Biography
Michael Hay, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, teaches general chemistry lectures and laboratories, a chemistry course for non-STEM majors, and conducts research with undergraduate students.
Focused on student-centered teaching, Dr. Hay’s students study atoms and molecules. They gain broad familiarity of the language of chemistry and learn the proper use of chemical notation that is used to accurately imagine our world at the atomic and molecular level. Classes are a combination of engaging presentations and dialogues with students and hands-on exercises to practice chemistry either on paper or in the lab. Students looking to major in the sciences may also have the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research opportunities that will provide them with a strong foundation for a career in research.
Research Interests
- Synthetic inorganic chemistry, with a special focus on developing and characterizing new polyhedral oligomeric metallo-silsesquioxanes (POMSS) with the ability to catalyze the production of lactones that play an important role in pharmaceutical production.
- Chemical pedagogy
Publications
A list of publications is available on Dr. Hay's website.
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy, Chemistry, October 1998, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
Master of Science, Chemistry, January 1995, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry; May, 1990, Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH