Dr. Bindu Abraham
Assistant Teaching Professor · Non-Tenure Track
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
She/Her/Hers/Herself
About
I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Microbiology and a Master’s in Organic Chemistry in India. After moving to the U.S. in 1998, I did my Ph.D. at UMBC at Dr. Lisa Kelly’s Lab while working at the National Institute of Diabetic and Digestive & Kidney Diseases at NIH. I did an ORISE postdoctoral fellowship at the Center of Biologics Evaluation & Research at FDA, where I was hired – immediately after – as a Staff Fellow in the Office of Blood Research & Review. In 2007, I had my son and after six years at FDA, I left to homeschool him. During that time I taught part-time as an adjunct at Frederick Community College and Montgomery College. Last year, now that my son will go to college, I joined UMBC as a lecturer.
Teaching interests
I am particularly interested in connecting the students with the information that they already know so that it becomes the building block for the new concepts that they will learn in Introductory Chemistry. This information could be part of their regional, cultural, or historical background that could become a key factor that could elicit interest in connecting to key chemistry concepts. I believe that enhancing and retaining student engagement in Introductory Chemistry and other introductory STEM courses will go a long way in encouraging students toward choosing STEM careers.
Education
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Ph D, Chemistry (Physical Chemistry)
— UMBC (2006) Study of Photoinduced Reactivity of Naphthalimide and Naphthaldiimide Derivatives With Amino Acids and Proteins
- MS, Organic Chemistry — Osmania University (1996)
- BS, Microbiology — Osmania University (1994)