About Us
We are dedicated teachers and active researchers who have experience in a wide range of disciplines within chemistry, physics and astronomy.
Our Approach
Several focus areas or concentrations are available within our Chemistry and Physical Sciences degree programs. Our chemistry degree program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), a mark of our commitment to the rigorous and comprehensive curriculum students will experience.
Students will work with faculty who have experience in a wide range of sub-disciplines within chemistry, physics, astronomy, forensics, and earth and space science, and are actively engaged in research. Students will be involved in research projects with faculty and collaborators at other universities, laboratories and observatories.
Our Opportunities
- Engaging classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction
- Access to state-of-the-art instrumentation
- Smaller student-to-faculty ratio that allows easy access to faculty members
- Opportunity to participate in undergraduate research
- Opportunity to work at national and international high energy physics facilities such as Fermi, CERN and Argonne National Lab
- Opportunity to observe and conduct research using the one of its kind robotic telescope in Northwest Indiana
- Paid undergraduate TA opportunities
- Scholarships for deserving students
- Free tutoring and supplemental instruction (SI) in certain courses
- Opportunities for social and service activities through the Chemistry and Physics Club, the College Ambassador’s Program, the regional Science Olympiad competition and outreach to local schools
- Opportunities of employment in companies in Northwest Indiana that rely on physical sciences
Our Faculty
![Adam Rengstorf is pictured.](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2021/09/Adam-235x235.jpeg)
Department Chair, Chemistry and Physics
(219) 989-2327
Hammond Campus, GYTE 252
![Reynaldo Barreto](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/ReynaldoBarreto_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Reynaldo (Rey) D. Barreto, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
(219) 785-5475
Westville Campus, SWRZ 311B
![PNW placeholder image](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/placeholder-png.png)
Khagendra Bhandari
Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
(219) 989-2618
Hammond Campus, GYTE 262
![Glynn E. Bricker, Ph.D.](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/glynn-bricker-previous.jpg)
Associate Professor of Physics
(219) 785-5452
Westville Campus, SWRZ 310
![James Dolen](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2023/03/James-Dolen-235x235.jpg)
Associate Professor of Physics
(219) 989-2260
Hammond Campus, GYTE 259
![Nicholas Ernst is pictured.](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2022/01/Nicholas-Ernst-2021-thumb-235x235.jpg)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
(219)-989-2282
Hammond Campus, GYTE 268
![Dawit Gizachew](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/02/DawitGizachew_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Associate Professor of Chemistry
(219) 989-2667
Hammond Campus, GYTE 274
![Farai Gombedza](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2023/02/Farai-Gombedza-235x235.jpg)
Farai C. Gombedza, M.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
(219) 989-2914
Hammond Campus, GYTE 270
![Meden F. Isaac-Lam, Ph.D.](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/meden-isaac-lam-previous.jpg)
Professor of Chemistry
(219) 785-5776
Westville Campus, SWRZ 311C
![Robert Kramer](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/RobertKramer_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Robert A. Kramer, Ph.D., CEM, CDSM, CEA
Professor of Physics
(219) 989-2147
Hammond Campus, SAB 069 & GYTE 271
![Neeti Parashar in front of CERN](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2024/04/NEETI_CERN.jpeg)
Professor of Physics; Director, Center for High Energy Physics
(219) 989-2722
Hammond Campus, POTT 126
![](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/libbie-pelter-previous.jpg)
Associate Professor of Chemistry
(219) 989-2780
Hammond Campus, Gyte 265
![Michael Pelter](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/MichaelPelter_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Associate Professor of Chemistry
(219) 989-2449
Hammond Campus, Gyte 277
![Kathryn Rowberg](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2023/03/Kathryn-Rowberg-235x235.jpg)
Kathryn L. Rowberg, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
(219) 989-2620
Hammond Campus, GYTE 267
![Charles Steele](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/CharlesSteele_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Lecturer of Physical Science
(219) 989-3185
Hammond Campus, GYTE 272
![Daniel Suson](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/DanielSuson_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Professor of Physics
(219) 989-2375
Hammond Campus, GYTE 269
![Aaron Warren](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/AaronWarren_Headshot_2019-235x235.jpg)
Associate Professor of Physics
(219) 785-5659
Westville Campus, SWRZ 309
Staff
![Izabella Jannotta](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2024/08/Jannottg-Izabela.jpg)
![Matthew Norton, M.S.](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/08/matthew-norton-2018.jpg)
Emeriti Faculty
![Purna C. Das](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2020/03/purna-c-das_faculty-bio-235x235.jpg)
![Laura Unger](https://www.pnw.edu/chemistry-physics/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2022/08/laura-unger-thumb.jpg)