Faculty & Staff
- Name
- T. Michelle Jones-Wilson
- Title
- Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department Chair
B.S., 1988, Lafayette College
M.A., 1990, Washington University
Ph.D., 1995, Washington University
- mjwilson@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3703
- Campus Address
- SciTech 223
I have the privilege of mentoring 12-25 biochemistry and chemical biotechnology graduates each year. Our diverse group is successful in industry and graduate and professional school. My research areas are in the Science of Student Success funded through the NSF Clear Path grant and in water quality in the Pocono region.
Teaching Interest
I teach a variety of courses from the 100 level, chemistry of science majors and non majors, 200 level organic chemistry, 300 level biochemistry to 400 level courses like Proteins and Nucleic Acids and Biochemical Methods. I have taught more than 31 preparations throughout the curriculum in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. My favorite is Chem 350 - Biochemical Energetics
Research Interest
Dr. Jones-Wilson's research currently encompasses 2 broad areas:
The Science of Teaching and Learning (STL)
Students in the Jones-Wilson group participating in the STL area work to develop laboratory
procedures that effectively illustrate concepts in the biochemistry and biochemical
energetics areas. Students develop ideas, refine experimental parameters, communicate
findings and finally lab test the experiments designed.
Dr. Jones-Wilson is currently Principle Investigator on the NSF S-STEM grant Clear
Path - Bachelor's Degree Completion Scholarships.
In Clear Path community college transfer students are supported in finishing their
bachelor's degrees in 10 identified STEM areas. The Clear Path team (Co-PIs Dr. Olivia
Carducci and Dr. Bonnie Green) work to understand how the grant identified developmental
mechanisms work independently and synergistically to promote student success.
To learn more about Clear Path research see:
https://www.esu.edu/research-scholarship-creative-activity/research/index.cfm
Water Quality Monitoring and Watershed Protection
Students working on water quality projects work with Dr. Jones-Wilson and Dr. Paul
Wilson, Environmental Science, Department of Biological Sciences, ESU. In conjunction
with Dr. Paul Wilson, lead scientist for the William Penn Foundation funded Pocono-Kittatinny
Cluster of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, students verify field testing
and methods used in the water monitoring project.
For more information visit:
http://quantum.esu.edu/insider/student-research-helps-ensure-clean-drinking-water/
Service
Service to students and the university and community is a critical part of the job of a faculty member. Over my career I have advised student organizations and served on numerous university and APSCUF committees.
- Name
- René Fuanta
- Title
- Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 2007 - 2010, University of Buea
Ph.D., 2013 - 2018, Auburn University
- rfuanta@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3446
- Campus Address
- SciTech 222
I enjoy discussions on enzyme mechanisms - the ‘science fiction’ behind their catalysis.
Teaching interests
- Introduction to Biochemistry
- Biochemical Assays and Method Development
- Enzymology and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Metabolic Biochemistry
Research interests
- My research is a hybrid of mechanistic enzymology, proteomics and molecular biology.
Service
- I serve on several platforms both on- (UWCC, FDR, FDI, etc) and off-campus (ACS, ASBMB, NOBCChE, etc).
- Other academic service includes reviewing for journals like ACS ID, BBA Proteins and Proteomics, some MDPIs, etc.
- Name
- Richard S. Kelly
- Title
- Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 1979, Davidson College
Ph.D., 1984, University of Vermont
- rskelly@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3246
- Campus Address
- SciTech 333
Teaching Interest
Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Environmental Chemistry, Active Learning
Research Interest
Development of analysis methods for wine, beer, and spirits industry.
Electrochemical biosensors.
Improving teaching through cooperative learning.
Service
Collections editor, Analytical Sciences Digital Library
- Name
- William Loffredo
- Title
- Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Pre-Pharmacy Program Advisor
B.S., 1982, Lebanon Valley College
Ph.D., 1988, Ohio State University
- wloffredo@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3215
- Campus Address
- SciTech 221
My primary teaching duties include general chemistry, organic chemistry I, II and III as well as biochemistry I and II.
Teaching Interest
I enjoy teaching organic and biochemistry.
Research Interest
My research interest are along the chemical education lines these days.
Service
I serve as the coordinator and advisor for the pre-pharmacy program.
Student Group Advising
I am currently serving as the faculty advisor for the ACS Student Affiliate chapter at ESU.
- Name
- Steven M. Boyer
- Title
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 2012, Elizabethtown College
Ph.D., 2017, Binghamton University
- sboyer11@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3796
- Campus Address
- SciTech 230
My background is in the area of materials inorganic chemistry. Currently my research focuses on metal-organic frame works for applications such as the degradation of organic pollutants
Teaching Interest
General Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Research Interest
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
Degradation of organic pollutants
Publications & Presentations
Dwyer, D.B., Lee, D.T., Boyer, S.M., Bernier, W.E., Parsons, G.N., Jones Jr., W.E.
Toxic organophosphate hydrolysis using nanofiber-templated UiO-66NH2 metal-organic
framework polycrystalline cylinders. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2018, 10,
25794-25803.
McCarthy, D.L., Liu. J., Dwyer, D.B., Troiano, J.L., Boyer, S.M., DeCoste, J.B., Bernier,
W.E., Jones, W.E. Electrospin metal-organic framework polymer composites for the catalytic
degradation of methyl paraoxon. New Journal of Chemistry 2017, 41, 8748-8753.
Boyer, S.M., Liu, J., Zhang, S., Ehrlich, M.I., McCarthy, D.L., Tong, L., DeCoste,
J.B., Bernier, B.E., Jones Jr., W.E. The role of ruthenium photosensitizers in the
degradation of phenazopyridine with TiO2 electrospun fibers. Journal of Photochemistry
and Photobiology A:Chemistry 2016, 329, 46-53.
- Name
- Mary Doherty
- Title
- Instructor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 1982, Thomas More College
M.S., 1987, Purdue University
- maryd@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3264
- Campus Address
- SciTech 324
Teaching Interests
General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Nursing Chemistry labs.
Research Interests
Development and improvement of experiments in General Chemistry Organic Chemistry and Nursing Chemistry labs.
Service
Planning and presenting at the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Collecting food from campus donations and stocking shelves at the ESU Warrior Food Pantry.
- Name
- Gregory R. Boyce
- Title
- Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 2006, Emory University
Ph.D., 2011, UNC Chapel Hill
- gboyce@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-2868
- Campus Address
- SciTech 228
I am a synthetic organic chemist who enjoys teaching courses in Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, and Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry. My research focuses on the concise synthesis of biologically relevant natural products and the development of new reactions. Undergraduates interested in joining our team are encouraged to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyce to discuss what opportunities are available.
Teaching Interests
General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Research Interests
My group focuses on the synthesis of biologically relevant natural products, the development of new reactions, and the use of vitamin B6 as a stimuli-responsive chemical delivery system. Students in my lab will learn to setup reactions, purify compounds by column chromatography, distillation, and recrystallization, and analyze results by TLC, NMR, IR, polarimetry, HPLC, LCMS and GCMS.
Publications & Presentations
Boyce, G. R.; Musolino, S. F.; Yang, J.; Smith, A. D.; Taylor, J. E. “Arylboronic
acid-catalyzed dehydrative racemization of secondary and tertiary alcohols.” J. Org.
Chem. 2022, 87, 13367-13374.
Wu, J.; Young, C. M.; Watts, A. A.; Slawin, A. M. Z.; Boyce, G. R.; Bühl, M.; Smith,
A. D. "Isothiourea-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to α,β-unsaturated
aryl esters." Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 4040-4045.
Weeks, K. L.; Williams, J. D.; Boyce, G. R.* “A three-step enantioselective synthesis
of (+)- and (-)-a-thujone.” Org. Biomol. Chem. 2021, 19, 8018-8020.
Steele, J. H.; Bozor, M. X.; Boyce, G. R.* “Transmutation of scent: An evaluation
of the synthesis of methyl cinnamate, a commercial fragrance, via a Fischer esterification
for the second-year organic chemistry laboratory.” J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97, 4127-4132.
Weeks, K. L.; Rutkowski, K. R.; Morales Loyola, A. A.; Boyce, G. R.* “Utilization
of pyridoxal acetal salts as water-triggered, slow-release pro-fragrances.” New J.
Chem. 2018, 42, 15538-15540.
- Name
- Emily Petsche
- Title
- Lab Technician for Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 2021, East Stroudsburg University
M.S., 2023, University of Scranton
- epetsche@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3243
- Campus Address
- SciTech G23
Along with my student workers, I prep chemicals and set up labs for the department.
Research Interest
As an undergraduate student, I completed independent research in Biochemistry under Dr. Fuanta. My thesis research in graduate school was also in Biochemistry, focused on metabolic enzymes and their role maintaining homeostasis in the brain.
Publications & Presentations
Foley, T.D., Huang, W.C., Petsche, E.A. et al. Protein vicinal thiols as intrinsic probes of brain redox states in health, aging, and ischemia. Metab Brain Dis 39, 929–940 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-024-01370-3
- Name
- Melinda Rosen
- Title
- Secretary for Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.S., 1984, Shippensburg University
- mrosen1@esu.edu
- Phone
- (570) 422-3342
- Campus Address
- SciTech 317
Contact Us
Contact Information
- Campus Address
- Science & Technology 223
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3342
- Fax:
- (570) 422-3908 (Fax)
- Title of Department Leader
- Department Chair
- Name
- T. Michelle Jones-Wilson
- E:
- mjwilson@esu.edu
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3703
