Faculty Members
Faculty Membership
AMSEC's faculty associates include nationally recognized experts in a wide range of disciplines and research areas.
Faculty members are nominated and selected for four-year terms.
Current Membership
Ying Bao
![Ying Bao in a black shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/BAO_Ying.jpg?itok=AO3JZbP0)
Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry
Research Area: Synthesis and surface modification of nanoparticles.
Robert Berger
![Rob Berger in button-down shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/BERGER_Rob.jpg?itok=yQ5b2KN7)
Associate Professor of Computational Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry
Research Area: Using computation to design and understand the structural and electronic properties of novel metal oxide materials.
Asmaa Boujibar
![Asmaa Boujibar](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-01/Asmaa%20Boujiba.jpg?itok=8af0JLKc)
Assistant Professor of Planetary Science
Research Area: The formation of terrestrial planets in our Solar System and beyond.
Mark Bussell
![Mark Bussell in a blue gingham shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/BUSSELL_Mark.jpg?itok=tz0qhbKS)
Professor of Physical & Materials Chemistry
Research Area: Surface and materials chemistry, with an emphasis on the development of new heterogeneous catalysts for the production of clean fuels.
Susan DeBari
![Susan DeBari wearing a hard hat and bright orange jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/DEBARI_Susan.jpg?itok=gKuC039y)
Professor of Geology
Research Area: Use of crystal chemistry and growth zoning patterns to interpret magma origins, storage conditions, and eruption processes.
Steven Emory
![Steven Emory in a white shirt, tie, and red sweater](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/EMORY_Steve.jpg?itok=KJ1B-gGc)
Professor of Analytical Chemistry & Director of Scientific Technical Services
Research Area: Characterization and use of novel metal and semiconductor nanomaterials in the development of new ultrasensitive chemical methods of detection and identification.
Milton From
![Milton From in a light blue, button-down shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/FROM_Milton.jpg?itok=am6F05rS)
Associate Professor of Physics
Research Area: Magnetic and optical properties of thin films.
Peng Gao
![Photo of Peng Gao wearing sunglasses and headphones with body of water in background.](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-12/Gao%2C%20Peng.jpg?itok=JKVLglqR)
Assistant Professor of Engineering and Design
Research Area: Performances of bio-based polymer materials; Innovation in Injection Molding Processes and Control Methods; Morphology and Crystallization of Polymer Materials; Upcycling of Plastic Secondary Feedstocks; Manufacturing of Micro- and Nano-scale Surface Features; Performance Enhancements for 3D Printed Products
John Gilbertson
![John Gilbertson in black rimmed glasses wearing argyle sweater](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/GILBERTSON_John.jpg?itok=LUTgGk59)
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Research Area: Scientific problems dealing with global climate change and CO2 utilization.
Deborah Glosser
![Deborah Glosser](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-01/Glosser%20D_1.jpg?itok=s6sIM2H0)
Assistant Professor of Engineering
Research Area: Thermodynamics of materials, heat transfer, sustainable cement
Nicole Hoekstra
![Nicole Hoekstra in glasses wearing blue polo](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/HOEKSTRA_Nicole.jpg?itok=cMtzGFXL)
Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering
Research Area: Polymer product design and manufacturing, polymer analysis.
Alia Khan
![Photo of Alia Khan wearing sunglasses and winter gear with snowy terrain in background.](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-12/Khan%2C%20Alia.jpg?itok=2yiYQAGb)
Associate Professor of Environmental Science
Research Area: Biogeochemistry; hydrochemistry; black carbon and light absorbing aerosols; snow algae; snow/ice albedo; spectral geophysics; carbon cycling in polar and alpine environments; snow and glacial hydrology; climate impacts
Tim Kowalczyk
![Tim Kowalczyk wearing a gray shirt and khaki jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/KOWALCZYK_Tim.png?itok=xyH7WgWh)
Associate Professor of Physical and Computational Chemistry
Research Area: Organic materials that combine light-absorbing and electrically conducting components in a single package.
Mike Larsen
![Mike Larsen in a pale blue button-down shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/LARSEN_Michael.jpg?itok=TGeWvPZW)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Research Area: Molecular structure of polymers to enable new applications.
Nicole Larson
![Nicole Larson wearing grey cowl neck sweater](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/LARSON_Nicole.png?itok=4j9IhmTY)
Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering
Research Area: New product development and testing.
Janelle Leger
![Janelle Leger Headshot](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-01/janelle_leger_061422_02854.jpg?itok=IY7PQZes)
Dean, College of Science & Engineering and Professor of Physics
Research Area: Organic and hybrid materials for electronic and optoelectronic devices including light-emitting diodes, solar cells, memory cells, and transistors.
Stephen McDowall
![Stephen McDowall wearing sunglasses](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2020-11/MCDOWALL_Stephen_300x300_0.jpg?itok=5aJVyQ3k)
Professor of Mathematics
Research Area: Inverse problems in partial differential equations.
G McGrew
![G McGrew in a gray beret and red collared shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/McGREW_G.jpg?itok=VqOmU6sM)
Instructor of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Science
Research Area: Organometallic chemistry; catalysis; behavior of asymmetric organolithium compounds; chemistry education
John Misasi
![John Misasi wearing dark jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/MISASI_John.jpg?itok=KBPV-B2T)
Associate Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering
Research Area: Scalable synthesis of recyclable thermosetting polymers for composite matrices, with a focus on understanding network material properties and degradation pathways and products.
Sean Mulcahy
![Sean Mulcahy wearing red plaid shirt and hat with sunglasses on bill](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/MULCAHY_Sean.jpg?itok=0vqkXg1V)
Associate Professor of Geology
Research Area: Mineral chemistry and geochronology to understand how plate boundaries and mountain belts form and evolve.
Amanda Murphy
![Amanda Murphy wearing glasses, necklace, and blue sweater](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2021-09/Murphy_Amanda_2014_0.jpg?itok=yTSnTXz-)
Director, Professor of Materials & Organic Chemistry
Research Area: Broadly interested in tailoring the molecular structure of conjugated organic polymers in order to control the fundamental properties of the bulk materials.
Gregory O'Neil
![Photo of Gregory O'Neil in blue open-collar shirt and dark V-neck sweater.](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-12/ONeil%2C%20Gregory.jpg?itok=kHOp43-o)
Professor of Organic Chemistry
Research Area: Enantioselective synthesis of biologically and environmentally compelling natural products that includes development and target-oriented synthesis projects; algal biofuel-related research.
David Patrick
![David Patrick wearing dark suit jacket, light shirt, and tie](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/PATRICK_DAVID.jpg?itok=7Zl8ectZ)
Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School & Professor of Chemistry
Research Area: Surface and materials chemistry, ordered molecular systems, and organic thin films.
Mark Peyron
![Mark Peyron sitting on a rock, snow in background, wearing blue hat, red jacket, dark olive pants and hiking boots](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/PEYRON_Mark.png?itok=RXn8AmwR)
Associate Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering
Research Area: Potentially biodegradable polymers and identifying methods for assessing the extent of degradation (based upon changes in mechanical properties, polymer chain length and composition, etc.) as well as developing new polymers capable of more readily decaying in soil, composting, and marine environments.
Armin Rahmani
![Armin Rahmani in a white sweater and pale blue shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/RAHMANI_Armin.png?itok=9DoAfsGI)
Associate Professor of Physics
Research Area: Theoretical quantum condensed matter physics and quantum information processing.
Melissa Rice
![Melissa Rice in a khaki colored jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/RICE_Melissa.png?itok=EEEyG263)
Associate Professor of Geology & Physics
Research Area: Planetary geology, remote sensing, robotic space exploration.
David Rider
![David Rider in a gingham shirt and black jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/RIDER_David.jpg?itok=smQhD1G3)
Professor of Materials Chemistry and Engineering & Design
Research Area: The design, synthesis and self-assembly of organic and inorganic semiconductors for applications in nanotechnology and materials science.
Andreas Riemann
![Andreas Riemann wearing wire rimmed glasses and a collard shirt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/RIEMANN_Andreas.jpg?itok=pxeMEjyx)
Professor of Physics
Research Area: Fabrication and characterization of nanostructures and ultrathin films on surfaces.
Mai Sas
![Mai Sas wearing a red jacket with yellow zippers](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/SAS_Mai.jpg?itok=Lau7BlKb)
Geochemistry Research Associate
Research Area: Volcanic rock microanalysis to decipher magma origins. LA-ICP-MS specialist.
Margaret Scheuermann
![Photo of Margaret Scheuermann wearing glasses and black round-neck sweater.](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2023-12/Scheuermann%2C%20Margaret.jpg?itok=mXDjCuc9)
Associate Professor of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
Research Area: Organometallic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, synthesis, characterization, reactivity, mechanism, catalysis.
Takele Seda
![Takele Seda wearing green shirt with light colored sweater](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/SEDA_Takele.jpg?itok=I5xj_mGN)
Professor of Physics
Research Area: Magnetic and electronic properties of iron bearing materials and minerals.
Peter M.A. Sherwood
![Peter Sherwood in a light blue collared shirt and black tie](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/SHERWOOD_Peter.jpg?itok=Ukjtq1Wn)
Affiliate Professor of Chemistry & Physics
Research Area: Surface analysis (especially X ray photoelectron spectroscopy) of materials with a particular interest in electrode surfaces, corrosion systems, and carbon fiber and composite surfaces.
Ruth Sofield
![Ruth Sofield wearing glasses, scarf and dark colored jacket](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/SOFIELD_Ruth.jpg?itok=yWoJrewa)
Professor of Environmental Sciences
Research Area: Bioavailability, freshwater and marine ecotoxicity, and chemistry of environmental contaminants, including metals, PAHs, and Contaminants of Emerging Concern.
James Vyvyan
![James Vyvyan in a medium blue collared shirt and tie](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/VYVYAN_James.jpg?itok=xfyPBwwW)
Professor of Organic Chemistry
Research Area: The broad field of synthetic chemistry with detailed analysis of NMR spectra to characterize new compounds and assign relative stereochemistry.
Kristina Walowski
![Kristina Walowski wearing a blue jackt](/sites/amsec.wwu.edu/files/styles/directory_listing/public/2022-02/WALOWSKI_Kristina.jpeg?itok=PQ3AJS_M)
Assistant Professor of Geology
Research Area: Magmatic processes from magma reservoir evolution and eruption dynamics, to mantle melting and the chemical evolution of Earth's interior.