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Chemistry

A page within Murphy Learning Center

Chemistry students

Confused about chemistry? Not sure where to begin? Come to the learning center and talk to one of our chemistry tutors! Tutors are available for General Chemistry (103/104), Analytical Chemistry (301), Organic Chemistry (250/300/303/304/305), and Biochemistry (250/325).

 

Tutors in the learning center can help you learn to start (and finish!) chemistry problems by refining your understanding of chemistry concepts and guiding you through example problems.


The purpose of the Murphy Learning Center is to provide tutoring in the listed disciplines at no cost.  All students can come to the Learning Center any of the hours listed.  Please note that not all tutors can assist with all courses.

Chemistry tutors are supervised by the Chemistry Tutor Coordinator, Dr Yevgeniya Turov. Specific questions about chemistry tutors can be directed to yturov@uwlax.edu.

Here at the Murphy Learning Center, our tutors are all friendly, qualified individuals. All of our tutors have gotten good grades in the classes they tutor and have been recommended by faculty from their department. In addition to their knowledge our tutors are now taking a class designed to make them effective tutors. Meet our tutors!

Chemistry tutor coordinator

Lee Baines  Profile of Lee Baines

Associate Teaching Professor
261 Murphy Library
lbaines@uwlax.edu
608.785.8244

Carben Weghorn

Carben Weghorn

Carben Weghorn

Major: Chemistry 

Minor: Mathematics 

About Me: I am from Menomonie, Wisconsin, and am a Sophomore at UWL. In my free time I like to hang out with friends as much as possible. Whether that means playing tennis, Magic the Gathering, Video games, being out on the water in the summer, or skiing in the winter, I enjoy all of it. As for future plans, I don't have anything concrete, but I enjoy learning chemistry and I am considering heading to grad school to try for a PhD. As for careers or even grad schools, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’m available for tutoring the GenChems Tuesday 4-6pm and Wednesday 7-8pm. 

Study Tips: Start studying as early as you can convince yourself to, and study frequently but in small bursts. No matter how you choose to study, whether it be flashcards, re-reading or re-writing your notes or whatever, it’s incredibly important not to burn yourself out or try to take in too much information at once. Even just looking back over your notes for 15 minutes per day can be incredibly helpful for knowledge retention.  

Emjay Hilliker

Emjay Hilliker

Emjay Hilliker 

Majors: Biochemistry and Biology (double major) 

About me: I am a sophomore from Two Rivers, WI, about 45 minutes from Green Bay and right on Lake Michigan! I added biology as a second major since it went so well with my biochemistry major. With them, I want to go onto graduate school and do medical research in genetics. This past summer, I did undergrad research with Dr. Anne Galbraith on the effects of a lab-made drug (SK-03-92) on various types of yeast cells. I tutored various STEM subjects in high school, and I wanted to continue in college. In my free time, I love to hammock, hike, weight lift and save some time to relax. 

Study tips: Study in your most productive time, the time where your brain works the best and study consistently. It’s best to plan to study for exams and quizzes about a week out from them. I usually start with a big picture of everything covered in the exam/quiz and then do more practice on the trickier subjects/problems. It’s also better to figure out how you study best. It could be flashcards, rewriting notes, making note cards... everyone is different! 

Ellie Schneider

Ellie Schneider

Ellie Schneider

Major: Biomedical Concentrate (Pre-Dental Track) 

Minor: Independent Concentrate 

About Me: I am from De Pere, WI and am a junior here at UWL. What I enjoy doing the most is being on the water in summer, fishing, fixing things, going for walks, watching good movies, and hanging out with my family and friends. I have a big passion for dentistry as most of my family members are dentists. I plan to, hopefully, attend Marquette Dental School after graduation and hopefully become specialized in implants! I am available for tutoring for general chemistry and organic chemistry Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm and Wednesdays from 6-7pm. 

Study Tips: Keep up with your notes and go over them after each lecture. I know it may seem like a hassle then, but it truly pays off nearing exam time. If you can stay on top of everything, your stress levels will go down and your confidence will increase!  

Vanessa Giallombardo

Vanessa Giallombardo

Major: Biochemistry and Microbiology 

About Me: I am a junior from Cottage Grove, WI. I’ve always enjoyed chemistry, and I especially enjoyed my organic chemistry courses. I am excited to take biochemistry this semester. To me, chem makes micro make a lot more sense. After UWL, I am not certain what I would like to do, but I am considering going to graduate school. I enjoy watching movies, reading books, playing intramural sports, eating, hiking, biking, listening to music, and talking to my brother. I am also on the Women’s Club Soccer team at UWL which is a lot of fun. 

Study Tips: One tip I have is to space out your studying and take breaks when you need to. If you’ve been studying for a while and you notice you’re mind is wandering, just take a couple minute break and come back to it. Also, if you have trouble understanding something, try to find it explained a different way (via office hours, tutors, classmates, the internet) or again, take a break. Sometimes problems work themselves out in your mind while you do other things. I’d recommend doing lots of practice problems for chem. Finally, it’s easier said than done, but don’t panic or start a class thinking you’re going to fail. I generally find that it’s a lot easier to learn something if I believe I can learn it. 

William Murphy

William Murphy

Major: Biochemistry & Chemistry   

Minor: Music Performance (Piano) 

About Me: Hi I’m Will. I am from a small town called Pulaski and I am a third-year pre-med student. I am an avid cross-country skier and runner, and I ran XC here at UWL as a freshman. I am also a pianist studying under Dr. Tollefson and performing with the UWL Jazz Ensemble. If I was not on the pre-med track, I probably would have pursued a degree in music in hopes to be a concert pianist. As for my life outside of college, I return home in the summers to work as a phlebotomist at St. Mary’s hospital in Green Bay and spend time with my family. The highlight of my summer was traveling to Europe with my family.   

Study Tips: Everyone studies a bit differently, and what is effective for one person might not be effective for another. I like to break my studying up and utilize a few different techniques. When I am struggling with a concept, I turn to the textbook. When I need to memorize information, I rewrite my notes and try to construct mnemonics. And when I want to solidify and build on some basic knowledge, I do practice problems and exams if they are available to me. Whatever it is that works for you, do it! If you are looking to change up your study habits, try studying with friends or find a new study spot. Regardless of how you choose to go about your studying, just be sure to do it early and often. Studying is like a workout for your brain. As with any other type of workout, the best results come from consistent repetition. :)  

Maria Benz

Maria Benz

Major: Biochemistry  

Minor: Music Performance (Oboe) 

About Me: I am a pre-medicine student here and am originally from Appleton, Wisconsin.  In addition to my biochemistry major, I am minoring in Oboe Performance and perform with the UWL Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. When I am not studying or rehearsing, you can probably find me reading, at the gym, spending time with my friends, or working as an EMT! After college, I am planning on taking a gap year to continue working as an EMT in the pre-hospital setting, and then will apply to medical school to hopefully someday be a doctor! 

Study Tips: One thing I find incredibly important to my productivity is the space I am working in. I believe that if you are comfortable and familiar with the space you are working in, there are less opportunities to be distracted. Of course, trying out new spaces is essential as well so that you can find what works best for you! In my room, I have a designated space for studying at my desk. It is set up with everything I would need while studying so that everything is right where I need it. If I am ever studying somewhere like the library or a coffee shop, I make sure to have a few essential items with me at all times. These include my laptop, planner, pencil case, and backpack with my course materials in it. So even when you are not in your main study space, you can still make it familiar by keeping consistent materials with you. This way, you can make any space a comfortable study space and work efficiently and effectively! 

Lucy Dahlk

Lucy Dahlk

Major: Biochemistry 

About Me: I am a sophomore at UWL and I am a biochemistry major on the pre-physician assistant track. I am originally from Mount Horeb, WI, which is about 20 minutes from Madison. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family and trying out new things such as restaurants or activities. I have always enjoyed science and been interested in healthcare, so being in La Crosse has created endless opportunities for me.  

Study Tips: Study early and study often. Find a study space where you can focus and use a variety of techniques. My favorite techniques are practice exams, flashcards, and creating outlines. Studying even for just 15-30 minutes at a time can make a huge difference. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or check your understanding with someone else! 

Eli Haufle

Major: Biology with a Biomedical Science Concentration 

Minors: Chemistry & Spanish 

About me: I am a sophomore at UWL, and I am a biology major from Oregon, Wi. In my free time I love to thrift, skateboard, hangout with my friends and play intramurals. I have really enjoyed chemistry and biology here at UWL but still have not homed in on any specific track. Everything is still in play for me and I’m excited to find my calling in the rest of my time here at UWL. On top of tutoring, I also work at Whitney, and you'll find me making your sub, serving you up some food or making cookies in the bakery. 

Study tips: Be consistent throughout the whole semester and make sure to ask questions if you are confused. It is much easier to recall information if you do it little bits at a time rather than multiple weeks of information crammed into the night before an exam. For me, reviewing during my hour or two breaks between classes is extremely beneficial and allows me to review past topics, finish up homework or even prepare for the next class. If lectures stress you out, try reviewing the notes the night before or trying to simplify what your professor is saying in your own words rather than writing down every single bit of information. These tips will help you learn as much as possible while minimizing the stress and anxiety of your classes.