An intensive enrichment program designed to foster interest, confidence, & achievement in chemistry
1 Credit
Prerequisite: Completed High School Chemistry
This Courses is designed to foster interest, confidence, and achievement in chemistry, particularly among students from underserved schools. By providing an inclusive, hands-on environment, the program bridges the gap between high school and college-level STEM experiences, exposing students to advanced concepts in chemistry, guided laboratory experiments, and problem-solving exercises beyond standard curricula. The course will focus on mentorship and learning through experience. Students will take part in workshops, lab activities, and discussions that help them better understand advanced chemistry topics and gain hands-on experience. Instructors will work closely with small groups of students, encouraging their interest and persistence in science careers.
Sessions Offered
Storrs Session 1:
June 21, 2026 - June 27- 2026
Course Fees
Format
Residential & Credit
This class is meant to be immersive and students will:
1. Engage in hands-on chemistry experiments
2. Strengthen core chemistry knowledge and skills to engage with rigorous laboratory work.
3. Develop experimental design and data analysis skills.
4. Increase students' interest and self-efficacy in pursuing advanced STEM studies and careers in STEM.
5. Leave with mentors at UConn that will support your continued interest in the field of Chemistry.
Meet the Professor
Fatma Selampinar, PhD
Professor in Residence, UConn Department of Chemistry
Dr. Fatma Selampinar is a Professor in Residence in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Connecticut, where she has taught since 2003. She also serves as the Early College Experience (ECE) Chemistry Coordinator. With over two decades of experience in chemical education and mentoring, Dr. Selampinar is deeply committed to making chemistry accessible, engaging, and equitable for all learners.
Dr. Selampinar earned her B.S. in Chemical Education and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, specializing in polymer and physical chemistry. She came to the University of Florida with a fellowship from TÜBİTAK during her Ph.D. studies. She conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of Florida, studying electroactive polymers and their applications in controlled drug and biomolecule release.
At UConn, Dr. Selampinar also leads a range of outreach activities that allow high school students to experience college life and foster meaningful relationships between university faculty and high school teachers.
Dr. Selampinar is actively involved in expanding access to quantum science education. She co-organizes Molecular Quantum Days (MolQ Days)—an innovative outreach initiative supported by NASA’s Connecticut Space Grant Consortium—where high school students from across Connecticut visit UConn to explore quantum chemistry through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experiments. She also collaborates with faculty across departments to develop teacher workshops and learning modules that integrate quantum topics into the high school chemistry curriculum.
