Dr. Bill Doria
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Lynchburg College
M.S., Vanderbilt University
D.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Office: 221 Smith-Broyles Science Center
Phone: (479) 979-1489
E-Mail: bdoria@ozarks.edu
Dr. Bill Doria joined the University of the Ozarks in August of 2003 as Assistant Professor of Chemistry. He says he chose the field of Chemistry as his academic discipline because it occupies an interesting middle ground -- right between physics, which studies things that are very small, and biology, which looks at things much larger in size. "Chemistry overlaps with the other two fields very nicely and gives me a chance to dabble in all three. It’s a good field for someone who’s curious about how nature works!” He goes on to say, “There are a lot of things we don’t know about atoms and how they work. Part of the problem is that when we perform experiments in a lab, we’re looking at a beaker full of trillions of molecules -- it’s hard to know what individual molecules are doing. I’m very interested in developing and using computer programs that can simulate what atoms and molecules do so that we can examine them on a small scale. Those programs can help us answer questions like: how do cancer drugs interact with DNA to slow tumor growth? Can we design drugs that do their jobs more effectively, based on what these programs tell us? How about designing power cells that are more efficient and less damaging to the environment? These are all questions I’m interested in exploring."
When asked why he decided to become a professor Dr. Doria says “I like to share my excitement about chemistry, and the interesting things it tells us about the world. Chemistry has a reputation of being a difficult field (and it often is!), so it’s a pleasure to be able to explain a complex subject to someone, and see the enthusiasm that results when they find they can understand something they thought was beyond them. That’s one of the purest, simplest rewards of teaching.” He says he really likes teaching at a small institution like Ozarks. “Here I can get to know my students individually, and that’s a big help if they begin to have trouble in class. I can often sense what the problem is before it gets overwhelming.” When asked what he hopes his students will take with them when they leave Ozarks, he answered, “I hope my students will leave my classes feeling inquisitive about the natural world, and having a sense of wonder that it can be both so simple and so complex at once. I hope they’ll carry with them a desire to learn more (about all subjects!) for the rest of their lives.”
On the occasions that permit him some free time away from work, Dr. Doria loves cooking for friends. He says, “Good food, good wine, and good conversation are my greatest escapes. I also love to travel, and like to settle into a good book when I’m able (not often these days!). When time allows, I try to practice my skills as a violinist -- I think the cats in my neighborhood must be quite frightened by the sound!”
