HexaMoleInteractive Chemistry

About

Ali Shafiee

Ali is an instructional assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida, teaching general, analytical, and instrumental chemistry. His background is in analytical and materials chemistry, with a particular interest in chromatography, mass spectrometry, and how chemistry is taught. As a first-generation university student, an immigrant, and the first in his family to become a faculty member, he is especially interested in making complex science more approachable.

UF Chemistry faculty profile ↗

Courses I've taught

  • General Chemistry I
  • General Chemistry II
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
  • Instrumental Analysis
  • Chromatography
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Spectrophotometry and Spectroscopy
  • Advanced Analytical Separation
  • Sample Preparation
  • Other Analytical Methods

Teaching philosophy

I don't want students to leave a chemistry course knowing only how to plug numbers into an equation. I want them to understand what they measured, why an answer makes sense, and when they should question it. For students building their foundations, that means clear explanations, guided practice, and plenty of chances to ask questions. As they move into advanced courses, I gradually ask them to take more responsibility through interpreting real data, solving unfamiliar problems, collaborating, and communicating their work.

I try to make the classroom approachable without lowering expectations. I listen to student feedback and use it to improve how I teach. Demonstrations, laboratory examples, and interactive visuals help connect abstract concepts to real instruments and measurements. Technology, including AI, can be a useful part of that process, but it should support students' reasoning, not replace it.

Research and publications

My research interests include semiconductor and carbon-based materials, catalytic and photocatalytic processes, analytical methods, and chemistry education. Here are a few selected publications.

Complete publication list on Google Scholar ↗