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Spring 2026 Seminar Series
Leading chemistry and biochemistry researchers present their new discoveries from 5:00-5:50PM. These events are free and open to the public. Students from all disciplines are highly recommended to attend and participate.
Questions? Contact Dr. Ezequiel Vidal, Assistant Professor, in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
- Thursday, February 6
Seminar Title: Green Chemistry as a Tool to Transform the Petrochemical Industry
This seminar will present how Green Chemistry principles can be applied to develop real and scalable alternatives to petrochemical solvents through the design of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES). Using as an industrial case study, the speakers will highlight how fundamental chemistry can be translated into market-ready solutions with applications in cosmetics, personal care, agriculture, and materials.
For those interested, the seminar will also be streamed in person at SBSB 3125, and pizza will be provided for attendees joining in person.
IN PERSON: SBSB 3125
- Thursday, February 19
Seminar Title: TBA
Dr. Lucas Ayres
- Thursday, March 12
Seminar title: TBA
Dr. Sarah Narehood
- Thursday, April 9
Seminar title: TBA
Dr. Desirae Mellor, University of California San Diego
Super Stem Saturday
Get involved and volunteer at one of our booths! is held the second Saturday in the month of March and is part of the . This event is free and open to the public. Look for announcements regarding hosting a booth or volunteering.
Department Awards for AY 2024/25
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry proudly recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, commitment to the discipline, and potential for future success in the sciences. Awards are given annually to honor excellence in scholarship and service within our department.
- Steven C. Welch Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry and Biochemistry
This award is presented annually to a graduating Chemistry and/or Biochemistry major who exhibits exceptional academic performance and a clear dedication to the field. Selection is based on the student’s overall GPA, GPA in the major, and alignment of future goals with the mission of the department.
The award is named in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Steven C. Welch, a distinguished chemist and dedicated educator whose legacy continues to shape the department. Dr. Welch was known for his rigorous standards, innovative research, and deep commitment to student learning and success.
Each recipient of the Steven C. Welch Outstanding Graduate Award receives $500 in recognition of their achievement, and students do not need to be nominated to receive the award. Tenure track faculty members will form an award committee in Spring to determine the awardee of the year.
2025 Awardees: Sean Blythe (Chemistry) and Eliza Capitulo (Biochemistry)
- Outstanding Senior
This award is given to the student who has shown the best overall performance as a Chemistry or Biochemistry major. Students are selected based on their overall GPA.
2025 Awardee: Ashleigh Fischer (Biochemistry)
2024 Awardee: Savannah Benton (Chemistry)
2024 Awardee: Rebeka Alexander (Biochemistry)
2024 Awardee: Joshua Welden (Biochemistry)
2023 Awardee:
2021 Awardee: Amanda Melanese (Chemistry)
2021 Awardee: Kaylee Shoemaker (Biochemistry)
2021 Awardee: Diego Orea (Biochemistry)
2022 Awardee: Madison Wagner (Chemistry)
2019 Awardee: Maria Vidaca (Chemistry)
2019 Awardee: Omar Apolinar (Biochemistry)
2018 Awardee: James Oakley (Chemistry)
2018 Awardee: Benjamin Harless (Biochemistry)
2017 Awardee: Daniel Geiszler (Chemistry)
2017 Awardee: Angelica Orlova (Biochemistry)
2017 Awardee: Judith Flores (Biochemistry)
2016 Awardee: Stephen Heywood (Chemistry)
2016 Awardee: Evan Myers (Biochemistry)
2015 Awardee: Matthew Kromer (Chemistry)
2015 Awardee: Janice Ott (Biochemistry)
2014 Awardee: Robert Terrill (Chemistry)
2014 Awardee: Samantha Beasley (Biochemistry)
2013 Awardee: Ron Reiter (Chemistry)
2013 Awardee: Shaddi Habib (Biochemistry)
2012 Awardee: Andrew Pinkard (Chemistry)
2012 Awardee: Alexandra Porobic (Biochemistry)
2011 Awardee: Geoffrey Piland (Chemistry)
2011 Awardee: Silas Gyimah (Biochemistry)
2010 Awardee: Valerie Nichols (Chemistry)
2010 Awardee: Nyambura Kihagi (Biochemistry)
2009 Awardee: Ben Shen (Chemistry)
2009 Awardee: Dan Fox (Biochemistry)
2008 Awardee: Steve George (Chemistry)
2008 Awardee: Jerry Sima (Biochemistry)
2007 Awardee: Shinobu Hagio - Sub-Discipline Specific Awards in analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry
Awards in analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistry are granted to students who demonstrate outstanding performance in the corresponding courses—CHEM 275, CHEM 201/202, and CHEM 404. Selection is based on course grades and/or results on the American Chemical Society (ACS) standardized exams. When multiple students meet these criteria, additional considerations such as future career goals may be used to determine the recipient. For physical chemistry, the award is based primarily on a student’s overall performance in CHEM 401, 402, and 405. ACS exam results in physical chemistry may also be considered as part of the evaluation.
Outstanding Student in Inorganic Chemistry
2025 Awardee: Nandin Bat-Erdene (Biochemistry)
2024 Awardee: Kathleen Nguyen
2023 Awardee: Andre Dominguez
2022 Awardee: Jason Victor
2021 Awardee: Jacob Schwab
2020 Awardee:
2019 Awardee: Atticus Salmon
2018 Awardee: James Oakley
2017 Awardee: Angelica Orlova
2016 Awardee: Donald Buckley
2015 Awardee: Matthew Kromer
2014 Awardee: Samantha Beasley
2013 Awardee: Daniel Evert
2012 Awardee: Andrew Pinkard
2011 Awardee: Geoffrey Piland
2010 Awardee: Valerie Nichols
Outstanding Student in Organic Chemistry
2025 Awardees: Sebastian Aguero (Chemistry) and Santana Rodriguez (Chemistry)
2024 Awardee: Eliza Capitulo
2023 Awardee:
2022 Awardee: Madison Wagner
2021 Awardee: Diego Orea
2020 Awardee:
2019 Awardee: Omar Apolinar
2018 Awardee: James Oakley
2017 Awardee: Angelica Orlova
2016 Awardee: Jessica Maynard
2015 Awardee: Michelle Salem
2014 Awardee: Zachary CruzOutstanding Student in Analytical Chemistry
2025 Awardee: Marcos Arrioja (Biochemistry)
2024 Awardee: Kyler Magnuson
2023 Awardee:
2022 Awardee: Maryann Aldawaf
2021 Awardee:
2020 Awardee:
2019 Awardee: Omar Apolinar
2018 Awardee: Taylor Otoski
2017 Awardee: Angelica Orlova
2016 Awardee: Donald Buckley
2015 Awardee: Matthew Kromer
2014 Awardee: Dylan Kimball
2013 Awardee: Jamie Do
2012 Awardee: Andrew Pinkard
2011 Awardee: David Hoang
2010 Awardee: Geoffrey PilandMari A. Smith Outstanding Student in Physical Chemistry
2025 Awardee: Kyler Magnuson (Chemistry)
2024 Awardee: Savannah Benton
2023 Awardee:
2022 Awardee: Madison Wagner
2021 Awardee: Jason Victor
2020 Awardee:
2019 Awardee: Atticus Salmon
2018 Awardee: James Oakley
2017 Awardee: Angelica Orlova
2016 Awardee: Lina Ahlberg
2015 Awardee: Elizabeth Christensen
2014 Awardee: Robert Terrill - Outstanding Student in Undergraduate Research
This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional performance in their research activities. Preference is given to students graduating at the end of the academic year in which the award is presented. Students graduating in the following fall semester may also be considered if they are completing their independent study project during the award year. Recipients are selected based on the recommendation of their research mentor.
2025 Awardees: Martin Burgess (Chemistry), Kathleen Nguyen (Biochemistry), and Carina Valencia (Biochemistry)
2024 Awardee: Chloe Spears
2023 Awardee:
2022 Awardee: Madison Wagner
2021 Awardee: Kaylee Shoemaker and Dani Rhodea
2020 Awardee:
2019 Awardee: Jolynn Woodtle
2018 Awardees: Desirae Mellar, Kathleen Moorman
2017 Awardee: Cristofer Thompson
2016 Awardee: Anneke Bulthuis
2015 Awardee: Lizbeth Reyes
2014 Awardee: Kevin Weinberger
2013 Awardee: Michael Fazio
2012 Awardee: Jehovani Lopez
2011 Awardee: Ned Imming
2010 Awardee: Matthew Eagan
2009 Awardee: Kathryn Bywaters
2008 Awardee: Nayanna Hage
2007 Awardee: Arvin Tahami - Outstanding Faculty-Student Collaboration
The Outstanding Faculty-Student Collaboration Award honors a tenure-track faculty member and a student from each department in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for achievement in collaboration on a project related to research and/or teaching.  CSTEM prides itself on active student research and the teacher-scholar model. This award will showcase how closely our faculty work together with our students on innovative projects, while helping our students learn and grow from the experience. 
2025 Awardees: Dr. Ezequiel Vidal and Kyler Magnuson (Chemistry)
2024 Awardees: Dr. Kambiz Hamadani and Andre Dominguez (Biochemistry)
2023 Awardees: Dr. Robert Iafe and Gabrielle Martinez (Chemistry)
2022 Awardees: Dr. Paul Jasien and Jason Victor (Chemistry)
2021 Awardees: Dr. Robert Iafe and Amanda Melanese (Chemistry)
2020 Awardees: Dr. Afra Panahi and Brandon Bogart (Biochemistry)
2019 Awardees: Dr. Robert Iafe and Omar Apolinar (Chemistry)
2018 Awardees: Dr. Sajith Jayasinghe and Isamar Aranda (Biochemistry)
2017 Awardees: Dr. Kambiz Hamadani and Jesse Howe (Biochemistry)
2016 Awardees: Dr. Robert Iafe and Gloria Diaz (Chemistry)
2015 Awardees: Dr. Karno Ng and Tyler Jackson (Chemistry)
2014 Awardees: Dr. Paul Jasien and Robert Terrill (Chemistry)
2013 Awardees: Dr. Michael Schmidt, Timothy Baker and Ron Reiter (Chemistry) - Molsoft Award
The Molsoft Computational Science Award recognizes a student who has meaningfully incorporated computation into their research projects or advanced coursework within the department. By providing free software licensing, Molsoft empowers recipients to pursue projects and research opportunities that will enhance their academic and professional development.
2025 Awardee: Santana Rodriguez (Chemistry)
2020 Awardee: Brandon Bogart - CSTEM Dean’s Outstanding Graduate Award
The Dean’s Outstanding Graduate Award in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics is given to a graduating student who exemplifies the core values of research, creative activities and commitment to discovery. The student has not only demonstrated academic excellence, but has also shown a strong record of service to the college, the university and the surrounding community.
2025 Awardee: Maya Qaddourah (Biochemistry)
2020 Awardee: Madison Wagner (Chemistry)
CSTEM Research & Design Showcase -
Friday, May 1, 2026
CSTEM hosts an annual Research & Design Showcase that includes poster sessions, oral presentations, capstone projects, and senior projects from all disciplines. Hosted in May prior to Commencement, the Showcase and Award Recognition Ceremony is an opportunity for Chemistry & Biochemistry students to share their current research and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating seniors.