{"id":170,"date":"2010-06-01T17:08:33","date_gmt":"2010-06-01T17:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry\/about\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:28:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:28:34","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of matter and energy that affect nearly every aspect of our lives and environment. Biochemistry encompasses the study of the form and function of the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids found in living organisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemistry<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"From
From left, Robert Ibarra ’17, a psychology major from Los Angeles; Dana Professor of Chemistry Glen Lawson; Yessenia Saucedo ’16, a politics major from Oakland, Calif.; and Associate Professor of Spanish Claudia Aburto Guzm\u00e1n, enjoy a moment of levity in a Dana Chemistry lab as they use heat to extract copper metal from ore. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Chemistry deals with phenomena that affect nearly every aspect of our lives and environment. A liberal arts education in this scientific and technological age exposes students to the theories, laws, applications, and potential of this science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chemistry curriculum is sufficiently flexible to allow students with career interests in areas such as the health professions, law, business, and education to design a major program suitable to their goals. Students interested in careers in chemistry or biochemistry will find sufficient chemistry electives to provide a strong background for work in graduate school, industry, or other positions. The department and its curriculum are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and an ACS-certified major is offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quick Links<\/h2>

About Our Department<\/a>
Current Students<\/a>
News and Events<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Biochemistry<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Alex<\/a>
Alex Salazar ’20 of Ridgefield, Conn., was one of a group of students in Paula Schlax’s Honeybee Science course who visited an apiary on Thursday, May 18, 2017. The course centers around recent observations of increased bee mortality specifically exploring the proposed roles of varroa mites, viruses, and pesticides.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Biochemistry encompasses the study of the form and function of the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids found in living organisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, biochemistry has been an interdisciplinary field, drawing on techniques and expertise from physics, medicine, biology, and chemistry. The required courses for the major give a student a solid foundation in basic science, while the array of elective courses allows wide latitude in pursuing an area of individual interest. The thesis provides a final integrating experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program maintains affiliations with certain research laboratories at which students may conduct a semester of research for credit. Such credits may be used to fulfill one of the elective requirements or a portion of the thesis requirement; however, such a possibility must be arranged by the student prior to beginning the research program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Campus

Campus scenes from Oct. 11, 2024.\n\n\nStudents pass by Dana Chemistry on Alumni Walk.<\/p><\/div>

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\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

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\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

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\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

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\"Assistant

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Geneva Laurita teaches CHEM 108A – Chemical Reactivity\/Lab on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.\n\nA continuation of CHEM 107A. Major topics include thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acid\/base behavior, and electrochemistry. Laboratory: three hours per week.<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"Campus

Campus scenes from Oct. 11, 2024.\n\n\nStudents pass by Dana Chemistry on Alumni Walk.<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"They

They are jumping for joy.\nWomen\u2019s varsity rowing teammates Oli Seline \u201924 (left) of Delaware, Ohio, and Olivia Dekker \u201924 of Bethesda, Md., high five it at the conclusion of their last-ever Bates lab in Bonney 360.\nThe teammates are students in Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Geneva Laurita\u2019s Short Term course, \u201cChemistry and the Arts.\u201d\nSeline is a biochemistry major with a GEC in \u201cVisible Ideas,\u201d while Dekker is a biochemistry major with a minor in art and visual culture.\nThe course explores the connection between chemistry and various topics in the arts and arts-related fields. The students learn about the chemistry behind these topics, exploring the literature behind various artistic practices, and applying hands-on techniques in the laboratory involved in various art processes\nThis year, Laurita asked students to focus on the origins of color, different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing, and art conservation.\nLaurita is the recipient of a major National Science Foundation grant of $581,984. The NSF CAREER award, considered to be one of the foundation\u2019s most prestigious awards for faculty members who are just beginning their teaching and research careers, is based on both her scientific research in solid state materials and how she brings undergraduates into that vital area of scientific exploration.\n3:18\nWhat the particular lab was about…the lab handout.\n\nKate Baumler, intern for Geneva\u2019s NSF grant, wearing, black shirt\n\nBenji Richards, \u201927, wearing tan shirt\nFinian Gunny \u201927, gray pullover and blond hair\nCharlotte Maffie \u201925 with pink tie dyed and hair in bun\nSister Alice Maffie \u201927 in t-shirt and pony tail\nNina Greeley \u201924 with hair in bun and pink t-shirt\nRiley Lund \u201926 in gray sweatshirt\nJahan Baker-Wainwright \u201925 in green golf \nRohini Kandasamy \u201927 in dark tan Life is cool t-shirt and low bun\n\nChemistry and the Arts S28, the origin of different crafts, print making, jewelry making, dyeing and art soncserv<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>
\"Assistant

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Geneva Laurita teaches CHEM 108A – Chemical Reactivity\/Lab on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.\n\nA continuation of CHEM 107A. Major topics include thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acid\/base behavior, and electrochemistry. Laboratory: three hours per week.<\/p><\/div>

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\"It\u2019s

It\u2019s quintessential Bates as the college community shows the power of love in supporting students and their academic achievements at Mount David Summit.\n\nFriday, April 5, 2024 in Pettengill Hall.<\/p><\/div>

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\"Moments

Moments from Lab-Based Biological Inquiry Cellular Neuroscience taught by Martin Kruse, associate professor of biology and neuroscience, in Bonney Science Center Room 370 on January 25, 2024. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)<\/p><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of matter and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":210,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_prepend":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append_before_footer":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"Courses, major and minor requirements, events, faculty and contact information offered by the Department of Chemistry at Bates College.","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/chemistry-and-biochemistry\/","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-170","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2693,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170\/revisions\/2693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/chemistry-biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}