Jessica Epstein, Ph.D.
Department Chair & Professor of Chemistry
About Dr. Epstein
I received my B.S. in Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. I then completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at University of Maryland where I studied the mechanism of action for an experimental cancer drug. After graduate school, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, where I studied the interplay of DNA replication and the cell cycle. Before coming to Saint Peter’s University, I worked on DNA replication in bacteria at Merck Research Labs in Rahway, New Jersey.
“I absolutely love working at Saint Peter’s University. I think the students are great, and they are a pleasure to work with and teach. My approach to teaching is multifaceted, but at its core, I believe learning happens on an active level. I always encourage my students to do rather than simply receive information. Chemistry is a complex, abstract subject. A deeper level of understanding comes when students actively and in some cases collaboratively solve problems.”
“I absolutely love working at Saint Peter’s University. I think the students are great, and they are a pleasure to work with and teach. My approach to teaching is multifaceted, but at its core, I believe learning happens on an active level. I always encourage my students to do rather than simply receive information. Chemistry is a complex, abstract subject. A deeper level of understanding comes when students actively and in some cases collaboratively solve problems.”
Career & Accomplishments
Degrees
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•Harvard University, Postdoctoral Fellowship
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•University of Maryland, Ph.D. Biochemistry
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•Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S. Chemistry
Accomplishments
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•Reviewer for Journal of Chemical Education.
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•Reviewer for Advances in Nutrition and Food Science
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•Kenny Fellowship and Faculty Research Associate Award
Awards
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•Teaching Fellowship (Harvard University)
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•NRSA Fellowship
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•Alpha Chi Sigma
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•Gamma Sigma Epsilon
Publications
Freeing the Mole from the Kilogram: How the Redefinition of the Kilogram Shaped Our Definition of the Avogadro Number
Jessica Epstein, Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, 47 (2), pp 231-238, 2022
Splitting Patterns in 1H-NMR to Demonstrate a Reaction Mechanism
Jessica Epstein, Zanib Mian, Stephanie Rosales – Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education, 8 (1), pp 6-10, 2020
Anti-infection silver nanoparticle immobilized biomaterials facilitated by argon plasma grafting technology
A Ambi, N Parikh, C Vera, K Burns, N Montano, L Sciorra, J Epstein, D Zeng, C Traba – Biofouling, 2018
Drugs that Shaped the FDA: From Elixir Sulfanilamide to Thalidomide
J Epstein – Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, 2018
The Legacy of Tetraethyl Lead
J Epstein – Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, 2016
The Role of Chemistry in Global Security.
J Epstein – ACS Program in a Box (Webinar), 2016
Using Flavor Chemistry To Design and Synthesize Artificial Scents and Flavors
J Epstein, M Castaldi, G Pate, P Telidecki , k Karakkatt- Journal of Chemical Education, 2014
Stereochemistry of Drug Action: Case Studies With Enantiomers
J Epstein – Journal of College Science Teaching, 2012
Developing biofuel in the teaching laboratory: Ethanol from various sources
J Epstein, M Vieira, B Aryal, N Vera, – Journal of chemical Education, 2010
Weapons of Mass Destruction: It Is All about Chemistry
J Epstein – Journal of chemical education, 2009