Chemistry Department

We are your academic ʻohana. We teach the vast majority of courses, using best practices from education research.

Education and Research

  • Chester Dabalos, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
    • Primary Discipline: Spectroscopy.
    • Research: Agricultural Chemistry.
    • Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Mphil in Chemistry, University of Cambridge.
  • Mazen Hamad, Professor of Chemistry
    • Primary Discipline: Analytical Chemistry.
    • Research: Pharmaceutical systems.
    • Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Washington.
  • Erica Honda, Educational Specialist, Chemistry
    • Education: B.S. in Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
  • Jon-Pierre “JP” Michaud, Associate Professor of Chemistry (Retired); Affiliate Professor, TCBES
    • Primary Discipline: Toxicology.
    • Research: Environmental chemistry.
    • Education: Ph.D. in Pharmacology, University of Arizona.
  • Matthew Platz, Professor of Chemistry
  • Eunice Plomaritis, Lecturer, Chemistry
    • Disciplines: General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratories.
    • Education: B.S. in Chemistry, Indiana University - North Western.
  • Kathryn Strong, Lecturer, Chemistry
    • Disciplines: Chemistry and Society, Survey of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Chemistry Laboratories.
    • Education: M.S. in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Hilo.
  • Jodie Tokihiro, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
    • Primary Discipline: Microfluidics and Analytical Chemistry.
    • Research: Developing open-channel microfluidic devices for environmental and remote sampling in Hawaii.
    • Education: B.S. in Chemistry-Biosciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo; M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Washington.
  • Simona Văduvescu, Instructor, Chemistry
    • Primary Discipline: Organic Chemistry Laboratories.
    • Education: MS in Chemistry, York University; MS in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo.