Teaching
Project
Alex intends to improve student learning by effectively
drawing fundamental organic chemistry concepts together that are
often isolated in text books. This linking of concepts is
aimed at showing students the 'big picture' rather than
compartmentalizing information as so many text books are prone to
do. Alex would like to experiment with different
technologies to find the most successful way to implement his
ideas. Finally, he would like to actively engage in the
teaching community to improve his skills as an instructor.
Biography
Alex obtained his Ph.D. in liquid crystal chemistry at
The University of Hull (UK) in 1995. After his graduate
studies, Alex took a three-year EPSRC funded postdoctoral research
position at The University of Hull; the topic of this research was
'frustrated liquid crystals'. In the fall of 1996, he moved
to Kent State University where he took up a position as assistant
professor of organic chemistry. His research interests
currently include: synthesis and evaluation of ferroelectric
liquid crystals, synthesis of high chirality materials for
cholesteric display applications, and new heterocyclic synthetic
methodology. Alex teaches undergraduate second semester
organic chemistry lecture and laboratory. Six of the
undergraduates that he has taught have subsequently carried out
individual investigative research in his laboratory. In
addition, he also teaches liquid crystal synthesis at a graduate
level. In Alex's spare time, he enjoys playing soccer,
badminton, cycling, and reading (especially the British author
Terry Pratchett).
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