π BREAKING β 9 of Dr. Chenβs students made the 2026 USNCO Study Camp (top 20 in the US)!
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Coach of 10+ IChO medalists with 15+ years of proven expertise in Chemistry Olympiad preparation.
βWith a passion for nurturing young chemists and a track record of turning curious students into international competitors, I've dedicated my career to making advanced chemistry accessible and exciting.β
Credentials
Advanced degree with deep expertise in general, physical, organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry
Teaches AP Chemistry, Inorganic & Analytical, and Organic Chemistry at a U.S. private high school β actively in the classroom alongside coaching
Coached IChO medalists from both the United States and China, navigating Eastern and Western competition styles and science curricula
Public Work
Reference contributions to the USNCO community that any student can use
Previously: lead coach of the ACS USNCO Coaching Program and member of the Steering Committee for the ACS USNCO Teacher Training Program.
View on ACSDr. Chen's free YouTube video series walking through USNCO problems, challenging topics and learning objectives, USNCO introductions, and study strategies β supplementary to the Reaction Writing and Lab Practical guides.
Watch on YouTubePhilosophy
A proven methodology that develops champions
Every student has unique strengths and learning styles. I tailor my teaching to meet each student where they are, building on their foundation to reach their full potential.
Memorization isn't enough. I focus on developing true conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills that enable students to tackle any chemistry challenge.
My three-level curriculum is carefully designed to build skills progressively, from local competitions through national excellence to international-level mastery.
Success requires dedication from both student and mentor. I provide continuous support, detailed feedback, and personalized guidance throughout your entire journey.
Common Questions
Dr. S. Chen is the founder of Dr. Chen's Academy, a year-round preparation program for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) and the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). He has coached students for 15+ years, holds a PhD in Chemistry, and also teaches AP Chemistry, Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry at a U.S. private high school. His students include 10+ IChO medalists across multiple countries and 40+ qualifiers for the USNCO Study Camp, the top tier of the U.S. national competition.
Across 15+ years of coaching, Dr. Chen's students have earned 10+ IChO medals and qualified 40+ times for the USNCO Study Camp. Cumulative national awards exceed 200. The Achievements page at /achievements lists year-by-year results and named students; the IChO medal record spans students from multiple countries, including the United States and China. National-level golds have also been won in U.K. competitions through Dr. Chen's coaching.
Dr. Chen teaches in a Socratic, individualized style: lessons begin from each student's current understanding and build toward conceptual mastery through guided questioning rather than rote memorization. The curriculum is structured as a three-level progression β Local Prep (Level 2), National Prep (Level 3), and Camp Prep (Level 4) β so students advance only when foundations are solid. Live small-group classes are paired with continuous feedback, individualized homework, and 1-year recording access. See /programs for level details and current enrollment status.
Currently, Dr. Chen leads the ACS Exam Annotation Project, which produces the official annotated solutions to past USNCO exams distributed to ACS Local Section coordinators and students nationwide. Previously, he served as lead coach of the ACS USNCO Coaching Program β training and mentoring USNCO coaches across the country β and as a member of the Steering Committee for the ACS USNCO Teacher Training Program. The ACS acknowledgments page at acs.org lists these contributions to the program.
Three substantial reference resources are published freely. The ACS USNCO Exam Annotation Project distributes annotated past-exam solutions through ACS Local Sections (linked from the ACS acknowledgments page). The Decoding of Chemistry Olympiad YouTube channel walks through USNCO problems, challenging topics and learning objectives, USNCO introductions, and study strategies. On dcho.us, the Reaction Writing guide at /reactions and the USNCO Lab Practical guide at /usnco-lab are open reference materials with progressive reveal of solutions and explanations β usable by any USNCO student, not just enrolled ones.
10+ IChO medalists (including 2018 & 2021 golds), 40+ Study Camp qualifiers, and 200+ national awards
Start your journey to USNCO success with personalized mentorship from Dr. Chen.