Course Leader, CHM3411L: Physical Chemistry II Lab, University of Central Florida

• Classical as well as modern instrumental techniques coupled with computer data processing to measure physical properties and determine atomic and molecular parameters (syllabus)

• Responsible for overseeing 10 experiments, 3 graduate teaching assistants and 60 undergraduates per semester

Course Goals:

• perform experimental techniques common to the physical chemistry laboratory

• explain the underlying practical and theoretical aspects of laboratory techniques, including concepts from thermodynamics, kinetics and quantum mechanics

• analyze and evaluate experimental results, and perform error propagation

Excerpts of anonymous student feedback:

• “Dr. Hopper is very kind and cares about student outcomes. He explained concepts very well before each lab and addressed concerns we had about grades and math.” 

• “Dr. Hopper is a kind professor who is clearly passionate and educated in the concepts covered in this lab. I liked that he really emphasized learning the concepts and the fundamentals of an experiment rather than focusing on us perfecting that experiment.” 

• “Dr. Hopper was very helpful when it came to explaining concepts that provided helpful background for the experiments. I learned a lot from his explanations, and they significantly improved my understanding of the course content.” 

• “Dr. Hopper was very approachable to talk to in class and in office hours when problems occurred or questions needed to be answered.” 

• "Dr. Hopper goes to great lengths to make sure the students understand the material and expectations of this lab course."

Section Leader, CHM2046: Chemistry Fundamentals II, University of Central Florida

• General chemistry course covering intermolecular forces, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry, radiochemistry (syllabus)

• Responsible for ∼450 undergraduate students and biweekly 75 min classes per semester

Course Goals:

• Use chemical knowledge to solve real-world quantitative and qualitative problems

• Make predictions about the behavior of materials given their molecular structure

• Use relevant mathematical relationships in calculations to predict the behavior of matter

Excerpts of anonymous student feedback:

• “Great lecturer, class expectations are very clear from the beginning, shows kindness to all students."

• “Very understanding professor and truly wants his students to succeed

• “Super helpful and engaging during class. The course is set up nicely. Great with communication. 

• "This professor was amazing. I have not liked a chemistry professor until him. He cares a lot about his students performing well in his class and helps as much as he can. Being his first year teaching at UCF he did a great job."

Course Leader, MATSCI 142: Quantum Mechanics of Nanoscale Materials, Stanford University

• Introduction to quantum mechanics and its application to the properties of nanoscale materials (syllabus)

• Prepared materials and delivered 1 hr lectures 3 days a week for 10 weeks (Apr 2023 - Jun 2023) to 15 undergraduate students (7 female, 8 male)

Course Goals:

• Recap of prerequisite physics and math concepts (including linear algebra, calculus and complex numbers) with no assumed prior background 

• Encouraging students to think in a completely different way beyond common sense intuition

• An introduction to quantum mechanics, working toward advanced topics fundamental to modern materials science and nanotechnology

Excerpts of anonymous student feedback:

• "One of the best classes I’ve taken at Stanford!"

• "Definitely take it! The instructors are amazing and make the challenging course content much more approachable!"

• "I liked how the instructor was always very clear about what the expectations for the course were. He was very good at giving us all of the information so we understood what was happening, but then identifying clearly the most important takeaway"

• "Instruction team seemed very supportive. They were also very responsive and helpful."

• "Tom and the TA, Arnob were my favorite parts of the course! Tom and Arnob were very engaging in lectures and also supported the class through the difficult material. They were very understanding and accommodating to student circumstances and difficulties." 

• "The delivery of this class was very good compared to other STEM classes. Office hours were always plentiful and there was so much support."

• "The emphasis in this class was really on understanding and not so much grades."

Demonstrator, Physical Chemistry, Imperial College London

• Planning, demonstrating and report marking for 1st & 2nd year Physical Chemistry classes (>160 hrs total, ca. 150 students)

• Responsible for electronic and vibrational spectroscopy experiments