Ben Cotts
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
- Office
- McCardell Bicentennial Hall 545
- Tel
- (802) 443-2033
- bcotts@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- 2025/2026 On leave
Benjamin Cotts is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry teaching general, physical, and analytical chemistry courses. He came to Middlebury in 2021 after postdoctoral research and teaching in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University. He was also a Presidential Management Fellow working on energy systems modeling at the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration and tech-to-market and program support at the Advanced Research Project Agency Energy from 2017-2018. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley in 2016, and a B.A. in Chemistry from Carleton College in 2011.
Research in the Cotts Lab is focused on working to find new forms of abundant and affordable clean energy, crucial to tackling the climate crisis. Emerging materials such as quantum dots and organic semiconductors are considerably better at absorbing light than conventional crystalline silicon, requiring less material to create a working solar cell or LED. Yet these new materials form chaotic structures in devices requiring careful study to understand how the arrangement of molecules at the microscale influences overall device function and stability. Specifically, the lab uses time-resolved spectroscopies to track excited electrons under different sample conditions.
Experiments are conducted both at Middlebury College and at national user facilities. In BiHall, the central instruments are a time-resolved fluorimeter and a quantum yield spectrometer, allowing us to measure how long excited electrons live in different samples. Outside of Middlebury, time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments are run at the Advanced Photon Source housed within the DOE Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago and ultrafast electron diffraction experiments are run at the SLAC MeV-UED facility in Palo Alto, CA. These experiments generate large amounts of data that are analyzed with custom scripts.
Courses Taught
CHEM 0103
General Chemistry I
Course Description
General Chemistry I
Major topics will include atomic theory and atomic structure; chemical bonding; stoichiometry; introduction to chemical thermodynamics. States of matter; solutions and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory work deals with testing of theories by various quantitative methods. Students with strong secondary school preparation are encouraged to consult the department chair for permission to elect CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 in place of this course. CHEM 0103 is also an appropriate course for a student with little or no prior preparation in chemistry who would like to learn about basic chemical principles while fulfilling the SCI or DED distribution requirement. Students with AP Chemistry scores of 4 or 5 OR Chemistry Placement scores of 21 or higher are NOT allowed to enroll in CHEM 103. Students MUST have taken the Chemistry placement exam and earned a score of 20 or less. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
CHEM 0104
General Chemistry II
Course Description
General Chemistry II
In this course, we will cover introductory chemistry topics including chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Lab work includes inorganic synthesis, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis in kinetics, acid-base and redox chemistry. Students may only enroll in this course if they have previously taken and passed CHEM 0103. This course will be offered for the last time in Spring 2026. (CHEM 0103) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab.
Terms Taught
Requirements
CHEM 0311
Instrumental Analysis
Course Description
Instrumental Analysis
In this course we will learn fundamental concepts of analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and scientific writing. Lecture topics include experimental design and quality control; sample collection and preparation; calibration, error, and data analysis; statistics; and the theory and operation of chemical instrumentation. Multi-week laboratory projects provide hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis using a variety of research-quality instrumentation (e.g., UV/Vis spectrophotometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Writing workshops promote professional scientific writing skills through guided practice in writing analysis, peer review, and revision. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0242) 3 hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
Terms Taught
Requirements
CHEM 0312
Inorganic & Physical Chemistry
Course Description
Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory
In this course students will carry out experiments in the field of inorganic and physical chemistry and write journal-style reports based on their results. In the first half of the semester students will conduct a multi-step synthesis and characterization of a Mo-Mo complex with a quadruple bond. Students will learn inert atmosphere synthetic techniques and how to use a glove box. The synthesized Mo-Mo complex will be characterized by UV-Vis, IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry. In the second half of the semester students will conduct two physical chemistry experiments. First students will carry out a kinetic study of the isomerization of the Mo-Mo (alpha to beta or beta to alpha) complex by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Finally, students will obtain the high-resolution IR spectra of acetylene and deuterated acetylene and analyze the rotation-vibration spectra using statistical and quantum mechanics to obtain structural data and interpret the peak intensities. In addition to the laboratory activities, there will be lectures on metal quadruple bonds, principles of UV-Vis , IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and statistical mechanics. (CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351, and CHEM 0355. CHEM 0355 can be taken concurrently.) 3 hrs. lect. 3 hrs. lab
Terms Taught
CHEM 0351
Quantum Chemistry/Spectroscopy
Course Description
Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy
Quantum theory is developed and applied to atomic structure and molecular bonding. Spectroscopy is examined as an application of quantum theory. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0241, MATH 0122 and PHYS 0110, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
CHEM 0355
Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Course Description
Thermodynamics and Kinetics for Chemical and Biological Sciences
In this course students will learn the central ideas that frame thermodynamics and kinetics. The application of these ideas to chemical, biological, and the environmental processes will be covered using examples such as refrigerators, heat pumps, fuel cells, bioenergetics, lipid membranes, and catalysts (including enzymes). (CHEM 0205 Or CHEM 0211 Or CHEM 0231) 3 hrs lect., 1 hr disc.
Terms Taught
CHEM 0500
Current
Upcoming
Independent Study
Course Description
Independent Study Project
Individual study for qualified students. (Approval required)
Terms Taught
CHEM 0700
Current
Upcoming
Senior Research
Course Description
Senior Research
In this course students complete individual projects involving laboratory research on a topic chosen by the student and a faculty advisor. Prior to registering for CHEM 0700, a student must have discussed and agreed upon a project topic with a faculty member in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (Approval required; open only to seniors)
Terms Taught
CHEM 0701
Current
Upcoming
Senior Thesis
Course Description
Senior Thesis
Students who have initiated research projects in CHEM 0400 and who plan to complete a senior thesis should register for CHEM 0701. Students are required to write a thesis, give a public presentation, and defend their thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members. The final grade will be determined by the department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (CHEM 0400; approval required)
Terms Taught
FYSE 1052
Energy Systems Climate Change
Course Description
Envisioning Future Energy Systems in a Time of Climate Change
Energy is crucial to human survival and prosperity, yet the energy generation systems of the past ~150 years have created a warming climate. How might we provide more energy to more people with fewer negative impacts on Earth’s environment and its inhabitants? In this seminar, we will compare different primary energy sources such as fossil fuels, solar, nuclear, and wind in order to assess various pathways to a decarbonized future. Readings will include excerpts from government reports, scientific literature, popular media, as well as guest speakers.
Terms Taught
Requirements