Janie Salmon

Janie Salmon
Lecturer, 2012-Present
University of Minnesota
Host: Professor Michelle Driessen

Abstract

Organic Chemistry Teaching Candidate

First discovered by Otto Diels and Kurt Alder in 1928, the Nobel-Prize winning Diels–Alder reaction is a cycloaddition reaction that has been widely applied in organic chemistry. This atom-economical reaction can be used to introduce chemical complexity in the synthesis of new molecules, including drug molecules and natural products. A conjugated diene and a substituted alkene react intermolecularly or intramolecularly to form a substituted cyclohexene derivative. In this 20 minute mock lecture, Janie will introduce the Diels-Alder reaction and explain the mechanism and stereochemistry of the products formed.

Following the mock lecture, Janie will turn to a discussion focussed on her vision for how she might address observations of grade disparities between groups holding a variety of marginalized identities. Data demonstrating these disparities are consistent in introductory STEM courses at many institutions around the country, including the University of Minnesota and including general chemistry. Similar grade disparities are also found in subsequent courses. Janie will describe her vision of how to close gaps observed, with a particular focus on the large lecture modality (i.e., 200-350 students).

Janie Salmon

Janie Salmon has been teaching at the University of Minnesota since 2012. She earned her B.S. at Kansas State University, where she worked on crystal engineering of boronic acids and cyanophenyloximes. As an undergraduate, she was an active member of the Alpha Chi Sigma chemistry fraternity and organized the undergraduate symposium of the 2004 Midwest Regional ACS meeting. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in 2011, investigating the chemical biology of nitrogen oxides. During this time, she was a Cancer Research Training Award Fellow and NIH/NIAA Predoctoral Fellow. She also worked on-site for collaborative projects at NIH/NCI and the University of Kansas Medical Center. After a postdoctoral stint studying model complexes of copper metalloenzymes with Bill Tolman, she transitioned to teaching full time at the U in 2013. She regularly teaches a range of courses, including General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I, Advanced Inorganic Laboratory, and a Chemistry in the Kitchen freshman seminar. Her interests include implementing evidence-based teaching methods and leveraging digital tools to improve student learning outcomes. She credits her interest in Chemistry to past educators and mentors and is passionate about enhancing scientific literacy and engagement among students.