Rate My Professor Peter Marsden

Peter Marsden serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry within the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. As a Continuing Lecturer, he instructs introductory and organic chemistry laboratory courses, including Chem 1A, 1AL, 3A, 3AL, 3B, 3BL, 4A, and 112A. His teaching focuses on providing hands-on experiences essential for undergraduate students mastering fundamental chemical concepts and techniques. Marsden's commitment to educational excellence was honored with the 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award, the University of California, Berkeley's most prestigious recognition for teaching, established in 1959 to reward outstanding instructional contributions. Recipients receive a cash award and Academic Senate acknowledgment, highlighting Marsden's impact on student learning.

Before his lecturing position, Marsden was a chemistry graduate student instructor in 2006 and a graduate student researcher, as evidenced by his co-authorship on the 2009 publication 'An efficient didehydroxylation method for the biomass-derived polyols glycerol and erythritol: mechanistic studies of a formic acid-mediated deoxygenation' in Chemical Communications, affiliated with UC Berkeley's Department of Chemistry. This work advanced understanding of deoxygenation processes for biomass-derived polyols. In 2013, Marsden piloted the Chemistry Undergraduate Teacher-Scholars Program, recruiting advanced undergraduates to assist graduate student instructors in laboratory sections. Offering pass/no-credit training akin to a DeCal course, the program filled a critical gap in lab support at research universities, starting with about 10 participants in spring and summer for Chem 1A, 3A, and 3B, and expanding to over 60 in fall 2013 across multiple courses. Supported by Director of Undergraduate Chemistry Anne Baranger, it emphasizes evidence-based practices, systematically evaluating teaching methods like scientific experiments to enhance academic achievement. Marsden's initiatives, including contributions to online laboratory platforms and learning assistant programs, underscore his influence on innovative pedagogy and undergraduate education at UC Berkeley.