Chemistry PhD & Experienced Professor | Making Chemistry Click

Kiersten G.

I am a Ph.D. chemist and experienced college professor who believes science becomes easier to learn when it stops feeling abstract. I earned my Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Kansas and my B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Sweet Briar College. My background includes chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience, and biomedical research.

From 2024–2026, I was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The Citadel, where I taught General Chemistry I and II, Biochemistry I and II, Introduction to Chemistry, and laboratory courses. I have taught students from introductory college chemistry through advanced undergraduate courses and independent research.

My teaching philosophy starts with questions. When a student struggles, I want to understand how they are approaching the problem, what they already know, and where things stop making sense. Rather than simply giving the answer, I use questions to help students make connections and develop skills they can use independently.

I also enjoy making intimidating or abstract material more approachable. In my classroom, I have used ice cream to explore lipid chemistry, drawn metabolic pathways in chalk, incorporated amino-acid games, and used debates, flow charts, clinical examples, and collaborative activities. Sometimes a student needs practice problems; other times they need to draw it, talk it through, use an analogy, or turn it into a game.

I especially enjoy helping students move beyond memorization and understand why something happens. For example, instead of only memorizing an enzyme's function, we can explore what happens when it stops working and how that affects the rest of a pathway.

I tutor General Chemistry, Biochemistry, introductory chemistry, laboratory concepts, and related biomedical sciences. My goal is for students to leave understanding not just the answer, but why it works and how to approach the next problem themselves.