Michelle Pillers

Michelle Pillers, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Saint Louis University, part of the School of Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on chemical education, inorganic chemistry, and surface chemistry, with notable contributions to nanotechnology and materials science. Dr. Pillers teaches CHEM 1480 - Principles of Chemistry 2 and is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building at SLU.

**Education:**

• Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Notre Dame (2017)
• B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Biology, Southern Methodist University (2012)

**Research Interests:**
Dr. Pillers explores the intersection of nanotechnology and materials science, particularly in DNA origami templating for silicon carbide replication and functionalized graphene applications. Her work bridges surface chemistry and educational methodologies to enhance analytical techniques in chemistry education. Recent projects include label-free protein detection platforms and thermal stability studies of nanostructures.

**Professional Affiliations:**

• American Chemical Society
• Association for Women in Science

Her research emphasizes practical applications in energy efficiency, drug detection, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Future work includes expanding nanomaterial patterning techniques and advancing STEM educational tools.