I’m Amanda Bongers, a chemist and researcher studying how people learn.
I am an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University, where I lead a research laboratory. Before this, I did educational and neuroscience research as a post-doc at uOttawa & the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Institute. I have a PhD in organic chemistry and a BSc in biochemistry.
Bio
Amanda joined Queen’s in July 2019 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry with a focus on chemistry education research. Amanda grew up in a small town in Southern Ontario, where she learned by exploring and asking questions about nature. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (2011) in the co-operative program at the University of Waterloo, where she grew a passion for synthetic organic chemistry. She went on to complete her Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry (2016) at the University of Ottawa with Prof. André Beauchemin, synthesizing many new and colourful heterocycles along the way. She then took a postdoctoral position (2016-2019) in the fields of Chemistry Education and Neuroscience, under the supervision of Prof. Alison Flynn (University of Ottawa) and Dr. Georg Northoff (Royal Ottawa Mental Health Institute).
Teaching
Prof. Bongers currently teaches CHEM 112 – General Chemistry and CHEM 803 – Science Communication.
My approach to teaching is to use the best available science on learning,1 which stems from my own curiosity into the process of learning and cognition. I am guided by philosophies of collaboration, student agency, care, Land Back,2 and the role of higher education in answering the UN Call to Action for Sustainable Development.3
- Chemistry or science education research journals are an excellent resource:
Journal of Chemical Education
Chemistry Education Research and Practice
Journal of Research in Science Teaching
Mind, Brain, and Education - See “Decolonization is not a metaphor” by Tuck & Yang
and What Is Land Back? from the Suzuki foundation. - See Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
CV
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT & Education
Assistant Professor, Queen’s University
2019-Present
Postdoctoral Fellow, Royal Ottawa (Northoff) & University of Ottawa (Alison Flynn)
2016-2019
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Ottawa (André Beauchemin)
2011-2016
Bachelor of Science in Honours Biochemistry, Co-operative Program, University of Waterloo
2006-2011
Awards
CIC IUPAC Travel Award, $2500
2022
Green Chemistry & Catalysis Poster Prize Winner, £500
2020
NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral
2012-2015
NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters
2011
Excellence Scholarship, University of Ottawa
2011-2016
President’s Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2006
Waterloo County Entrance Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2006
Teaching
Instructor, CHEM 803 “Principles of Scientific Communication”, Graduate level
2020-2022
Instructor, CHEM 112 “General Chemistry”, Undergraduate level
2020-2022
Teacher, ACS Green Chemistry Summer School 2020 [cancelled due to COVID19]
2020
Volunteer & Outreach
Faculty Advisor Queen’s Chemistry Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness Society
2019-Present
Lead of the Student-in-Residence Program, Chemistry, Experience Venture
2021
Volunteer Judge, Canada-Wide Science Fair
2020, 2021
Invited Speaker at the IYCN Virtual Workshop on “Science Outreach”
2021
Mentor, Bonds for Success program by the CIC Kingston Division
2020
Science Ambassador and Volunteer Researcher, Evidence for Democracy, Ottawa
2012-2019
Graduate & Mentor, “Mentor STEM Leaders” Program, WISE Ottawa
2015-2018
Committees
Appointed Member, Faculty EDII Council, Queen’s
2022-Present
Elected Member, Appointments Committee, Department of Chemistry, Queen’s
2021-Present
Chair, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, Queen’s
2020-Present
Member, STEM:InA Hiring Committee, Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen’s
2021
Member, QNS Review Committee Advisory to the Dean, Queen’s
2021
Member, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Department of Chemistry, Queen’s
2019-Present
Past Professional Expereince
Research Associate (Co-op), Xerox Research Centre Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
2010
NSERC USRA Research Student (Co-op), Chong Research Lab, University of Waterloo
2009
R&D Analyst (Co-op) Piramal (formerly Torcan Chemical), Aurora, Ontario, Canada
2021
Laboratory Technician (Co-op) Air Quality Division Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
2019-Present
Amanda Bongers 