Chemistry at St. Olaf
Welcome to the St. Olaf College Chemistry Department! The Chemistry Department offers courses in the traditional major areas of chemistry, as well as in interdisciplinary areas, such as biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, environmental chemistry and organometallic chemistry. Additionally, the department has an active summer research program, in which faculty and undergraduate researchers work together to investigate problems of current interest. St. Olaf graduates 40-45 chemistry majors each year and traditionally ranks in the top three four-year colleges. Between 1994-2003 St. Olaf College ranked 4 th as the baccalaureate origin of Ph.D. Chemists. In the last 5 years have received grants totaling $3,500,000 to support instrument acquisition, curriculum development and research initiatives. We are located in the brand new Regents Hall of Natural Science.
St. Olaf College Awarded another National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) Grant
The Chemistry Department’s $600,000 project “Providing Support Structures for Chemistry Majors” will begin in the 2008-09 academic year. This recognition gives St. Olaf College the distinction of having three funded S-STEM grants. Chemistry joins the funded S-STEM projects in the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science and Biology Departments.
The Chemistry grant, co-written by Mary Walczak (Associate Professor and Chair of Chemistry), Doug Beussman ’92 (Associate Professor of Chemistry) and Kathy Glampe ’92 (Director of St. Olaf Student Support Services) is designed to support students throughout their undergraduate chemistry education as excellent preparation for meaningful scientific careers . To qualify for PSSCM scholarships, students must demonstrate significant financial need and show promise for success in chemistry. An application process will be established during the fall semester, with initial awards expected mid-year.
