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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Student, Faculty, & Alumni Spotlights

Mentoring relationships will help you grow and find your path – join a research lab in your first year, present at a national scientific meeting and more!
WE ARE developing a new generation of STEM Scholars.


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

Otterbein Announces New Environmental Chemistry Major
News - July 1, 2022
Otterbein has started enrolling students in Environmental Chemistry — a new major designed as a pathway for students to combine their passion for chemistry with their concern for the environment. Students interested in majoring in Environmental Chemistry may qualify for the Choose Ohio First Cardinal STEMM Scholarship. “This major combines all elements of an Otterbein education – the intentional blending of the liberal arts and professional studies combined with a unique approach to integrating direct experience – into learning,” said…
Professor and Students Combine Chemistry, Art, and Otterbein’s History in Unique Research Project
News - June 23, 2022
By Kailey Mishler ’24 Chemistry Professor Joan Esson and two Otterbein students are working on a project that connects art and chemistry to the school’s history. Esson was inspired by an art kit discovered in Otterbein’s archives that dated back 136 years. This kit is labeled “Art Kit used by Lizzie Crayton Carr at Otterbein about 1886,” and includes paint tubes and other art tools. “Lizzie graduated from Otterbein’s academy. She went into some type of art teaching. There’s not…
Senior Spotlight: 18-year-old Otterbein Chemistry Major Began his College Journey in Middle School
News - April 27, 2022
By Riley Hysell ’22 As his graduation approaches, Otterbein senior Jaden Partlow reflects back on his college experience with the nuance one might expect of a student with a consistently high GPA, a seemingly permanent spot on the dean’s list, and an award for academic excellence as a senior chemistry major. What is even more impressive and unique about his success? He is only 18 years old. When Partlow was in seventh grade, at 12 years old, he learned about…Programs of Study in Chemistry
B.A. or B.S.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
B.A. or B.S.
Pre-Professional Health Studies
Contact Us
Science Center 236
155 W. Main St
Westerville, OH 43081
Administrative Assistant
Donna Rhodeback
614-823-1517
drhodeback@otterbein.edu