Chemistry and biochemistry

Professor of chemistry and biochemistry

Specialties:

Chemistry and biochemistry, Organic synthesis, Pharmaceuticals, Food chemistry, Spectroscopy, Science education

Bio:

Jeffrey Hansen focuses his research on organic synthesis and developing chemical reactions that can be used in synthesis. His research is related to the pharmaceutical industry and the many drug compounds made through organic synthesis (organic means molecules of carbon). He makes molecules and tests them for biological activity.  Also, he is developing a Web app to help with teaching spectroscopy, which is used in the organic synthesis research.

Hansen, who teaches a course on Food Chemistry, is active in science outreach in the community. He collaborates with a seventh-grade teacher at Greencastle Middle School to engage students in food chemistry experiments – such as creating dippin' dots by dripping an ice cream mixture into liquid nitrogen, or creating mint caviar by dripping a mint solution into a cold vegetable oil.