Matt QueenMatt Queen, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biological and Physical Sciences, CHPS

A passion for science, specifically chemistry, is evident in all of Dr. Matt Queen’s endeavors.

Since joining MSU Billings in 2014, he has emerged as a distinguished leader in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences.

A students-first approach has led Queen to not only mentor students in the lab, but to embark on learning field trips and to revamp the chemistry curriculum to increase the success of students. Students describe Queen as “possessing an infectious enthusiasm and always accessible for help and conferencing.” In 2018, Queen and several students conducted research on the synchrotron beam at Stanford University and presented their findings to the Montana Chapter of the American Chemical Society. 

 As a student who struggled with chemistry himself, Queen found success through academic support and a strong work ethic, eventually mastering the subject and choosing the field of inorganic chemistry as his career focus. Using his own experiences as a model, Queen enacted unique curriculum changes and developed new courses in chemistry to increase student confidence and cognitive learning of the subject. Fostering important relationships through Gateways to Completion, consulting with UM faculty, and attending chemistry education conferences, are all in a day’s work for Queen, as he tirelessly works to revamp chemistry courses at MSU Billings.

Research, teaching, and community outreach all culminate in the Atomic Circus experience. Over the last two years, fifth graders in School District 2 have seen the multimedia chemistry demonstration show. Last summer, Queen took the Atomic Circus on the road throughout Eastern Montana. Tour success led him to apply for a 1.3-million-dollar grant to the National Institutes of Health to expand the Atomic Circus experience into chemical education and recruitment.

An impressive teacher, researcher, mentor, and colleague, Queen imparts his talents to his classes, campus, and the community. “Dr. Queen’s commitment to our students, his research agenda, and service has been extraordinary,” shares CLASS Dean Christine Shearer. “I am impressed by his incredible energy and passion to revitalize the chemistry curriculum so that students have the optimal opportunity for success.”