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As part of a cooperative research agreement between East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and AgroFresh, Inc. — a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and a global business unit of Dow AgroSciences LLC. – recent ESU graduate Alex P. Sutton, who earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry in May 2014, was invited to present the results of his undergraduate research project at the Dow Chemical facility in Collegeville, Pa., earlier this year. His presentation was also broadcast via Dow’s intranet to its facilities worldwide.

Sutton’s research, performed under the supervision of Jon S. Gold, Ph.D., ESU professor of chemistry, involves the use of theoretical calculations using computer-based (quantum) models of molecules. Specifically, they worked on methods to test the potential utility, using computer-based calculations, of novel biochemically-active species for retarding the activity of plant-ripening hormones. These compounds are called antagonists and are used to assist fruit growers in the safe transportation of their products. A presentation of this work is also planned for the spring 2015 national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Denver, Colo.

Rachel J. Parise, who also graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, and Chris Stangl, a 2013 graduate who also majored in chemistry, presented research at Dow earlier this year, which was executed under the supervision of Richard S. Kelly, Ph.D., ESU professor of chemistry. Their work involved the development of novel separation techniques of mixtures (utilizing gas chromatography) for detailed measurements of the absorption of commercial materials designed to retard plant ripening onto bananas and commercial packaging materials. In addition, Parise and Stangl presented a poster of their work at PittCon 2014 in Chicago, the world’s largest meeting for analytical chemistry.

Professors Kelly and Gold will continue these research projects in collaboration with AgroFresh during the coming academic year with a new group of ESU students. For more information on these research projects, contact Dr. Gold at jgold@esu.edu.