Brian Woods, Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Undergraduate Research Coordinator
Chemistry
Courses Taught
Chem 1110/1130 General Chemistry I Recitations; Chem 1120/1140 General Chemistry II Recitations; Chem2410/2420 Organic Chemistry I and II; Chem2435/2445 Organic Chemistry Lab for Majors
Education
University of Minnesota, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, 2014
Whitman College, B.A. in Chemistry, 2008
Practice Areas
My background is in the area of synthetic organic chemistry. Taking Organic Chemistry
as a sophomore in college is what hooked me on chemistry in the first place. I loved
how the class was like putting together pieces of a puzzle and trying to find different
pathways to solve difficult problems. And when I started synthetic organic research
as an undergraduate I thought it was so cool that you could go into the lab and make
a molecule that had never been made before! As a professor, the best part of my job
is seeing students appreciate the wonder of organic chemistry in both the classroom
and research setting. I teach the large lecture organic chemistry classes and help
with the organic labs as well. Organic chemistry often gets labeled as a 鈥渨eed-out鈥�
course, as it is the last required chemistry course for a number of majors. One of
my goals in teaching the course is to change that reputation. I make a point to assure
all my students that they have the ability to succeed in the course and that it鈥檚
my job to help them do just that. I really enjoy introducing students to organic chemistry
and helping them practice their critical thinking and problem-solving skills that
they will go on and use in whatever career path they choose.
I also believe that a crucial part of an undergraduate STEM education is hands-on
research experience. As the undergraduate research coordinator, I help students find
a lab to join and get training in some of the state-of-the-art research going on in
our department. The skills and training SLU chemistry majors gain in the classroom
and the research lab set them up to be independent thinkers and productive members
of the workforce once they graduate.
Publications and Media Placements
- Woods, B. P. 鈥淥rganic Synthesis: When and Why鈹�An Entrepreneurial-Minded Learning Activity for Organic Chemistry Undergraduates,鈥� J. Chem. Educ. 2024, 101, 2156鈥�2161.
- Perkins, R. J.; Woods, B. P. 鈥淎n Office-Space Lightboard Studio for Creating Professional Pre-Lecture Videos with Increased Student Engagement,鈥� J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100, 3645鈥�3651.