Research Group of Maria Oliver-Hoyo

The Department of Chemistry at North Carolina State University offers a Ph.D in Chemistry with an emphasis in Chemical Education. Graduate level studies combine core courses in traditional areas of chemistry with courses in relevant disciplines such as science education and computer science. Graduate students comply with all departmental guidelines including coursework, cumulative exams, graduate presentations, and defense of an original research dissertation. Our unique program targets the design and development of resources for chemistry instruction at all levels. These resources can be chemistry focused, pedagogically focused, and/or technology oriented.

	Marc Muñiz Ph.D. Graduate Student My goals are primarily focused on developing novel experiments in nanochemistry for the undergraduate laboratory. The field of nanochemistry boasts diverse technological applications from circuitry to medical imaging. Given our increasing dependence on the development of such technology, it will be crucial for tomorrow's scientists to be educated in the methods and concepts related to nanochemistry.
	Sorangel Rodriguez-Velazquez Ph.D. Graduate Student My chemical education research interests are focused in the area of electrochemistry, especially investigating the challenges students confront when studying the abstract concepts involved in this topic. I currently work on the development of a teaching model that aims at helping students understand the micro, macro, and symbolic representations of chemistry in order to obtain conceptual understanding of an electrochemical process.
	Holly Schiltz Ph.D. Graduate Student Holly graduated with a BS in Chemistry from Iowa State University in May 2006 and continued on graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she researched dynamic combinatorial chemistry with Dr. Michel Gagné receiving her MS in Chemistry in May 2008. She joined the Chemistry graduate program at NC State in August 2008 and is currently working on developing demonstration instruments to help students visualize abstract concepts encountered in upper level courses. Molecular characterization and vibrational spectroscopy build on students’ understanding of point group symmetries. Physical models of group theory operations will give students new learning methods to apply to their coursework. Activities and questions will be developed to enhance working with these models and assess if new insight into this topic is obtained.

	Dee Dee Allen Ph.D. 2003 “The Development and Assessment of an Active Learning Environment: cAcL₂ Concept Advancement through Chemistry Laboratory-Lecture”
	Zeshan Hasan M.S. 2006 “Evaluation of Immersive Technology for Chemical Education”
	Deborah Bromfield Ph.D. 2009 “Development of Sensorial Experiments and their Implementation into Undergraduate Laboratories”
	Caroline Christian M.S. 2009 “The Development and Validation of a Visual-Spatial Chemistry Specific (VSCS) Assessment Tool” Ph.D. 2010 “Examining Chemistry Students Visual-Perceptual Skills Using the VSCS Tool and Interview Data”

Last updated February 2011