Seminars/Events
Chemistry Department Seminars
Chemistry Department Seminars will be in-person in SL 130 for Fall 2025, unless otherwise noted. Some seminars may be also be broadcast online and recorded. For access to online seminars and/or recordings, please see the Majors Canvas page or contact the chemistry department at chemistry@wwu.edu with W#.
The department strives to offer a diverse and vibrant seminar program. Each year leading researchers from outside the department, as well as faculty and graduate students from Western, present and discuss their cutting-edge research. This is an excellent opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to actively participate in the scientific community. In addition, many outside seminar speakers are recruiting graduate students for their respective programs and are eager to discuss their program. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Current Seminar Schedule
Welcome to the Fall Quarter 2025 Seminar Schedule!
Seminars will be in-person in SL 130 throughout the quarter, unless otherwise noted.
IN-PERSON Seminars typically take place on Friday from 3:15-4:15 pm in SL 130.
Seminar topics and titles will be posted as we receive additional information from speakers.
Fall Quarter 2025 Seminars
Friday, September 26
Title: "Structures and mechanisms of viral ion channels from solid-state NMR."
Speaker: Dr. Mei Hong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, https://chemistry.mit.edu/profile/mei-hong/ The Hong group develops and applies advanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy to investigate the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules.
Location: Zoom Only. Join via Zoom: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/j/96054680245 Meeting ID: 960 5468 0245
Friday, October 3
Title: "Molecular Simulation and Artificial Intelligence to Understand RNA Conformational Dynamics"
Speaker: Dr. Dhiman Ray, University of Oregon, https://blogs.uoregon.edu/dhimanraygroup/ The Ray group works on molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of biological systems like proteins and RNA.
Location: SL 130
Friday, October 10
Title: Graduate School Panel
Speaker: Dr. Steven Emory, Western Washington University
Location: SL 130
Friday, October 17
Title: Tailoring Morphology and Surface Chemistry of Plasmonic Nanomaterials
Speaker: Dr. Ying Bao, Western Washington University, https://wp.wwu.edu/baolab/
Abstract: Metal nanocrystals have attracted intense interest owing to their astonishing properties and potential applications such as sensing, catalysis, and biomedicines. These properties are highly dependent on the nanocrystals' physical parameters including morphology and surface functionalization. The Bao Group has focused on enhancing the plasmonic performance of metal nanoparticles through tailored nanocrystal synthesis and strategic surface modification. In this talk, Dr. Bao will present recent work on the fabrication of plasmonic nanomaterials with tailored morphology and composition via controlled galvanic reactions, highlighting their unique optical and functional characteristics. She will also briefly introduce ongoing efforts to control the formation of asymmetric particles via silica deposition for diverse application potentials.
Location: SL 130
Friday, October 24
Title: TBA. The Zuckerman lab develops and applies computational methods to study single molecules, molecular machines and cellular behavior.
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Zuckerman, OHSU School of Medicine, https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/zuckerman-lab
Location: SL 130
Friday, October 31
Title: TBA. The Kowalczyk group uses computational chemistry methods rooted in quantum mechanics to understand the self-assembly and electronic properties of organic materials that combine light-absorbing and electrically conducting components in a single package.
Speaker: Dr. Tim Kowalczyk, Western Washington University, https://chemistry.wwu.edu/people/kowalct2
Location: SL 130
Thursday, November 7
Title: TBA. The Widom lab uses a variety of biophysical techniques, centered around ultrafast and single-molecule spectroscopy to probe the structures and dynamics of systems ranging from isolated RNAs to large RNA-protein complexes.
Speaker: Dr. Julia Widom, University of Oregon, https://blogs.uoregon.edu/widomlab/
Location: SL 130
Friday, November 14
Title: TBA. The Amacher group works to understand sortase selectivity and target recognition through natural sequence variation, X-ray crystallography, and protein biochemistry. The group also studies chimeric proteins involving SH2 and SH3 domains to investigate how these loops regulate selectivity.
Speaker: Dr. Jeanine Amacher, Western Washington University, https://jeanineamacher.wixsite.com/amacher-lab
Location: SL 130
Friday, November 21
Title: TBA. The Valsson research group develops and applies classical and quantum simulation methods to study chemical, biological, and material systems. In particular, the group focuses on developing advanced methods for studying the long timescale phenomena common in nature but normally inaccessible in conventional molecular simulations due to their limitations.
Speaker: Dr. Lily Robertson, Argonne National Lab, https://www.anl.gov/profile/lily-a-robertson
Location: Zoom Only. Join via Zoom: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/j/96054680245 Meeting ID: 960 5468 0245
Friday, December 5
Title: TBA. The Valsson research group develops and applies classical and quantum simulation methods to study chemical, biological, and material systems. In particular, the group focuses on developing advanced methods for studying the long timescale phenomena common in nature but normally inaccessible in conventional molecular simulations due to their limitations.
Speaker: Dr. Omar Valsson, University of Northern Texas, https://www.valsson.info/
Location: SL 130
Friday, December 12
No Seminar. Finals week; good luck!