Tag Archives: chemistry

Academic Spotlight: Chemistry

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PUC’s department of chemistry is known for students receiving high MFT (Major Field Test) and ACS (American Chemical Society) standardized exams and offering incredible research opportunities, year after year. Students are well prepared to go into a variety of fields, including those in medical, dental, pharmacy; as well as graduate and other M.D./Ph.D programs.

Programs offered:

  • B.A., B.S. in Chemistry
  • B.S. in Biochemistry

Special Recognition

In 2017, students voted and selected Dr. Kent Davis for the prestigious annual Educator of the Year award. Davis has taught at the college since 2002 and serves as a professor of chemistry, and is one of the college’s beloved professors, as is evident by this award.

Check out our Q&A with Dr. Davis on the Admissions blog to get to know him a little more!

Fast Facts

  1. The department provides courses suitable for pre-professional curricula including pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-dental hygiene, pre-nursing, allied health, and more.
  2. More than 30 students are employed in the department of chemistry each year as lab instructors, stockroom assistants, readers, computer specialists, and tutors, helping students gain valuable real-life skills they can apply to future careers.
  3. Science Presentations And Research for Kids, or SPARK, is a program that connects PUC students with local elementary, middle, and high school students under the umbrella of science. The idea is to send small groups of PUC students into schools to give age-appropriate demonstrations and explanations of various aspects of science. SPARK is supported and sponsored by professor Aimee Wyrick, chair of the department of biology, and Dr. Kent Davis, chair of the department of chemistry, who help the students coordinate with local schools and oversee the demonstrations provided.
  4. The chemistry department’s state-of-the-art microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer (MPAES) can measure the amount of over 60 elements in many types of samples and is sensitive enough to detect one part in a billion. And unlike most schools, you can use this machine in labs yourself—no waiting around for a TA to do it.

What You Can Do With This Major

Chemistry is a popular choice among students looking to go into the medical field but it also offers career paths in research and many other areas.

  • Dentistry
  • Environmental chemist
  • Forensic chemist
  • Medicine
  • Patent lawyer
  • Pharmacist
  • Quality control chemist
  • Research chemist
  • Scientific information services
  • Teacher
  • Veterinarian

Learn more about the department of chemistry at puc.edu/academics. Our team of admissions counselors can answer any questions you have about PUC’s chemistry programs, or the other majors the college offers. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor now and start learning about all the options available to you!

#FacultyFriday: Meet Marie Pak

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Dr. Marie Pak, professor in the department of chemistry, has been teaching at PUC for close to two decades, since 1999. She specializes in biochemistry and spent six years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland. She enjoys reading, going to state fairs, and watching movies. Let’s spend a few minutes getting to know Dr. Pak!

Name: Dr. Marie Pak
Title: Professor of Chemistry
Email: mpak@puc.edu
Faculty since:  1999

Classes taught: Introductory Chemistry, Survey of Organic Chemistry, Survey of Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biochemistry Lab

Education: B.S. in Biochemistry from Indiana University, M.S. and Ph.D. in Developmental and Molecular Biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine

What made you decide to be a teacher?  

Teaching allowed me to share my passion for chemistry and to have time for my son.

What are some of your hobbies?  

I enjoy cooking, watching documentaries, reading, going to state fairs, and nurturing plants.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?  

I know some NASCAR trivia.

What’s your favorite thing about PUC?  

PUC’s serene environment and its trees.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?  

Chan Shun 328 laboratory with windows.

What’s your favorite movie? (pick one)

“Seven Samurai”

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?  

Follow your heart when choosing your major.

Professional activities (Note: Only the most recent three in each category are listed.)

Publications

  1. Pak, J.R. Hoskins, S.K. Singh, M. Maurizi, and S. Wickner (1999).  Concurrent chaperone and protease activities of ClpAP and the requirement for the N-terminal ClpA ATP binding site for chaperone activity.  The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 274, 19316-19322.
  2. Anderson, L. Phan, R. Cuesta, B.A. Carlson, M. Pak, K. Asano, G.R. Bjork, M. Tamame, and A.G. Hinnebusch (1998).  The essential Gcd10p-Gcd14p nuclear complex is required for 1-methyladenosine modification and maturation of initiator methionyl-tRNA.  Genes Dev., 12, 3650-3662.

Presentations

  1. Pak and S. Wickner (1996).  Molecular chaperone function of ClpA in plasmid P1 RepA activation and degradation. Protein folding and assembly in the cell, FASEB summer research conference, July 27-Aug 1, Saxtons River, Vermont.
  2. Pak, H. Pelka, I. Willis, and L.H. Schulman (1993).  In vivostudy of E. colitRNATrpidentity.  15th international tRNA workshop, May 30-June 4, Cap d’Agde, France.

#FacultyFriday: Meet Denise Lee-Haye

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Dr. Denise Lee-Haye is today’s #FacultyFriday feature. Dr. Lee-Haye spent her college years on the east coast, so with her time here at PUC she has become acquainted with the culture of the west coast, as well. With several professional presentations under her belt, she is well-equipped and comfortable at the front of the classroom, and she enjoys imparting chemistry knowledge and experience to anyone and everyone. Let’s get to know Dr. Lee-Haye!

Name: Dr. Denise Lee-Haye
Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry
Email: dleehaye@puc.edu
Faculty since: 2011

Classes taught: General Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Science & Chemistry Seminars

Education: Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Connecticut College; Ph.D. in biochemistry, University of Connecticut

What made you decide to be a teacher?
I like to teach what I know, to those who need or want to learn it. I had experience doing that and teaching jobs were coming to my attention even before I was looking for any.  

What are some of your hobbies?
Fixing delicious foods, hiking, and finding scenic locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
I’m Jamaican and I have both Asian and African heritage.

What’s your favorite thing about PUC?
Its location in the Napa Valley and the opportunity it gives for meaningful relationships with others.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
The college’s back 40 property.

What’s your favorite song?
I love songs about Jesus’ birth— anytime and all year long!

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Ask God for wisdom in everything. Take your teachers’ advice seriously. Test it so you can learn exactly what they mean. It’s worth getting to bed early. Get up in time to have breakfast and don’t forget to drink enough water and get some exercise outdoors. Then hopefully you’ll sleep well and think well!