Saint Louis Section
Younger Chemists Committee
About the national YCC organizationThe Younger Chemists Committee was chartered by the American Chemical Society to address the specific needs of younger and early-career chemists. The YCC’s vision is to lead younger chemists into successful careers and active roles in the ACS and the profession. To achieve this, the Committee relies on its strengths of diversity, influential involvement, and dedicated leadership. By leading the way in the use of technology and creating outreach opportunities for our constituency, we hope to change the face of the ACS and become the most influential Committee in the Society.
What does this mean to you? The National YCC serves as a resource for younger chemists to find awards, start local section YCC’s, attend national meeting programs relevant to younger chemists, and other information that is of importance to younger chemists, like articles on interviewing skills and grant proposal writing.
Is there something missing? Let the National YCC know what you think. Talk to them on Facebook, by email, or in person at ACS national meetings.
The Younger Chemist Committee of St LouisThe St Louis YCC is the voice of younger chemists in the St Louis area, providing opportunities to participate in community chemistry education and network with other young chemists in the area.
Officers |
||
Chair |
Eric Bruton | |
Co-chair |
Archana Parameswar | |
Secretary |
David Brownholland | |
Treasurer |
Francisco Franco | |
Media Coordinator |
Amber R Davis | |
Events coordinators |
Sarah Torkamani Dayna Turner |
|
Executive member |
Eva Stastna | |
 |
David Brownholland (Secretary) David is currently a post-doc at Washington University School of Medicine in Douglas Covey’s research group. He received his PhD at Purdue University in 2008 under the supervision of David Thompson. David is interested in the synthesis and biophysical properties of lipid membrane materials for applications in biotechnology, drug delivery, and elucidation of biological processes. His long-term career goal is to work as a professor at a liberal arts college in order to focus on his long-term passions, teaching and education. |
 |
Eric Bruton (Chair) Eric A Bruton received his PhD from UM–St Louis before joining Crosslink in St Louis. There he is a Senior Research Chemist working on new materials for uses in a variety of electronic devices, currently flexible light emitting devices. He is currently working on scale-up of a new flexible lighting system for the Army and commercial sale. His interests are in the chemistry of material and non-bonding interactions and how they affect a material’s physical and electronic properties. |
 |
Amber R Davis (Media Coordinator) Amber is currently in graduate school at Saint Louis University as a PhD candidate in the Integrated Applied Sciences Program in the Chemistry Department. She is working to characterize the thermodynamics, structures, and interactions of small RNA secondary structure motifs using UV-vis spectroscopy, NMR, and fluorescence polarization. Amber expects to graduate in the Spring of 2010, and she is looking forward to entering either a post-doctoral or an industrial position. |
 |
Francisco Franco (Treasurer) Francisco M Franco was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He obtained his BS in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras in 2002. He then moved to Texas where he got his MS in Organic Chemistry from Texas A&M University–College Station in 2006. Shortly after completing his degree, he started at Pfizer in Saint Louis, where he currently holds a position as Senior Associate Scientist. Francisco enjoys spending time with friends, the outdoors (when it is warm), wine-tasting, and stimulating conversations about current issues. |
 |
Archana R Parameswar (Co-chair) Archana obtained her PhD in Chemistry from University of Missouri–St Louis in 2008 and is now working as a post-doctoral research associate in Professor Demchenko’s lab. Her doctoral research included the target synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and neo-glycoconjugates. Her current research projects involve the synthesis of an air-breathing cathode for use in enzymatic biofuel cells and synthesis of the unnatural psychosine enantiomer and various N-acylated glucosamine analogs. These projects are in collaboration with Saint Louis University, Washington University School of Medicine, and NCAUR-ARS-USDA in Peoria, IL. |
 |
Sarah Torkamani (Events Coordinator) Sarah was born in Oklahoma and obtained her PhD in Chemical engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran in 2008. She is now working as a post-doctoral research associate at Washington University in St Louis. Her doctoral research included biological sulfur removal from heavy crude oil. She has diverse background in computer modeling and laboratory work and is involved in energy-related projects such as designing photo electrode of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells and optimizing microalgae growth. Sarah enjoys social activities, oil painting, and gymnastics. |
 |
Eva Stastna (Executive member) Eva Stastna was born and raised in the Czech Republic. She obtained her PhD in Organic Chemistry from Charles University in Prague. Her doctoral research included synthesis of neuro-active steroids as modulators of NMDA receptors. Now, she is working as a post-doctoral research associate in Professor Covey’s lab at the Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine. Eva likes to spend her free time in geo-caching, reading books and outdoor activities. |
 |
Dayna Turner (Events Coordinator) Dayna Turner recently graduated from Washington University in St Louis with a PhD in Chemistry. Her graduate studies focused on the synthesis and characterization of metal-sulfur-organic and metal-selenium-organic network solids. She currently is working as a Research Chemist at Novus International in St Charles, MO. |
— YCC–STL Google Group, where you can find more details about upcoming events and discuss issues of interest to “Younger Chemists”If you need more information or have problems with this site, please contact the WebMaster.