Our faculty are not only seasoned educators and researchers but also committed mentors dedicated to your success. How committed? They will integrate you into their cutting-edge research projects and work closely with you to help you achieve your post-graduation aspirations, ensuring you gain invaluable experience and personalized education throughout your academic journey.
Marco Bisoffi
Associate Professor, Associate Program Director
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.
Elaine Benaksas-Schwartz
Associate Professor, Senior Assistant Dean of External Relations
Organic Chemistry
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
Molecular Biology
bonne@chapman.edu
Dr. Bonne is a molecular biologist who specializes in virology, biochemistry and laboratory instruction. His teaching interests include Socratic teaching methodologies that promote active learning and communication skills.
Warren de Bruyn
Professor
Analytical Chemistry
debruyn@chapman.edu
Dr. de Bruyn is an analytical and physical chemist who specializes in atmospheric chemistry, the oxidative capacity of the troposphereand global climate change.
Houston Cole
Instructional Assistant Professor
Organic Chemistry
hocole@chapman.edu
Dr. Cole is a medicinal chemist who specializes in synthesizing light activated anti-cancer compounds.
Daniel Dries
Assistant Professor
Biochemistry, Chemistry Education
ddries@chapman.edu
Dr. Dries (pronounced “Dreez”) is a chemistry education researcher who specializes in using student feedback to provide more effective learning environments. Interests include student motivation, STEM identity, autonomy (becoming a self-directed learner), curiosity, and assessment.
Vincent Esposito
Assistant Professor
Computational Chemistry
vesposito@chapman.edu
Dr. Esposito specializes in spectroscopy and reactions of atmospheric and astronomical molecules.
Nadia Hirbawi
Instructional Assistant Professor
Organic Chemistry
hirbawi@chapman.edu
Dr. Hirbawi is an organic chemist who specializes in using transition metal catalysis for cross-coupling and cross-electrophile coupling reactions. She is focused on teaching organic chemistry lecture and lab courses.
Molla Islam
Instructional Assistant Professor
Polymer and Materials Chemistry
islam@chapman.edu
Dr. Islam specializes in self-assembly, molecular recognition, surface chemistry, hydrogels, bioconjugation, sensing and nanomaterials.
Matthew Gartner
Associate Professor
Analytical Chemistry
gartner@chapman.edu
Dr. Gartner is an analytical chemist with a particular interest in atmospheric chemistry. He is passionate about making chemistry lab and lecture courses engaging to students from all backgrounds. He is the general chemistry lab coordinator.
Christopher Kim
Professor, Interim Dean
cskim@chapman.edu
Dr. Kim specializes in the environmental impacts of metal contamination in areas including mine-impacted regions, contaminated waters, and urban-wildfire interfaces.
Jerry L. LaRue
Associate Professor, Program Director
Physical Chemistry
larue@chapman.edu
Dr. LaRue specializes in using spectroscopic techniques (light) to observe and control the fundamental molecular interactions that occur during chemical reactions on the surfaces of metal catalysts.
Cecilia Lopez
Assistant Professor
Biochemistry
ceclopez@chapman.edu
Dr. Lopez's research interests include cell signaling and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs).
Andrew Lyon
Professor, Founding Dean of the Fowler School of Engineering
Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoscience, Regenerative Medicine, Bioengineering
lyon@chapman.edu
Dr. Lyon is a materials and physical chemist who specializes in microgels, hydrogels, extracellular matrix, colloid chemistry, nanomaterials and regenerative medicine.
Magy A. Mekhail
Assistant Professor
Synthetic Chemistry
mekhail@chapman.edu
Dr. Mekhail focuses on the design of inorganic catalysts to tackle pressing environmental challenges, including the development of earth-abundant metal complexes with tailored ligands for sustainable hydrogenation and cobalt-based electrocatalysts for the targeted degradation of PFAS through C–F bond activation.
Nataliya Markina
Instructional Assistant Professor
Organic Chemistry
markina@chapman.edu
Dr. Markina specializes in developing aryne-mediated and metal-catalyzed methodologies for the synthesis of small heterocyclic molecules. She is teaching and coordinating organic chemistry laboratory courses.
John Miklavcic
Assistant Professor
Nutritional Pharmacology
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.
Cedric P. Owens
Assistant Professor
Physical Biochemistry
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.
Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith
Associate Professor
Molecular Biology
rowlandg@chapman.edu
Dr. Rowland-Goldsmith is a molecular biologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer and experimental therapeutics.
Yiran (Ella) Wang
Instructional Assistant Professor
Inorganic Chemistry
yirawang@chapman.edu
Dr. Wang specializes in crystallography, solid-state chemistry, synthetic chemistry for developing functional materials for electronic application and laser technology.
Our program is proudly accredited by both the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), ensuring a rigorous and comprehensive education. We have active, student-led chapters of these prestigious organizations that collaborate closely with the program, offering students enriched opportunities for professional development, research, and community engagement.
Schmid College of Science and Technology offers a wide variety of other STEM-focused clubs and organizations. Throughout the year, they host exciting events, such as tie-dyeing lab coats and making nitrogen ice cream — creating fun, hands-on experiences that bring science and community together. You can explore some of the most popular options on our STEM student organizations page, including:
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.
Chapman is located at the heart of Orange County’s thriving medical and scientific community. That makes us a great place to find internships with organizations like:
Plus, you'll be able to get career guidance for life at our Career Center. We have all the resources you need to network and explore your career options in Chemistry, and you can stop by any time.
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.
Earn your master's degree with just one additional year of study in our accelerated
(4+1) programs:
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!
You can explore all of Chapman's undergraduate majors and minors with our program finder.
GCI is a unique two-year research project that lets you get involved in research your
first year at Chapman.
With over 25 collaborative labs and cutting-edge research instrumentation, our Keck Center for Science and Engineering has the tools you need to succeed.
We're one of 12 institutions in the U.S. to offer the Beckman Scholars Program, a research experience and scholarship for aspiring scientists.
Our accreditation from ACS validates the quality of Chapman’s chemistry education and distinguishes our graduates with employers and graduate programs.
