Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Degree Type Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Science
- Department Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Major
Chemistry and Biochemistry students develop an understanding of chemistry and are encouraged to continue the pursuit of a deeper or broader understanding of the disciplines. Faculty are committed to preparing lifelong learners who are equipped with skills derived in W&L’s classrooms and laboratories.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry and biochemistry majors understand essential chemical principles and have a foundation of factual chemical knowledge on which they may build in the future.
One of the greatest benefits of studying chemistry at W&L is the hands-on training students receive when using the state-of-the-art equipment for lab and research. Students can participate in summer research projects alongside faculty, as well as directed individual study during the academic year. These partnerships often lead to co-authoring papers in scientific journals and presenting at professional conferences.
“The wide variety of classes that I have taken over two years has taught me to be open-minded and to analyze problems from various perspectives.”
Anukriti Shrestha
Class of 2019
W&L’s Sarp Sahin ’26 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Sahin is W&L’s first sophomore to receive the scholarship since 2009.
The first-year student says the Outing Club and W&L's proximity to great hiking and kayaking spots were a big draw.
In Memoriam: J. Brown Goehring, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus
W&L’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter named the Phi Beta Kappa J. Brown Goehring Sophomore Award in his honor.
With medical school on the horizon, Tyler embraces many opportunities such as research fellowship, studying abroad and sorority life.
Jaden Keuhner ’24 leaves a legacy honoring Gold Star families
Keuhner helped establish a memorial at Jordan’s Point dedicated to veterans killed in the line of duty and their families.
W&L’s Kyle Friend Presents Nobel Prize Symposium Talk
Kyle Friend, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, will discuss this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine on Nov. 8 in Leyburn Library’s Harte Center.
W&L’s Summer Research Scholars program gives students hands-on experience in collaborative research with faculty mentors.
Two Washington and Lee ROTC Students Receive Project Global Officer Grants
Christy Childs ’26 and Griffin Conti ’26 will receive funding to study foreign languages this summer.
Washington and Lee seniors David Onyejekwe ’23, Jake McCabe ’23 and Bailey Keel ’23 have created lasting connections with the local community as volunteer coaches for Lex Lax youth lacrosse.
W&L Professors and Students Co-Author Peer-Reviewed Paper on Web-Weaving Spiders
Professors Nadia Ayoub and Kyle Friend, and students Jamal Magoti ’23, Maria Luzaran ’23, Cooper Lazo ’24 and Eman Muamar ’24 all contributed to the paper that appeared in the open science platform Frontiers.
Li is excited to take advantage of the personalized education W&L offers and to explore the Lexington-Rockbridge area.
Aishwarya Vemagiri '25 hopes her summer research experience on diet-induced obesity will lead to a career in the medical field.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Matt Tuchler
Head of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department; Associate Professor of Chemistry
- P: 540-458-8029
- E: tuchlerm@wlu.edu
Tuchler teaches many upper-level physical chemistry courses. His research group developed a technique to measure the equilibrium constant as a function of temperature for any gas phase equilibrium of the form.
Andrea Abry
Instructor of Chemistry/Supervisor of Labs
- P: 540-458-8163
- E: abrya@wlu.edu
Abry teaches General Chemistry, Disorder and Chaos, and Aqueous Inorganic Quantitative Chemistry.
Lisa Alty
John T. Herwick, M.D. Professor of Chemistry
- P: 540-458-8927
- E: altyl@wlu.edu
Alty teaches courses in upper-level chemistry, primarily organic. Her research focuses on laboratory instruction in chemistry.
Connell Cunningham
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Steve Desjardins
Professor of Chemistry
Desjardins teaches courses in general and physical chemistry. His research interests include statistical mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, and chemical kinetics.
Kyle Friend
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- P: 540-458-8616
- E: friendk@wlu.edu
Kyle Friend teaches courses on genetic engineering and biochemistry at all levels. His research uses mouse embryonic stem cells to investigate how mRNA translation and stability are regulated as stem cells differentiate into other cell types.
Erin Gray
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
- P: 540-458-4867
- E: egray@wlu.edu
Erin Gray teaches organic chemistry, and her research seeks to employ synthetic organic chemistry to answer unsolved questions in biology. She designs new catalytic transformations for the synthesis of complex molecules, with the goal of using these reactions to label and study biomolecules.
Fred LaRiviere
Associate Dean of the College; Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
LaRiviere’s courses include Teaching Inquiry in the Local Schools, Mechanisms of Cancer and Advanced Biochemistry. Each summer, he also supervises a number of research students.
Donna Smith
Instructor of Chemistry
- P: 540-458-8343
- E: smithdm@wlu.edu
Smith teaches Organic Chemistry and Spectroscopic Methods.
Erich Uffelman
Bentley Professor of Chemistry
Uffelman teaches courses in upper-level inorganic chemistry. He also teaches courses that overlap with the Art and Art History Department, such as Science in Art. Uffelman regularly supervises summer research students.