Dr. Laura Salazar

Title: Professor of Chemistry
Dept.: Chemistry, Neuroscience
Office: Elings Hall 102
Phone: (515) 263-2834
Email: lsalazar @ grandview.edu

Education Background

  • B.S. in Chemistry
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with a concentration in Materials Science 

Start Date at Grand View

  • August 2002

Areas of Expertise

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymer Science

Research / Accomplishments

  • A mentor of CREST GV, an undergraduate research group that develops biomolecular models associated with the work of a distinguished scientist. The research group attends the National ASBMB conference every April to present their work. This project is in association with CREST (Connecting Researchers, Educators and Students) Conversations and the Center for BioMolecular Modeling. 
  • Effectiveness of POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) in the organic chemistry classroom.
  • Research on carbocation stability, high performance polymers and enzyme kinetics and inhibition have also been explored.

Personal Interests

Dr. Salazar's favorite interests outside of science include time with her husband and four children, camping, traveling, hiking and being outdoors.

Questions & Answers

What makes Grand View unique among other universities?
Grand View has a special way of seeing each student as an individual. It is a place where students are encouraged and coached to find the best version of themselves. The opportunities that students encounter because of relationships with organizations in the Des Moines metro give students an experience that many Universities cannot provide.
What is your favorite part about working at Grand View?
It is the Grand View community that is my favorite thing about GV. I love the people at Grand View - the students, faculty and staff. I have learned so much from my students and enjoy watching them grow to become successful graduates. 
Dr. Laura Salazar