Alex Blom, PhD
Chemistry
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetics
- Quantum mechanics
- Instrumental methods
- Computational chemistry
BIOGRAPHY
Alex Blom is a professor and the chair of the physical sciences department at Alverno College where he has taught since 2009. He teaches several different classes including foundations of chemistry, physical chemistry, chemistry of bio-organic molecules, instrumental analysis, chemistry of inorganic materials and integrated science.
His research interests include studying how pharmaceuticals in our lakes and rivers break down through natural processes, and looking at lead contamination in water. He has led several undergraduate research projects at Alverno, and is passionate about finding low-cost ways to improve the technology available to students both in the classroom and in the field. One of the ways he has done this is by working with MillerCoors and ACL Laboratories to acquire updated technical equipment. Blom has also secured numerous grants to purchase lab equipment and fund student research projects. Most recently, he worked on the team that helped secure a grant of nearly $275,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the College’s first major grant tied to its status as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This grant will help the college build a greenhouse that will feature an aquaponics system and a classroom space, offering students an exciting new opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and explore new career paths.
Blom earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from Minnesota State University, Mankato and he earned his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Iowa State University. He also serves on the Alverno College transfer task force.
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