When developing a research program at a liberal arts institution, one must carefully select projects that have potential to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge, yet can be performed by undergraduate students. With this in mind, the faculty members of the chemistry department at the University of Portland have developed research programs that are at the cutting-edge with the primary goal of teaching students how to ask questions and seek answers to those questions.

Our students have the opportunity to use research-grade equipment in a state-of-the-art facility working directly with their faculty advisors. We attend national and regional conferences to present our work to a larger audience and at the culmination of a project, we publish our results in the appropriate journal.

Our alumni go on to pursue graduate degrees at the top research institutions in the nation and their advisors laud them for their high level of preparedness and probability of great success as chemical professionals.

Lab Teaching Assistants
The majority of our laboratory courses utilize students as teaching assistants to the instructor. This provides an opportunity for the assistants to reinforce their theoretical knowledge and laboratory skills through peer associated interaction. Specific duties include assisting course instructors with grading, troubleshooting, waste management, and minor solution prep.

Laboratory Preparation Personnel
A number of our laboratory courses require extensive solution and laboratory preparation. Our student laboratory personnel are responsible for all solution preparation and maintenance, the establishment of answer keys, laboratory set-up, assistance with stockroom maintenance, and the ordering of reagents and supplies.

Workshop Leaders
Chemistry workshops are small (~8 students) groups lead by a peer mentor who has been successful in the course in a previous year. The workshop materials which may include passages to read, problems to solve, or short writing assignments are designed by the faculty member teaching the course and tailored to aid in learning the material covered in lecture. The peer mentors work closely with the course instructor, but are individually responsible for their section of workshop and specific duties vary from instructor to instructor.

Summer Research/Employment
An M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust grant provided funds for enhancing the undergraduate research programs in biology, chemistry, physics and biochemistry. The University is currently the recipient of a $350,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust as part of the Murdock College Science Research Program. This program supports six science faculty and twelve undergraduate students for a ten-week period during the summer to pursue research. Student participants will receive a $3,000 stipend and on-campus housing at the University. There will be weekly talks and larger group meetings, as well as intensive work with a faculty mentor. Funding for summer research is intended to provide opportunities for students to begin projects they will continue to carry out during the following academic year. Participating students share their results in the subsequent fall at the annual Murdock Undergraduate Research Conference.

Additional summer research employment maybe available due to funding from alternative sources such as the National Science Foundation and The Research Corporation. For more information please talk to specific faculty members.

There are opportunities for students to apply for summer research programs at the University or for government and government-affiliated labs, such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Lab or the Hanford Labs. Opportunities to work in biological and medical research labs are available through individual faculty contacts.

The American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Chapter welcomes chemistry majors and other students interested in chemistry. Our major goals include developing professional skills, sharing our excitement for chemistry with students in elementary, junior high and high school, exchanging ideas and interacting with each other, with professional chemists and students at other universities. We take tours, sponsor speakers, make and sell mole grams, provide service to the chemistry department, build leadership and organizational skills, help with national chemistry activities and learn about graduate school and job opportunities.

For more information, visit our group page on Facebook or email the ACS faculty advisor, Dr. Rachel Hutcheson.

The chemistry department recommends the resources linked below for information about careers in chemistry and resources that help undergraduate students prepare for a career in chemistry. The American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, publishes the first two sites and keeps information current.

1) College to Career: Getting a job in chemistry

This site shares profiles of chemists and provides information about chemistry careers, technical disciplines, and preparation for a career in chemistry. The video library addresses job responsibilities, public speaking and presenting, interviewing and negotiating, succeeding on the job, and writing well.

2) Information for undergraduate chemistry students

This site includes information about undergraduate research programs, internships, jobs, study abroad programs, scholarships, planning for graduate school, attending an ACS meeting, and other opportunities.

3) Career Education Center

The Career Education Center at the University of Portland provides services and resources to current students and alumni. They can help you identify skills, strengths, interests, and explore your options within a career in chemistry. To schedule an appointment with one of their staff members, stop by their office, call 503-943-7201, or request an appointment online via Handshake.

The chemistry department is very proud of our chemistry alumni and their post-graduate accomplishments. A recent study of chemistry majors graduating from UP in the period 2012-2017 revealed these outcomes:

21% of chemistry alumni attended graduate school in the chemical sciences
36% attended medical or other professional schools
27% obtained jobs in the private sector
5% obtained jobs as teachers
12% pursued other or unknown activities

All students who are chemistry majors or minors are invited to attend the annual chemistry awards ceremony held in the spring. Several awards and scholarships exist to recognize science students who have attained high distinction in their work.

William and Lavina Wilson Award in Chemistry
William and Lavina Wilson Award in Chemistry is presented to the outstanding student in chemistry for the year. The student, selected by the chemistry faculty, need not be a chemistry major and may be in any class year. The award consists of a cash scholarship award and the recipient's name is engraved on the plaque displayed in Swindells Hall. This award is named in honor of former student and faculty member William Wilson, and his wife, Lavina.

• 2022-23 Emma Morrow
• 2021-22 Lily Gunning, Anna Hicks and Isaac Reinhard
• 2020-21 Kailin Marie Mooney
• 2019-20 Amanda Yachiyo Beaman and Vanessa Hillary Eng
• 2018-19 Siva Ho and Claire A. Kearney
• 2017-18 Rochelle Shih
• 2016-17 Bryce Birchfield and Emily O'Loughlin
• 2015-16 Noah Forrest and Bao Tran Nahn
• 2014-15 Matthew Chavarria
• 2013-14 Anna Warden
• 2012-13 Lillian P. Nguyen
• 2011-12 Diane Le

ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry
The Analytical Chemistry Award is presented to the outstanding student in Analytical Chemistry lecture and laboratory. This American Chemical Society sponsored award includes a nine-month subscription to Analytical Chemistry.

• 2023 Joey Sanders
• 2022 Peter Nguyen
• 2021 Kailin Marie Mooney
• 2020 Christopher Souheil Elkhal
• 2019 Claire A. Kearney
• 2018 Jarren K. T. Takaki
• 2017 Emily O'Loughlin
• 2016 Emily O'Loughlin
• 2015 Natalie Cawker
• 2014 Matthew Chavarria
• 2013 Ryan Wilson
• 2012 Vinson Diep

ACS Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry

• 2023 Emma Morrow
• 2022 Bao Huynh
• 2021 Jason Patrick Ware
• 2020 Vanessa Hillary Eng
• 2019 Joey Lippert
• 2018 Connor McLoughlin
• 2017 Emily O'Loughlin
• 2016 Noah Forrest
• 2015 Kelly Ramzy
• 2014 Paul Entzminger
• 2013 Juno Van Valkenburgh
• 2012 Valerie Chiong
• 2011 Jason Han

ACS Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry

• 2023 Emma Morrow
• 2022 Lily Gunning and Isaac Reinhard
• 2021 Aubrey Michelle Putansu
• 2020 Vanessa Hillary Eng
• 2019 Mitchell S. Law
• 2018 Rochelle Shih
• 2017 Kevin Jones
• 2016 Dylan Nevin
• 2015 Keean Braceros
• 2014 Anna Warden
• 2013 Juno Van Valkenburgh

ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry

• 2023 Erin Hucke
• 2022 Emma Morrow
• 2021 Brytney M. Young
• 2020 Christopher Souheil Elkhal
• 2019 Vanessa Hillary Eng
• 2018 Joey Lippert
• 2017 Rochelle Shih

ACS Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry

• 2023 Enrique Zegarra-Bravo
• 2022 Lily Gunning and Anna Hicks
• 2021 Emma Joy Snodgrass
• 2020 Amanda Yachiyo Beaman
• 2019 Erin E. Faloon

Fall Semesters

• CHM 207 - General Chemistry I
• CHM 277 - General Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 208 - General Chemistry II
• CHM 278 - General Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 325 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHM 375 - Organic Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 326 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHM 376 - Organic Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 314 - Analytical Chemistry
• CHM 379 - Analytical Chemistry Lab
• CHM 331 - Physical Chemistry I
• CHM 373 - Physical Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 444 - Inorganic Chemistry II
• CHM 473 - Inorganic Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 453 - Biochemistry I
• CHM 471 - Biochemistry I Lab
• CHM 468 - Advanced Organic Chemistry (rotating topics and conditional upon availability of instructor)
• CHM 393/493 - Research
• CORE 300 level X courses (rotating topics and conditional upon availability of instructor; examples include Chemistry of Food and Cooking as well as Science and Science Fiction)"

Spring Semesters

• CHM 207 - General Chemistry I
• CHM 277 - General Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 208 - General Chemistry II
• CHM 278 - General Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 325 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHM 375 - Organic Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 326 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHM 376 - Organic Chemistry II Lab
• CHM 332 - Physical Chemistry II
• CHM 372 - Physical Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 344 - Inorganic Chemistry I
• CHM 374 - Inorganic Chemistry I Lab
• CHM 386 - Environmental Chemistry
• CHM 472 - Advanced Instrumental Lab
• CHM 477 - Data Analysis Lab
• CHM 454 - Biochemistry II
• CHM 474 - Biochemistry II Lab
• CHM 468 - Advanced Organic Chemistry (rotating topics and conditional upon availability of instructor)
• CHM 393/493 - Research
• CORE 300 level X courses (rotating topics and conditional upon availability of instructor; examples include Chemistry of Food and Cooking as well as Science and Science Fiction)

Waitlists for spring 2027 will be posted here when needed.

If you have any questions, please contact chemistrychair@up.edu.