Professor Ginger Shultz
Ginger’s interest in education began when she was an undergraduate at the Evergreen State College, where the progressive curriculum shaped her early views on learning. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry at the University of Oregon, where she also taught hands-on science to elementary school children through an NSF GK-12 fellowship. After graduate school, she transitioned to education-focused research through a teaching postdoc in Chemistry at the University of Michigan. In 2013 she was named a UM Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow and began pursuing educational research full-time. Ginger joined the faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Michigan in 2016 and her group investigates student learning in problem-based organic chemistry laboratory courses, the development of graduate students knowledge for teaching chemistry, and writing-based strategies for learning in STEM.
gshultz@umich.edu
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
Dr. Solaire Finkenstaedt-Quinn, MWrite Project
Solaire has a joint appointment in the Chemistry Department and Sweetland Center for Writing here at the University of Michigan. Her research involves development, implementation, and assessment of writing assignments in large, intro-level courses. As a graduate student, her research was in the field of bioanalytical chemistry at the University of Minnesota and involved using platelets as a model system to investigate how the cytoskeleton directs granule release during exocytosis. In addition to performing research, Solaire is committed to increasing the scientific understanding of the general public through teaching and outreach.
quinnsa@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Unicorn
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Megan Connor
Megan is a graduate student in the Chemistry PhD program. Before attending the University of Michigan, she earned her B.S. in Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her current research aims to characterize problem-solving behaviors demonstrated by experts and novices in the interpretation of NMR spectra using eye-tracking technology, as well as to investigate how classroom instruction promotes students’ ability to interpret NMR spectra in relevant and authentic contexts.
mcarole@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Elf
Eleni Zotos
Eleni graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2017 with her B.S. in Chemical Science and certification in secondary education. Eleni is a graduate student in the chemistry program, and her current research focuses on investigating the teacher knowledge and experiences of graduate student instructors in chemistry.
ezotos@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Mermaid
Jeff Spencer
Jeff taught high school chemistry in Aurora, CO for 6 years before deciding to study at the University of Michigan for a PhD in Chemistry. He earned his Masters and Bachelors of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and studied Chemical Biology and Education. He is currently working on two projects: establishing and studying partnerships with high school teachers to inform teaching practices at the university level and implementing design-based implementation research methodology to collaborate around curriculum design with indigenous populations.
jlspen@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Dragon
Field Watts
Field is a graduate student in the Chemistry PhD program with interests in education, writing, and organic chemistry. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2018 with B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. He is working on projects involving writing-to-learn assignments in organic chemistry.
fieldmw@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Dragon
Ina Zaimi
Ina graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2019 with her B.S. in Biomolecular Science, English, and secondary education certification in both Chemistry and English. She is a graduate student in the Chemistry PhD program. As a rotating member in our group, her research focuses on writing-to-learn assignments in organic chemistry.
zaimina@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Dragon
Danielle Maxwell
Danielle graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy in May 2019 with her B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Leadership. Danielle is a graduate student in the Chemistry Ph.D. program, rotating in the Shultz group this summer. Her current research project focuses on using design-based implementation research practices to develop coursework with indigenous populations.
maxweldn@umich.edu
What mythological creature are you? Elf
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Trisha Gupte
Trisha is pursuing a bachelor of sciences in public health with a minor in biochemistry. Outside of school, she is involved in volunteering with various organizations as well her philanthropic A Cappella group, Angels on Call. She intends on graduating in 2020 and plans on attending medical school.
Benjamin Glass
Benjamin Glass is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity and minoring in English. Ben works under Megan Connor researching how organic chemistry students interpret H NMR spectra. Ben hopes to attend medical school after graduation.
Michael Petterson
Michael is a sophomore from Adrian, MI studying Chemistry with a minor in French. When Michael is not trying to get into medical school, he enjoys fishing, hunting, or anything that takes him outside. He is conducting research under Solaire, and together they look at student mechanistic reasoning in acid/base and addition reactions using the Mechanisms app.
What mythological creature are you? Centaur
Jordan Tyo
Jordan is a junior studying earth and environmental science with minors in chemistry and education. She is from Irvine, California, has three dogs, and plans to be a teacher in the future. She is working with Eleni on investigating chemistry graduate students’ knowledge for teaching.
GROUP ALUMNI
POSTDOC ALUMNI
Dr. Raymond Pugh, Time: 2/16-2/17, Current: Professor at University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Dr. Alena Moon, Time: 5/16-6/18, Current: Professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dr. Jordan Boothe, Time 5/17-8/18, Current: Visiting Instructor at University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg
Dr. Jennifer Schmidt-McCormack, Time 5/16-6/19, Current: Assistant Professor at St. Ambrose University, Iowa
GRADUATE ALUMNI
Josh Kenney, Time: 9/17-6/18, Current: Secondary Science Teacher
UNDERGRADUATE ALUMNI
Audrey Halim
Noelle Polakowski
Andrew Rellinger
Giselle Roca
Robert Moeller
Jessyca Judge
Ellen Yang
Kellie Spahr