr. Rowland-Goldsmith is a molecular biologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer and experimental therapeutics.
Yiran (Ella) Wang
Instructional Assistant Professor of Chemistry
yirawang@chapman.edu
Dr. Wang is an inorganic chemist who specializes in crystallography, solid-state chemistry, synthetic chemistry for developing functional materials for electronic application and laser technology.
Our program is proudly accredited by both the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), ensuring a rigorous and comprehensive education. We have active, student-led chapters of these prestigious organizations that collaborate closely with the program, offering students enriched opportunities for professional development, research, and community engagement.
Schmid College of Science and Technology offers a wide variety of other STEM-focused clubs and organizations. Throughout the year, they host exciting events, such as tie-dyeing lab coats and making nitrogen ice cream — creating fun, hands-on experiences that bring science and community together. You can explore some of the most popular options on our STEM student organizations page, including:
The Beckman Scholars Program is a three-year-long research experience and scholarship that gives you the chance to hone your skills as a scientist, attend networking events, train with state-of-the-art tools, attend workshops and much more.
Interested in becoming a Beckman Scholar yourself? You can check out all the details on our Beckman Scholars Program page.
Chapman is located at the heart of Orange County’s thriving medical and scientific community. That makes us a great place to find internships with organizations like:
Plus, you'll be able to get career guidance for life at our Career Center. We have all the resources you need to network and explore your career options in Chemistry, and you can stop by any time.
Take your passion for science abroad in one of our many study abroad programs. We'll work closely with you to find one that aligns with your schedule and goals so that you can go abroad and still graduate on time. Our programs range from a full year living and studying abroad to international internships over summer/winter break, and everything in between.
Earn your master's degree with just one additional year of study in our accelerated
(4+1) programs:
Interested in taking the next step? Learn how to apply or check out our transfer prerequisites.
Want to learn more about Chapman? We are always available for tours of campus and tours of our Keck Center for Science and Engineering. We’d love to meet you!
You can explore all of Chapman's undergraduate majors and minors with our program finder.
The Grand CHalleneges Initiative (GCI) is a unique two-year research project that lets you get involved in research your first year at Chapman
With over 25 collaborative research labs, our Keck Center for Science and Engineering has the tools you need to succeed.
We're one of 12 institutions in the United States to offer the Beckman Scholars Program, a research experience and scholarship for aspiring scientists.
Our accreditation from ASBMB means that Chapman students have great opportunities for graduate school and beyond.
