In this program, you will:
- Conduct lab, field and computational research.
- Meet industry leaders and discover your career options.
- Join a passionate community of future chemists, food scientists, pharmacists, doctors, educators and more.
Schmid College of Science and Technology
BS in Chemistry
» Chemistry
By the time you graduate, you'll be prepared to:
- Get involved in development in most any industry.
- Take part in engaging, cutting-edge research.
- Take your studies further with a graduate or professional degree.
Faculty
Our faculty are all experienced teachers, researchers and scholars who are dedicated to your education and success.
How dedicated? Enough to make you an integral part of their scholarly research projects and work with you personally on achieving your post-graduation goals. They even made sure all chem students had access to take-home lab kits during remote instruction in 2020!
Meet Your Professors
Chemistry Faculty
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. His research interests include prostatic tissues and the testing of natural product based experimental 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, communication skills and "learning for life" as opposed to "learning to pass."
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 troposphere and global climate change.
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. His teaching interests include active learning techniques and flipped-model classes.
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, nanoparticles, 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 heterogeneous catalysis, surface science, lasers, x-rays, spectroscopy and nanomaterials. His research interests are aimed at understanding the most fundamental aspects of the processes 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.
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 and in chronic conditions.
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. His interdisciplinary research lies at the crossroads of inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith
Associate Professor
rowlandg@chapman.edu
Dr. Rowland-Goldsmith is a molecular biologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer and experimental therapeutics.
Faculty-led Research
Our Chemistry faculty lead research that you can get involved in. Here's a small sample of their research is all about.
- What genetic, biochemical, and structural mechanisms regulate the catalysis of biological nitrogen fixation and the bacterial conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia by the enzyme nitrogenase (Led by Dr. Cedric Owens)
- How pomegranate juice extract and caffeine inhibit pancreatic cancer cell growth (Led by Dr. Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith)
- How synthetic analogs of curcumin suppress prostate and pancreatic cancer cells (Led by Dr. Marco Bisoffi)
- How functional foods and nutraceuticals regulate gene function (Led by Dr. John Miklavcic)
The Beckman Scholars Program
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.
Clubs and Organizations
Chapman is home to a community of supportive, passionate Chemistry students. You can join in with Schmid College student organizations such as:
- American Chemical Society: Network with professors, professionals and your fellow Panthers in our student-run chapter of organization of the world’s largest scientific society.
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB): Since Chapman is accredited by this national biochemistry and molecular biology organization, you'll have the chance to get ASBMB certified and demonstrate your skills as a scientist.
- Be KYnd to Your Heart Foundation: Help local athletes get crucial heart screenings and work to promote heart health awareness.
- Women in Science and Technology: Get involved with this group of students and faculty who provide professional development and mentoring to women in STEM fields.
- STEMtors: Lead outreach events and inspire a passion for the sciences within young scientists in the local community.
- Schmid Student Leadership Council: Become an ambassador for Chapman's Shcmid College of Science and Technology and promote the sciences on campus and in the larger community.
Our Schmid College of Science and Technology has lots more STEM clubs. You can find some of the most popular options on our student organizations page. Plus, we hold plenty of events throughout the year, like when we get together to tie-dye lab coats and make nitrogen ice cream (as pictured!).
Study Abroad
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.
Accelerated Programs
Earn your master's degree with just one additional year of study in our accelerated (4+1) programs:
Admission and Tours
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!
Related Majors
You can explore all of Chapman's undergraduate majors and minors with our program finder.
Grand Challenges Initiative
GCI is a unique two-year research project that lets you get involved in research your first year at Chapman.
Keck Center for Science and Engineering
With over 25 collaborative labs and cutting-edge research instrumentation, our Keck Center for Science and Engineering has the tools you need to succeed.
Become a Beckman Scholar at Chapman
We're one of 12 institutions in the United States to offer the Beckman Scholars Program, a research experience and scholarship for aspiring scientists.
ACS Accreditation
Our accreditation from ACS validates the quality of Chapman’s chemistry education and distinguishes graduates with employers and graduate programs.