
Katherine (Katie) Smith
Department/Office Information
ChemistryContact
My broad teaching experience includes general, organic, organometallic, and analytical chemistry, as well as chemical instrumentation and bioinorganic chemistry. I am dedicated to building a learning environment in my classroom, office hours, and via email that makes students comfortable enough to ask questions, and to keep asking questions until they understand. So often students will come up and say “sorry, I have a quick question.” But not knowing something is nothing to apologize for. If they knew everything already, they wouldn’t be taking the class. The experience of learning can be fun and fulfilling, and I strive to make that the chemistry experience my students have.
My research experience includes organic and inorganic synthesis and analysis of pyridinophane-type macrocycles, metalation with transition metals, and thorough analysis of macrocycles and metal complexes, resulting in multiple publications. My new research interests include the development of new 5-HT1a agonists as drugs to increase SSRI anti-depressant efficacy, and development of organometallic pincer complexes as catalysts for nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions. I believe humility and a willingness to learn from all sources are key to scientific discovery. I am deeply application-motivated and passionate about working to improve our society and planet through targeted chemistry.