Faculty Profile

Rebecca Connor

Associate Professor of Chemistry (2010)

Contact Information

connorr@dickinson.edu

Stuart Hall - Rector Complex Room 2111
717-245-1553

Bio

My research interests currently include the molecular interactions of electrophilic natural products with human leukemia cells and the role of chaperone proteins in apoptosis and stress response pathways. Research projects in my lab range from chemical synthesis to proteomics and protein engineering.

Education

  • B.S., Carnegie Mellon University, 1999
  • Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 2008

2024-2025 Academic Year

Fall 2024

CHEM 131 General Chemistry I with Lab
The first semester of intro chemistry for students majoring in the physical and biological sciences, who have completed one year of HS chemistry but do not place into Chemistry 141. Core principles and applications of chemistry will be covered that will aid students in understanding "Why Chemistry Matters" regardless of discipline. Topics will include: atomic and molecular structure (Lewis, VSEPR), stoichiometry, gas laws, energy and chemical reactions, periodicity, and solubility and intermolecular forces. Three hours of classroom and three hours of laboratory per week.

CHEM 141 Accelerated General Chem w/Lab
NOTE: All seats reserved for incoming FY students.

CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry I with Lab
The major focus of this course is on the reactivities of organic and inorganic molecules; this is an extension of the study of the covalent bond that was studied in Chemistry 131/132 or 141. Topics include reaction types and mechanisms, stereochemistry, nomenclature, and spectroscopic methods. Laboratory work involves the synthesis, analysis and identification of organic and inorganic molecules. Three hours classroom and four hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: 132 or 141.

CHEM 341 Quantum Chem & Spectroscopy
Examines how the Quantum Theory, and in particular the Schrödinger Equation, makes possible the determination of translational, rotational, and vibrational energies of molecules, and how spectroscopy experimentally determines the energy and hence structure of atoms and molecules. Three hours classroom per week. Prerequisites: 132 or 141, MATH 171 and PHYS 141 or 131, or permission of the instructor. NOTE: PHYS 141 or 131 may be taken concurrently with CHEM 341.

CHEM 490 Organometallics
Permission of Instructor Required. Organometallics is a subfield at the interface between organic and inorganic chemistry that bridges the two disciplines by studying the properties and reactivity of compounds containing metal-carbon bonds. In addition to learning about metal-carbon compounds, this course will also explore the nature of other metallic bonds such as metal-halogen, metal-hydrogen, metal-metal bonds, and their applicability in synthetic chemistry methodologies. Topics that will be covered in this course include, bonding theory and structure, catalysis, spectroscopic methods of identification, and applications of organometallic reactions. Other topics may also be explored based on current literature and student interests.

BCMB 560 Stu/Faculty Collaborative Rsch
Student/Faculty Collaborative Research allows a student to conduct original research in close partnership with faculty collaborator(s). The project should be designed as an investigation yielding novel results that contribute to the area of study. With the faculty collaborator(s), students will develop the project and participate in all aspects fo the reasearch. It is expected that the faculty member will work closely with the student for at least half of the time the student is pursuing the research. The final project must be presented to the faculty collaborator(s) no later than one week prior to the end of the evaluation period. The course will typically earn one half or one full course credit per semester.