{"id":17182,"date":"2012-10-11T14:22:20","date_gmt":"2012-10-11T14:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/?page_id=17182"},"modified":"2023-08-29T17:03:15","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:03:15","slug":"wentzelm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/faculty\/wentzelm\/","title":{"rendered":"Wentzel, Michael T."},"content":{"rendered":"

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As an Organic Chemist, I am interested in developing new synthetic reaction methods. I was trained as an organometallic Chemist using transition metals to develop new catalytic methods. These methods involved nitrogen containing heterocycles and boronic acids as well as C-H and C-C sigma bonds. I have been at Augsburg since 2013 and worked here part-time before that while doing graduate and post-graduate work across the river at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. I am passionate about teaching and mentoring in the classroom, laboratory, and in research settings. I have been influenced greatly by my own Liberal Arts education and the wonderful professors I was able to learn from and work with. I appreciate that we train our students to be strong chemists with a sense of purpose and service to others.<\/p>\n

My research group is focused on the development of green synthetic methods. Currently, we have projects using a heterogeneous catalyst in a flow system, silylation of amines for alkylation, and the synthesis of biodegradable polymers for the educational laboratories. The polymer research has been done in collaboration with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities NSF-funded Center for Sustainable Polymers. Finally, I am extremely proud of the success of all my former group members as they continue to be successful following graduation in their lives.<\/p>\n

I enjoy watching and playing sports including with the Chemistry Club Intramural Basketball team!<\/p>\n

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Education<\/h2>\n