Dr. Villalta-Cerdas

Dr. Adrian Villalta-Cerdas

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Villalta photo
Contact Details

Office: CFS108
Phone: 9362942556
Email: axv067@shsu.edu

Research Group Website
Research Profile

My primary teaching responsibilities include instructing students in General Chemistry courses. I engage in academic research that emphasizes the development of learning strategies that promote skill acquisition and the impact of novel learning experiences on students’ conceptual understanding. I possess a strong dedication to enhancing learning strategies, aiming to improve classroom and laboratory experiences for students at SHSU. My passion for education drives me to contribute to improving the learning environment at SHSU. As an educator, I believe my primary goal is to help students learn and succeed academically. To achieve this, I strive to create a challenging yet supportive learning environment that encourages students to engage with the course material actively. My research group designs chemistry experiences at the intersection of sciences and humanities, emphasizing cultural heritage preservation methodologies, and synthesizing carbon-based nanomaterials for environmental remediation applications.

Education
  • Ph. D. in Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
  • Master of Arts in Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
    • Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Research Interests
  • Chemistry Education Research
  • Art Conservation Science
  • Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry
Experience
  • Associate Professor of Chemistry, SHSU
  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry, SHSU
  • Lecturer in Chemistry, CSU Bakersfield
Reseach Work Exhibit
  • Research Work Exhibition Spring 2022
Awards and Recognitions
  • Keys of Excellence Award, 2022-2023, Orange Keys – Student Organization – Sam Houston State University, 2022.
  • Younger Chemist Award, The American Chemical Society - Greater Houston Section, 2020.
  • 2018 Chemistry in Pictures photo contest - Grand-prize winner, Chemistry & Engineering News magazine, February 2019.

Funded Grants

14. Co-PI: A Comprehensive Model for Improving the Success of STEM Majors through the STEM Center. DUE - IUSE - Development & Implem Institut & Comm Transform, Award #1725674, 2017-2023. Project total Funding: $2,028,798.

13. PI: Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences and Creative Activities - FAST Award - Study of the effectiveness of a slow-release phosphate hydrogel polymer as fertilizer in water and soil media. 2023. Funding: $6,000.

12. PI: Teaching Innovation Grants (TIGs) - General Chemistry II Performance Expectations at Sam Houston State University, Sam Houston State University, 2022 – 2023. Funding: $9,000.

11. PI: Teaching Innovation Grants (TIGs) - General Chemistry Performance Expectations at Sam Houston State University, Sam Houston State University, 2021 – 2022. Funding: $8,940.

10. PI: STEM Center at Sam Houston - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Graphical analysis and interpretation in General Chemistry II via virtual chemistry experiences on kinetics and chemical equilibria. 2021 - 2022. Funding: $2,000.

9. PI: Pilot Studies for Future Funding Program - Sam Houston State University - Reformed Organic Chemistry Laboratories (ROC-Labs): an academic environment supported by cooperative learning and project-based experimentation. 2021 - 2022. Funding: $14,700.

8. PI: The Center for Community Engagement - Sam Houston State University – Academic Community Engagement in General Chemistry II. 2022. Funding: $250.

7. PI: Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences and Creative Activities - FAST Award - Synthesis of magnetite carbon nano onions composites for environmental remediation applications. 2021. Funding: $6,000.

6. PI: STEM Center at Sam Houston - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Integration of virtual chemical experiences into General Chemistry II via ChemCollective Labs. 2020 - 2021. Funding: $1,802.

5. PI: SHSU Individual Scholarship Internal Grant - Reformed chemistry laboratories: cooperative and project-based experimentation, Sam Houston State University, 2019 – 2020. Funding: $5,000.

4. PI: College of Science and Engineering Technology - Summer Research Award - Carbon nano-onions (CNOs): synthesis and surface modification for environmental remediation applications, Sam Houston State University, 2019. Funding: $2,500.

3. PI: Teaching Innovation Grants (TIGs) - Implementation of self-explaining-based learning in Chemical Quantitative Analysis: improving conceptual understanding and scientific skills via active learning and performance expectations, Sam Houston State University, 2018 – 2019. Funding: $5,400.

2. PI: College of Science and Engineering Technology - Summer Research Award - Design of novel lab experiences for Organic Chemistry at SHSU, Sam Houston State University, 2018. Funding: $2,500.

1. PI: Teaching Innovation Grants (TIGs) - Redesign of course, instruction and assessment of chemical kinetics in General Chemistry II: improving student learning via active, practice-oriented performance expectations, Sam Houston State University, 2017 – 2018. Funding: $6,000.

Books and Book Chapters

4. Pazicni, S.; Morgan Theall, R. A.; Richter-Egger, D.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Walker, D. R. (2022). General Chemistry Learning Outcomes. The Center for Curriculum Redesign. Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Weblink.

3. Sandi-Urena, S.; Villalta-Cerdas, A. ; Gatlin, T. A.; Lykourinou, V. (2013). Authentic Chemistry Experiment Labs (ACE-Labs) For General Chemistry I & II: Cooperative Project-based Laboratory Experiences. Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

2. Li, F., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Echegoyen, L.E., and Echegoyen, L. (2013). An Update on Electrochemical Characterization and Potential Applications of Carbon Materials. In Torres, T. & Bottari, G. (Eds.), Organic Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Device Applications. (pp. 259-310). New York: Wiley-VCH. Weblink.

1. Pinzón, J.R., Villalta-Cerdas, A., and Echegoyen, L. (2012). Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes, and Graphene for Molecular Electronics. In Metzger, R. M. (Ed.), Unimolecular and Supramolecular Electronics I, Topics in Current Chemistry, Volume 312 (pp. 127-174). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer. Weblink.

Publications

23. Shelton, G. R., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Jang, B., Dubrovskiy, A., Mamiya, B., Weber, R., Broadway, S., Williamson, V., Powell, C. B., & Mason, D. (2023). Importance of academic legacy on student success in first- and second-semester general chemistry. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 6(3), 121-148. Weblink.

22. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Yildiz, F. (2022). Creating Significant Learning Experiences in an Engineering Technology Bridge Course: a backward design approach. Paper presented at 2022 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference. Weblink.

21. Yildiz, F.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Thompson, D. E.; Martin, T. E.; Swarthout, M. B. (2022). The STEM Center to Promote Undergraduate Education and Research at Sam Houston State University. Paper presented at 2022 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference. Weblink.

20. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Dubrovskiy, A.; Mamiya, B.; Walker, D. R.; Powell, C. B.; Broadway, S.; Weber, R.; Shelton, G. R.; Mason, D. (2022). Personal characteristics influencing college readiness of Hispanic students in a STEM gateway course: first-semester general chemistry. Journal of College Science Teaching. 51(5), 31-41. Weblink.

19. Dubrovskiy, A.; Broadway, S.; Jang, B.; Mamiya, B.; Powell, C. B.; Shelton, G. R.; Walker, D. R.; Weber, R.; Williamson, V.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Mason, D. (2022). Is the gender gap closing? Journal of Research in Science Mathematics and Technology Education, 5(1), 47-68. Weblink.

18. Mamiya, B.; Powell, C. B.; Shelton, G. R.; Dubrovskiy, A.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Broadway, S.; Weber, R.; Mason, D. (2022). Influence of Environmental Factors on Success of At-Risk Hispanic Students in First-Semester General Chemistry. Journal of College Science Teaching. 51(4), 46-57. Weblink.

17. Shelton, R. G.; Mamiya, B.; Weber, R.; Walker, D. R.; Powell, C. B.; Jang, B.; Dubrovskiy, A. V.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Mason, D. (2021). Early Warning Signals from Automaticity Diagnostic Instruments for First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry. Journal of Chemistry Education. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00714. Weblink.

16. Kelly, R. M.; Akaygun, S.; Hansen, S. J. R.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Adam, J. (2021). Examining Learning of Atomic Level Ideas About Precipitation Reactions with a Resources Framework. Chemistry Education Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RP00071J. Weblink.

15. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Thompson, D. E.; Hegwood, S. L. (2021). Integration of Research-based Strategies and Instructional Design: Creating Significant Learning Experiences in a Chemistry Bridge Course. Paper presented at 2021 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. Weblink.

14. Pazicni, S.; Wink, D. J.; Donovan, A.; Conrad, J. A.; Darr, J.; Richter-Egger, D. L.; Morgan Theall, R. A.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Walker, D. R. (2021). The ACS General Chemistry Performance Expectations Project: From Task Force to Three-Dimensional Learning Community. Journal of Chemistry Education, 98, 4, 1112–1123. Weblink.

13. Weber, R.; Powell, C. B.; Williamson, V.; Mamiya, B.; Walker, D. R.; Dubrovskiy, A.; Shelton, G. R.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Jang, B.; Broadway, S.; Mason, D. (2020). Relationship between academic preparation in general chemistry and potential careers. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 32 (5), 25311-25323. Weblink.

12. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; McCleary, C. (2019). Analysis of copper alloys as an introduction to data analysis and interpretation for General Chemistry courses. Educación Química, 30(2), 41-5. Weblink.

11. Hansen, S. J. R.; Hu, B.; Reidlova, D.; Kelly, R. M.; Akaygun, S.; Villalta-Cerdas, A. (2019). Critical consumption of chemistry visuals: eye tracking structured variation and visual feedback of redox and precipitation reactions. Chemical Education Research and Practice, 20, 837-850. Weblink.

10. Kelly, R. M.; Akaygun, S.; Hansen, S. J. R.; Villalta-Cerdas, A. (2017). The effect that comparing molecular animations of varying accuracy has on students’ submicroscopic explanations. Chemical Education Research and Practice, 18, 582-600. Weblink.

9. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Sandi-Urena, S. (2016). Assessment of self-explaining effect in a large enrollment general chemistry course. Educación Química, 27(2), 115-125. Weblink.

8. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Sandi-Urena, S. (2014). Self-explaining effect in general chemistry instruction: Eliciting overt categorical behaviours by design. Chemical Education Research and Practice. DOI: 10.1039/C3RP00172E. Weblink.

7. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; McKeny, P.; Gatlin, T. A.; Sandi-Urena, S. (2014). Evaluation of Instruction: General Chemistry Students’ Patterns of Use and Contribution to RateMyProfessors.com. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. (ahead-of-print), 1-18. Weblink.

6. Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Sandi-Urena, S. (2013). Self-explaining and its Use in College Chemistry Instruction. Educación Química. 24(4), 431-438. Weblink.

5. Bergin, A., Sharp, K., Gatlin, T., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Gower, A., Sandi-Urena, S. (2013). Use of RateMyProfessors.com as a supplemental tool for the assessment of General Chemistry Instruction. Journal of Chemical Education, 90, 289-295. Weblink.

4. Yang, M.; Flavin, K.; Kopf, I.; Radics, G.; Hearnden, C. H. A.; McManus, G. J.; Moran, B.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Echegoyen, L. A.; Giordani, S.; Lavelle, E. C. (2013). Functionalization of Carbon Nanoparticles Modulates Inflammatory Cell Recruitment and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation. Small, 9(24), 4194-4206. Weblink.

3. Plonska-Brzezinska, M.; Dubis, A.; Lapinski, A.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Echegoyen, L. (2011). Electrochemical Properties of Oxidized Carbon Nano-Onions: DRIFTS-FTIR and Raman Spectroscopic Analyses. A European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry, 12, 2659-2668. Weblink.

2. Plonska-Brzezinska, M.; Lapinski, A.; Wilczewska, A. Z.; Dubis, A.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Winkler, K.; Echegoyen, L. (2011). The synthesis and characterization of carbon nano-onions produced by solution ozonolysis. Carbon, 49, 5079-5089. Weblink.

1. Breczko, J.; Winkler, K.; Plonska-Brzezinska, M.; Villalta-Cerdas, A.; Echegoyen, L. (2010). Electrochemical properties of composites containing small carbon nano-onions and solid polyelectrolytes. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 20, 7761-7768. Weblink.