Seven scientists with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Chemistry and Biochemistry during the academy’s induction ceremony held Oct. 23.
The academy was established in 2005 to continue the work of the former Foundation for Chemical Research, which was in existence from 1983 through 2005. The foundation worked with the alumni of the chemistry department to support and enhance the research and teaching goals of the department. Members of the academy are scientists who have made outstanding contributions to their profession.
New members are:
Dr. Bryan E. Breyfogle of Springfield, Mo., associate professor of chemistry at Missouri State University. Breyfogle earned a Ph.D. degree in inorganic materials chemistry from Missouri S&T in 1996. His primary area of interest is in chemical education. He hopes to give chemistry education students practical experience in developing technology-based learning tools for chemistry at the undergraduate and K-12 levels. Breyfogle is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Missouri Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Nuran Ercal of Rolla, Richard K. Vitek/Foundation for Chemical Research Endowed Chair in biochemistry at Missouri S&T. Ercal earned an M.D. degree from Istanbul Medical Faculty in Turkey in 1981. She also holds a master of science degree in physiology from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D. degree in physiology from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. Ercal began work at Missouri S&T as a research associate in 1990, holding various positions until 2005, when she was named professor. She took her current position in 2009. Ercal served as visiting research professor at Washington University in St. Louis from 2000-2001 and in July 2004, was named adjunct associate professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University, a position she still holds. She is an honorary member of Phi Eta Sigma and a member of Sigma Xi, the Oxygen Society, and the Missouri Academy of Science.
Dr. Maciej Gazicki-Lipman of Lodz, Poland, professor and head of the Division of Non-Metallic Materials, Institute for Materials Science and Engineering at the Technical University of Lodz. Gazicki-Lipman earned a master of science degree in polymer technology from the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, in 1974 and a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Missouri S&T in 1985. He also holds a doctor of engineering degree in materials engineering from Krakow School of Mines and Metallurgy in Poland. Gazicki-Lipman has published 60 papers, refereed 44 journals and given more than 60 invited talks and conference presentations. His research interests focus on thin-film technology, plasma modification of materials, Parylene coatings and particulate substrates. He is a member of the Society of Vacuum Coaters.
Dr. Janet Lynn Kavandi of Houston, deputy director of flight crew operations at Johnson Space Center, earned a master of science degree in chemistry from Missouri S&T in 1982. She also holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Washington-Seattle and a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Missouri Southern State College. Following graduation, Kavandi worked in industry until 1994 when she was chosen as an astronaut candidate by NASA. Her first assignment was with the Payloads and Habitability Branch supporting payload integration for the International Space Station. A three-flight veteran, Kavandi has logged more than 33 days in space, traveling more than 13.1 million miles in 535 Earth orbits. In June 1998, Kavandi took her first mission to space on what was the ninth and final shuttle-Mir docking mission. She flew again in 2000, on a topography mission that mapped more than 47 million miles of the Earth’s surface. On her most recent mission, in July 2001, Kavandi helped install a joint airlock on the International Space Station.
James R. Knox of Storrs Mansfield, Conn., professor emeritus of molecular and cell biology at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Missouri S&T in 1963 and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Boston University in 1967. Following graduate study at Boston University, Knox served as a post-doctoral fellow in the Chemical Crystallography Lab at Oxford University and in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale University. In 1970, he joined the University of Connecticut as an assistant professor. He was named associate professor in 1975 and professor in 1982. He held visiting professorships at Harvard University and the Universidad de Concepcion in Chile. He served as a consultant to Hoffmann-LaRoche, Eli Lilly Co. and Pan Therix. He was named professor emeritus in 2002. Knox specialized in physical biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Among his honors and distinctions are service in advisory roles for the NSF Facility for Macromolecular Computing at Purdue and the Foundation for Chemical Research at Missouri S&T and membership on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He published more than 100 journal articles or book chapters and gave more than 120 invited lectures and talks.
James Stoffer Jr. of Henryville, Ind., technical manager of the North America Division of Becker Acroma in Jeffersonville, Ind. Stoffer earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri S&T in 1983, and returned to earn a master’s degree in chemistry in 1988. He worked with Eastman Chemical Co., Carboline Co., and Akzo Nobel Coatings in various technical services positions. He has worked on coating systems for structures around the world, including the Golden Gate Bridge. Stoffer currently works with environmentally friendly wood coatings. Stoffer is currently in charge of the startup of a new Jeffersonville, Ind., plant for Becker Acroma. His father is Dr. James O. Stoffer, Curators’ Professor emeritus at S&T.
Dr. Glenn E. Stoner of Charlottesville, Va., earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in chemistry from Missouri S&T in 1962 and 1963, respectively. He earned a Ph.D. in electrochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. Stoner has taught undergraduate courses on corrosion and materials science since 1976. He began teaching applied electrochemistry at the graduate level in 1974, and has taught corrosion engineering to members of industry since 1980. He has held visiting appointments at Missouri S&T as well as universities in France and Israel. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi and Kappa Mu Epsilon and has served on the editorial board of Biomaterials, Medical Devices and Artificial Organs: An International Journal.