Heidi Fletcher

Dr. Heidi Fletcher teaches general chemistry for science majors, biochemistry and physical chemistry courses.  She thoroughly enjoys connecting with students during her time with them in lab.  She advises biochemistry majors and serves as the chapter advisor for Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a national chemistry honor society.  She is an active member in the Northern West Virginia Local Section of the American Chemical Society and organizes local high school participants for the National Chemistry Olympiad.  Additionally, she serves on the Exam Committee for the American Chemical Society.

Her research interests cover a variety of areas.  Some current projects involve:

• developing analytical methods to measure low basal level neuropeptides involved in addiction
• improving the stability and solubility of the food spice curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties
• participating in the Distributed Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory (DPAL) that analyzes the quality of active ingredients in medicines given to sick people in developing countries; the drug her group analyzes is amoxicillin-clavulanate
• designing 3D printed microfluidic devices that can be used in biological applications

• She has expertise in HPLC, immunoassays and assay development, protein chemistry and purification techniques, mass spectrometry, microdialysis sampling, and organic synthesis.
• She enjoys practicing current chemical education pedagogy to enhance her teaching in the classroom.  She implements specifications grading in her classrooms to help students master material essential for their success in chemistry.

• B.S., Frostburg State University
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute