Younger Chemists Committee Officers

Sendin Bajric

Sendin Bajric received his BS in Chemistry from Millikin University in Decatur, IL. He has experience as a quality control chemist while working for Jost Chemical Company in St Louis. During the summer of 2016, he plans to attend the Masters Industrial Internship Program at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Sendin hopes to develop his career to become a research chemist in St Louis for industry.

He looks to be active within his community by ensuring proper professional development is provided to up-and-coming students. He enjoys the outdoors, travel, and experiencing cultures of the world.

Benjamin Barth

Ben Barth received his PhD from Purdue University in August of 2011 after completing studies in synthetic organic chemistry. During his graduate work, his research focused on total synthesis of biologically important molecules and development of methods for their synthesis. He is currently employed as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the St Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) where his future research goals include undergraduate laboratory development and employing active learning techniques in the undergraduate classroom. Ben enjoys spending time with friends and family, participating in bowling and softball leagues, and volunteering as a part-time assistant to the newly formed tennis program at STLCOP.

Eric Bruton

Eric A Bruton received his PhD from UM–St Louis before joining Crosslink in St Louis. As Senior Research Scientist he worked on new materials for uses in a variety of electronic devices, including SuperFlex, a flexible light-emitting device for military tents. Currently Eric is an R&D Research Principal at Jost Chemical, Inc, developing new food and pharmaceutical additives. He also teaches at Lindenwood University in the chemistry department. Eric enjoys interesting conversations with friends and colleagues in professional or social environments.

Kathleen Chaffee

Kathleen Chaffee is a Patent Agent at SNR Denton, LLC. Kathleen received her PhD in Chemistry from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale; her doctoral research involved the development of magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for studying molecular interactions. As a postdoctoral research associate with the Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Kathleen developed animal models of human disease, including various cancer models, and developed various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. As a Fulbright Advanced Student, Kathleen studied under world-class synthetic chemists at École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, where she synthesized novel cage molecules and studied the kinetic and energetic contributions in ligand binding. Kathleen’s interests include volunteer work with various organizations and outdoor activities such as whitewater kayaking and hiking.

Mathew Koebel

Mathew Koebel is enrolled in the Professional Pharmacy program at St Louis College of Pharmacy and is on track to receive his PharmD in 2019. He performs research in the Sirimulla research group, where he focuses on molecular modeling and in silico drug development. He received a national honorable mention for his research in the field of in silico drug development at the University of Texas–El Paso’s Summer Symposium under Mahesh Narayan.

He is very active in both pharmaceutical organizations and the American Chemical Society. He volunteers regularly in the St Louis area in health screening events and with the homeless. He is a father to two wonderful daughters. They enjoy spending spending time together at the family farm in the Ozarks, riding ATVs and kayaking.

Natalie LaFranzo

Natalie received her BS from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. She is pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at Washington University in St Louis, where her research is focused on developing new surface chemistry to study problems in neurobiology and development. Following graduation in December, 2012, Natalie plans to pursue a job in industry. Natalie is also the head cheerleading coach at Wash U and enjoys spending time training and developing her team, food and wine tasting, reading, and walking her dogs.

Doug Malkin

Doug Malkin received his PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Arizona in May of 2010; his doctoral research involved the development of a novel monolithic stationary phase for the high-efficiency separations of proteins, peptides and small molecules. After graduation he worked at Abbott Laboratories as a senior scientist in the process analytical group engaged in method development for testing and in-process control of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) starting materials, intermediates, and drug substances during manufacturing process scale-up activities.

Currently Doug is an analytical chemist at Monsanto, in the product and process development group. He is responsible for analytical project management; responsibilities include impurity identification and analytical method development for the testing of active ingredient (AI) starting materials, intermediates, technical material and formulations during manufacturing process scale-up activities and manufacturing support. Doug’s interests include STEM outreach with various organizations, animal welfare, and sports. He and his wife just bought a home in Webster Groves and they both enjoy the various home improvement projects.