Chris DeZutter, Ph.D.

Faculty, CLI
Specialty: Chemistry
Phone: 507-258-8222
Fax: 507-258-8066
Office: 318 Commons
Email: cdezutte@r.umn.edu

Just ASK Hours

Education

Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2010
B.S., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2001

Background

When I began my undergraduate studies, my academic interests were based in the humanities, and by the end of my first year, I had decided to major in philosophy. The next semester, I was fortunate enough to enroll in a chemistry course taught by a professor whose passion for the subject was matched by his dedication to teaching . As the semester progressed and my knowledge of chemical principles grew, I discovered that I was more excited about learning than ever before and that I felt “at home” academically. As surprising as this was to me, I was confident that I had found my calling.

As my interest in chemistry was sparked, so was my desire to teach. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry I became certified in secondary education and upon graduation, took a position at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois.

While I enjoyed teaching and working with students, I had a strong desire to deepen my knowledge of the subject, specifically in the area of organic chemistry. Thus, I returned to UIC and enrolled in a Ph.D program, ultimately completing my degree in 2010.

My graduate research was based in physical organic chemistry and included the kinetics of free radical reactions of various biomolecules, organic synthesis, and drug design.

Teaching

In addition to my high school teaching experience, as a graduate student I often served as a teaching assistant in organic chemistry courses. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with professors whose interest in their research was equal to their commitment to improving undergraduate education. As a result of this, I gained experience in implementing new curricula and innovations and I have seen the revitalizing effect this can have on a course.

When teaching organic chemistry, I aim to dispel the trepidation many students have about the course. While a challenging subject, studying organic chemistry is a valuable opportunity that is worthy of one’s time, as it offers insight into the “invisible” world of molecules we inhabit and how it affects us.

Select Publications and Abstracts

C. B. DeZutter; J. H. Horner; M. Newcomb. “Rate constants for cyclizations of alpha-hydroxy radical clocks.” Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2011, 9, 516-522.

C. B. DeZutter; J. H. Horner; M. Newcomb. “Rate constants for 1,5- and 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer reactions of mono-, di-, and tri-aryl-substituted donors, models for hydrogen atom transfers in polyunsaturated fatty acid radicals.” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2008, 112, 1891-1896.

F. Bickelhaupt; M. Newcomb; C. B. DeZutter.. “The Grignard Reagent Formation Reaction of 2-Chloro-1,1,1-triphenylethane Revisited.” European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2008, 36, 6225-6231..

A. K. Ghosh, T. Devasamudram, L. Hong, C. B. DeZutter, X. Xu, V. Weerasena, G. Koelsch, Geoffrey Bilcer, J. Tang. “Structure-based design of cycloamide–urethane-derived novel inhibitors of human brain memapsin 2 (β-secretase).” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2005, 15, 15-20.