2021 ACS Greater Houston Section Elections Candidates ......2021 ACS Greater Houston Section...
Transcript of 2021 ACS Greater Houston Section Elections Candidates ......2021 ACS Greater Houston Section...
2021 ACS Greater Houston Section Elections Candidates and Bios
Chair-Elect-Number of open positions: 1 Chair-Elect-Candidate: 1. Eme Abu
Eme Abu is an active member of the Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society and is excited to run for Chair-Elect in the upcoming election. She is a currently one of the Directors on the ACS-GHS board. She is passionate about children and their educational development. Eme is currently the main contact for the science section of the Education Rainbow Challenge; one of ACS-GHS’ partnerships that promote an interest in science for elementary school children in the Houston area. Eme was the recipient of the 2016 Young Chemist Award and also one of the recipients of the ‘Salute to Excellence Award’ in 2019 for outstanding contributions to the Greater Houston Local section.
Eme has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a doctorate degree in analytical chemistry and a master’s degree in business data analytics. She has worked as a research and development chemist with Prince Energy; taught general chemistry at Houston Community College; worked as a data analytics consultant and now works for IHS Markit as a data/research analyst in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.
Treasurer- Number of open positions: 1 Treasurer-Candidate: 1. Sam Lewis
Sam Lewis is a Senior Scientific Advisor for Chemistry in the Cementing Applied Sciences and Processes group. In this role, he is responsible for mentoring scientists within the company and contributing to the development of strategic technology. He currently advises teams across multiple product service lines on environmental compliance and general technology development/implementation while also serving as a field advisor to locations around the world.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Lewis was a Technical Team Leader for the Cementing Applied Sciences and Processes group. Since joining Halliburton in 2002 as a Chemical scientist, Dr. Lewis has worked within the Technology organization to develop new products and procedures as well as lead in the establishment of a new technology center in Pune, India.
Dr. Lewis was educated as an Inorganic Chemist at Texas A&M University and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the subject. Dr. Lewis has over 100 US and international patents and more than a dozen journal publications. He has served on various committees within the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.
Councilor-Number of open positions: 2 Councilor-Candidates: 1. David Sam Germack
David Sam Germack is a polymer and analytical chemist working in the chemical industry.
He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Western Washington University and a Ph.D. in
Organic Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. The majority of his career
has been spent in industry with time in a number of different industries and roles, starting
out as a chemical technician and eventually winding up in leadership of numerous teams
focused on driving new innovation into new products and commercial results. Throughout
his career he has worked to elevate the careers of his colleague’s and to drive
opportunities for others more than for himself. Creating an environment where access to,
and opportunities to participate, in science is his current goal. Of particular interest is in
improving access for those with disabilities. Our workspaces and conferences do not have
enough attention paid to ensuring access to all. By creating welcoming and functional
spaces for all, he knows that we will learn more, achieve more, and most importantly,
create the change to a more open, more comfortable, and more free society and science.
David is a former National Research Council Research Associate at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology where he was a 2009 recipient of the Materials Science
and Engineering Laboratory Work-Life Diversity Award for his work with colleagues in
creating an inclusive and effective postdoctoral seminar series. He is the current
Membership Chair for the ACS Greater Houston Section and a member of the Division of
Polymer Chemistry and Division of History.
2. Valerie Lafitte
I am currently a project Manager at Schlumberger in the Stimulation Fluid Department, in
the Sugar Land Technology Center. As for my background, I grew up in France, in South
Brittany. I am a chemist by training having earned a PhD in the area of Supramolecular
Chemistry from University College London back in 2005. I was first hired as a postdoc in
Cambridge Research Center (UK) and enjoyed the research in
the Chemistry Department for the following 4 years. I then moved to Sugar Land Product
Center (Stimulation Fluid Engineering group) in 2011 where I still develop new fluid
systems for fracturing, water control, sand Control and recently cementing applications.
I have always been involved in Chemistry, and prior to joining Schlumberger I was
pursuing a Postdoctoral position in the area of medicinal chemistry which involved a lot
of organic synthesis and molecular characterization.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, running and practicing yoga.
Alternate-Councilor-Number of open positions: 2 Alternate-Councilor-Candidates: 1. Snigdha Chennamaneni
Snigdha Chennamaneni currently works as an Analytical Research and Development
Team Lead at Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC. In her current role she leads a team of
R&D Scientists to drive projects and is responsible for the analytical method development
for small-molecule drugs, technology transfer, ongoing analytical testing and lab
management.
Snigdha received doctorate degree in Chemistry from Cleveland State University (CSU),
Cleveland, Ohio. She has extensive research experience in the field of Medicinal and
Analytical Chemistry with focus on oncology drug discovery, which led to publications in
prestigious journals. She served as a volunteer for Great Lakes Science Center and
American Cancer Society at Cleveland, both of which are non-profit organizations.
Snigdha has been an active member of ACS since 2012 and has served as an elected
member of the ACS-Greater Houston Section Executive Committee since 2017, both as
a Director and through the Section Chair progression to her current position as Past Chair
of the section. She believes that persistence, collaboration and continuous learning are
the key to success.
2. Javoris Hollingsworth
Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth first realized his passion for chemistry in high school while
performing summer research at Georgia College & State University as part of the ACS
Project SEED Program. He then attended Georgia Southern University as a Gates
Millennium Scholar, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. In
continuation of his education, he obtained his Masters and Doctorate degrees in
Chemistry from Louisiana State University under the co-supervision of Professors Graça
Vicente and Paul Russo. With support from the National Science Foundation, he went
abroad to conduct research in Beijing, China, as an NSF International Postdoctoral Fellow
at the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS) in the
laboratory of Professor Charles Han. After this experience, Dr. Hollingsworth began his
career as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Florida A&M
University. Upon completion of his appointment, he joined the faculty in the Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Texas.
In addition to leading a research team, Dr. Hollingsworth serves as the faculty co-advisor
for the UST Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS), as well as the UST Chapter
of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and
Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Beyond his roles at UST, he also serves as the Area
Co-coordinator for the ACS Project SEED Program and Chair of the Minority Affairs
Committee for the Greater Houston Section of ACS.
Director-Number of open positions: 4 Director-Candidates: 1. David E. Thompson
Dave Thompson is an analytical chemist and an associate professor in the chemistry
department at Sam Houston State University. Dave did undergraduate studies at Carleton
College in Minnesota; his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; and post-
doctoral studies at Stanford. He taught at Lawrence University in Wisconsin before
moving to Sam Houston State University in 2009. Dave’s research has an applied
component that focuses on collaborative studies of the chemistry and toxicology of a
novel cyanide antidote; and a more fundamental side that focuses on understanding and
controlling surface enhanced Raman responses in headspace sampling environments.
Dave serves as a mentor in the Greater Houston Local Section Project Seed program
(when pandemics allow!); on the ACS analytical Chemistry Exams Development
Committee; as a co-PI on an NSF funded program aimed at strengthening learning
success in early STEM courses at SHSU; and on the leadership team of the Huntsville
Rotary Club.
2. Errol L. G. Samuel (Loïc)
EDUCATION: Ph.D. (2015), M.A. (2013), Chemistry, Rice University; B.Sc. (2009,
magna cum laude) Chemistry, Bowling Green State University
PRESENT POSITION: Staff Scientist, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical
Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Chemical Biology, Cheminformatics, Drug Discovery
PAST POSITIONS: Research Associate – Biophysical Chemistry, Baylor College of
Medicine, 2018-2019; Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Pharmacology,
Baylor College of Medicine, 2015-2017; Lab Technician, Antigua Distillery Ltd., 2010
HONORS: BRC Collaborative Translational Prize for publishing a first author
translational biosciences article with a co-author in the Texas Medical Center, 2015; Phi
Lambda Upsilon National Honorary Chemical Society inductee, Rice University, 2014;
Harry B. Weiser Leadership Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the
department, Rice University Chemistry Department, 2013; Harry B. Weiser Award for
excellence in Chemistry teaching, Rice University Chemistry Department, 2011; Dean’s
List, Bowling Green State University, 2006 – 2009; Gordon McQueston Scholarship for
an outstanding record in chemistry, Bowling Green State University Chemistry
Department, 2009; Organization of American States Fellow, 2007 – 2009; Phi Beta
Kappa Honor Society inductee, Bowling Green State University, 2009; Academic
Excellence Award, Bowling Green State University Chemistry Department, 2008.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Judge, 58th Annual Science and Engineering Fair of
Houston, 2017; Judge, 2016 Rice University 90-second Thesis Competition, 2016; Co-
chair, Rice Chemistry Graduate Student Recruiting Committee, 2013; Officer, Rice
Chemistry Graduate Student Association, 2012 – 2013; Secretary, Rice Black Graduate
Student Association; 2012 – 2013; Judge (Chemistry Section), Rice Undergraduate
Research Symposium, 2012; Chemistry Demonstrations at the Rice University
UnConvention, 2012.
3. Lynn M. Foster
I graduated from Southwestern University with an ACS certified BS in Chemistry in 2005.
After undergrad, I worked for a small pharmaceutical/biotech company in the Houston
Medical Center for 2 years where I gained experience as a Synthetic Organic Chemist.
In 2007, I joined the University of Houston PhD program for Organic Chemistry. My
graduate studies encompassed the synthesis and analysis of 2-dimensional surfactants
for monolayers. In 2013, I moved to The University of Texas at Austin for a postdoc in
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering departments. At UT, my research focused on
emulsions and oil-water interfaces. In 2014, I joined Halliburton as a Senior Chemist
where I worked on formulating next generation fracturing fluids. In 2015, I continued my
career in an alternate career path as a Scientific Consultant, where I helped bridge the
gap between lawyers and small R&D businesses. While working full time, I continued my
education by earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston – Downtown in
2016. In 2018, I joined M-I SWACO, A Schlumberger Company as a Senior Chemical
Engineer. Over the last few years, I have enjoyed working with surfactants and
formulating various fluids and materials used while drilling for oil.
I have always had a passion for volunteering. In graduate school, I served as Chair of the
Chemistry Graduate Student Council and as Vice Chair of Iota Sigma Pi, a National Honor
Society of Women in Chemistry. I am eager to help guide and excite girls towards careers
in STEM as well as educate the general public on Chemistry topics, such as Mole Day.
I see this opportunity to serve in the ACS GHS as a way to grow personally,
professionally, and help my scientific community.
4. Laura Smith Callahan
Dr. Laura Smith Callahan obtained her B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Toledo
and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in biotechnology and
tissue engineering from the University of Michigan. During this time, Dr. Smith Callahan
received a NSF graduate student fellowship and a NIH pre-doctoral tissue engineering
and regeneration training position. Following a one year post-doctoral regenerative
sciences training position, Dr. Smith Callahan moved to a post-doctoral training position
in the department of Polymer Science at the University of Akron. Her work at both the
University of Michigan and Akron has focused on effects of emulating the size scale,
surface chemistry and modulus of the extracellular matrix. In 2013, she moved to the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston where she holds appointments
Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and the
Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering. To date, her 38 peer reviewed
publications have received over 3,000 citations.
5. Reese Johnson
Kiresha Johnson is from the Woodlands, Texas. She studied Biochemistry at Baylor
University and proceeds to teaching chemistry in secondary education. Passionate about
community service and science, Kiresha was eager to join the Greater Houston ACS
chapter. Service, diligence, excellence, and teamwork has always been at the forefront
for Kiresha Johnson's leadership roles. Kiresha previously served as the
publicity/fundraising chair for Baylor’s St. Jude Children’s Research chapter while holding
the position of Assistant to the Office of the President at Baylor. She seeks to participate
at a greater capacity within GHS-ACS and will strive to keep in mind the goals and mission
of the organization while incorporating them into the integrity of her work.
6. Joshua Alegria
My name is Joshua Alegria and I have recently earned my bachelor’s degree in chemistry
from the University of Houston-Downtown. During this endeavor, I gained a passion for
chemistry that only grew with expansion of knowledge and principals from the rigorous
coursework. During my undergraduate research, I particularly took an affinity to the
biochemistry portion while studying the anticancer properties of components found in
turmeric root. My enthusiasm also encompassed the environmental, polymer, and
physical chemistry courses.
During the summer of 2020 I was finally able to interact with the American Chemical
Society, Houston chapter, and I had a blast at the social events. It was an entertaining
experience to be able to interact with others with my passion and completely different
divisions within the chemistry field. I find that interactions like this can help students relate
to professors more and have a positive impact when completing higher education and
career placement. I am grateful to be considered for the position and will do everything I
can to help the American Chemical Society!