Dr. Joseph Houck

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Joseph Houck is a Teaching Professor at Penn State's Eberly College of Science, actively involved in advancing chemical education. He has served as the Assistant Department Head of Undergraduate Curriculum in the Department of Chemistry since 2019. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Virginia, where he focused on optimizing activity and metabolism of sphingosine kinase inhibitors. Throughout his career, Houck has offered mentorship for the United States National Chemistry Olympiad and has held a lecturer position at the University of Maryland. His research interests encompass alternative assessments, the role of learning assistants, and a strong focus on organic chemistry. Houck has received numerous accolades for his teaching excellence, including the C.I. Noll Award and the Priestley Teaching Prize. He has contributed to several significant publications in the field, exploring topics such as chemical education and the structural analysis of chemical compounds.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Department Head Undergraduate Curriculum

2019-01-01 — 2024-12-31

Department of Chemistry, Penn State • University Park, PA

Led efforts in restructuring the undergraduate curriculum in chemistry and developing assessments.

Mentor

2019-01-01 — 2023-12-31

United States National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) • Washington, DC

Provided guidance and mentorship to high school students participating in the national chemistry competition.

Lecturer

2013-01-01 — 2016-12-31

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland • College Park, MD

Taught various undergraduate courses in chemistry and contributed to curriculum development.

Awards

#2023

Young Alumni Achievement Award

2023-01-01
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Teaching Excellence Award

2023-01-01
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Priestley Teaching Prize

2022-01-01
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Teaching Innovation Award

2022-01-01
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Chemistry Teaching Award

2013-01-01

Requirements for Pennsylvania State University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:23
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7
GRE General
Prerequisites
Master's degree in related field for PhD Baccalaureate degree from accredited institution
Application Checklist
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample
  • Official Transcripts
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

GRE scores are highly recommended but not strictly required for Applied Linguistics.