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Where Are They Now?

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Alumni Career Highlights

 

  • Constantine N. Spslaris (BS 1949); Career Highlights: Worked in Nuclear Industry for GE where we developed the Boiling Water Reactor, installed over 100 copies all over the world. 
  • Richard Flinn (PhD 1954, Advisor: Wallace); Career Highlights: Has 27 patents and 30 publications, also went on to receive his MBA from Lehigh University.
  • Michael Altman (BS 1960); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently an Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. 
  • Dominic M. Desiderio (BS 1961); Career Highlights: MIT Ph.D. 1966. Assoc. Prof. Baylor Coll. Med. UTHSC-Memphis 1978-2016. Prof. Emeritus. Editor books and journal.
  • Dennis McKeever (BS 1962); Career Highlights: Established the L. Dennis McKeever Undergraduate Research Fund in Chemistry and has held  executive positions at Dow Chemical North America and Worldwide Plastics, SYM Financial Corporation and Semafore Pharmaceuticals.
  • Ivan Sanford Smith (BS 1964); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD, was originally in private practice before being recruited ot the pharmaceutical industry working in pharmacoepidemiology.
  • Nicholas Cerimele (BS 1965); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1970.
  • Carol Knepshield Kunselman (BS 1965); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from The Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania, was in private practice as an OB/GYN for 25 and is currently a faculty member at Texas Tech University Medical School.
  • Edward Zelnick (BS 1966); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from New York Medical College, served as CEO of Horizon Institute of Clinical Research and was appointed to the Board of Director of Milestone Scientific Inc. in 2015.
  • Eric Garver (BS 1967); Career Highlights:Went on to receive MD from Georgetown Medical School, during his career he made great contributions in Ortho, and is currently retired.
  • Nyal Walker (BS 1967); Career Highlights: Ph.D 1973 from Villanova U. Chemistry. Several years of post-doctoral research. Worked for Baker Hughes, an oil-field service company for 28 years as an  analytical chemist, retired 2010.
  • John Kokales (BS 1969), MD; Career Highlights:Went on to receive MD from the University of Pittsburgh, practiced internal medicine with UPMC for 38 years, served as faculty at Pitt School of Medicine and Senior Medical Director of UPMC Health Plan.
  • Joseph Pepe (BS 1969); Career Highlights:Went on to receive PhD in organic chemistry from Pennsylvania State University and had a long and highly decorated career as a research scientist with Eastman Kodak Company contributing greatly to enhanced picture quality of motion pictures, and is currently retired.
  • Leonid Bunegin (B.S. 1971); Career Highlights: Associate Professor Dept Anesthesiology and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Texas 1998 -2022, NASA Innovator 2007, Co-Founder Paragonix Technologies 2008, and Vascular Perfusion Solutions 2014, Tech Briefs Grand Prize Winner, Create the Future Competition 2019.
  • Gene Mazzola (PhD, 1971); Career Highlights: Took a post-doctoral position at California State University, LA and wrote a dissertation in free time.  During the past 48 years, has determined the structures of hundreds of food containments, described in over 100 scientific manuscripts. 
  • Michael D. Swerdloff (PhD, 1972); Career Highlights: 1992 transitioned to HR specializing in recruiting scientifc and medical personnel at Sandoz/Navartis Pharmaceuticals Corps. Retired in summer of 2014.
  • Larry Zyontz (BS 1972); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MS in Psychical Chemistry from Rutgers University, worked in X-ray Crystallography at Bell Laboratories and Analytical Chemistry, Standards and IT at Colgate-Palmolive.
  • Thomas Debies (PhD 1975, Advisor: Rabalais); Career Highlights: Held various engineering, research and leadership roles at Westinghouse, Gulf Oil Research, Motorola and Xerox, is also a co-inventor on 7 US patents and a co author of over 40 publications.
  • Joseph Miknevich (MS Inorganic Chemistry 1975, Advisor: Dr. Daryl Straub); Career Highlights: Recipient of various awards, including the R. E. Hall Award from Merck, Golden Odyssey Award from Calgon, Thomas Midgely Award from the American Chemistry Society, ITC of the Year from Nalco, Winner's Circle from Nalco, PACE Award from Automotive News, and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Automotive Industry.
  • Peter J Butch III (BS 1977); Career Highlights:  Worked 3 years as an adhesive chemist, went to law school, and have been a patent lawyer for 30+ years now. 
  • Jenq-Sian (Jim) Chang (Ph.D 1977); Career Highlights:  Went into electronics industry in 1980, has been with semiconductor industry since. 
  • Darwin L. Gates (BS 1977); Career Highlights: Practicing dentistry since 1981. 
  • Jack Mayausky (BS 1977); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD in analytical chemistry form Ohio State University, served as Plant Manager for Monsanto and Hercules Inc., and is currently the Director of Operations Excellence for Ascend Performance Materials.
  • Joseph Biber (PhD 1979, Advisor: Safford); Career Highlights: Served as an R&D Research Fellow for Sherwin-Williams for 34 year with a focus on coatings, also working in business development, marketing and business operations, and SPC quality program creation.
  • Joe Ennis (BS Chemistry 1979); Career Highlights: Retired after a 35-year career with American Electric Power in various Projects and Engineering positions associated with fossil power generation. Obtained a BS Chem Eng from Ohio State University in 1988 and is a registered professional engineer in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  • Sandy Simchak Noonan (BS 1979); Career Highlights: Most of the career spent as a medical Technologist in the Microbiology Lab at small rural hospitals. 
  • William Dimitrakis (BS 1979); Career Highlights: Has worked in the downstream oil & petro-chemical industries, specifically in lubricant and lubricant additives since March 1980 and has worked with The Lubrizol Corporation since 1986.
  • Bill Floyd (1979) MS Chemistry; Career Highlights: After 21 years in industrial R&D at Sun Chemical (later Sequa Chemicals), formed AQUES Chemical Consulting Group, LLC where they have help develop a light activated anti-microbial agent that can kill MRSA and TB in vitro.
  • Robert Karlicek Jr. (PhD 1979, Advisor: Wallace); Career Highlights: Currently a Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering and the Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he also conducts LED systems research.
  • Jeffrey Zubkowski (BS 1979); Career Highlights: Went on to serve as a Chemistry faculty member and the Associate Graduate Dean at Jackson State University and is currently retired.
  • Edward Strimlon (BS 1982); Career Highlights: Went to medical school and received an MD. Worked at the Allegheny county corner's office until 2011. Took early retirement and started a forensic program at Point Park University. Currently, teaches 4 classes at Pitt, including criminalistics and forensic lab.
  • Thomas Lomis (BS 1983), MS Medicinal Chemistry, MD; Career Highlights: Went on to obtain an MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and is currently working as a Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of Valley Breast Care and Women's Health Center.
  • Christine Berliner (BS 1985); Career Highlights: After 10 years of working in biological research, she has served as an academic advisor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Biological Sciences department for the last 22 years.
  • Bob Fidler (BS 1985); Career Highlights: Currently serving as Executive Vice President of Data Physics Instruments USA Corp. where he oversees the company's new US operation for sales, service, and support of instruments for surface and interfacial science.
  • Kurt Kolasinski (BS 1985); Career Highlights: Ph.D. Stanford with Prof. Richard N. Zare; Alexander von Humboldt Fellow with Prof. Dr. Gerhard Ertl, Fritz-Haber-Institut, Berlin; National Research Council Resident Research Associate with Dr. Richard Cavanaugh, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md.; Lecturer, University of Birmingham (UK); Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London; Research Associate Professor, University of Virginia; Professor, West Chester University, Department of Chemistry; Philadelphia Section Award, American Chemical Society; Author of >100 peer-reviewed publications and two textbooks.
  • Alvin Mjurn (BS 1985), MD; Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from the University of Pittsburgh, served in the Air Force and was a Fellow at the American College of Emergency Medicine.
  • Lily NG (PhD 1985, Advisor: Jordan); Career Highlights: Is the recipient of several distinguished service awards and is currently a Professor Emeritus and Chair Emeritus at Cleveland State University.
  • Ben Askew (PhD 1988, Advisor: Rebek); Career Highlights: Recipient of Serono President's Award and University of Pittsburgh Department of Chemistry Distinguished Alumni Award. Inventor on over 60 US patents and contributed to the discovery of 3 marketed drugs.
  • Dr. Ann Hebda (BS 1988); Career Highlights: Went on to receive DDS from Ohio State University and currently owns a private dental practice in Ashburn, Virginia.
  • Dennis McCullough (PhD 1988, Advisor: Cohen); Career Highlights: Has over 25 years of experience directing large chemical and polymers businesses and is currently the Managing Director of International Business at CAS.
  • Tina Ross (MS 1988 Advisor: Curran) Career Highlights:  Completed PhD in Organic Chemistry at Bryn Mawr College December 2012, following a first career in Drug Discovery; 26 patent/patent applications and 24 publications; Currently Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Forensic Technology, Co-Director of Forensic MS Graduate Program at Drexel University College of Medicine.
  • Paul Chappano (BS 1989), MD; Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a General Surgeon at St. Vincent's Medical Center, President of North Florida Surgeons and Chairman of the Board of Directors at St. Vincent's Health System.
  • Lori Henninger (BS 1989); Career Highlights: Worked for DHC USA INC, a local makeup and skincare company, American Mint with coins and collectables, and spent 14 years in a computer company and was considered for CEO position.
  • Vaughn Clagette (BS 1989); Career Highlights: Over the last 20 years has served in variety of clinical and administrative  positions including Medical Director of Hospital Medicine, Vice President of Care Transformation, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Program Coordinator. Currently practicing hospitalist with the Sourtheast Permante Medical Group, Atlanta Georgia. Current Member of the Board of Trustees (University of Pittsburgh) and Board of Directors UPMC.
  • David Lineman (MS 1989 Advisor: Hercules); Career Highlights: Research performed on fullerenes using the LAMMA-1000. 
  • Daniel Keleti (BS 1989); Career Highlights: A Major in the United States Air Force serving as a physician. Currently practicing as a physician in Radiation Oncology as well as an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. 
  • Kent Baldauf (BS 1990), JD; Career Highlights: Went on to receive his JD from the University of Pittsburgh and is a practicing patent lawyer and partner at the Webb Law Firm.
  • Benjamin Shtrahman (BS 1990), MD; Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from the University of Pittsburgh and has been practice Neurology at Passavant Hospital since 1996.
  • Mark Ellison (BS 1990) Career Highlights: Professor of Chemistry at Ursinus College.  He has been awarded two National Science Foundation research grants to study the motion of ions and molecules through carbon nanotubes. 
  • Peter larkin (Ph.D. 1990, Advisor: Sanford Asher); Career Highlights: Industrial spectroscopist for over 30 years in analytical departments both in the specialty chemical and pharmaceutical industries using vibrational spectroscopic techniques. Received comprehensive training in the IR interpretation of a wide variety of structural problems in organic and polymer chemistry from Dr. Norman B. Colthup. Presently leads the spectroscopy, thermal and chromatography groups at Solvay R&I (Stamford CT). He has published extensively and his book, entitled IR and Raman Spectroscopy: Principles and Spectral Interpretation, second edition (Elsevier) was published in 2018.
  • Erik Verner (PhD 1991, Advisor: Cohen); Career Highlights: Worked on the discovery and development of Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) which has been approved by the FDA to treat B cells cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
  • Duane Wong (BS 1992); Career Highlights: Has worked in sales and currently works as a dishwasher at Ruby Tuesday.
  • Robert Dixon (Post-Bac Chemistry and Ph.D. Chemistry 1993, Advisor: Andrew Hamilton); Career Highlights: NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow at Northwestern University and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
  • Jennifer Lewis (BS 1993); Career Highlights: M.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Class of 1997. Internal Medicine resident and Chief resident, Allegheny General Hospital-1997-2001. Currently is President of Washington County Medical Society. 
  • Gary Cseko (BS 1993); Career Highlights: Education: Master of Science in Public Health - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master of Business Administration - University of New Mexico. Professional Career: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center - Medical Safety and Compliance Specialist, Director of Research Protections and Director, Office of Research. Mayo Clinic - Administrator of Research Operations and currently Division Chair, Research and Education Shared Services.
  • Camille Diges (BS 1993); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado and is currently the Global Director of Life Sciences eat Unisys Corporation.
  • David Gallaher (BS 1993); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from Duquense University and is currently a member of the Chemistry Faculty at Carlow University and is currently service his second term as Department Chairperson.
  • Andrew Held (PhD 1993, Advisor: Pratt); Career Highlights: Has 25 years experience in Business Management, Research, Sales and Marketing of lasers into a broad range of markets and applications and is currently Vice President and Business Unit Manager for Fiber Components and Low Power Fiber and CO2 Laser Businesses.
  • Jeffrey Albert (PhD 1994, Advisor: Hamilton); Career Highlights: After spending over 15 years working for AstraZenec working in Neuroscience Chemistry, he founded "IntelliSyn" in 2012 and "Avisyn" in 2016, both groups focus on R&D in neuroscience, oncology, and metabolic disorders.
  • Jane Valenta (1987 MS, PhD 1994, Advisor: Weber); Career Highlights: Served as Vice President of EHS & Sustainability for 3 years before becoming the Vice President of Technical, Global Architectural Coatings for PPG Industries.
  • Paul Pirozzola (BS 1995); Career Highlights: MBA 2006 Indiana University. Vice President of Marketing for Bettcher Industries since 2011. Previous employers include: Cargill Foods, The Lubrizol Corporation, and LECO Corporation. Industry experience across analytical instrumentation manufacturing, food manufacturing, and specialty chemicals.
  • Timothy Pollagi (PhD 1995, Advisor: Hopkins); Career Highlights: Previously held positions at Sandia National Laboratories, Exciton Chemical Corp. and is currently a Senior Chemistry Manager at Luxottica Rx Operations / Oakley Inc.
  • Elizabeth Wise (PhD 1995, Advisor: Weber); Career Highlights: Former Associate Professor of Chemistry at Brookdale Community College and is currently service as Professor of Chemistry at Lourdes University. 
  • Michael Sweetland (Master of Science Chemistry 1996); Career Highlights: Working for Dr. Rex Shepherd characterizing metal:ligand behavior of various Iron Nitrosyls. Working in the Starzl/Simmons labs conducting EPR experiments on the mechanism(s) of transplant rejection.
  • Walter Klein (BS 1996); Career Highlights: Went on to receive his MD from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently  a Pathologist at Bryn Mawr Hospital and was installed as the 168th president of the Montgomery County Medical Society in June 2018 and will serve a 2 year term.
  • Mark Bacco (BS 1999); Career Highlights: Currently working as Chemistry and General Science teacher at McKeesport Area High School and is also the Head Coach of the Cross Country, Track & Field and Bowling teams.
  • Vasil Pajcini (PhD 1999, Advisor: Asher); Career Highlights: Currently a Senior Scientist at Evans Analytical Group.
  • John Tamine (BS 2002); Career Highlights: Is currently retired, but has most recently served as a visiting Professor at Davis & Elkins College and a sponsored affiliate research at the University of Pittsburgh and he continues to collaborate and publish in retirement.
  • Geoffrey White (BS 2002); Career Highlights: Went on to receive JD from Widener University and LLM from George Washington University. Currently serves as the General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for SilcoTek Corporation, which is an innovative coating services provider. Involved in securing patents with the R&D team, managing enforcement and licensing of patents, and managing a variety of other initiatives.
  • Kessler McCoy-Simandle (BS 2004); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD From Northwestern University in Microbiology and Immunology and is currently an Academic Specialist in Chemistry and Biology at Union County College.
  • Angela Slampak-Cindric (BS 2004) MD; Career Highlights:Went on to receive PharmD from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist at Geisinger Medical Center where she also serves as Director of the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program.
  • James Becker (BS 2005); Career Highlights: Currently a Senior Development Engineer at First Solar
  • Adam Martin (BS 2005); Career Highlights: Currently working for Mars Wrigley Confectionery as a Cocao Scientist where he works to ensure both that both quality and supply objectives are met.
  • Michael Majewski (BS 2006); Career Highlights: Went on to receive MD from Rush Medical College and is currently practicing Anesthesiology at Loyola University Chicago where he is also an Assistant Professor.
  • John Yi (Physical Chemistry 2005, Advisor: Dr. David Pratt); Career Highlights: Currently serving as Professor at Winston-Salem State University.
  • Elizabeth Skelly (BS 2006); Career Highlights:  Associate Dentist 2012-2016, Owner and Founder of Skelly Smiles, Easton, PA 2016 Attending the Year Award. 2018 Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg, Bethlehem, PA Volunteer Attending Leigh Valley Hospitals General Practice Residency, 2013-Present.
  • Neil Robertson (BS 2007)  DMD; Career Highlights: Went on to receive DMD from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently an Associate at Pittsburgh Oral Surgery.
  • Kevin Davies (PhD 2008, Advisor: Grabowski); Career Highlights: Previously studied landmine degradation in Cambodia and is currently serving as a faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • Bryan Wakefield (PhD 2008, Advisor: Wipf)
  • Lindsey (Sorber) McGeehan (BS 2009); Career Highlights: Currently practicing as a Physician Assistant in the greater Philadelphia region.
  • Sarah Gdaniec (BS 2009); Career Highlights: Currently teaching high school Chemistry at Mercyhurst Preparatory School.
  • Allen Pistner (BS 2009); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD in Chemistry from University of Delaware and is currently an Assistant Professor at Ohio Wesleyan University.
  • Michael Freedman (BS 2010); Career Highlights: He worked at a Global health consulting company in San Frisco, generating computational epidemiology models for the Gates Foundation. Currently he is finishing his pediatrics residency at Children20s Hospital of Pittsburgh. 
  • Eleanor Gillette (BS 2010); Career Highlights: Currently finishing first year as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of San Diego.
  • Angelica Andreoli (BS 2011); Career Highlights: Worked as an analytical chemist at Boron Specialties LLC in Ambridge, PA. Passed the Patent Bar in 2016. Started law school at Michigan State University College of Law in 2016 with an Intellectual Property Scholarship and Dean's Scholarship to become a patent attorney (currently in the top 15% of the class). Interned at IBM in Rochester, MN summer of 2017 drafting and prosecuting patents. Interned at Shook Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City, MO summer of 2018.
  • Justina Pope Kelly (BS 2011); Career Highlights: After graduating, she enrolled University of Pittsburgh's dentistry school. In 2015, she graduated with her DMD and commissioned as a Captain in the U.S Army. 
  • Benjamin Norris (PhD 2011, Advisor: Meyer); Career Highlights: Currently serving as Associate Professor at Frostburg State University and was elected Chair of the Faculty in 2017. Promoted to Associate Professor at Frostburg State University in 2016. Elected Chair of the Faculty at Frostburg State University in 2017.
  • Rachel Harris (BS 2012); Career Highlights: Went on to receive PhD in Materials Chemistry from Northwestern University and currently works at PPG Industries.
  • Yanan Chen (PhD 2013, Advisor: Star); Career Highlights: Previously worked in R&D at Bayer Material Science in Pittsburgh and is currently working for Covestro Shanghai and is responsible for business unit global strategy and implementation.
  • Yong Zhao (BS 2014); Career Highlights:  Joined Covestro, LLC, formerly Bayer Material Science as a scientist in Pittsburgh for 3 years. Self trained in statistics and data science. Moved to Fannie Mae as a Quantitative Modeler on real estate finance in DC.
  • Feng Zhou (PhD 2015, Advisor: Haitao Liu)
  • Cory Demino (BS 2016); Career Highlights: Is currently working toward is MD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
  • Chong Liu (PhD 2016, Advisor: Nathaniel Rosi); Career Highlights: Professor of Chemical Engineering at Sichuan University, in Chengdu, China. Recipient of start-up funding awards at both the national and provincial level.
  • Sarah Wells (PhD 2016, Advisor: Brummond); Career Highlights: Currently working as a Lecturer at the Univeristy of North Carolina at Charlotte teaching introductory chemistry courses with a goal of making these more inclusive for UNCC's diverse student body.
  • Cindy Jiao (BS 2017); Career Highlights: Recipient of the Monroe County Medical Society Scholarship Fund and will be starting Medical School at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in August 2018.
  • Amit Paul (PhD 2018, Advisor: Waldeck); Career Highlights: highlighted as an Emerging Investigator by Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 6442-6457
  • Scott Crawford (BS 2019); Career Highlights: He is currently working as an ORISE Research Associate at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, PA. 
  • Huiling Shao (Ph.D. in Chemistry 2019, Advisor: Peng Liu); Career Highlights: A computational chemist with training in physical organic chemistry, organometallics, and polymerization processes. Currently works as Adjunct Assistant Professor (Cram Teacher-Scholar) at UCLA. Research interests include investigating reaction mechanisms, studying the effects of molecular conformational flexibility in organic reactions, and creating a universal flexibility descriptor using feature engineering algorithms. Teaching experience in organic, physical, physical organic, computational, and organometallic chemistry.