Earlham College | A national liberal arts college in the Midwest
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Mike Deibel
Professor of Chemistry; Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs

Mike Deibel teaches various courses in chemistry and serves as the lead advisor for students who are planning to attend medical school and other health sciences graduate programs. He is faculty liaison for Earlham’s Health Sciences Integrated Program.

Mike regularly collaborates with students on research projects, including ongoing work using handheld instrumentation at archaeological sites. He has led off-campus programs in New Zealand and at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Contact Info

Campus Mail
Drawer 145

Phone
765-983-1459

E-mail

Office
236 Stanley Hall

Programs/Departments

  • Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Public Health
  • Quality Science
  • Exercise Science Integrated Pathway
  • Medical Humanities Integrated Pathway
  • Office of the Academic Dean

Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Lexington
  • B.A., Capital University

Selected Courses:

CHEM 331 Equilibrium and Analysis
CHEM 371 Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
CHEM 431 Instrumental Analysis

Current areas of research interest span the environmental and archaeological areas. My environmental research is mainly focused on lead (Pb) contamination in the environment from different sources. My archaeological research involves the use of hand held instrumentation (XRF and FTIR) for on-site analysis of artifacts such as pottery and obsidian.

National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (Assistant Treasurer)  
American Chemical Society
Society for American Archaeology

My most recent research has focused on the use of handheld instrumentation for use in archaeology. This project has involved analysis of ancient pottery samples and obsidian projectile points. Using hand-held X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) we have been able to discover an elemental pattern for pottery that originated from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. This allows us to now analyze pottery found in household or burial sites in San Pedro or other locations for consistency with this pattern that can help us understand pottery trade distribution and changes in pottery production over time in this area. Similarly, elemental analysis of projectile points has enabled us to understand the number of different obsidian sources used in this area and help to discover their origin. This work has involved both on campus and off-campus (Chile) research with students.

New Zealand program – Spring 2012 – taught course on Water Resources
Oak Ridge Semester program – Fall 2004 – taught Radiochemistry course

I like to play tennis and read Science Fiction novels.

Earlham College, an independent, residential college, aspires to provide the highest-quality undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences, shaped by the distinctive perspectives of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

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Earlham College
801 National Road West
Richmond, Indiana
47374-4095
1-765-983-1200 — Main Switchboard
1-800-EARLHAM (327-5426) — Admission


NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

Earlham admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, gender and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, gender and sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.