Short Biography
Dr. Wilson obtained his B.S. in biochemistry from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He took some time after his B.S. working in healthcare where he became a board certified histotechnologist (HTL). After teaching histology for a hospital training program. Patrick returned to graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado. There he first earned his MS in chemistry specializing in analytical chemistry and a PhD in Chemical Education. His previous master’s research involved characterizing the effects of noise damage in dopamine neurotransmission in the central nervous system. His doctoral research examined the manner at which undergraduate chemistry instructors do (or do not) incorporate climate change topics in their instruction. Dr. Wilson joined the UCLA faculty in 2025 as an Assistant Teaching Professor. His group now focuses on introducing critical ethical inquiry in chemistry, encouraging them to apply their scientific expertise in service of the public good.
Research Interests
Our research program looks to study and incorporate activities that promote science as a care practice in chemistry. This work seeks to apply ethical frameworks previously developed within social sciences in the context of chemistry principles and present chemistry as a care practice. The aim of this work is to understand faculty members’ approach towards incorporating or excluding ethical concepts and practices in chemistry. We also seek to provide tools that integrate and assess students’ ethical development in chemistry courses.
Honors & Awards
- Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence 2023, University of Northern Colorado
- Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Dissertation 2023, University of Northern Colorado
- NHS Academic Scholar Award 2023, University of Northern Colorado
- Loretta Jones Scholarship 2022, University of Northern Colorado
- Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence 2020, University of Northern Colorado
- Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Thesis 2020, University of Northern Colorado
- Research Excellence Award 2020, University of Northern Colorado
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Chemistry 2018, University of Northern Colorado
Representative Publications
- Wilson, P., Sayers, T., & Weinrich, M. (2024). Survey of United States Undergraduate Chemistry Instructors’ Perspectives on Teaching Climate Change. Journal of Chemical Education. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.
jchemed.3c01262 - Wilson, P., Duarte, N., Harris, T., Sayers, T., & Weinrich, M. (2024). Analysis of Climate Change in General Chemistry Textbooks. Journal of Chemical Education. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.
jchemed.3c01257 - Wilson, P., & Apawu, A. K. (2022). Deafening noise down-regulates dopamine transmission in the hub of the central auditory system. Neurochemistry International, 159, 105382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
neuint.2022.105382