Alumni News

Career Changer

Dr. Patrick Donovan earned his PhD from Boston College in 2008 working in Professor Larry Scott’s organic chemistry research group. After a short stint in a pharmaceutical company and finding himself without a job, Dr. Donovan accepted an offer to join Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. Happy with the transition, he now works on molecules that can be used in diverse assays and is less specialized than the chemistry typically done in pharmaceutical companies. Read about the transition of Donovan and others who decided to forego the traditional career path and join the world of medical diagnostics at this link.

BC Alum Scoring Big with Funders

Dr. Greg O’Neil, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Western Washington University, earned a B.S. in chemistry from Boston College. As an undergraduate, Prof. O’Neil worked in the research laboratory of Professor Larry Scott. He went on to earn his doctorate at the University of Colorado and was the recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship, spending several years at the Max-Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung. Prof. O’Neil has received three impressive grant awards in support of his research. These include an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program Grant, an Undergraduate New Investigator Grant from the Petroleum Research Fund and an NIH grant. Additional information on Prof. O’Neil’s research can be found on his website.

Charles Johannes named Head of Organic Chemistry at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES)

Dr. Charles Johannes has assumed the role of Head of Organic Chemistry at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES). He will hold a joint appointment at the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) under the Agency of Science and Technology (A*STAR) for the Singapore government. In this new role, Dr. Johannes’ work will encompass drug discovery, green chemistry, process research and specialty chemicals. A doctoral student working in Prof. Amir H. Hoveyda’s group, he received his PhD in 1998. Most recently, Dr. Johannes was the Director of Chemistry at Forma Therapeutics.

Steven Malcolmson wins Reaxys PhD Prize

Dr. Steven Malcolmson, who earned his Ph.D. in Professor Amir Hoveyda’s group, was selected as a recipient of the 2011 Reaxys PhD Prize. This highly competitive international award recognizes research and publication excellence. Consideration is given for originality, innovation, importance to the field, applicability, rigor of approach and publication quality. A board of over 70 leading international chemists reviewed close to 300 submissions resulting in the naming of 3 winners. Malcolmson was honored for his article, “Highly Efficient Molybdenum-Based Catalysts for Enantioselective Alkene Metathesis.” He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Professor Christopher Walsh, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. John L. LaMattina receives ACS Award

Dr. John LaMattina received the Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management from the American Chemical Society earlier this year. This award honors those who have shown excellent leadership and creativity in promoting chemistry through a proven record of successful research projects that have motivated fellow researchers and gained the recognition of their peers. Receiving a B.S. in Chemistry from Boston College in 1971, D. LaMattina is the former President of Pfizer Global R&D. He is currently a Senior Partner at PureTech Ventures. A friend of the Chemistry Department, Dr. LaMattina generously supports our graduate program with the annual award of Dr. John L. LaMattina Fellows.