Dean Johnston

Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry

Education: B.A. The College of Wooster, M.S., Ph.D. Northwestern University

Hometown: Battle Creek, MI

What particular topic do you most enjoy teaching? Molecular structure. There is an intrinsic beauty in the microscopic arrangement of atoms and molecules in all types of materials. Even though we can�t directly "see" these molecules, I can help students understand how the arrangement of molecules directly determines the properties of a particular substance.

Why should every person you meet want to know more about your area of expertise? Chemistry is an exciting, challenging and ultimately creative endeavor. My area of expertise is synthetic chemistry, meaning that we are trying to make new materials that have never been made before. This can be very challenging (and at times frustrating), and it requires a wide range of laboratory and problem-solving skills. But in the end it is a creative process � you are trying to figure how to make something entirely new.

What is your favorite aspect of teaching? I love it when a student gets really excited about their success in the laboratory, whether it�s in a class or doing research. A few years back a student prepared metal complex that we took down to the old NMR spectrometer. Even though we knew pretty much what the spectrum should look like, the fact that we got exactly what we expected was a beautiful and exciting result. Sometimes it�s as simple as a student getting a nice crop of blue crystals at the bottom of their beaker. It reminds me how important it is that we give our students a quality laboratory experience.

Why do you teach at Otterbein? My positive experience, including undergraduate research, at a small college in Ohio helped spark my interest in chemistry and convinced me to go to graduate school. After doing postdoctoral research at UNC-Chapel Hill, I wanted to return to teaching and interacting with students in a small college environment. Otterbein gives me this opportunity and the flexibility to explore new ways of teaching and new areas of research.

What are the best qualities you see in Otterbein students? Independence, commitment, and willingness to work hard on a project.

What question are you most often asked by students? Will this be on the test, Dr. Johnston?

What is the ONE THING you want your students to take away from your class or from knowing you? Chemistry can be beautiful. It�s not the dry collection of facts that many might think; Chemistry is dynamic!

What research are you currently conducting? One current project is a web site (http://symmetry.otterbein.edu) supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal is to provide a web-accessible resource to teach concepts of molecular symmetry. The web site is used by thousands of students and teachers all over the world.

A second NSF-supported project (together with Dr. David Robertson of the Department of Physics and Astronomy) has developed new curricula for teaching nanoscience and nanotechnology to our students and to local high school teachers and students. This grant supported the purchase of scanning tunneling microscopes that allow our students to see individual atoms on the surface of materials such as graphite and gold.

I�ve also had a lot of fun developing a laboratory exercise where our students use a form of spectroscopy to determine the possible authenticity of an oil painting (graciously supplied by Nicholas Hill of the Art Department). Raman spectroscopy is a form of laser analysis that can be used to identify the pigments in a sample. Since many synthetic pigments weren�t developed until the 1800�s or early 1900�s, their presence can help identify forged artwork.

My research with undergraduate students focuses on the photochemistry of a set of molecules called "metal clusters." These compounds are interesting because they glow very brightly when you shine an ultraviolet light on them, a property that is pretty unusual for inorganic molecules (molecules without any carbon atoms).

I have spent my last two sabbaticals researching the properties of a class of compounds called conducting polymers. During my upcoming sabbatical, we will be looking to see if we can develop new photovoltaic (solar energy) materials using these polymers.

If you were not an educator, what would be your dream job? Natural abilities notwithstanding, I would be an artist or a craftsman. I like working with my hands and creating things.

What are your hobbies outside the classroom? In my limited amount of spare time (I do have three children and many home projects), I enjoy music and playing the tuba � participating in Merry Tuba Christmas on several occasions. I enjoy hiking and sailing. I�ve also put my laboratory skills to good use with a bit of home-brewing.

Email: djohnston@otterbein.edu