Programs
Undergraduate
Degree Type: BS
Collaborating in Chemistry for Modern Advancements
New medicines, materials, cleaner fuels, innovative criminal lab procedures, and so much more of modern life depends on advancements in the diverse fields of Chemistry. So if you’re looking for an exciting and challenging scientific career, start by exploring the Chemistry and Biochemistry program at Ashland University.
Undergraduate
Degree Type: BS
Digging Deeper into the World
Do you have a passion for the great outdoors? Pursue this passion in the Geology program at Ashland University.
When you study geological sciences at Ashland University, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for our physical world, its tumultuous past and current activity, and as its precious natural resources.
Undergraduate
Degree Type: BS, B.S.Ed
Becoming a Geology Business Leader
Do you want to be part of a brand new major that blends geoscience and business?
Ashland University recognizes there is a current gap in the geoscience industry: geologists know little about the business aspects of their professional and people in business have limited understanding of geology.
You can fill this gap by enrolling in the Geoscience Technology and Management program at Ashland University, a new interdisciplinary major that prepares you to enter the geoscience industry as a geologist and/or manager or an advanced educational program.
Undergraduate
Degree Type: BS, BSED
Furthering Our Physical World
Are you interested in exploring the mysteries of our world and universe? Consider the Physics program at Ashland University.
As the foundation of all other sciences, physics covers everything from the universe’s largest galaxies to the tiniest subatomic particles. Ashland University’s Physics program allows you explore the fundamental scientific challenges of our day in order to make an impact in our changing world.
Undergraduate
Degree Type: BS
Educating a Scientific Youth
Do you have a passion for teaching and want to introduce young minds to the wonders of science? Ashland University’s teacher-training program is highly regarded as one of the best in Ohio. When you graduate with a degree in any of our science education majors, you’ll be licensed to teach grades 7-12 and can expect to obtain a teaching position following graduation.
Curriculum
Faculty & Staff
Dr. Robert Bergosh
Associate Professor of Chemistry
422 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5871 / rbergosh@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
422 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5871 / rbergosh@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Steven Boyer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
130, Kettering Science Building
419.289.5497 / sboyer5@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
130, Kettering Science Building
419.289.5497 / sboyer5@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Nigel Brush
Professor of Geology
421 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5271 / nbrush@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department , Environmental Science Program
421 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5271 / nbrush@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department , Environmental Science Program
Dr. Rebecca Corbin
Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
423 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5268 / rcorbin@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
423 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5268 / rcorbin@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Perry Corbin
Professor of Chemistry
420 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5269 / pcorbin@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
420 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5269 / pcorbin@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Rodney Michael
Associate Professor of Physics
206 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5272 / rmichael@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
206 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5272 / rmichael@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Brian Mohney
Professor of Chemistry
417 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5962 / bmohney@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
417 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5962 / bmohney@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Trina Mohney
Professional Instructor
415 , Kettering Science Building
419.207.4526 / tmohney@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
415 , Kettering Science Building
419.207.4526 / tmohney@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department
Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer
Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
419 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5281 / jweiden@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department , Environmental Science Program
419 , Kettering Science Building
419.289.5281 / jweiden@ashland.edu
Chemistry, Geology and Physics Department , Environmental Science Program
Science News
Ashland Toxicology and Forensic Biology major receives Ohio EPA scholarship
Senior Maria Kern is the latest AU Science student to receive a $2500 scholarship from the Ohio EPA’s Environmental Education Fund. Maria has conducted environmental science research as part of our University’s water monitoring program at our Black Fork wetlands preserve. More recently she has started a new research project with chemistry professor Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer. In the summer of 2018 Maria was part of the field research internship program at Central Michigan University. Maria is also a member of the University’s honors program and a Choose Ohio First scholar.
Maria writes about her new scholarship:
Winning the 2019 OEEF Scholarship was a great start to my senior year. This award provides valuable scholarship opportunities which allow natural science students with experience in environmental research to continue their education. This award will allow me to focus more fully on my classes and research without having to worry about covering the cost of books or any tuition not covered by other scholarships. Additional focus on my research will increase the quality of my capstone which I will be defending in the spring, and may create new job opportunities for me after graduation.
Maria is the 24th Ashland University science student to be chosen for the Ohio EPA scholarship since 2006, including four just last year....Read more
Maria writes about her new scholarship:
Winning the 2019 OEEF Scholarship was a great start to my senior year. This award provides valuable scholarship opportunities which allow natural science students with experience in environmental research to continue their education. This award will allow me to focus more fully on my classes and research without having to worry about covering the cost of books or any tuition not covered by other scholarships. Additional focus on my research will increase the quality of my capstone which I will be defending in the spring, and may create new job opportunities for me after graduation.
Maria is the 24th Ashland University science student to be chosen for the Ohio EPA scholarship since 2006, including four just last year....Read more
A Summer of Mammoths
Over the summer, Dr. Nigel Brush, Professor of Geology, has been kept busy identifying various rocks, fossils, and human artifacts exposed by recent heavy rains and flash floods here in NE Ohio. While this summer’s heavy rains were not good for farmers, as well as some home owners living near streams, it was a windfall for geologists and archaeologists as nature accidentally revealed some of the ancient treasures buried beneath the earth’s surface.
Mammoth tooth found at the Inn at Honey RunThe fossil that has generated the greatest interest was a mammoth tooth found by a twelve-year-old boy in a stream bed near the Inn at Honey Run, located a few miles outside the town of Millersburg in Holmes County. Nigel confirmed that this large tooth was indeed a mammoth tooth. He and Jeff Dilyard (a member of the Ashland/Wooster/Columbus Archaeological and Geologic Consortium) subsequently visited the Inn to examine the tooth and the find location. With permission from the Inn owner, Jason Niles, they surveyed the stream bed and banks upstream from the find site, but found no additional mammoth teeth or bones.
Two types of mammoth lived in Ohio during the Ice Age: Woolly Mammoth and Jefferson Mammoth. These mammoths had four large teeth (two upper and two lower). As the ridges on each tooth wore down by grinding grasses and small seeds, the tooth was shoved forward in the jaw by a new tooth until the old tooth fell out. Over their lifetime of 60-80 years, a mammoth would have six complete sets of teeth. Therefore, a single mammoth might lose some 20 teeth before developing its final set of teeth.
Another member of the elephant family that lived in Ohio during the Ice Age was the American Mastodon. Mastodons were slightly smaller than...Read more
Ashland Toxicology major receives travel award to national meeting
Ashland University Toxicology, Biology, and Environmental Science triple-major Shelby Reutter recently attended the national meeting of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) in Baltimore, Maryland with support from the society's Undergraduate Diversity Program Travel Award. This travel program provides full support for travel and housing to the annual SOT meeting and a program designed for undergraduate students to learn about careers in toxicology. Shelby is the fifth of our students since 2010 to receive this award.
Shelby had the following to say about her experience at the meeting:
The Society of Toxicology meeting was a wonderful experience. I had the opportunity to listen to various professionals within the field of Toxicology (in industry, academia, and government) and it really expanded my knowledge of the whole area. Throughout the program I met with other undergraduate and graduate students and got a better understanding of potential career paths I could take. At the expo I was able to see other students' research projects, I met with companies throughout America that hire people with a toxicology background, and I gathered a lot of information about graduate school options.Soon after returning from the meeting Shelby secured a paid summer internship with drug safety testing firm Charles River Laboratory here in Ashland, Ohio, and will continue working there part-time this Fall.
The SOT is taking applications for this coming Spring's travel award program, with materials due October 18th. You can find details here. If you are interested in applying you should contact Dr. Mason Posner in the Bio/Tox Department.
...Read more
Shelby had the following to say about her experience at the meeting:
The Society of Toxicology meeting was a wonderful experience. I had the opportunity to listen to various professionals within the field of Toxicology (in industry, academia, and government) and it really expanded my knowledge of the whole area. Throughout the program I met with other undergraduate and graduate students and got a better understanding of potential career paths I could take. At the expo I was able to see other students' research projects, I met with companies throughout America that hire people with a toxicology background, and I gathered a lot of information about graduate school options.Soon after returning from the meeting Shelby secured a paid summer internship with drug safety testing firm Charles River Laboratory here in Ashland, Ohio, and will continue working there part-time this Fall.
The SOT is taking applications for this coming Spring's travel award program, with materials due October 18th. You can find details here. If you are interested in applying you should contact Dr. Mason Posner in the Bio/Tox Department.
...Read more
AU grad receives prestigious Yeager Award
Corianna Borton ’19 (center) with adviser Dr. Brian Mohney (center left) and co-adviser Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer (center right).May 2019 AU graduate Corianna Borton was selected as the recipient of this year’s Ernest B. Yeager award by the Cleveland Chapter of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) and the Analytical Topics Group of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Yeager Award honors the memory of Ernest B. Yeager, the Frank Hovorka Professor Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University who was known for his pioneering contributions to the fundamental understanding of electrochemical reactions and to the development of fuel cell and battery technology.The award was presented on May 22nd at the annual Conference on Spectroscopy and Analytical Chemistry at John Carroll University, where Borton gave a presentation of her research that has focused on collecting, separating and analyzing plant root exudates (harmala alkaloids) from Syrian rue in soil using silicone tube microextraction probes—a technique for repeated sampling of lipophilic compounds in soil developed in Dr. Mohney’s and Dr. Weidenhamer’s lab. Syrian Rue releases molecules into the soil that affect the growth of other plants in the vicinity and negatively impact organisms that live in the soil near the plant. Borton’s technique utilized silicone probes to sequester and concentrate lipophilic organic compounds allowing her to quantify the root and soil alkaloids. Once sequestered, compounds were extracted from the silicone and the concentration of each compound was measured using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), fluorescence spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography with UV and fluorescence detection. She has used these techniques to probe the dynamic release of harmala alkaloids from plants and to examine the effect the alkaloids have on monocot and dicot plants. The Yeager award recognizes Borton’s achievements in independent research, particularly in the application of spectroscopy to the...Read more
