I double-majored in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Bogazici University in Istanbul, an extremely competitive institution you never heard of.  As an undergrad, I was the catalyst for the creation of Chemical Enginering-Chemistry double-major program there. You might be surprised to learn that the two majors don't have much in common after the second year!

I did my doctoral research at Penn State, working on computer simulations and theoretical models of how solvents respond to reactions. I also dabbled in ultrafast laser spectroscopy and supercritical fluids. My "native" field of science is Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics.

The most defining part of my research experience was the 4.5 years of post-doctoral work with a Nobel laureate.

I worked at a tiny technology company for many years, developing software and instrumentation for X-ray crystallography. We built and programmed those instruments from scratch and they have been used in university and government labs all over the US and the world.

I first taught in 1999 and 2000 at Santa Monica College, where I fell in love with teaching. I should have pursued the college teaching route aggressively early on, right then, but alas, we all make mistakes.

I later taught, occasionally, introductory to advanced levels of chemistry at Mount St. Mary's University and returned to SMC in the Fall of 2015 to continue doing what I consider very meaningful work. I had the chance to teach at UCLA in the Fall of 2019, where I also had the pleasure of bumping into my former students thriving and getting ready to graduate from UCLA!

I recently added Los Angeles Valley College to my portfolio of places of learning where I try to bring my particular flavor of teaching Chemistry, where I have come to appreciate the good character and integrity of my students.

Along with my wife, I have been a very busy, very involved parent of three boys, who are now in the process of becoming refined adults.

When I have the time, I love reading and thinking about philosophy, economics, history, cultures, as well as science and technology of all kinds. I am interested in pretty much everything!

My family is my greatest blessing. My ability to support them by doing something I enjoy -- teaching -- is what allows me to wake up grateful every morning.

Dr. Arno Papazyan