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A.
Work History
Professor
of Chemistry Duquesne University, 2007-
Visiting
Professor Ludwig-Maximilians-University
Spring
2006
Visiting
Professor Ludwig-Maximilians-University
Spring
2003
Associate
Professor Duquesne
University,1999-2007
Assistant
Professor Duquesne
University,1992-1999
Post-doctoral
fellow Oregon
State University, 1990-1992
Killam
Graduate Fellow University of British Columbia 1986-1990
B.
Education
Oregon State University James
D. White, post doctoral advisor 1990-1992
Developed
a new macrolactonization method and worked on pyrrolizidine alkaloid
synthesis.
University of British Columbia Edward
Piers Ph.D. 1986-1990
Developed
a palladium-catalyzed coupling route to alkenenitriles and used the
chemistry in an organostannane-based synthesis of the clerodane
diterpenoid, stephalic acid.
Massey University
(New Zealand) John Ayers B.S. (Hons) 1986
Developed
a guanidine-based ion exchange resin with potential use for isolating
heparin from natural sources.
C.
Personal Background
Born in
the rural town of Waipawa,
located in sunny Hawkes Bay, New
Zealand, I lived most of my early years
in the adjacent town of Waipukurau. An early
interest in science was kindled at home through a childhood filled with
mechanical adventures including go-karting, motorbikes, and the infamous
chemistry kit. At school this love of making things work translated into
an interest in science which later coalesced into an intense interest in
chemistry. I have a strong interest in helping others which focused my
early interest in chemistry on the synthesis of medicines which I pursued
at Massey University, located about 70 miles from Waipukurau.
In the
early 80's the Chemistry Department at Massey University
integrated chemistry within the university's historic focus on
agricultural problems. Typical of this biologically oriented program were
the projects offered for Honors students. I began a project whose aim was
to design an affinity exchange resin capable of selectively extracting
the anti-coagulant Heparin, from animal offal (leading to the infamous
pigs liver extraction) commonly available in New Zealand! From this
background I moved to the University of British Columbia for a Ph. D. with
Professor Edward Piers, one of Canada's leading organic
chemists and an outstanding teacher. After 4 ˝ delightful years of
natural product synthesis, developing new nitrile chemistry, and sampling
the beauty of Canada's
wilderness areas, camping, canoeing, hiking, yachting, I moved to Corvallis, Oregon.
My post-doctoral appointment with James White, Distinguished Professor of
Chemistry, at Oregon State University
focused on indolizidine synthesis but also involved a joint radiolabeling
project with vetinary scientists. Two years later, after numerous
synthetic adventures, and a few outdoor adventures too, I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and began an independent academic career at Duquesne University.
D.
Science and Christianity
An
early interest in science and a strong interest Christianity stimulated
what has become a life-long quest to understand the relationship of
science with Christianity. I am a member of the American
Scientific Affiliation and I regularly review books in
science and religion for the journal Perspectives
on Science and Christianity. I have taught several classes
in the area of science and religion both as university courses and as
short courses for general church audiences.
I am a
founding member of the "Christian Academic Fellowship" – CAFÉ
–an independent university organization whose mission lies in "…
integrating our spiritual beliefs and values into our various roles in
the university community." As moderator for CAFÉ I was involved in
several book studies ("Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian
Calling" by James Sire, and "A Christian Critique of the University"
by Charles Malik), organizing yearly retreats, and organizing university
presentations ("Medicine and Compassion in Early Christianity"
by Dr. Gary Ferngren, 2000, "A Role for the Catholic University in the 21st
Century" by Dr. Jim Sire, 2001, and "The Big
Bang, Stephen Hawking and God" by Dr. Fritz Schaefer,
2005 and "Science vs. Belief?
The Challenge of Naturalism" by Terence Nichols).
My interest in integrating Christianity into an academic vocation has led
to occasional lectures on the topic at Duquesne
University in Pittsburgh
and to academics in Germany
and Poland
during sabbatical visits.
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