Molly Wilker

(formerly: Beernink)

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Luther College, Department of Chemistry

Office: Sampson Hoffland Labs 390D

Phone: (563) 387-1123

Email: molly.wilker [at] luther.edu

Bio:

I was born and raised in Sioux Center, Iowa and received my B.A. in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2009. I attended the University of Colorado Boulder for my graduate work with Professor Gordana Dukovic and received my Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2015. The title of my Ph.D. thesis was "Charge Transfer Dynamics in Complexes of Light-Absorbing CdS Nanorods and Redox Catalysts". I enjoyed developing my skillset as a materials chemist and learning to mentor and teach undergraduate students.
I began my faculty position at Luther in 2015. My research and teaching interests include physical chemistry, instrumental methods, and inorganic/materials chemistry. I spend my time in the lab collaborating on research projects with undergraduate students centered around nanoscale materials.

Teaching:

Teaching students about the principles of chemistry and how they are expressed to make up the world around us is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. At Luther, I have taught courses across the chemistry curriculum from introductory courses through upper-level physical chemistry classes. In the classroom, I work to engage my students in the science of chemistry by using clicker technology, peer instruction, group problem solving, and independent projects.

Courses Taught at Luther College:

CHEM 114: The Environment: A Chemical Perspective

CHEM 151: Chemical Principles I

CHEM 152: Chemical Principles II

CHEM 361: Physical Chemistry

CHEM 362: Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics

CHEM 363: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy

CHEM 365: Instrumental Methods Laboratory

CHEM 366: Physical Chemistry Laboratory

CHEM 379: Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory

CHEM 490: Chemistry Senior Project

INTS 130: Scholars Colloquium