Julia Saloni

Julia Saloni serves as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Thomas College, bringing extensive expertise in computational chemistry and chemistry education. Her dedication to teaching has been recognized with the Teacher of the Year award at Jackson State University and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Wroclaw University of Technology. With over 15 years of experience teaching General Chemistry and 10 years in Organic Chemistry across traditional, hybrid, and online formats, she is a committed educator and mentor.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Jackson State University
• M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland

Research Interests: Dr. Saloni's research focuses on computational chemistry, particularly in molecular modeling and in-silico drug design, as well as innovative approaches to chemistry education. She has published on topics including nucleic acid-water interactions, cannabidiol targets for seizures, and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Her educational research emphasizes the integration of technology (simulations, virtual labs) and collaborative learning to support diverse student populations. She strongly advocates for undergraduate research, having co-authored five publications with students.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished Alumna Award, Wroclaw University of Technology (2016)
• Teacher of the Year, Jackson State University (2016/2017)
• Student Athlete Faculty Honoree, Jackson State University (2014)

Advising and Community Engagement: Dr. Saloni has mentored undergraduate students for over 15 years, guiding them in research projects and co-authoring publications. She actively participates in community outreach, delivering chemistry presentations at elementary schools and serving as a judge for science fairs. Her professional service includes reviewing scholarship applications for UW-Madison and providing translation services for JSU's International Programs.

Labs and Collaborations: She collaborates with researchers at Jackson State University and other institutions, as seen in her co-authored publications on diverse topics from electrocatalysis to bioimaging. Her work often involves interdisciplinary teams, including chemists, biologists, and materials scientists.