September 14, 2006

With her brand new doctorate in hand, Jennifer Helbley joins the Chemistry Department of La Sierra University this fall as an assistant professor.

“Development in a Christian environment is more helpful,” says Helbley on working at a Christian campus. “Community prayer realizes that peopled need to come together.”

Helbley completed her doctorate in organic chemistry at the University of Nevada in Reno. Her bachelor’s was earned in Chemistry at Walla Walla College in Washington. She has served as a teaching assistant at the University of Nevada and a laboratory assistant at Walla Walla. She has also worked as a research assistant at the University of Nevada on the synthesis and purification of organic chemicals, analysis, and micro- and nano-pattern generation using micromolding in capillaries.

“We are happy to have Jennifer Helbley, Ph.D. with us,” says Marvin Payne, chair of the Chemistry Department. “She comes from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she received her degree in Organic Chemistry. Her research is in materials chemistry and she has extensive instrumental and inorganic chemistry experience. She will add enthusiasm and breadth to our program.”

She has published articles, served as a summer intern at Eltron Research in Boulder, Colorado, and received the highest score on exams for entering chemistry graduate students in 2001.

When she is not working Helbley enjoys reading, hiking, motorcycles and is married to husband Keith.