Miller Research Group
"Each year, a little better than before."
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Spring 2026 Research Classes
Spring 2026 Research Classes
Two Undergraduate Research Classes at SCC Main Campus for Spring 2026
· Fridays 8:30-11:45am and/or
· Fridays 1:45- 4:50pm
You can take one or both classes! In general, students work with their advisor on projects chosen by the advisor (Miller or Gutierrez). Students work through a series of microcredentials that can be listed on their resumes and in letters of recommendation as they apply for future research positions, internships, or professional schools. Partial list of microcredentials:
Literature Search
Journal Article Reading
Method Validation
Experimental Accuracy for Collecting New Data
Data Analysis
Data Interpretation
Oral and/or Poster Session Presentation
While publication in a refereed journal is our goal, publication of research completed at the community college level often takes years; publication authorship should be viewed as the "icing on the cake" of the main goal of having students learning research skills.
For more information about undergraduate research opportunities at SCC:
The web page for the Sacramento City College Undergraduate Research Conference and Awards Ceremony
Students and me in Philadelphia for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference
Madi Cha and me in Washington D.C. at a crocheting workshop held during the ACS National Meeting Fall 2025
Fridays 8:30-11:45am: Class collaborates with Osvaldo Gutierrez's group at UCLA to learn molecular modeling of organic chemistry reactions Requires students have completed General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II. To participate: students are required to have completed both semesters of General Chemistry and be enrolled in first semester Organic Chemistry. This class takes place in person even though the collaboration occurs remotely. The class requirement will be verified prior to the first week of class. Students who do not meet this prereq can be dropped or reassigned to another project.
Fridays 1:45-4:50pm: Research involves wet chemistry: measurement of physical properties of solutions. Current work includes measuring the refractive indices, densities, and viscosities of nonideal binary solutions. Other possible projects include measuring caffeine levels as a function of roast profile, grind size, brew ratio, and other variables. All levels of chemistry students can take this class. This is an in-person class.
Manuscript Submission
Manuscript Submission
August 25, 2025: Submission of our first primarily "science" manuscript (as opposed to our previous primarily "educational" publications). Submitted to Journal of Physical Chemistry B. Rejected and rerouted to ACS Omega. In the process of submitting revisions to ACS Omega. This work was based on the results of our spring 2025 nonideal solutions project. Thanks for all of the hard work of each of my undergraduate researchers to make this possible!
Fall 2025 Research
Fall 2025 Research
Two Undergraduate Research Classes at SCC Main Campus for Fall 2025
· Thursdays 4:30-7:20pm and/or
· Fridays 8:30-11:45am
Spring 2025 Research
Spring 2025 Research
End of Semester Brunch
It was a great semester working on our two projects, Nonideal Solutions and Organometalic Catalyst Reaction Modeling! From left to right: Taha, Catie, Olivia, Bill, Madi, Lucia, Anthony, Stephanie, Pooya, and Andrey
Jayla and Sanat filling their falling sphere viscometer with water. It should be noted that this activity is being conducted in a regular classroom with no chemicals.
Christi, Amy, Judy, and Karla measuring the refractive properties of PEG 3350/water solutions. It should be noted that this activity is being conducted in a regular classroom with no chemicals (the PEG 3350 is Purolax, an over the counter medication).
Kate, Allan, and Rafael watching, timing and videoing the sphere falling down the tube of their viscometer
Spring 2024 Research
Spring 2024 Research
Chemistry Education Materials
Chemistry Education Materials
Our undergraduate research focuses on simple, publishable projects that create new chemistry education materials such as new labs or new teaching resources. While working on these projects, students learn research skills as they collect and analyze data.
Current and Ongoing Research Projects
Current and Ongoing Research Projects
Project 1: Social Media Videos About Chirality and Significant Figures: Increasing the General Public's Interest and Knowledge about Chemistry, 2023-present. "Chiral" means hand in Greek. Hands are what are called "nonsuperimposable mirror images." That means that hands are made out of the same stuff, but that your right and left hand are not identical- you cannot turn your right hand around to make it exactly like your left hand. Hands are chiral.
Chemists know this because they take organic chemistry and learn about Fischer projections and optical activity. Biologists know this because 19 of the 20 amino acids are chiral. Chirality is everywhere in biology. Biochemists, of course, know, too. But most other STEM majors don't know about this, and it is a increase students' interest in STEM majors. Everyone has hands!
What does it mean to measure something? Scientists know that each number in a scientific measurement has meaning. 41.60 g of NaCl is different than 41.6 g of NaCl. But how and why? The answer is significant figures.
In this project, we organize the educational materials about chirality and signficant figures currently available, and then create educational materials (handouts, posters, videos, short presentations) that can be used to help students start to understand what chirality is and how it relates to both everyday life and chemistry and biology. This project has recently been expanded to cover all general chemistry topics.
Project 2: Measuring the Refractive Indices of Nonideal Binary solutions: The refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a material. A non-ideal solution is a solution in which physical properties of the solution do not vary linearly between the pure component properties. Many industrially important solutions are binary solutions. For example, hand sanitizers are, basically, binary solutions of water and either ethanol or 2-propanol. We propose to measure the refractive indices of binary solutions over the full range of solution compositions. Our goal is to understand the structures of these solutions.
Pictured below: Students from Project 1 during the Fall 2023 semester
Prior Research Projects
Prior Research Projects
Frugal Science: Partial Molar Volumes of Binary Solutions Based on Simple Measurements, 2022-2023. Frugal Science addresses the topic of “how do we make science accessible to people around the world.” We report a method for measuring the partial molar volumes of binary solutions that is significantly simpler than methods previously reported, thus making these types of measurements more accessible to students in colleges and high schools in the U.S. and around the world.
Partial molar volumes are used in industry to account for the fact that 50.00 mL of water added to 50.00 mL of ethanol only produces 96.40 mL of solution, a difference that is very important if you are making products like hand sanitizer or vodka. We report our results for the partial molar volumes of binary solutions and compare them to literature values.
Using a Handheld Refractometer in Remote Environments: Estimation of the Partial Molar Volumes of Non-Ideal Solutions, 2021-2022. In a typical physical chemistry experiment, students measure the partial molar volumes of binary solutions using a pycnometer, an instrument that measures the density of a solution with a high level of accuracy. We will adapt this procedure to allow the partial molar volumes to be estimated using a handheld refractometer that measures the refractive indices of binary solutions. From refractive indices, we will estimate partial molar volumes. We will do this in a remote environment using common household chemicals and in a lab environment using more hazardous chemicals. Further, we will also attempt to estimate the partial molar volumes using a low budget pycnometer (similar to the traditional experiment. Finally, we will compare our new methods to literature values.
At-Home General Chemistry Labs that Teach the Same Skills as Face-to-Face Labs, 2020-present. In collaboration with Dr. Tonya Atkins, developed 6 core labs, an at-home lab kit, and the associated videos so that students did labs at home. These labs teach 46 skills that are equivalent to when these skills are performed in face-to-face labs, Labs include Basic Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsFGnU6F5Pc), Calibration of a Pipette and a Graduated Cylinder (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4JpWB99sI), Density of Saline Solutions (https://youtu.be/vE_DWe6vcUw), Decomposition of Baking Soda (https://youtu.be/slxKzfdkpIA), pH Titration of Acetic Acid with Sodium Carbonate (https://youtu.be/EVXdrGqyB9E), and Calorimetry (https://youtu.be/VG41qjaHDhM). In the process of developing course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) that can be completed at home.
Integration of A Refractometer into the General Chemistry Curriculum, 2020-present. We propose to develop a lab for the General Chemistry curriculum that involves the relationship between the refractive index of solutions and the chemistry of these solutions. This lab will involve reverse engineering a refractometer, using the refractometer to measure solutions, and then suggesting improvements. As such, it will involve numerous points at which students can think critically about what they are learning in their general chemistry class.
Miller, W. J. W.; Torres-Rodas, K.; Waxman, S. W.; Allen, D.; Turman, J.; Bartholomew, A. J. “Using a Handheld Refractometer in Remote Environments to Measure the Refractive Indices of a Variety of Solutions: Sucrose, Coffee, Methanol/Water, and 2-Propanol/Water,” J. Chem. Ed., 98, 2730-2734, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00012.
Hand-Powered Centrifuge, 2018-2019. In collaboration with Prof. Karen McDonald and Dr. Somen Nandi at the UC Davis Department of Chemical Engineering, students 3D printed, evaluated, and modelled the ability of a hand-powered centrifuge to separate materials necessary to purify pharmaceutical compounds. Applications of this technology were in low-cost and/or low-power regions including on Mars.
Pictured left to right: Jorge Rodriguez, Dylan Estrada, Dylan Beck, and Brandon Gregersen (not shown: UCD graduate student Matt McNulty)
Packing of Two Differently-Sized Solid Particles, 2018-2019. In this project, students ground roasted coffee beans to obtain two different sizes of particles using a cone-and-burr grinder. A cone-and-burr grinder typically has 40 different settings. Students determined the average sizes of the particles and their volume upon mixing. The hypothesis was that differently-sized particles will have less volume when mixed than separately. A model was developed to account for the packing of these particles.
Pictured left to right: Chris Burlando and Alanna Noguchi
Viscosity of Designed Fluids, 2018-2019. In this project, students built a falling sphere viscometer. Students attempted to measure the viscosity of known fluids.
Pictured left to right: Brandon D’Cruz and Mari-Beth Browne
“Snakes on a Plain,” 2017-2018. In this project, students modelled a series of hydrocarbon chains (the snakes) of varying length and density on a flat surface (the plain). The model estimated the configurational entropy of these chains.
Homemade Antacid Tablets, 2016-2017. In this project, students designed and “pressed” their own antacid tablets for the traditional “Antacids Titration” lab done in General Chemistry. The pill press was a simple hand-screw press obtained for $45. Different active ingredients and binding agents were tried to optimize the pills. With the addition of a specific ratio of binding agent to active ingredient, the pills held together quite well. Unknowns were also created and tested as part of this project. Student-initiated project.
Pictured left to right: Adon Kwong and Jamie Thom
3D Printed Model of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) That Can Model Force Curves, 2015-2020. In collaboration with Gang-yu Liu, Professor of Chemistry at UC Davis. In this project, students designed and 3D printed a macroscopic working model of an AFM that demonstrated all of the principles of the real AFM including x-, y-, and z-axis motion of the stage and a laser that reflects off of a cantilever and onto a display. The model AFM can image xy-plane topography with sub-millimeter z-resolution. The model AFM can also model force curves, including the “snap-in” and “pull-off” conditions seen in a real AFM when the cantilever and the substrate are both magnetics. Currently, students are using the model AFM to "model" biological applications of an AFM. Student-initiated project.
Gruber, D.; Perez, T.; Layug, B. Q.; Ohama, M.; Tran, L.; Rojas, L. A. F.; Garcia, A. X.; Liu, G.-y.; Miller, W. J. W. "A 3D-Printed Macroscopic Model of an Atomic Force Microscope that Can Be Used to Produce Topographical Images and True Force-Distance Curves," J. Chem. Ed., 97, 845-849, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b01099
Pictured left to right: Dan Gruber, Bege Layug, and Maggie Ohama
The Influence of Solutions of Nanoparticles on the Growth of Mung Beans, 2014-2018. In collaboration with Gang-yu Liu, Professor of Chemistry at UC Davis. In this project classes of students grew mung beans in solutions of various types of nanoparticles (NPs) and analyzed images of the mung beans to determine the length of growth of the mung beans. Compared to their growth in Nanopure water, mung beans grown in solutions of 20 ppm ZnO NPs were severely stunted, and mung beans grown in solutions of 20 ppm SiO2 were moderately (but significantly) stunted.
Pictured: Matt Owens (lab coat) working with other students
Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) of Human Hair Samples and HPLC Particles, 2012-2014. In collaboration with Gang-yu Liu, Professor of Chemistry at UC Davis. Students imaged uncoated human hair samples, HPLC particles, and GC columns using FESEM. Hair samples were collected from the general public attending a seminar entitled “Scanning Electron Microscopy: An Introduction” held at three local community colleges and UC Davis to a total of 600 people. Students also developed a protocol to produce monolayers of particles and used image analysis software that provided statistical analysis of the particle size distribution. The vast majority of this research was carried out by SCC students who were trained to use the FESEM at UC Davis.
Pictured left to right: Jonathan Teeple and Lillian Kuang
Undergraduate Research Students
Undergraduate Research Students
* indicates coauthor
(2012) Lillian Kuang: graduated Midwestern University, Pharmacist, Pillpack, currently working at him&hers
(2012) Jonathan Teeple: graduated Michigan State Veterinary School, Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
(2013) Mike Flores: graduated UC Davis, graduated UC Davis School of Medicine, practicing doctor in the Sacramento area
(2013) Elias Misker: graduated Sacramento State, Accountant II at California State University-Sacramento
(2013) Caitlin Ellis: graduated UC Davis, enologist in Australia
(2013) Kyungjoo Park: graduated UC Berkeley, graduated MBA NIT Northern Institute of Technology Management, graduated MS Hamburg University of Technology
(2014) Matt Owen*: graduated UC Berkeley, graduated Ph.D. UC Davis in the Liu Lab, previously at Pace Life Sciences, now at Catent Life Sciences
(2014) Dan Gruber*: graduated Ph.D. UC Davis in the Augustine Lab, Postdoctoral Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), currently Assistant Professor at Saint Martin's University
(2014) Ty Perez*: graduated from UC Berkeley, prior winner of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: worked in Zhang Lab, currently graduate student at MIT.
(2015) Xavier Garcia*: graduated from USC (see this article in the LA Times about his experience), worked at NIH, Bethesda, now a medical student at Cornell
(2015) Megan Lee: graduated from UC Davis, Associate Chemist at Bayer Crop Science, currently Senior Research Associate at one.bio
(2015) Malak Haidari: student at UC Berkeley, completed Research Experience for Undergraduates at UC Davis during Summer 2017 in Velazquez Lab, previously a Process Engineering Specialist at Lam Research, now a Process Engineer at Lam Research
(2016) Jamie Thom: graduated California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, currently Pharmacist with CA Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
(2016) Adon Kwong: graduated UC Davis with B.S. and M.S.: did research in the Franz Lab; now a Research Associate II, Medicinal Chemistry at Eikon Therapeutics
(2016) Angel Flores*: student at UC Irvine
(2016) Stevilynn Harvey: graduated from CSU Sacramento, now working as Staff Research Associate I at UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
(2016) Kat Cruz: student at SCC/Los Rios, worked as student intern at Bureau of Reclamation, Civil Engineering Intern at MacKay and Somps | Cal Poly Civil Engineering Undergraduate Student, currently Entry-level Roadway Design Engineer at Mark Thomas
(2016) Ann Davis
(2016) Michael McKinstry: graduated UC Davis, completed into Research Experience for Undergraduates at Old Dominion University for Summer 2018,
(2016) Eddie Kinyon: attending PhD progam, Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley
(2016) Nam Le: attending UC Berkeley
(2017) Aaron Phu: graduated from UC Riverside with a BS in Chemistry
(2017) Alina Balakhnina:
K(2017) ristian Lee:
(2017) Nhung (Chloe) Dieu: graduated UC Berkeley, now an Battery Cell Engineer @ Mitra Chem
(2017) Bege Layug*
(2017) Maggie Ohama*: moved to Florida, applying to medical school
(2017) Lilith Tran*: graduated from SCC, now a Laboratory Technician at Hygieia Biological Laboratories
(2019) Jose Rodriguez: attending CSU Sacramento
(2019) Dylan Beck: graduated UC Davis, currently Associate Process Engineer at Bosch
(2019) Dylan Estrada: graduated UC Davis, Chemical Process Operator at Ampac Fine Chemicals, currently Senior Process Engineer at Arxada
(2019) Brandon Gregersen: graduated from UC Davis, now a Project Management Engineer at Genentech
(2019, 2018) Brandon D’Cruz: attended UC Davis, SCC Labratory Technician, currently at Marrone Biosciences
(2019) Mari-Beth Browne: graduated UC Santa Cruz
(2019) Marisa Anh Browne: graduated SCC, now Head of Client Relations at Carbon Collective
(2019) Chris Burlando: graduated UC Davis, teaches at the Capital College & Career Academy
(2019) Alanna Noguchi: graduated Make School, now Information Technology Associate, Department of Pesticide Regulation
(2019) Ziad Hallak: graduated CSU Sacramento, now Medical Scribe at Sutter Health
(2019) Xong Vue: attending PhD Program in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, UC Davis, currently a graduate student at UC Davis
(2021) Dale Allen*: attending UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
(2021) Josh Thurman*: attending Salisbury University
(2021) Kelin Torres-Rodas*: graduated University of Maryland, currently Engineering Co-Op @ Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel
(2021) Sophia Waxman*: attending University of Delaware, awarded Summer 2022 REU at Utah State, attending grad school in Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis
(2021) Chloe Peak: attending City College of San Francisco
(2022, 2021) Autumn Bartholomew Jackson*: attending University of Maryland, part of IREAP
(2021) Tonderai Kodzwa: attending UMBC, accepted to Clemson REU for summer 2023
(2021) Abryanna Henderson: graduated University of Maryland
(2022) Laura Nyoh Tobi: transferred to University of Maryland
(2022) Kate Operjai: attending PGCC Nursing Program
(2022) Anthony D'Costa: graduated PGCC
(2022) Ilham Kabir: awarded Summer 2022 REU at Utah State, attending University of Maryland
(2022) Audreen Bandegan: transferred to UC Davis
(2022) Robin Stricklin: transferred to UC Davis as a Regents scholar
(2022) Khang Nguyen: transferred to UC Davis
(2023) Kevin Totimeh: trasnferred to UMBC
(2023) Patricia Njwe: high school math teacher in PG County, MD
(2024) Kim Rossini: attending SCC
(2024) Jason Shurmas: attending SCC
(2024) Reginald Castex: attending SCC
(2024) Pari Azadi: transferred to UC Davis
(2025) Natalie Berkstresser: attending SCC
(2025, 2024) Madilyn Cha*: attending SCC, summer 2025 research experience in Gutierrez Group at UCLA
(2024) Chace Freed: graduated from Washington State University, Human Resources intern at Sports Media, Inc.
(2025, 2024) Stephanie Gonzalez*: transferred to UC Davis
(2024) Candice Lieu: transferred to UC Davis
(2025, 2024) Ella Lopez: attending SCC, summer 2025 research experience in Gutierrez Group at UCLA
(2025, 2024) Nasir Ahmad Mansoor Ahmad: attending SCC
(2024) Aaron Nguyen: transferred to UC Davis
(2025, 2024) Lucia Oboh*: transferred to UC Davis
(2024) Samin Sareyeh: transferred to UC Davis
(2025, 2024) Pooya Sohrabi Rad*: transferred to UC Davis
(2024) Elinor Steffy: attending SCC
(2024) Evelynn Wang, attending UC Davis
(2024) Cristi Bowen: attending SCC (transferring to University Nevada, Reno in 2026
(2024) Katherine Davies: attending SCC
(2025, 2024) Allan Godinez: attending SCC
(2024) Jayla James: attending Sacramento State
(2024) Sanat Jeswani: transferred to UC Davis
(2024) Rafael Neal: attending SCC
(2025, 2024) Karla Vargas*: attending SCC
(2025) Charles Young*: attending SCC
(2025) Andrey Khodakovskiy: attending ARC
(2025) Sayan Patel: attending ARC
(2025) Olivia Rodriguez: attending SCC
(2025) Catie Bussey*: attending SCC
(2025) Sebastian Moretti*: attending SCC
(2025) Giulia Vukazich*: attending UC Davis
(2025) Taha Shaikh: attending ARC
(2025) Isaias Campiz, attending SCC
(2025) Katayoon Formul, attending SCC
(2025) Ananya Iyengar, attending SCC
(2025) Valeria Velarde, attending SCC
(2025) Isaias Campiz, attending SCC
(2025) Ismael El Tareb, attending SCC
(2025) Lupita Guardado, attending SCC
(2025) Hannah Machado, attending SCC
(2025) Jose Mendez, attending SCC
(2025) Omar Ayseh, attending SCC
(2025) Amethyst Pasquiers, attending SCC
(2025) Hritika Gautam, attending SCC
(2025) Maryam Muradi, attending SCC
(2025) Ismael El Tareb, attending SCC
(2025) Anh Nguyen, attending SCC
(2025) Kimberly Trujillo, attending SCC
(2025) Ismael El Tareb, attending SCC
(2025) Jane Okafor, attending SCC
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