Teaching
Teaching ranges from Introductory
Chemistry to advanced graduate courses in Solid State Chemistry, Physical
Inorganic Chemistry, Quantum Mechanics and Surface Spectroscopy.
Intermediate level courses include Chemical Physics and Bonding, and Radiation
and Structure which presents spectroscopy and chemical reactivity in a
unified manner in terms of the physical nature of the transitions, state
and term labels, selection rules and transition probabilities. Orbital
symmetry rules are expanded beyond those valid for non-degenerate systems
(the Woodward-Hoffmann rules) into the realm of reactions of open shells
with reactants, transition states and products in degenerate states which
redirect the reaction paths to "forbidden" products such as in catalyzed
reactions. Participates in the development and instruction of Physical
Chemistry Laboratory including electronic spectroscopy and scanning tunneling
microscopy.
Established and directs an
NSF-sponsored program in "Chemistry of Materials Synthesis and Processing",
a 5-year B.S./M.S. program which bridges undergraduate and graduate education.
Directed the Hewlett Grant Program for Freshmen and Sophomores in
Chemistry, Materials, Physics, Chemical Engineering, and Biosciences.
Chemical demonstrations in
introductory courses are designed, assembled, and published, e.g. "Diffraction
of a Laser Light by a Memory Chip," K. Klier and J.A. Taylor, J. Chem.
Ed., 68, 155 (1991). Advises undergraduate students
at all levels starting from Freshman class.