Dr.
Steven Chen, a graduate from Peking University with a bachelor and doctoral degree in chemistry, serves as the Assistant
Principal at the Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science (PRISMS), overseeing the academic
program. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Chen teaches Chemistry, coaches the Chemistry
Olympiad and Science Bowl teams, and mentors students in their research.
Since 2015, Dr. Chen has worked diligently with his students—whether in class, on the Chemistry Olympiad/Science Bowl team, or within his research group—to inspire and guide them towards achieving scientific excellence. His mentorship has led numerous students to secure top awards in the National Chemistry Olympiad, with two of them earning gold medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad representing the US.
As an enthusiastic and inspiring educator, Dr. Chen teaches classes in AP Chemistry, college-level Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. With years of teaching practice in both China and the United States, Dr. Chen brings a deep understanding of the curricula and the strengths of science education in both systems to his teaching.
In his role as a research mentor, Dr. Chen centers his work on using chemistry and nanotechnology to address environmental issues. Students in Dr. Chen’s research group enjoy the unique opportunity to work on hands-on projects, which span a range of topics from formaldehyde sensing and heavy metals removal to pesticide detection and the synthesis, characterization, and functionalization of nanomaterials. These students regularly present their research progress at academic conferences such as the ACS Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting and the IEEE Secondary Education Conference, and have won numerous top awards at Science Fairs.
Beyond his work at PRISMS, Dr. Chen is a dedicated and long-serving volunteer for the Chemistry Olympiad and actively contributes to various volunteer efforts within the local and national community, predominantly through the American Chemical Society (ACS). He currently leads the ACS “Annotated Exam Solution” project, collaborating with a global team of enthusiastic volunteers. Moreover, Dr. Chen serves a valued member of the steering committee of the ACS “Teacher Training Group”, contributing his expertise and insight to this important initiative.
Fulfilling the role of a true MENTOR, Dr. Chen supports his students in realizing, developing, and maximizing their potential, enabling them to achieve excellence in their scientific endeavors.