Faculty | B.S. in Physical Science
Jessica Lu
- Program Chair of Chemistry
- Associate Professor of Chemistry
- B.S. Chemistry, UC Berkeley
- Ph.D. Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Concentration: Analytical Chemistry
Jessica Lu’s teaching interests are in the areas of analytical, physical, and environmental chemistry. She teaches in the undergraduate B.S. program in Chemistry. Her courses include Analytical Chemistry lecture and lab, where students learn how to detect and quantify chemicals in laboratory and real-world samples, and Physical Chemistry, where students study the underlying physical principles...
Courses
- CHEM 105 General Chemistry I - Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 106 General Chemistry II - Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 332 Environmental Chemistry- Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 350 Analytical Chemistry- Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 360 Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 402 Physical Chemistry I - Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 405 Physical Chemistry II - Lecture and Lab
Research Interests
- Chemistry (Analytical, Green, Physical)
- Atmospheric and Environmental Science
Grace Ni
- Program Chair of Physics and Engineering
- Director of Engineering Programs
- Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
- M.Eng., Electrical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- B.Eng., Information and Control Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China
After receiving her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada, Grace Ni developed patented haptic technologies (force-feedback using motorized devices) for virtual reality and telepresence at a Canadian high-tech startup. She then devoted the next 16 years to engineering education before joining Biola University. She has spent the past 13 years at...
Courses
- PHSC 311 - Computer Techniques in Science and Engineering
- PHSC 321 - Circuits and Instrumentation I
- PHSC 420- Directed Research: Mechatronics Project
- GNST 102 First Year Seminar
Research Interests
- Haptics
- Robotics (Robotics Engineering)
- Mechatronics
- Controls
- Engineering Education
Xidong Chen
- Professor of Physics
- Ph.D., Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- M.S., Solid State Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- B.S., Theoretical Physics, Shandong University
My love for physics was kindled by a high school physics teacher in China, where I was born and raised. I came to the United States to further my graduate studies in solid state physics. It was during my second semester at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that I became a Christian. As a professor, I desire to inspire students to love the beauty of physics and to challenge them to understand and think about the underlying order and structure in God's world. As a researcher, I use high resolution microscopy techniques and numerical methods to look at order in various materials, which in turn makes me more effective in my teaching.
Courses
- PHSC 233 General Physics II Electricity and Magentism
- PHSC 237 General Physics II Laboratory
- PHSC 234 General Physics II Waves, Optics and Modern Physics
- PHSC 318 Classical Mechanics
- PHSC 331 Thermodynamics
- PHSC 336 Mathematical Methods in Physics
- PHSC 340 Electrodynamics
- PHSC 412 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHSC 480 Advanced Physics Laboratory
Research Interests
- Theoretical understanding of surface dynamics.
- Atomic force microscopy studies of cell structures.
- Monte Carlo simulation studies of surfaces and interfaces.
- Fluctuation electron microscopy studies of medium-range ordering in amorphous materials.
Richard Gunasekera
- Research Professor of Science, Technology and Health
- Professor of Biological Sciences
- Professor of Biochemistry
- Ph.D., Baylor University
- M.S., Baylor University
- M.S., University of Houston-Clear Lake
- B.S., Baylor University
- Postdoctoral Fellowship - Baylor College of Medicine
Richard Gunasekera, Ph.D., has enjoyed a 20-year career in higher education as professor and a scientist in the field of Biochemical Genetics and Nanomedicine. He earned his bachelor’s in biochemistry at Baylor University, where he researched and published in organic synthesis as an undergraduate. Gunasekera earned a master’s degree in bio-organic chemistry from the University of Houston-Clear...
Courses
- CHEM 120 Principles of Organic and Biochemistry
- CHEM 413 Biochemistry Lab
- CHEM 490 Nanomedicine, Cancer, and Genomics- Directed Research
Research Interests
- Cancer Biology
- Nano-Molecules
- Biochemical Genetics of Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Forensic DNA
- Phytochemical Research
Dana Johnson
- Associate Professor of Chemistry
- Ph.D., Colorado State University
- M.A., Biola University
- B.S., California State University, Long Beach
I was among the first graduates of the Master’s in Science and Religion program here at Biola, coming back to teach organic chemistry after earning a doctorate in the field. I love teaching, especially informally in small groups in my office.
Courses
- CHEM 105 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 120 Principles of Organic and Biochemistry
- CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry Labs I
- CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry Labs II
- CHEM 411 Biochemistry I
- CHEM 412 Biochemistry II
- CHEM 430 Advanced Organic Chemistry
Mark Pichaj
- Assistant Professor of Physical Science
- M.A., California State University, Northridge
- M.A., Talbot School of Theology
- B.S., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
I teach a number of introductory courses for science majors and general education courses for non-science majors. I used to be a high school science teacher in Los Angeles and one of my passions is to strengthen and equip prospective science teachers. Accordingly, I am especially interested in using demonstrations in formal and informal science education, safety in the chemical laboratory, and integrating the teaching of science with our Christian faith.
Courses
- CHEM 100 The Chemistry of Everyday Life
- CHEM 105 General Chemistry I - Lecture and Lab
- CHEM 106 General Chemistry Lab II
- CHEM 107 Introduction to Chemistry
- PHSC 101 Physical Science Survey
Elaine Wong
- Assistant Professor of Engineering
- Ph.D. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
- M.S. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
- B.S. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certification National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying – License # 138094
Dr. Elaine Wong was born and raised in Southern California. Growing up with a non-Christian background, encountering God in a powerful way dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. She has a passion to see God’s glory and beauty transform and heal people’s lives (Isaiah 61). College was a time where she found her passion to pursue her graduate studies in building small-scale water...
Courses
- CHEM 420 - Directed Research: Water Defluoridation Project
- PHSC 092- Introduction to Physics
- PHSC111- Physics I
- PHSC 117- General Physics I Laboratory
- PHSC 118-General Physics II Laboratory
- PHSC 314- Mechanics of Materials
- PHSC 313- Statics
- PHSC 420- Directed Research: Water Defluoridation Project
- PHSC 124- Data Analysis and Presentation
- PHSC 121- Introduction to Engineering
Research Interests
- Environmental Engineering
- Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Engineering Design
- Onsite Systems for Drinking Water Production in Developing Countries
- Defluoridation Systems