About The Lab
Professor Eric Villa is originally from southwest Minnesota, completed his B.A. in Chemistry from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD (ACS Chemistry, 2006), then completed his Ph.D. under the guidance of Professor William H. Casey at the University of California, Davis (Inorganic, 2010) and conducted post-doctoral research under Thomas Albrecht-Schoenzart (now at Florida State) at the University of Notre Dame (2010-2013). He started his independent career at Creighton University in 2013 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2019. Teaching interests include General Chemistry I with laboratory (CHM 203/204), General Chemistry II with laboratory (CHM 205/206), Inorganic Chemistry (CHM 451), Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (CHM 502), Chemistry Seminar (CHM 499) and the first year seminar course Ratio Studiorum Program (RSP 101).
Dr. Villa has a passion for engaging undergraduate students in meaningful research, where each student works on their own independent project. In the lab, we look to explore unique and novel inorganic chemistry. Broadly we are interested in two main areas of inorganic chemistry: f-element chemistry, and polyoxometalate chemistry. From the synthesis and characterization of f-element materials, we explore periodic trends within lanthanide compounds, in-situ redox reactions, the structure-function relationships between synthetic conditions & the structures produced, and the utilization of the solid-state properties of these materials. We are also interested in the synthesis, characterization and reaction dynamics of polyoxometalate ions (POMs) in water, which includes the relationship between the solid-state and solution properties of POMs and isotopic-oxygen-exchange reactions of POMs in water. EDUCATION
B.A. Augustana University (2002-2006) Ph.D. University of California, Davis (2006-2010) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Creighton University, Associate Professor (2019-Current) Creighton University, Assistant Professor (2013-2019) Post-Doc: University of Notre Dame (2010-2013) |
Past Undergraduate & High School Researchers
Wyatt Baude
Sp2022-Sp2023 Gap Year @MayoClinic Will Fagerland
Sp2019-Sp2021 Applying to Medical Schools Alex Lang
Fa2017-Sp2019 Chemist @Elemental Scientific Amanda Bohanon
Sp2016-Sp2018 MChem @UC Davis Team Lead I @The Larkin Company Stefano Byer
Su2014-Su2015 MD @UKMC Internal Medicine Resident Physician @U of Iowa Hospital |
Will Swenson
Sp2020-Sp2023 Chemist @Elemental Scientific Mirielle Mason
Sp2019-Sp2020 Pharmacy School @Creighton Will Finstad
Sp2017-Sp2019 Surgical Case Coverage @Boston Scientific MaryAnn Rigo
Sp2016-Fa2017 BSN @Creighton Registered Nurse @Virginia Hospital Center Jakob Dovgan
Su2014-Sp2016 MD @Creighton Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency @Vanderbilt |
Danny Newman
Fa2020-Sp2022 Medical Student @Creighton Anthony Tran
Fa2018-Sp2020 Post-Baccalaureate @Creighton Wilson Blomberg
Sp2017-Sp2019 Medical School @Creighton Claire Willman
Su2015 PharmD & MD @Creighton Psychiatry Resident @Vanderbilt |
Meredith Benson
Sp2019-Sp2022 Medical Student @Loyola Chicago Kaleo Ogura
Sp2018-Spr2020 PhD Candidate @UC Irvine Colin Reedy
Fa2016-Sp2019 MSc(Eng) @UIUC Chemist @Elemental Sci Evan Dalton
Sp2015-Sp2017 PhD Candidate @Indiana University |
Ben Beiermann
High School Researcher in Haddix STEM Corridor Program - Su2021 Eduardo Mendoza High School Researcher in Haddix STEM Corridor Program - Su2018 Grace Kuhl
Sp2016-Sp2018 PhD @U of Oregon Senior Product Scientist @Henkel Matt Spriet
Su2014-Sp2017 PhD in Biochemistry @UNMC Scientist @Sai Life Sciences Ltd |