Eric Eitrheim

Eric Eitrheim serves as an Associate Professor within the Chemistry Department at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he has taught undergraduate courses including General Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry since joining the faculty in August 2017. His instructional responsibilities encompass both lecture and laboratory components across foundational and specialized chemistry curricula.

His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The University of Iowa (2017) and a B.A. in Chemistry from Luther College (2012), establishing expertise in both theoretical and applied chemical sciences. These qualifications underpin his dual research focus on chemical education and radiochemistry.

Dr. Eitrheim's research program investigates undergraduate chemistry learning experiences with particular emphasis on laboratory safety pedagogy and student success factors in general chemistry. Concurrently, his radiochemistry work addresses environmental radioactivity challenges, especially concerning Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) associated with unconventional energy extraction and nuclear waste streams. This interdisciplinary approach connects classroom instruction with real-world environmental and nuclear safety issues through publications spanning chemistry education journals and environmental radiochemistry outlets.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward interdisciplinary collaboration, with increasing focus on practical applications in nuclear waste management, energy sector environmental monitoring, and chemistry curriculum innovation. The work demonstrates strong integration of educational scholarship with technical radiochemistry research, often involving multi-institutional teams addressing complex challenges in nuclear materials analysis and chemical safety.

His scholarly contributions have received significant recognition:

• UCO CETTL 21st Century Pedagogy Institute Lifetime Teacher-Scholar (2021)
• UCO CETTL 21st Century Pedagogy Institute Distinguished Teacher-Scholar (2019-2021)
• UCO CETTL 21st Century Pedagogy Institute Teacher-Scholar (2018)
• VIPEr Fellowship funded by NSF IUSE grant (2018-2020)

Dr. Eitrheim's research activities are supported by external funding including the VIPEr Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, which advanced innovations in chemistry education methodology. His collaborative publication record indicates active mentorship of undergraduate researchers and participation in multi-institutional projects, though specific student advising details are not documented in available materials. His radiochemistry work implies access to specialized instrumentation for nuclear materials analysis within UCO's chemistry infrastructure or through partner institutions.