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Robert M. Whitnell
Chair, Professor of Chemistry
rwhitnel@guilford.edu
(336) 316-2295
Ph.D. Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 1988
B.A. Chemistry-Physics, Reed College, 1983
Postdoctoral research associate and Assistant Research Chemist, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 1988-1994
Research Interests
- Using computer modeling and visualization to explore questions such as:
- How does energy flow from the surroundings into chemical reactants to drive a chemical reaction?
- What is the role of water molecules in mediating the interactions between antibodies and the specific molecules they recognize?
- Active engagement methods, particularly guided inquiry, in chemical education.
Courses Taught
- Chem 111: Chemical Principles I
- Chem 331: Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- Chem 332: Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy
- Chem 336 and 345: Integrated Laboratory
- Chem 342: Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
- Chem 400: Chemistry Seminar
- CMIT 140: Introduction to Computer Programming
- IDS 419: Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life
Campus and Community Involvement
- Clerk of the Faculty
- Chair, Chemistry Department
Notable Works
- “Conformational memories using variable bond angles,” Robert M. Whitnell, Dow P. Hurst, Patricia H. Reggio, and Frank Guarnieri, J. Comp. Chem. 29, 741 (2008).
- Co-Principal Investigator with Sally S. Hunnicutt and Alexander Grushow, National Science Foundation Award 1044624, “POGIL-PCL and the Development and Implementation of Guided Inquiry Experiments for Physical Chemistry” (2011-2014).
