The field of chemistry is unique in that it is the scientific link that binds other important fields—such as biology, physics, and geology together. The current model of atomic structure is the quantum mechanical model. Traditional chemistry starts with the study of elementary particles, atoms, molecules, substances, metals, crystals and other aggregates of matter. This matter can be studied in solid, liquid, or gas states, in isolation or in combination. The interactions, reactions and transformations that are studied in chemistry are usually the result of interactions between atoms, leading to rearrangements of the chemical bonds which hold atoms together. Such behaviors are studied in a chemistry laboratory.
The mission of the Department of Chemistry, as a member of the College of Letters & Sciences, is to:
As a science department, we regard our mission to include:
As a department of chemistry, we are committed to providing:
Facilities
Upham Hall has just undergone a $40-million renovation and is now one of the University’s premier learning facilities. This building, completed in Fall 2006, houses new research laboratories and faculty offices and features four 60-seat classrooms, one 108-seat lecture hall, one 185-seat lecture hall, well equipped multimedia classrooms, modern research laboratories, a second floor consisting mostly of chemistry labs with new fume hoods and demonstration benches, and 34,000 square feet of new space. The small size of the chemistry department allows students direct, hands-on access to all department instrumentation, including:
The Department has the following state of the art instruments: a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) an electron spin resonance spectrometer (ESR), a Fourier Transform-infrared spectrometer (FTIR), a diode array UV-Visible spectrophotometer and a fluorescence spectrophotometer, which are used to probe the nature of molecules prepared by students in various chemistry student laboratories. Additionally, the department also has an atomic absorption spectrometer and an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP) which can be used to determine the concentrations of most elements in up to ppm or ppb levels.
Furthermore, the department also possesses a gas chromatograph (GC) and a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC), which are used to separate and characterize chemicals in complex mixtures. The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) housed in the department is composed of two major building blocks: a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer. These two components, used together, allow a much finer degree of substance identification than either unit used separately.
The department is capable of conducting thermal analysis as well using its sophisticated differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), which can be used to measure a number of characteristic thermal properties of a sample.
All these instruments are coupled with computers that allow sophisticated data acquisition and manipulation.
Finally, the department has a number of minor instruments or equipment: an electrochemical analyzer to study the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of a compound, parallel reactors to carry out many reactions at a very fast pace; a polarimeter to measure optical rotation of optically active matter, a tube furnace to conduct syntheses and purifications of inorganic compounds, a bomb calorimeter to measure the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes as well as heat capacity and a magnetic balance to measure magnetic susceptibility.
John W Ejnik
Associate Professor, Associate Professor (Sv)
Department(s): Chemistry
Upham Hall 220A |
(262) 472-1083
Steven N Girard
Associate Professor, Associate Professor (Ss)
Department(s): Chemistry
Upham Hall 263 |
(262) 472-1096
Internship Coordinator: Dr. Kim Naber
To apply for the following scholarships, please go to the UW-W scholarships page.
Goldwater Scholarship
Looking for a Chemistry faculty member to do research with? Check out some examples below! Also, click on an individual name to get more information, see pictures, and read student testimonials!
Jessica L Bonjour -
John W Ejnik- Dr. Ejnik earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1991. His dissertation topic was entitled “Formation and Reactivity of Metallothionein in Metal and Ligand Substitution Reactions”. For the next six years he served as an officer for the United States Navy. His service with the Navy includes being a Radiobiology Research Chemist at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland; a Production Manager at the Navy Drug Screening Laboratory in Great Lakes, Illinois; and a Research Chemist at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington DC. Dr. Ejnik then joined Northern Michigan University where he taught analytical, instrumental, general, forensic, and biochemical courses for five years. He then joined the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he continues to teach analytical chemistry courses, serves as program coordinator for the Integrated Science and Business program and serves as the Chair for the Chemistry Department. Dr. Ejnik’s research interest includes analytical chemistry involving trace metal analysis in a wide variety of fields. Primary research is done in the area of biological inorganic chemistry involving transition metals, heavy metals and metal speciation interactions with proteins and small organic molecules. However, research also includes trace metal analysis in the fields of geology, environmental science, forensic science and toxicology.
Steven N Girard - Steven N. Girard, a native of Fairfax Station, Virginia, earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry and Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. His research interests include nanostructured thermoelectric materials, sustainable synthesis of inorganic and nanostructured compounds, and flux chemistry. He was hired as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UW-Whitewater in 2014.
Marsha L Goodell-
Baocheng Han - Research in the fields of (1) metalloporphyrins, which are the model compounds for biological molecules (2) dimetal complexes, and (3) electrocatalytic dechlorination, including (a) synthesize: to make the compounds of interest and then isolate and purify the compounds. (b). characterize the compounds: using spectroscopy techniques such as IR, UV-Vis, NMR, ESR, MS, single crystal diffraction, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry, etc. to identify the compounds. (c) study the properties of the compounds.
Paul G House- Paul House is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department of UW-Whitewater. He received a B.A. in chemistry from Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI) and a M.S. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). His graduate work focused on the kinetics and thermodynamics of a group of inorganic molecules involved in catalysis of alkene addition. After graduate school he worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, TX) with a molecular biologist on the structure and enzymolgy of a DNA repair enzyme.
Hephzibah J Kumpaty -
Kimberly K Naber-
Hassimi Traore -
Christopher T Veldkamp - Christopher Veldkamp, Ph.D., is a Professor of Chemistry. Besides teaching, Dr. Veldkamp does research alongside undergraduate students, many of which have become coauthors on peer-reviewed publications in numerous scientific journals. Dr. Veldkamp completed his Ph.D. at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in the lab of Dr. Brian Volkman. There Dr. Veldkamp studied protein chemistry, structural biology, and cancer metastasis ultimately generating patents that helped Dr. Volkman start two companies. Dr. Veldkamp was also a visiting student at The Rockefeller University in the lab of Dr. Thomas Sakmar. Immediately prior to coming to UW-Whitewater, Dr. Veldkamp worked as a postdoctoral fellow supported by the American Cancer Society.
View Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=veldkamp+ct&sort=date
Milwaukee School of Engineering | Masters Degree |
St. Anthony School of Nursing | |
University of Nebraska Medical School | |
Syracuse University | Doctorate |
UW Milwaukee | PhD Student |
UW Madison School of Pharmacy | |
Medical College of Wisconsin | Graduate Researcher |
City College of New York | PhD Student |
Florida Atlantic University | Graduate Teaching Assistant |
UW Milwaukee | Graduate Teaching Assistant |
UW Milwaukee | PhD Student |
Air Products & Chemicals | Process R & D Technician |
Pfizer-Hospira | Laboratory Trainer |
Schenck Process LLC | Test Lab Technician |
Bard | Regulatory Compliance Associate |
Exacto | Quality Control Chemist |
Millipore Sigma | Scientist, Production Associate SAFC QC Chemist Chemist Chemist I Associate Production Chemist |
Kleen Test Products Corp | Analytical Chemist |
Weil Foot ankle & orthopedic Institute | Medical Assistant |
Sartori Co. - food | R & D Food Technologist |
Badger State Ethanol | Lab Manager & Chemist |
Appvion Inc | Senior Process Engineer |
Evonick | Chemist |
PPD | Scientist |
Polynt Group | Research & Development Synthesis Chemist |
Wixon - Food | Quality Control Inspector |
Aurora West Allis Med Ctr | Pharmacy Technician |
Watertown High School | Science Teacher |
Badger High School | Chemistry Teacher |
Abitec Corporation | Quality Control Technician |
Kerry Ingredients | Quality Assurance Lab Technician Regulatory Scientist RD&A |
Covance | Analytical Chemist |
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals | Quality Technician |
PPD-Pharmaceutical Product Develop. | Quality Assurance |
Geneva Laboratories | Chemistry Analyst |
Eurofins SF Analytical Labs | Environmental Chemist |
Medline Industries | Lab Technician |
Abbvie | Chemist I |
Walgreens | Pharmacy Technician |
Petron Corp | Lab Technician |
Ventura Foods | Lab Technician |
Patriot Environmental Services | Field Chemist |
CaP Biomaterials LLC | Production Technician |
Epic Resins | Lab Technician |
Because chemistry is primarily a practical experimental science requiring well developed laboratory and problem-solving skills, many graduates find employment in the multi-faceted chemical industry conducting applied research. For example, an industrial chemist might be working in the field of:
Many industrial chemists are working in the field of basic research, using the tools of theoretical chemistry. Large numbers of chemists are also employed in academic and government labs conducting both applied and basic research. Chemistry is a strong training component for those planning careers in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, pharmacology, or medical technology.