Maureen Scharberg , PhD Faculty Profile

As a chemistry educator and curriculum developer, my current research and scholar activities involve student-centered teaching and learning strategies that provide active learning chemistry activities as well as engaging and inclusive chemistry curriculum.  Currently, my curricular efforts are focused on health science and non-science majors, involving Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), specifications grading, and lower stakes assignments to meet course learning outcomes.  My research methods use both quantitative and qualitative data to analyze student learning and experiences in my chemistry classes.

With respect to chemistry curriculum development, I have online research projects.  One current project aims to provide undergraduate students with research opportunities to investigate the chemistry and active components of food ingredients, natural products, and plant chemistry traditionally used by the Ohlone and Bay Miwok Tribes. The research will explore various aspects, such as how acorn tannins were removed, the chelation mechanism in tule brush for heavy metal removal, the chemistry involved in prescribed burns, and identifying active ingredients in the soap plant used for soaproot brushes. The project will also examine the growing conditions of these plants, including soil and water chemistry, as well as the impact of environmental factors like sunlight, temperature, fire, and growing seasons.

• PhD Chemistry, UC Davis
• BS Chemistry, UC Irvine
• BS Biological Science, UC Irvine

Not teaching this semester.

• Bauer, C; Libby, R. Dl; Scharberg, M; Reider, D. “Transformative Research-based Pedagogy Workshops for Chemistry Graduate Students and Post-docs”, Journal of College Science Teaching, November 2013, Vol. 43 Issue 2, pages 36-43.
• M. Scharberg, “Improving STEM Student Success and Beyond: One STEP at a Time”, chapter in Trajectories in Chemical Education Innovation, American Chemical Society Books, 2013.
• J. Contreras, M. Scharberg, "How to Build a Nanotech Kit", December 2009.  Available at www.nanosense.org.
• M. Scharberg, “Constructive-Developmental Pedagogy in Chemistry”, Chapter 20 in Handbook of College Science Teaching: A Publication of the National Science Teachers Association, 2007.
• M. Scharberg, “Teaching High School Chemistry as a Second Career”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2005, 82, 1281.
• M. Scharberg, Faculty Resource On-Line Guide for Chemistry, W.H. Freeman, March 2004.
• J. Bell, M. Scharberg, et al., Chemistry, W.H. Freeman, March 2004.
• S.E. Branz, M.A. Scharberg. "Blending General and Organic Chemistry: A Curricular Experiment", TeaL: A Journal of Scholarship on Teaching and Learning, Volume 1, Number 1, Summer 2002.
• A. Strage, Y. Baba, S. Millner, M. Scharberg, E. Walker, R. Williamson, M. Yoder. "What Every College Professor Should Know: Student Activities and Beliefs Associated with Academic Success", Journal of College Student Development, March/April 2002, Vol. 43, No. 2.
• C.R. Landis, G.E. Peace, M.A. Scharberg, S.E. Branz, J.N. Spencer, R.W. Ricci, S.A. Zumdahl, D. Shaw, "The New Traditions Consortium:  Shifting from a Faculty-Centered Paradigm to a Student-Centered Paradigm" J. Chem. Ed., 1998, 75, 741.
• Scharberg, M.A., Pesek, J.J.  "Nuts and Bolts of Administering An Academic/Industrial Partnership", ACS Monograph on Academic/Industrial Partnerships, 1998.
• Scharberg, M.A., Cox, O.E., Barelli, C.A. “Creating and Using a Consumer Chemical Molecular Graphics Database:  The ‘Molecule of the Day’ - A Great Way to Begin Your Lecture”. J. Chem. Ed., July 1997.
• Scharberg, M.A., Chapter in “The Hidden Curriculum in Mathematics and Science:  Faculty-Made Tests” by Sheila Tobias and Jacqueline Raphael, California State University Press, 1997.
• Bernstein, M. P., Sandford, S. A., Allamandola, L.J., Chang, S., Scharberg, M. A. "Organic Compounds Produced by Photolysis of Realistic Interstellar and Comentary Ice Analogs Containing Methanol", Astrophysical Journal, 1995, 454, 327-344.
• Scharberg, M.A., La Mar, G.N. "Sulfmyoglobin derived from Deuterohemin Reconstituted Protein.  1.  Structure of the Initial Complex based on the Mechanism of Formation of Equilibrium Products." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1993, 115, 6513-6521.
• Scharberg, M.A., La Mar, G.N. "Sulfmyoglobin derived from Deuterohemin Reconstituted Protein.  2.  "Molecular and Electronic Structure Determination of the Extracted Prosthetic Groups of Two Equilibration Products." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1993, 115, 6522-6528.

SELECTED GRANTS:

         Cal State University, East Bay

• Predictive Analytics & Proactive Advising Grant; Stupski Foundation; $4 million
• Predictive Analytics & Proactive Advising Planning Grant; Stupski Foundation; $168,327 
• CSU Consortium on Artificial Intelligence Chatbots for Student Success and Engagement; subaward from Irvine Foundation through CSUN; $66,681
• Chancellor's Office Student Success Analytics Certificate Program; subaward from Stupski Foundation through CSU Chancellor's office; $120,523

Total for all CSUEB grants (pending and received):  $4,355,531 

            San Jose State University: 

• Title III Strengthen Institutions, “Project Succeed”, U.S. Department of Education, $2,249,421
• CSU Student Success Action Research Project, CSU Chancellor’s Office, $97,171
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), “Writing Skills of Asian American and High Needs Students at SJSU”, U.S. Department of Education, $1,978,434
• "SJSU Scholars in Science Project", S-STEM, National Science Foundation, $600,000
• “STEP at SJSU: Improving Retention Through Learning Communities”, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Talent Expansion Program, National Science Foundation, $2,000,000
• The Collaborative for Higher Education, Packard Foundation, $150,000
• California Math and Science Partnership, Franklin-McKinley School District, San Jose, CA, $197,191
• National Science Foundation, “NanoSense: The Basic Sense Behind Nanoscience”; Co-PI with SRI’s Center for Learning with Technology, $112,748
• National Science Foundation, Grant Opportunities for Academic and Industrial Liaison (GOALI) for SJSU and IBM-Almaden Research Center, $750,000
• Genentech Foundation for Biomedical Sciences, written and submitted on behalf of the Santa Clara County Biotechnology Education Partnership, $94,500
• National Science Foundation, Two year extension for Special Creativity to “San Jose State/IBM Almaden Research Center Integrated Research and Education Program, $500,290
• “Establishing New Traditions: Revitalizing the Curriculum”, NSF Course and Curriculum Development:  Systemic Changes in the Chemistry Curriculum, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison (PI), Department of Chemistry, SJSU as subcontractor, $216,675
• Genentech Foundation for Biomedical Sciences, written and submitted on behalf on the Santa Clara County Biotechnology Education Partnership, $25,000
• NMR Investigations of the Reactivity of Thiols and Disulfides with Ferryl [Fe(IV)] Myoglobin”, Research Corporation, $26,275

Total for all SJSU grants:  $11,076,388 

• NATIONAL SERVICE AND AFFILIATIONS:

  • American Chemical Society, National Award Selection Committee, 2025-2027 Award Cycle.
  • American Chemical Society, Division of Chemical Education, Board of Publication member, 2025-
  • Passer Award Committee, Division of Chemical Education, American Chemical Society, (2024-2026)
  • American Chemical Society, 1986-present

  CAL STATE EAST BAY SERVICE:

  • Vice Chair, Academic Senate, 2024-2026
  • Faculty Member, Academic Senate, 2023-
  • Member, Committee for Budget and Resource Allocation, 2023-2025
  • Member, Writing Committee, 2018-
  • Member, Strategic Enrollment Management Leadership Committee, 2016-2023
  • Chair, Advising Council, 2018-2023
  • Member, Committee for Academic Planning & Review, Academic Senate, 2017-2023; 2025-
  • Member, Committee for Instruction & Curriculum, Academic Senate, 2016-2017
  • Chair, Education Effectiveness Council, 2016-2023
  • Member, Semester Conversion Committees: Academic Advising Subcommittee (Co-chair), Steering Committee, Leadership Committee, Communication Subcommittee, 2016-2018
  • Member, General Education Subcommittee, 2016-2017