This talk will follow my career in chemistry from my first exposure to chemical research in rural Canada to my current position as a Senior Research Scientist in Core R&D at Dow in Midland, MI. As a graduate student, I would never have imagined being where I am now.  My research at the time involved fundamental structure and bonding studies in main group chemistry, and I was intent on becoming an academic. Nevertheless, after completing a Ph.D. and two postdoc positions, I found myself accepting an industrial position in the homogeneous catalysis group at Dow, despite having little experience in applied research.  After ten years in industry, I'm now an expert in homogeneous catalysis and enjoy applying fundamental knowledge to solve real world problems.  Along the way, I have found ways to incorporate my love of teaching science into various extracurricular and volunteer activities. This presentation will discuss the value of being open to new opportunities and saying "yes" to things that scare you a little, and that sometimes what looks like a setback can end up directing you down a new and more interesting path.  Examples of the application of fundamental organometallic chemistry principles to solving problems in industrial catalysis will also be included.

Industrial catalysis research: The fundamental things apply

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.