Contact Information
Dr. Walter Patton
Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry
There's no secret to our formula: We mix hands-on learning and rigorous coursework to prepare you for success.
Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry
03.30.22
Perfecting the Recipe for SuccessElijah Knauer ’23 knew from a young age that food was a personal passion. Then he discovered food science, a perfect combination of his love of food…
Student Profiles Chemistry03.10.22
Robbie Moul Receives Fulbright Grant to Conduct Research in HungaryRobbie Moul ’22, an ACS chemistry and neuroscience double major, was named a Fulbright Finalist and will conduct research in Hungary.
Student Profiles Chemistry NeuroscienceAlyssa Smale discusses her research on the forensic analysis of nail polish at crime scenes.
If you enjoy investigating how the world works, open the door to exciting careers in the hard sciences with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from LVC. We'll prepare you to become a bench chemist who analyzes data in a lab setting or a researcher who can design and build experiments that tackle questions big and small.
In addition to building a foundation in the principles of chemistry, you'll learn how to think creatively, solve complex problems, and analyze your findings. Our bachelor's degree in chemistry takes you from textbook to lab as you learn how to conduct hands-on experiments and develop an analytical framework for your research questions. In your first semester, you'll put theory into practice by using advanced instrumentation in our advanced Neidig-Garber Science Center.
Work with some of the best practicing chemists in your field of interest by applying for a student-faculty research project or carrying out an extended research project of your own. You may even want to specialize further by earning your degree in a related program, like biochemistry & molecular biology or physics.
Every faculty member in the chemistry department at LVC is an active professional in their field, which means you'll have plenty of opportunities to work side-by-side with practicing chemists who know how to teach effectively.
Our chemistry faculty investigates topics including renewable energy sources, new techniques for pharmaceutical applications, and enzymes that power chemotherapy drugs.
Student-faculty research projects in chemistry include:
The department has received more than $1 million in grant funding from organizations like the National Science Foundation and Merck/AAAS—and you can be part of projects like these.
We want you to choose upper-level courses based on your interests and pursue the self-directed research opportunities that will be most meaningful to your life-long career in chemistry or the hard sciences.
Our alumni do well in their careers with a chemistry degree because they collaborate extensively with LVC faculty on research projects. With support from your mentors, you can conduct independent research on areas like forensic science, biofuel, and early iron deficiency. Present your findings at regional, national, and international scientific meetings, and published in scientific journals like the Journal of Organic Chemistry and Journal of Chemical Education.
Gain additional hands-on experience in chemistry-related careers with our for-credit internship program. Find out what it means to be a bench scientist for a pharmaceutical company, or how chemists develop independent projects and methods of inquiry. You'll leave with a clear set of career goals and real-world experience on your resumé.
LVC has fantastic science professors—they all came from competitive Ph.D. programs, and they pushed me to succeed. It was the one-on-one mentoring and dedication I received from my professors that helped me stand out.
Median pay for chemists and material scientists (2018, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
of LVC chemistry majors go on to graduate or professional study
Expected job growth, 2018-2028 (as fast as average, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry
03.30.22
Perfecting the Recipe for SuccessElijah Knauer ’23 knew from a young age that food was a personal passion. Then he discovered food science, a perfect combination of his love of food…
Student Profiles Chemistry03.10.22
Robbie Moul Receives Fulbright Grant to Conduct Research in HungaryRobbie Moul ’22, an ACS chemistry and neuroscience double major, was named a Fulbright Finalist and will conduct research in Hungary.
Student Profiles Chemistry Neuroscience