As an interdisciplinary concentration, faculty members in both the chemistry and physics departments at Hamilton collaborate to offer chemical physics courses. The core faculty have expertise in computational physical chemistry, structural biochemistry, and laser spectroscopy.
Silversmith specializes in looking at laser spectroscopy of rare earths in insulating solids. In 1989, Silversmith joined the Hamilton College faculty after completing a Ph.D. at the Australian National University and doing post-doctoral work at the IBM Almaden Research Center. Silversmith introduced laser spectroscopy, an aspect of physics easily accessible to students, to the Hamilton Physics Department and has supervised more than 30 research students. Two of her student collaborators were named finalists for the Apker Award, given annually by the American Physical Society for excellence in undergraduate research. Silversmith specializes in developing new laser materials that would be useful in the solid state laser industry and is currently investigating the spectroscopy of rare earth doped sol-gel glasses. Her research has been funded by the Research Corporation and National Science Foundation. Silversmith's recent papers have appeared in the Journal of Noncrystallized Solids and the Journal of Luminescence.
More about Ann Silversmith ...
Adam W. Van Wynsberghe joined Hamilton in 2009 after two years at the University of California-San Diego where he was a NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellow. He received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2001 and was a NSF pre-doctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he completed his Ph.D. in biophysics in 2007. Van Wynsberghe's research interests center around the use of theoretical and computational techniques to study biophysical problems from both basic and applied perspectives. Currently, he is investigating the nature of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions, the origins and roles of conformational changes and dynamics in biomolecular systems, and the dynamical aspects of enzyme catalysis.
More about Adam Van Wynsberghe ...Back to Chemical Physics overview.
The programs in chemical physics, chemistry and physics are built on small classes, extensive research opportunities for all students, and close collaboration between students and instructors. The Chemical Physics Program, like all the sciences, is strongly grounded in Hamilton's innovative liberal arts approach. Students build their writing and speaking abilities along with their laboratory skills.
Students and professors research and publish together regularly. Over a recent five-year period, students have co-authored and published more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals with faculty members from the Chemical Physics Program. All faculty members maintain active research programs in such fields as materials science, laser spectroscopy, atomic physics, theoretical physics and computational chemical physics.
A concentration in chemical physics can lead to an incredible range of career options. Recent graduates have entered education, medicine, engineering, marketing and a variety of advanced technological fields.
The programs in chemical physics, chemistry and physics are built on small classes, extensive research opportunities for all students, and close collaboration between students and instructors. The Chemical Physics Program, like all the sciences, is strongly grounded in Hamilton's innovative liberal arts approach. Students build their writing and speaking abilities along with their laboratory skills.
Students and professors research and publish together regularly. Over a recent five-year period, students have co-authored and published more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals with faculty members from the Chemical Physics Program. All faculty members maintain active research programs in such fields as materials science, laser spectroscopy, atomic physics, theoretical physics and computational chemical physics.
A concentration in chemical physics can lead to an incredible range of career options. Recent graduates have entered education, medicine, engineering, marketing and a variety of advanced technological fields.
The programs in chemical physics, chemistry and physics are built on small classes, extensive research opportunities for all students, and close collaboration between students and instructors. The Chemical Physics Program, like all the sciences, is strongly grounded in Hamilton's innovative liberal arts approach. Students build their writing and speaking abilities along with their laboratory skills.
Students and professors research and publish together regularly. Over a recent five-year period, students have co-authored and published more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals with faculty members from the Chemical Physics Program. All faculty members maintain active research programs in such fields as materials science, laser spectroscopy, atomic physics, theoretical physics and computational chemical physics.
A concentration in chemical physics can lead to an incredible range of career options. Recent graduates have entered education, medicine, engineering, marketing and a variety of advanced technological fields.
