As a teacher John Vercellotti has emphasized undergraduate education in general chemistry, organic, and biochemistry to interpret fundamentals of the exciting world of chemistry to beginning students with little previous acquaintance with the wonders of chemical science. He worked assiduously on programs for undergraduate curriculum development at Ohio State, Marquette, University of Tennessee, and Virginia Tech before shifting his attention to problems of technology development and transfer in the 1980's. In developing and offering modern graduate courses in such subjects as advanced organic chemistry, mechanism of organic reactions, enzymology, intermediary metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates, bioenergetics, bioorganic chemistry, and general biochemistry, he has kept abreast with current developments. Below is a listing of courses taught. In addition to these teaching responsibilities the M.S. and Ph.D. dissertations of 16 students were directed by John Vercellotti as major professor. He has also served on the dissertation committees of some other 30 students for graduate degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, and food science.

1958-60. Marquette Univerisity. Graduate teaching assistant in general chemistry and organic chemistry, lecture and laboratory duties.
1963-64  The Ohio State University
Lecturer in General Chemistry, 5 quarters: Lecturer, Quiz Sections, Laboratory to sections of 350 students each quarter.
1964-67  Marquette University
General Chemistry, lecture and laboratory, 3 years.
Biochemistry, upper division, graduate course, 3 years.
Organic chemistry, Advanced Organic Mechanisms, undergraduate lecture and laboratory, 3 years. 1967-70  University of Tennessee
General chemistry, lecture and laboratory, 3 years.
Organic chemistry, graduate sequence; organic preparations laboratory; and undergraduate organic chemistry lecture and laboratory, 3 years.
1970-79  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 
General biochemistry, lecture, 8 years.
Advanced Biochemistry, graduate course, Intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates. 8 years.
Enzymology, graduate course, 8 years.
Biochemistry Laboratory, graduate and undergraduate, 5 years (Supervisor).
Bioorganic Chemistry, lecture, 4 years.


The many undergraduates, M.S. (7), Ph.D. (9), and postdoctoral (3) students who worked under his supervision for their degree research also taught him a great deal at Marquette, University of Tennessee, and VPI and SU. When possible the names of these students were generally listed first on the incumbent's publications.