Rate My Professor Robyn Hyde

Professor Robyn Hyde holds a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Utah and a B.S. from Northwest Nazarene University. As a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Westminster, she brings extensive experience in higher education, delivering both in-person and online instruction across diverse chemistry and general education courses. Her teaching portfolio includes Organic Chemistry I and II with associated laboratories, Science of Food and Drink in the core curriculum, Introduction to Forensic Science, Organic Medicinal Chemistry, and Natural Sciences of Hawaii. Proficient in spectroscopy and spectrometry techniques, she advises pre-professional health students pursuing paths in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy. Additionally, she chairs the Meldrum Science Center, coordinates STEM outreach initiatives, and mentors undergraduate researchers.

Robyn Hyde's research interests span organic chemistry, green chemistry, medicinal chemistry, forensic chemistry, food science, environmental science, and aquatic ecology. Current investigations focus on the limnology and macrophyte populations of Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, as well as adapting the QuEaChERS extraction method to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in water and snow samples. Her students' research has been showcased at American Chemical Society national meetings, including posters on environmental chemistry and watershed quality assessments. Hyde has earned recognition for her educational contributions, including the 2021 Salt Lake City Section American Chemical Society Outstanding Chemistry Educator Award and involvement in outstanding student affiliate chapters. Key publications from her work include 'Antiviral Amphipathic Oligo- and Polyribonucleotides Containing 2’-O-Methylphosphodiester Linkages' in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2003), 'Oligonucleotides and Polyribonucleotides: A Review of Anti-Viral Activity' in Antiviral Chemistry & Chemotherapy (2005), and 'SENSELESS ANTIVIRAL POLYRIBONUCLEOTIDES: POLY(1-PROPARGYLINOSINIC ACID)' in Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids (1998). She actively engages in public outreach through workshops like crime scene investigations, virtual science experiments, and school demonstrations on slime chemistry and Earth Day activities, enhancing scientific literacy and inspiring the next generation of scientists.