Shawn Montag

Education

Ed. D. Upper Education Administration

M.S., Chemistry, Purdue University B.A., Chemistry, University of Minnesota – Morris

Biography

Professor Montag earned a B.A. in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota – Morris. During his undergraduate career, he performed research under Dr. Zack Mensinger on the synthesis, modification, and experimentation of metal-organic frameworks known as Tb-MesoMOF, HKUST-1, and MOF-5 and analyzed their adsorption properties with the overarching goal of studying the Amyloid Beta protein and research on Alzheimer’s Disease. He then went to Purdue University, where his Master’s research was done under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Uyeda, in the areas of Organometallic Chemistry, Synthesis, and Catalysis. His overarching research projects were on the synthesis of potential scaffolds that could possibly support unsaturated and reactive metal-metal bonds and on the development of synthetic strategies for utilizing vinylidenes in C—H sp3 insertion reactions. Professor Montag started at Bradley University in 2018. Professor Montag is currently pursuing his Educational Doctorate degree from Bradley University.

Teaching

Professor Montag is passionate about teaching chemistry as a tool to help students shape the future. He has expertise teaching in the areas of Catalysis, Sustainability, and Organic Chemistry. His current primary responsibilities focus on the organic chemistry laboratory experience, including coordinating, preparing, and creating organic chemistry labs. Some of his current courses include:

• Organic Chemistry I and II (CHM 252 and CHM 256)
• Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and II (CHM 253 and CHM 257)
• Concepts of Organic Chemistry (CHM 250)

Scholarship

Professor Montag’s current research interests focus on Chemistry Education.

Area 1: This research area focusses on comparing and contrasting how expository, traditional laboratory teaching styles affect student perceptions of their learning versus how guided-inquiry laboratory teaching styles affect student perceptions of their learning. These specific pedagogical approaches are important in shaping the students’ learning experiences in organic chemistry.

Area 2: This research area focusses on developing novel first semester organic chemistry labs that seek to better promote content retention, confidence, and communication skills.

Area 3: This research area focusses on developing novel, multi-week organic chemistry laboratory projects seeking to also promote content retention, confidence, and communication skills in the laboratory. Current projects include natural product synthesis, fragrance chemistry, forensics, catalysis, green chemistry, organometallics, and organic methodology development.

Service