ProfessorSarah Masters

I teach all levels of tertiary Chemistry from introductory undergraduate students to graduate research students. My approach to teaching is to staircase the material and expectation of self-directed learning appropriate to the level of the students. However, the overarching theme is that of a role model. I want my students to be inspired, not only by the material that I impart to them but also in the attitude and enthusiasm that I bring to the subject. I aim towards an experiential approach, using scaffolding to enable students to direct their own learning pathways and develop good habits.

Taught courses:
100L – Introductory Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Mole Concept, Electromagnetic Radiation and Energy, Light Absorption and Emission, Electronic Configurations, Periodic Table Trends, Octet Rule, Electronegativity, VSEPR, Intermolecular Forces.

200L – Quantum Mechanics: Wave-particle Duality, Introduction to the Schrodinger Equation, Model Systems (Particle-On-A-Line, Harmonic Oscillator, Hydrogen Atom, Rigid Rotor), Applications of Quantum Models to Real Chemical Systems, Spectroscopy To Interrogate Quantum States – UV-Vis, IR, MW and PES.

200L – Symmetry and Structure: Symmetry Operations, Symmetry Elements, Molecular Point Groups, Symmetry Species, Polarity and Chirality, IR Spectra Analysis and Active Modes of Vibration, Symmetry of Molecular Orbitals.

300L – Applied Computational Methods: Molecular Mechanics, Semi-Empirical Methods, Density Functional Theory, ab Initio Methods, Basis Sets, Polarisation and Diffuse Functions, Process to Undertake Molecular Property Calculations, Applications in Experimental Techniques, Experimental Verification of Computational Methods.

400L – Advanced Characterisation Methods: MW Spectroscopy, Diffraction Methods (X-Ray, Neutron, Electron), Computational Methods, Combining Experimental and Computational Structural Information.

400L – Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanics: electronic spectroscopy (UV/Vis), electronic states, advanced applied quantum mechanics, prediction of molecular structure, interpretation of spectroscopic data.

400L – Characterisation Methods for Advanced Materials: Powder X-ray Diffraction, Electron Diffraction, UV-vis DRS, AFM, STM, XPS and XRF, and Electron Microscopy.

400L – Research Methods: How to – Give a Talk; Write a Literature Review; Critically Analyse Scientific Literature; Create and Present a Poster.