Julia Chamberlain

Dr. Chamberlain completed her doctorate in solid state inorganic chemistry at Northwestern University in 2010 and went on to postdoc in Chemical Education Research with the PhET Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Chamberlain's postdoctoral research included simulation interface design, the effects of guidance on students' simulation interaction and pedagogical roles and best practices for simulation use in large lecture learning environments. Prior to joining UC Davis, she piloted SKIES, an interactive tablet-based platform for student learning, as a tool in her general chemistry lecture.

Dr. Chamberlain's research is motivated by the questions, "Why is learning chemistry hard, and how can we make it easier?" As a specialist in education technology, she pursues integration of transformative technologies into all levels of her teaching and enjoys engaging faculty peers in discussing new uses of technology for student engagement learning chemistry. At UC Davis, she is currently working with a team to develop a new chemistry course series, Chemistry for Life Sciences, which includes an integrated general and organic chemistry curriculum, active learning and student-centered pedagogies.

Education, Awards and Professional Highlights

• Appointed to UC Davis faculty (2015)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Colorado Boulder (2011-2014)
• Ph.D. Northwestern University (2010)
• Donald E. Smith Award for Excellence in 300-Level Teaching, Northwestern University (2009)
• B.A. Reed College (2003)

Representative Publications

• J. M. Chamberlain, K. Lancaster, R. Parson, K. K. Perkins, “How guidance affects student engagement with an interactive simulation” Chemistry Education Research & Practice, 15, 628–638. DOI: 10.1039/C4RP00009A (2014)
• E. B. Moore, J. M. Chamberlain, R. Parson, K. K. Perkins, “PhET Interactive Simulations: Transformative tools for teaching and learning chemistry” Journal of Chemical Education, 91 (8), 1191–1197. DOI: 10.1021/ed4005084 (2014)
• T. M. Clark, J. M. Chamberlain, “Use of a PhET interactive simulation in general chemistry laboratory: Models of the hydrogen atom” Journal of Chemical Education, 91 (8), 1198–1202. DOI: 10.1021/ed400454p (2014)
• J. M. Chamberlain, T. A. Albrecht, J. Lesage, F. Sauvage, C. L. Stern, K. R. Poeppelmeier, “Crystal Growth of the Silver Transition Metal Oxide Fluorides Ag3MOxF6−x (M = V, x = 2; M = Mo, x = 3)” Crystal Growth & Design, 10, 4868–4873. DOI: 10.1021/cg100890e (2010)