Chemical Physics
The goal of the Chemical Physics Program is to encourage students to make connections across the chemistry and physics disciplines through extensive research opportunities and close collaboration between students and instructors.
About the Major
Hamilton’s Chemical Physics Program is for students interested in teaching science at the high school level or pursuing a science-based profession directly after graduation. Students advance to the intermediate level in both disciplines but are not required to take theory-level courses in either. The emphasis is on balance. As an interdisciplinary program, chemical physics draws on the shared resources of two strong departments and exemplifies the College’s approach to making connections across fields and perspectives.
A Sampling of Courses
Research Methods in Chemistry
Development of research skills in chemistry through a semester-long intensive laboratory project. Emphasis on laboratory work focusing on advanced synthetic techniques and spectroscopic characterization. Scientific writing, oral presentation skills and use of the chemical literature are also stressed. Six hours of laboratory and one hour of class.
Explore these select courses:
Structure and bonding of organic compounds and their acid-base properties, stereochemistry, introduction to reactions and reaction mechanisms of carbon compounds and the relationship of reactivity and structure. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.
An examination of the assumptions, paradigms, and hierarchies embedded in science and technology. This course will examine evidence pointing to the structure of hierarchies built into and from science and how those structures may result in inequalities for various groups participating in and affected by science and technology. Topics will vary but might include: the objectivity/subjectivity of science; how biases and social structures intersect with equity, diversity, and inclusion in science; and gender and race disparities in STEM fields.
Meet Our Faculty
Gordon Jones
Stone Professor of Natural History, Chair of Physics, Director of Chemical Physics
neutron spin filters and angular correlations in neutron decay
Experimental condensed matter
physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, and theoretical chemistry
Explore Hamilton Stories
Physics Students Contribute Research on a Microscopic Level
“This project really taught us that to answer the big questions, sometimes you have to ask a bunch of little questions,” said Sara Cont ’27, who, with Maya Kannan ’25 and Madeleine Petro ’25 embarked on a trailblazing physics project this summer under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Physics Viva Horowitz.
Crespo ’25, Jaboldinov ’26 In Trudeau Institute Biomed. Pilot Program
Chrissy Crespo ’25 and Alinur Jaboldinov ’26 are the first Hamilton students to participate in the Trudeau Institute’s Biomedical Research Scholars Program in Saranac Lake, N.Y. The program includes five courses designed to develop students’ research skills and understanding of immunology, but its shining focus is the intensive immunological research experience.
Contact
Department Name
Chemical Physics Program
Contact Name
Gordon Jones, Program Director
Clinton, NY 13323
