Laura Van Dorn

Laura Van Dorn is an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Bemidji State University (1999) and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Arizona (2004). Her postdoctoral research included studies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (2004-2006) and Radiology (2006-2008).

Her teaching focuses on general chemistry, emphasizing applications in nutrition, drug interactions, and environmental science. She employs pedagogical strategies to enhance pattern recognition and predictive reasoning. Her research explores student learning approaches and their impact on academic success, alongside collaborative studies on educational strategies in STEM.

Her research interests span inorganic chemistry, particularly metal-metal bonded complexes, and biochemistry, with a focus on protein structure and evolution. Notable contributions include work on low ionization energy molecules and photoelectron spectroscopy.