Dr. David Collins
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences
Dr. Collins currently serves as the Dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, and previously served as Chair of the Mathematics and Physical Sciences Department. He has been a member of the faculty at Franciscan University of Steubenville since 2013 and teaches courses in general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical science, materials science, and science education. Dr. Collins previously held a faculty position at SUNY College at Cortland, and was a high school science teacher for eight years. He received his PhD in Chemistry from Miami University (Ohio) and a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Ohio State University. He also holds a Texas Educator Certificate (teaching license) for secondary science.
- 2008; Ph.D., Chemistry – Miami University, Oxford, OH
- Dissertation: “Synthesis of heterobimetallic clusters and coordination
networks via hard-soft interactions” link
- Dissertation: “Synthesis of heterobimetallic clusters and coordination
- 1998; Houston Baptist University, Houston, TX: Graduate coursework: education technology, curriculum development
- 1997; University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX: Graduate coursework: education theory and practice
- 1995; B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, with Honors, summa cum laude – Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Honors thesis: “Synthesis and characterization of ceramic-based NOx sensors”
Academic Appointments
- Franciscan University of Steubenville (2013-present)
- Dean, School of Natural and Applied Sciences (2023-present)
- Chair, Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (2022-2023)
- Chair, Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering (2015-2022)
- Professor (2017-present)
- Associate Professor (2013-2017)
- Currently teaching Inorganic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Practicum in Science Education
- Experience teaching General Physics, General/Organic/Biochemistry Chemistry, University Physics, Intro to Physical Science
- State University of New York College at Cortland (2008-2013)
- Assistant Professor
- General Chemistry I & II lecture and laboratory, Inorganic Chemistry,
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Advanced Synthesis, Advanced
Laboratory I & II
- General Chemistry I & II lecture and laboratory, Inorganic Chemistry,
- General Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator (2011-2013)
- Assistant Professor
Other Teaching Experience
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (2003-2007)
Miami University, Oxford OH- Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, General Chemistry I & II Laboratory
- Secondary Science Teacher (2002-2003)
Colerain High School, Northwest Local School District, Cincinnati OH Physics,- Physical/Earth Science
- Secondary Science Teacher (1995-2002)
Stephen F. Austin High School, Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land TX Advanced Placement- Chemistry II, Advanced Placement Physics II, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physical Science
Research & Field Experience
- Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville OH (2017-present)
Ohio EPA grant
Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Upper Ohio Valley
Co-PI (with Dr. Eric Haenni, Biological Science); data collection and daily
operations for four air quality monitoring stations in the upper Ohio valley - Miami University, Oxford OH (2003-2008)
Graduate Research Assistant- Chemistry Education:
- Co-PI, “Symmetry and crystallography in the high-school chemistry classroom.” Designed lesson materials and taught one week of high school
classes
- Co-PI, “Symmetry and crystallography in the high-school chemistry classroom.” Designed lesson materials and taught one week of high school
- Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry
- Synthesis and characterization of heterobimetallic paddlewheel clusters
- Rational synthesis of metal-organic framework materials containing multiple
metal species - Evaluation of hydrogen storage in metal-organic frameworks and
microporous materials - Organic ligand synthesis
- Lab manager for research group of ~15 students and post-doctoral researchers
- Directly supervised 3 undergraduate and 2 high school students
- Chemistry Education:
- Center for Chemistry Education, Miami University-Middletown, Middletown OH (2003)
Graduate Research Assistant- Chemistry Education:
- Develop and evaluate activities for middle-school-age science
enrichment programs
- Develop and evaluate activities for middle-school-age science
- Chemistry Education:
- Society of Catholic Scientists, 2018-present
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 2004–present
- Pittsburgh Local Section
- Division of Chemistry Education, Division of Inorganic Chemistry
- Texas Educator Certificate, Secondary Science Composite (Grades 6-12), 1996-present
(inactive) - Texas Educator Certificate, Secondary Mathematics (Grades 6-12), 2002-2007
- Ohio Teaching License (Provisional), AYA Comprehensive Science, 2002-2003
Select Publications
- QR CODES IN THE GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY”
“QR codes in the general chemistry laboratory.” D. J. Collins, T. Lee.239th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA (April 2013) - “SYMMETRY AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY CLASSROOM.”
“Symmetry and crystallography in the high school chemistry classroom.” Collins, D. J.; Grove, N. P.; Guerin, N. P.;Bretz, S. L.; Zhou, H.-C. J. Chem. Ed., 2009, 86, 946. - “HYDROGEN STORAGE IN METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS”
“Hydrogen storage in metal-organic frameworks.” Collins, D. J.; Zhou, H.-C. J. Mater. Chem., 2007, 17, 3154.
Full List
- “IRON-SULFUR MODELS OF PROTEIN ACTIVE SITES.”
“Iron-sulfur models of protein active sites.” Collins, D. J.; Zhou, H.-C. In Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed.; King, R. B.,Ed.; Wiley: New York, 2006.
