Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences

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Erik Martella sits on a stone wall and smiles while pouring himself a glass of red wine.

Demystifying Wine for the Next Generation [faculty featured]
Jan 9, 2026

As both an educator and winemaker, Erik Martella has spent decades thinking about how people encounter wine, not just as a beverage, but as an experience shaped by history, hospitality, and human... Faculty and Staff, Fermentation Sciences

Jess Horton, of Charlotte, will graduate on Friday with a bachelor's degree in physics with a concentration in interdisciplinary science and minors in both chemistry and mathematics.

CAS Senior Spotlight: Jess Horton
Dec 9, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Jess Horton’s path at App State has been one defined by resilience, discovery, and an evolving passion for science.

Chemistry, Students
Dr. Jefferson Bates is an associate professor in the Appalachian State University Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Erik Martella, wine specialist and lecturer in the Appalachian State University Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, member of the CAS Advancement Council, and proprietor of Erik Martella Wines, chats with students at Vidalia Restaurant and Wine Bar before the beginning of the inaugural "Wine and Fine Dining for Emerging Professionals" program. Photo by Lauren Gibbs
Dr. Bob Swarthout is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.
Fermentation Sciences majors Finn Adams (left), Chris Martin (second from left), and Dominic Bernardi (third from left) learned about winemaking from Will Burrow ’20 (fourth from left), head winemaker at Grandfather Mountain Vineyard in Banner Elk.
CAS Corps member Seleen Al Horani is a senior chemistry major from Amman, Jordan. Photo submitted

Chemistry major Seleen Al Horani joins CAS Corps
Sep 23, 2025

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Corps are chosen to serve as representatives to all constituents of CAS and to create, promote and execute... Chemistry, Students

Dr. Brett Taubman
Top: App State senior Lex Foote, a Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) Scholar in math from Linville, demonstrates an equation on the whiteboard. Bottom: From left to right: Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, Dr. Andrew Heckert, Dr. Mohammad Ali Javidian, Dr. Carol Babyak and Dr. Roshani Silwal. Photos by Chase Reynolds
Dr. Carol Babyak

Dr. Carol Babyak to serve as macebearer for Spring 2025 CAS Commencement
Apr 23, 2025

Dr. Carol Babyak will serve as the macebearer for the 5 p.m. ceremony.

Faculty and Staff
Forbes

How Majors Like Game Design And Ecotourism Are Saving Higher Education
Mar 24, 2025

Appalachian State University’s fermentation science program teaches students the science behind brewing beer, fermenting foods, and producin

Fermentation Sciences