Dr. Dan Sykes

Biography

Dan Sykes is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Eberly College of Science, Penn State University. He specializes in analytical and environmental chemistry with a focus on chemical education research and the integration of small mobile instruments into the chemistry curriculum. His work over the past eleven years with the SMILE program involves developing innovative teaching materials and laboratory enhancements that foster student engagement and competency in STEM fields. Sykes’ research interests include the development of detection techniques for environmental forensic concerns, specifically relating to micro- and nano-plastics, and the analysis of pharmaceutical contaminants in water. He has published a variety of papers on topics such as low-cost laboratory instrumentation and the application of analytical chemistry in educational settings. Sykes teaches senior-level instrumental analysis courses at the university, providing students with hands-on experience using cutting-edge research-grade instrumentation. He is committed to improving chemistry education and promoting practical applications of scientific instrumentation in both high school and college environments.

Research Interests

Experience