Michelle Nelson, Ph.D.

Faculty, CLI
Specialty: Chemistry
Phone: 507-258-8233
Fax: 507-258-8066
Office: 318 Commons
Email: mknelson@r.umn.edu

Just ASK Hours

Education

Ph. D., Department of Chemistry,
University of California San Diego, 2004
B.S., Colorado State University Pueblo, 1998

Background

I earned my Ph. D in Organic Chemistry in 2004. I then worked as a research scientist in the chemical industry for four years. At Itherx, a biotech company, I was part of an interdisciplinary team to synthesize viable drug targets for use in biological applications. My research focused on establishing structure-activity relationships and improving the solubility, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profiles of lead compounds. I also spent two years at ChemVentures,Inc., a contract research organization, where I prepared large libraries of small organic molecules. In 2009, I moved from sunny San Diego to the winter wonderland in La Crosse, WI. This move gave me the opportunity to pursue one of my many passions: teaching.

Teaching

My role as an educator is to captivate students’ attention by providing real-life applications and passion for the subject, to enhance comprehension through the use of technology, to encourage and support them in developing rigorous study skills, and to create a class environment of inclusiveness.

My favorite part of teaching has always been the one-on-one interaction with a student. I enjoy the aha moment when a student understands a difficult concept. UMR gives me the opportunity to interact at this level by incorporating many tutoring hours into my course load.

I have taught many chemistry courses including Introduction to the Periodic Table, Introduction to Physical Science, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry Lab. I also led discussion sections for General and Organic Chemistry. I have tutored students throughout my undergraduate and graduate career.

Select Publications and Abstracts

Giorgione, J.; Hysell, M.; Harvey, D.; Newton A. Contribution of the C1A and C1B Domains to the Membrane Interaction of Protein Kinase C. Biochemistry 42(38):11194, 2003.

Hysell, M.; Siegel, J.; Tor, Y. Synthesis and Stability of Exocyclic Triazine Nucleosides. Org. Biomol. Chem. 21(3): 2946, 2005.

Greco, N.; Hysell, M.; Goldenberg, J.; Rheingold, A.; Tor, Y. Alkyne-containing Chelating Ligands: Synthesis, Properties and Metal Coordination of 1,2-Di(quinolin-8-yl)ethyne. Dalton Trans., 18, 2228, 2006.

Macdonald, J.; Hysell, M. Yu, D.; Li, H.; Wang-Stahl, F. Novel Quinolinium Salts and Derivatives, Immusol, US patent 546171, 2008.

Falkenstein, I.; Cheng, L.; Wong-Staal, F.; Tammewar, A.; Barron, E.; Silva, G.; Li, Qi-Xiang, Y.; Dehua, Y.; Hysell, M.; Liu, G.; Ke, N.; Macdonald, J. and Freeman, W. Toxicity and Intraocular Properties of a Novel Long-Acting Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Angiogenic Compound IMS2186. Current Eye Research, 33(7), 599 (2008).

Macdonald, J.; Hysell, M.; (US). Dehua, Y; Ke, N.; Guohong, L.; Li, H. Wong-Staal, F. Novel 3-Benzylidene and 3-Benzyl Substituted Chromanones. World Intellectual Property Organization, 067451, 2008.