The Department of Chemistry at Villanova University

08/29/2026

We have a great lineup of guest speakers for our Professional Development Seminar series this fall! Please join us. The talks below are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend! For more info, please reach out to cheminfo at villanova dot edu

08/17/2026

We are thrilled to welcome our newest faculty member to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Villanova University!

Joining us after completing a postdoctoral fellowship with Prof. Jessica Swanson at the University of Utah, Dr. Gabriel Costa Alverni da Hora brings deep expertise in computational and biophysical chemistry. Their research highlights an impressive focus on machine learning, molecular simulations, and investigating disease-related biological systems.

At Villanova, Dr. de Hora's new research lab will leverage molecular dynamics to solve complex biological and chemical problems while offering students valuable hands-on experience. This fall, he is excited to teach Biophysical Chemistry, utilizing advanced modeling tools to make abstract atomic structures highly visual. Dr. de Hora is dedicated to building student confidence and helping undergraduates see themselves as future scientists.

When he is not in the classroom or lab, you might find him playing soccer, reading, or catching up on video games. Dr. de Hora also love spending time with their bold chihuahua, who refuses to be intimidated by anyone or anything.

Welcome to the team, Gabe! We are so excited to have you with us.

08/13/2026

We are so very pleased to welcome another one of our newest faculty members to the Villanova University community and our Department!

Joining us most recently from Amherst College, Dr. Dorothy Huang brings an exciting passion for both fundamental chemistry and innovative teaching. This year, she is especially looking forward to teaching General Chemistry while diving deep into Villanova's student culture.

Her research bridges the gap between complex theory and classroom innovations. On the theoretical side, Dr. Huang studies the "Atomic Ballet" of chemical reactions to determine if bond changes are driven by enthalpy or entropy. In chemical education, she explores using IR thermography in labs and integrating Green Chemistry into the curriculum.

In the classroom, Dr. Huang thrives on true student engagement. She loves when students ask intriguing questions about the basics, forcing a deeper look at fundamental concpets. Dr. Huang is highly enthusiastic about launching these computational and educational research projects alongside Villanova undergraduates.

When not in the office, you might find Dorothy sharing stories about her home country. Fun fact: she is from a nation so tiny that you can drive from one end to the other in just a single hour!

Please join us in giving Dr. Dorothy Huang a warm Villanova welcome!

08/11/2026

We are thrilled to welcome a new faculty member to the Villanova University community!

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Matthew Sanders, who joins our department after completing a Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill and a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Sanders' research focuses on a fascinating frontier in material science: incorporating silicon into synthetic polymers to overcome current synthetic challenges and unlock new possibilities for conductive polymers and advanced coatings.

Inside the classroom, Dr. Sanders is eager to teach organic chemistry, a subject he fell in love with after finding it challenging as an undergrad, as well as specialized courses in polymer chemistry. He is looking forward to getting to know Villanova's driven students both in lectures and during office hours.

Outside of the lab and classroom, you can find Dr. Sanders running, hiking, cheering on our basketball team, and putting his undergraduate German major to use. (If you have any old German research papers that need translating, you know who to ask!)

Welcome to the team! We are so excited to have you with us.

07/31/2026

The 2026 Summer Research season has concluded!!! What a great group of students this summer and great research efforts by all!!

07/28/2026

We extend a warm welcome to our newest staff member, Andrew Devany! Andrew joins the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry in the capacity of Laboratory Coordinator. In this role, Andrew will be supporting the general chemistry labs, ensuring our students have a seamless, safe, and enriching hands-on learning experience.

Andrew brings a wealth of scientific expertise to Nova Nation. Prior to joining us, Andrew worked as a R&D scientist at IFF in Wilmington, DE, investigating enzymatic polymerization and the chemical derivatization of biopolymers.

Outside of lab, Andrew is an avid reader who loves traveling around the city to explore different libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops.

Welcome Andrew!

07/27/2026

Are you attending the 2026 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) this week? https://bcce.divched.org/2026 We are proud to highlight two must-attend sessions co-led by our very own Dr. Tom Umile.

Mark your calendar for these fantastic green chemistry opportunities:

🗓️ Tuesday (7/28): Case Studies of Green Chemistry in the Classroom
Join Dr. Umile as he co-moderates this session exploring innovative, sustainable frameworks that bring real-world environmental solutions into the chemistry curriculum.

🗓️ Wednesday (7/29): Writing Green Chemistry Case Studies Workshop
Ready to develop your own curriculum? Dr. Umile is co-hosting this interactive, hands-on workshop to guide you through the process of authoring and implementing impactful green chemistry case studies for your students.

Whether you are looking for ready-to-use classroom materials or want to learn how to write your own, we hope to see you there!

Be sure to check out other amazing Green Chemistry and Sustainability programming sponsored by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute and Beyond Benign—Green Chemistry for a Sustainable Future.

07/27/2026

Justin Mitsch, Laboratory Coordinator, recently presented at the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers (NAOSMM) Annual Conference, sharing Villanova's approach to incident response and reporting. Dr. Eydiejo Kurchan, Lab Manager and part-time faculty member, also attended the conference, connecting with colleagues and learning about new ideas and best practices in laboratory operations and safety. www.naosmm.org
Thank you to Justin and Dr. Kurchan for representing Villanova and to all of our amazing staff members who help keep our laboratories running safely and smoothly every day.

07/17/2026

Dr Anthony Lagalante's research in the Vatican Catcombs was featured in the Villanova magazine - Congrats!

Villanova researchers use advanced imaging to uncover new insights into two ancient Roman frescoes

07/16/2026

Congratulations to the Palenchar lab on their recent publication! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42456964/