Ralph A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

Computational Chemistry

Professor Wheeler teaches physical and general chemistry courses and mentors future chemists through the Wheeler Group Research Lab. His group’s research interests include molecular dynamics simulations to develop better electrolytes for Li-ion batteries and quantum Monte Carlo simulations to develop new radical polymerization and depolymerization catalysts.

He joined the faculty at Northern Illinois University after a 20-year career at the University of Oklahoma and serving as Department Chair at Duquesne University. He received a Regents’ Award for Superior Research at the University of Oklahoma and was named a Presidential Professor in 2003. Professor Wheeler has been named a Chinese Famous Overseas Professor and received two service awards from the American Chemical Society. In 2010, he was named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society in recognition of his outstanding research and service to the profession.

Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Houston
Ph.D., Cornell University
B.S., Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College

Professional Affiliations

• Fellow, American Chemical Society
• Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science