Dr. Michael G. Hill is the Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor of Chemistry at Occidental College. He has been a cornerstone of Oxy's scholarly community since he joined the faculty in 1994, after finishing his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Minnesota, and conducting formative postdoctoral work in Harry Gray’s lab at Caltech that honed the electrochemical curiosity that animates his scholarship today. In the Hill Lab, undergraduates tackle questions at the frontiers of electrochemistry and photochemistry of transition-metal complexes, small-molecule activation, and bioinorganic catalysis—a research program that has produced more than 120 peer-reviewed papers, garnered upwards of 11,000 citations, and inspired a generation of Oxy chemists who go on to win numerous scholarships, fellowships and graduate admissions to the most prestigious doctoral programs. A Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar (2001) and recipient of Occidental’s Sterling Memorial Award for outstanding teaching (2010-11), Professor Hill is equally celebrated for the energy he brings to the classroom, where his famously kinetic demonstrations illuminate topics from organometallic bonding to DNA charge transport. Beyond campus, his collaborative work on electromechanical reshaping of cartilage and corneal tissue—popularly, if inaccurately, dubbed the “five-minute electric nose job”—has been spotlighted by the BBC and other international outlets, underscoring his knack for translating fundamental redox chemistry into transformative biomedical technologies. Professor's Hill dedication to Oxy's students showcases how rigorous undergraduate research can ripple outward to reshape both scientific understanding and broader societal well-being.
Dr. Aleksandra Sherman, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science at Occidental College, is an internationally recognized researcher and award-winning mentor whose work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and the arts. Her interdisciplinary research investigates how our senses interact to shape perception and cognition, and how social and emotional factors mediate these experiences. Using behavioral tasks, eye-tracking, EEG, and both qualitative and quantitative analyses, she explores topics ranging from multisensory illusions to the ways art influences empathy, meaning-making, and scientific practice. She is currently co-authoring Why the Arts Matter and has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation, and other major institutions.
Equally distinguished as a mentor, Dr. Sherman has transformed student research opportunities in Cognitive Science through inclusive recruitment practices, hands-on training, and a supportive lab culture that empowers students to take intellectual ownership of their projects. Her students have co-authored publications, presented at conferences, earned Fulbright awards, and launched successful careers in and beyond academia. As Director of Occidental’s Center for Research and Scholarship, she continues to expand opportunities for faculty-student collaboration and foster a campus-wide culture of scholarly excellence.
