Rate My Professor James Silliman

James Silliman is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he has served since 2001, initially as Assistant Professor from 2001 to 2007 and then as Associate Professor from 2007 onward. He holds a B.S. in Geology from Muskingum College (1980), an M.S. in Chemistry from John Carroll University (1989), and a Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Geochemistry from the University of Michigan (1998). Prior to his faculty appointment, Silliman completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Florida Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (1998-1999) and the Geological Survey of Canada (1999-2001). He also worked as a Research and Materials Chemist at The Sherwin-Williams Company (1987-1993) and held associate positions at the University of Michigan. In addition to his teaching and research roles, he serves as Assistant Chair of the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences (2021-present) and has chaired the General and Organic Chemistry Lab Curriculum Committee (2018-2019).

Silliman's research focuses on organic geochemistry, including climate and environmental change, marine sediments, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, perylene origins, biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, and geoscience education. Key publications include 'An Hypothesis for the Origin of Perylene Based on Its Low Abundance in Sediments of Green Bay, Wisconsin' (Chemical Geology, 2001), 'Insights into the origin of perylene from isotopic analyses of sediments from Saanich Inlet, British Columbia' (Organic Geochemistry, 2000), 'Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contents of Coral and Surface Sediments off the South Texas Coast of the Gulf of Mexico' (International Journal of Biology, 2013), and 'Geoscience Education in Public Schools: Enhancing Attitudes and Knowledge' (Eos, 2007). As Principal Investigator, he has led major grants such as the National Science Foundation's 'Elementary Teachers Engaged in Authentic Math and Science [ETEAMS]' ($1,500,000, 2013-2017) and several Texas Research and Development Fund projects. His honors include two Texas A&M University System Teaching Excellence Awards (2010, 2011), the Excellence in Disability Access and Inclusion Award from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (2020), and the Conservation & Environmental Stewardship Award from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation (2006).