“As an instructor, it is my goal and purpose to do what I can to help you succeed not just in my chemistry classes, but in college as a whole and in life. I work to build relationships with all of my students, so your access to me does not end just because the class does.”

Title

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
• B.S., Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa.

Year Joined Franklin

2020

I’m not very good at math, how can I succeed in chemistry?

Yes, some chemistry has math, but just because you have struggled with math before doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in chemistry! The math we do in chemistry is applied to scientific concepts you’ll learn, making it easier to visualize and more enjoyable to learn.

Chemistry is boring, why should I take it?

If you think chemistry is boring, I promise you just haven’t had the right chemistry teacher! Everything around us involves chemistry, from that sourdough recipe you’ve perfected to the true crime shows you love to watch. By connecting chemistry concepts to everyday life, we make the experience of learning chemistry enjoyable and even fun (google what happens to cesium in water if you don’t believe me!).

Selected Professional Accomplishments:

• Talks: “Teaching at a liberal arts college” (invited) American Chemical Society Fall Meeting, Chicago IL (2022); “Non-negative matrix factorization for isolating damage-free reflections in macromolecular synchrotron data collection” (oral) Pittcon, Chicago, IL, 2020.
• Grants: Digital Fluency Initiative Summer Fellow, 2022

Student Quotes:

“Dr. Florian is amazing at building one on one relationships with her students. Even if it’s not about chemistry, she will take the time to talk to you and listen to you. She truly cares about who you are and how to help you in the best way possible.” — Chesney Loehr ’24, Chemistry Major

“Dr. Florian is so intelligent and will never fail to make you laugh. She teaches her curriculum in a way that is beneficial to all students. She makes the classroom laid back and fun to take, while still having a professional aspect of the course.” — Macyn Charlesworth ’25, Chemistry Minor

In my spare time I…

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cross-stitching, and cuddling with my four pets!