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Faculty Profiles

Chemistry department faculty contact and bio information


KarenMolek_211x278
Dr. Karen Molek
Position: Chair and Professor of Chemistry, Executive Fellow for President Saunders's Office, Administrative Fellow for Student Engagement HMCSE, MARC U*STAR, UWF STEM, and Chemistry Scholars Programs Director
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C/204A

Dr. Karen Molek, an award-winning Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair, has helped raise more than $3 million in outside funding since she began teaching at UWF in 2008.

Patrick Barber
Dr. Patrick Barber
Position: Assistant Professor
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58 Room 008

Dr. Patrick S. Barber is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. He has research interests in materials and inorganic chemistry—specifically the detection and remediation of heavy metals in the environment.

Barnes, Karen_211
Dr. Karen W. Barnes
Position: Lecturer
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C, Room 204G

Dr. Karen W. Barnes received her P.h.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida.

Vaughn,Pamela_211
Dr. Pamela (Vaughan) Benz
Position: Professor and Associate Chair
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C, Room 204B

Dr. Pamela Benz, Professor, Associate Chair, holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Maryland, teaches analytical courses and conducts aquatic photochemistry research. Benz has served on college leadership councils and founded the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Christina Fields-Wolf
Ms. Christina Fields-Wolf
Position: Visiting Lecturer
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58, Room 004

Ms. Christina Fields-Wolf is a visiting lecturer in the Department of Chemistry.

Brandon Fultz
Dr. Brandon Fultz
Position: Lecturer
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C, Room 204D

Dr. Brandon A. Fultz is an organic lecturer and current organic lab coordinator in the Dept of Chemistry at UWF.

Kesharwani,Tanay_211
Dr. Tanay Kesharwani
Position: Associate Professor
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C, Room 204H

Dr. Tanay Kesharwani, an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, focuses his research on developing new synthetic methods that can be used on novel materials and small molecules.

Lajmi, Ajay
Dr. Ajay Lajmi
Position: Assistant Professor
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58C, Room 204

Dr. Ajay Lajmi's research interest includes developing methods to synthesize molecules with targeted biochemical functional properties with potential applications in biotechnology.

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Dr. A. Timothy Royappa
Position: Professor

Dr. A. Timothy Royappa, Professor of Chemistry, conducts research on copper(I) complexes for semiconductor microelectronics, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology applications. He is in UWF’s Distinguished Teaching Hall of Fame.

Jacob Tracy
Dr. Jacob S. Tracy
Position: Assistant Professor
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58, Room 002

Dr. Jacob Tracy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry who received his PhD from Stanford University. His research interests involve the design and synthesis of redox-active organic molecules for use in batteries as well as the development of medicinally-relevant synthetic methods.

Dr. Katherine Whitaker
Dr. Katherine Whitaker
Position: Lecturer
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Office Location:  Building 58, Room 3

Dr. Katherine Whitaker holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin and teaches courses in general chemistry.

Emeritus Faculty

Chemistry department emeritus faculty contact information.


Dr. Jerome Gurst

  • Professor Emeritus
  • Department: Chemistry
  • emailjgurst@uwf.edu
  • Office Location: 58C, Room 210

Dr. Stephen "Peter" Tanner

Dr. Leonard ter Haar