Department of Chemistry
How can Otterbein University help you “find your element”? From your first chemistry class through your senior year, you will work directly with faculty in small courses and laboratory experiences. Opportunities abound for research with faculty at Otterbein and internships at companies in the Columbus area and throughout Ohio. Our rigorous curriculum is approved by the American Chemical Society and will prepare you for a wide range of post-graduate pathways. Otterbein Chemistry alumni can be found working in chemical industry, treating patients, managing high-tech companies, and conducting research as a graduate student or in academia, among many other activities.
To keep up with the latest news in the Department of Chemistry, check out our newsletter, Chemistry Matters, at the Otterbein Digital Commons.
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Students at Otterbein have the opportunity to explore structural chemistry using sophisticated instrumentation not typically found at an undergraduate institution.
Dr. Dean Johnston
Professor, Chemistry
The Chemistry Department is a leader in the use of X-ray diffraction at the undergraduate level, providing students with hands-on experiences characterizing materials and determining the three-dimensional structures of molecules.
Department Features & Student Opportunities

Scholarships
We recognize and invest in talent through research funding and scholarships to fuel discovery and learning.

Teaching & Mentoring
Developing relationships with faculty who help you grow into a better version of yourself is a smarter way to learn.

Internships
We work with industry leaders to help you find meaningful learning experiences and catalyze your professional growth.

Student Research
We are innovators. Learn beyond the classroom by discovering new materials, developing new methods and more.

Student Organizations
Join our Otterbein STEM community, contribute to science outreach, and develop as a leader.

Travel Experiences
We are explorers. Push your boundaries as you travel the United States and the world.
Chemistry Department News

Fast Track Innovation Fund Lets Community Shape Otterbein’s Growth
News - July 31, 2023
Otterbein University is using an innovative approach to grow enrollment and revenue by “crowd sourcing” ideas from its own community and investing in the best ideas with $1 million approved by the Board of Trustees. Under the Fast Track Innovation Fund initiative, seven projects proposed by Otterbein faculty and staff in May have been funded and are already being implemented on campus. “This investment in Otterbein’s future demonstrates our trustees’ commitment to allowing every member of our community to be heard…
Biochemistry student finds true passion in student research
News - July 7, 2023
By: Isabelle Fisher ’23 Columbus native and rising Otterbein senior Amanda Marchi stays rooted in the Shear-McFadden Science Center, where she conducts research in the chemistry lab. Otterbein senior Amanda Marchi With a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry, Marchi even presented her own research at the American Chemical Society Spring 2023 conference in March at Indianapolis, Indiana. “Right now, I’m doing research under Dr. Robin Grote in the chemistry department,” Marchi said. “I’ve been…
National Science Foundation Grant Supports Research of Chemistry Professor and Students
News - May 16, 2023
It’s been a standout year for Otterbein’s Department of Chemistry. In fall 2022, the department started enrolling students in its Environmental Chemistry major. In spring 2023, six students presented their research projects at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Indianapolis. In the department’s most recent outstanding achievement, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Otterbein a grant of $271,261 for a project called Research in Undergraduate Institutions: Solvent-Free Synthesis of Transition Metal Halide Clusters, led by Professor…Programs of Study in Chemistry
B.A. or B.S.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
B.A. or B.S.
Pre-Professional Health Studies
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Science Center 236
155 W. Main St
Westerville, OH 43081
Administrative Assistant
Donna Rhodeback
614-823-1517
drhodeback@otterbein.edu
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