2021 ACS Greater Houston Section Elections Candidates and Bios

Chair-Elect-Number of open positions: 1 Chair-Elect-Candidate: 1. Eme Abu

Eme Abu is an active member of the Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society and is excited to run for Chair-Elect in the upcoming election. She is a currently one of the Directors on the ACS-GHS board. She is passionate about children and their educational development. Eme is currently the main contact for the science section of the Education Rainbow Challenge; one of ACS-GHS’ partnerships that promote an interest in science for elementary school children in the Houston area. Eme was the recipient of the 2016 Young Chemist Award and also one of the recipients of the ‘Salute to Excellence Award’ in 2019 for outstanding contributions to the Greater Houston Local section.

Eme has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a doctorate degree in analytical chemistry and a master’s degree in business data analytics. She has worked as a research and development chemist with Prince Energy; taught general chemistry at Houston Community College; worked as a data analytics consultant and now works for IHS Markit as a data/research analyst in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Treasurer- Number of open positions: 1 Treasurer-Candidate: 1. Sam Lewis

Sam Lewis is a Senior Scientific Advisor for Chemistry in the Cementing Applied Sciences and Processes group. In this role, he is responsible for mentoring scientists within the company and contributing to the development of strategic technology. He currently advises teams across multiple product service lines on environmental compliance and general technology development/implementation while also serving as a field advisor to locations around the world.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Lewis was a Technical Team Leader for the Cementing Applied Sciences and Processes group. Since joining Halliburton in 2002 as a Chemical scientist, Dr. Lewis has worked within the Technology organization to develop new products and procedures as well as lead in the establishment of a new technology center in Pune, India.

Dr. Lewis was educated as an Inorganic Chemist at Texas A&M University and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the subject. Dr. Lewis has over 100 US and international patents and more than a dozen journal publications. He has served on various committees within the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.

Councilor-Number of open positions: 2 Councilor-Candidates: 1. David Sam Germack

David Sam Germack is a polymer and analytical chemist working in the chemical industry.

He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Western Washington University and a Ph.D. in

Organic Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. The majority of his career

has been spent in industry with time in a number of different industries and roles, starting

out as a chemical technician and eventually winding up in leadership of numerous teams

focused on driving new innovation into new products and commercial results. Throughout

his career he has worked to elevate the careers of his colleague’s and to drive

opportunities for others more than for himself. Creating an environment where access to,

and opportunities to participate, in science is his current goal. Of particular interest is in

improving access for those with disabilities. Our workspaces and conferences do not have

enough attention paid to ensuring access to all. By creating welcoming and functional

spaces for all, he knows that we will learn more, achieve more, and most importantly,

create the change to a more open, more comfortable, and more free society and science.

David is a former National Research Council Research Associate at the National Institute

of Standards and Technology where he was a 2009 recipient of the Materials Science

and Engineering Laboratory Work-Life Diversity Award for his work with colleagues in

creating an inclusive and effective postdoctoral seminar series. He is the current

Membership Chair for the ACS Greater Houston Section and a member of the Division of

Polymer Chemistry and Division of History.

2. Valerie Lafitte

I am currently a project Manager at Schlumberger in the Stimulation Fluid Department, in

the Sugar Land Technology Center. As for my background, I grew up in France, in South

Brittany. I am a chemist by training having earned a PhD in the area of Supramolecular

Chemistry from University College London back in 2005. I was first hired as a postdoc in

Cambridge Research Center (UK) and enjoyed the research in

the Chemistry Department for the following 4 years. I then moved to Sugar Land Product

Center (Stimulation Fluid Engineering group) in 2011 where I still develop new fluid

systems for fracturing, water control, sand Control and recently cementing applications.

I have always been involved in Chemistry, and prior to joining Schlumberger I was

pursuing a Postdoctoral position in the area of medicinal chemistry which involved a lot

of organic synthesis and molecular characterization.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, running and practicing yoga.

Alternate-Councilor-Number of open positions: 2 Alternate-Councilor-Candidates: 1. Snigdha Chennamaneni

Snigdha Chennamaneni currently works as an Analytical Research and Development

Team Lead at Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC. In her current role she leads a team of

R&D Scientists to drive projects and is responsible for the analytical method development

for small-molecule drugs, technology transfer, ongoing analytical testing and lab

management.

Snigdha received doctorate degree in Chemistry from Cleveland State University (CSU),

Cleveland, Ohio. She has extensive research experience in the field of Medicinal and

Analytical Chemistry with focus on oncology drug discovery, which led to publications in

prestigious journals. She served as a volunteer for Great Lakes Science Center and

American Cancer Society at Cleveland, both of which are non-profit organizations.

Snigdha has been an active member of ACS since 2012 and has served as an elected

member of the ACS-Greater Houston Section Executive Committee since 2017, both as

a Director and through the Section Chair progression to her current position as Past Chair

of the section. She believes that persistence, collaboration and continuous learning are

the key to success.

2. Javoris Hollingsworth

Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth first realized his passion for chemistry in high school while

performing summer research at Georgia College & State University as part of the ACS

Project SEED Program. He then attended Georgia Southern University as a Gates

Millennium Scholar, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. In

continuation of his education, he obtained his Masters and Doctorate degrees in

Chemistry from Louisiana State University under the co-supervision of Professors Graça

Vicente and Paul Russo. With support from the National Science Foundation, he went

abroad to conduct research in Beijing, China, as an NSF International Postdoctoral Fellow

at the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS) in the

laboratory of Professor Charles Han. After this experience, Dr. Hollingsworth began his

career as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Florida A&M

University. Upon completion of his appointment, he joined the faculty in the Department

of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Texas.

In addition to leading a research team, Dr. Hollingsworth serves as the faculty co-advisor

for the UST Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS), as well as the UST Chapter

of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and

Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Beyond his roles at UST, he also serves as the Area

Co-coordinator for the ACS Project SEED Program and Chair of the Minority Affairs

Committee for the Greater Houston Section of ACS.

Director-Number of open positions: 4 Director-Candidates: 1. David E. Thompson

Dave Thompson is an analytical chemist and an associate professor in the chemistry

department at Sam Houston State University. Dave did undergraduate studies at Carleton

College in Minnesota; his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; and post-

doctoral studies at Stanford. He taught at Lawrence University in Wisconsin before

moving to Sam Houston State University in 2009. Dave’s research has an applied

component that focuses on collaborative studies of the chemistry and toxicology of a

novel cyanide antidote; and a more fundamental side that focuses on understanding and

controlling surface enhanced Raman responses in headspace sampling environments.

Dave serves as a mentor in the Greater Houston Local Section Project Seed program

(when pandemics allow!); on the ACS analytical Chemistry Exams Development

Committee; as a co-PI on an NSF funded program aimed at strengthening learning

success in early STEM courses at SHSU; and on the leadership team of the Huntsville

Rotary Club.

2. Errol L. G. Samuel (Loïc)

EDUCATION: Ph.D. (2015), M.A. (2013), Chemistry, Rice University; B.Sc. (2009,

magna cum laude) Chemistry, Bowling Green State University

PRESENT POSITION: Staff Scientist, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical

Biology, Baylor College of Medicine

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Chemical Biology, Cheminformatics, Drug Discovery

PAST POSITIONS: Research Associate – Biophysical Chemistry, Baylor College of

Medicine, 2018-2019; Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Pharmacology,

Baylor College of Medicine, 2015-2017; Lab Technician, Antigua Distillery Ltd., 2010

HONORS: BRC Collaborative Translational Prize for publishing a first author

translational biosciences article with a co-author in the Texas Medical Center, 2015; Phi

Lambda Upsilon National Honorary Chemical Society inductee, Rice University, 2014;

Harry B. Weiser Leadership Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the

department, Rice University Chemistry Department, 2013; Harry B. Weiser Award for

excellence in Chemistry teaching, Rice University Chemistry Department, 2011; Dean’s

List, Bowling Green State University, 2006 – 2009; Gordon McQueston Scholarship for

an outstanding record in chemistry, Bowling Green State University Chemistry

Department, 2009; Organization of American States Fellow, 2007 – 2009; Phi Beta

Kappa Honor Society inductee, Bowling Green State University, 2009; Academic

Excellence Award, Bowling Green State University Chemistry Department, 2008.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Judge, 58th Annual Science and Engineering Fair of

Houston, 2017; Judge, 2016 Rice University 90-second Thesis Competition, 2016; Co-

chair, Rice Chemistry Graduate Student Recruiting Committee, 2013; Officer, Rice

Chemistry Graduate Student Association, 2012 – 2013; Secretary, Rice Black Graduate

Student Association; 2012 – 2013; Judge (Chemistry Section), Rice Undergraduate

Research Symposium, 2012; Chemistry Demonstrations at the Rice University

UnConvention, 2012.

3. Lynn M. Foster

I graduated from Southwestern University with an ACS certified BS in Chemistry in 2005.

After undergrad, I worked for a small pharmaceutical/biotech company in the Houston

Medical Center for 2 years where I gained experience as a Synthetic Organic Chemist.

In 2007, I joined the University of Houston PhD program for Organic Chemistry. My

graduate studies encompassed the synthesis and analysis of 2-dimensional surfactants

for monolayers. In 2013, I moved to The University of Texas at Austin for a postdoc in

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering departments. At UT, my research focused on

emulsions and oil-water interfaces. In 2014, I joined Halliburton as a Senior Chemist

where I worked on formulating next generation fracturing fluids. In 2015, I continued my

career in an alternate career path as a Scientific Consultant, where I helped bridge the

gap between lawyers and small R&D businesses. While working full time, I continued my

education by earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston – Downtown in

2016. In 2018, I joined M-I SWACO, A Schlumberger Company as a Senior Chemical

Engineer. Over the last few years, I have enjoyed working with surfactants and

formulating various fluids and materials used while drilling for oil.

I have always had a passion for volunteering. In graduate school, I served as Chair of the

Chemistry Graduate Student Council and as Vice Chair of Iota Sigma Pi, a National Honor

Society of Women in Chemistry. I am eager to help guide and excite girls towards careers

in STEM as well as educate the general public on Chemistry topics, such as Mole Day.

I see this opportunity to serve in the ACS GHS as a way to grow personally,

professionally, and help my scientific community.

4. Laura Smith Callahan

Dr. Laura Smith Callahan obtained her B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Toledo

and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in biotechnology and

tissue engineering from the University of Michigan. During this time, Dr. Smith Callahan

received a NSF graduate student fellowship and a NIH pre-doctoral tissue engineering

and regeneration training position. Following a one year post-doctoral regenerative

sciences training position, Dr. Smith Callahan moved to a post-doctoral training position

in the department of Polymer Science at the University of Akron. Her work at both the

University of Michigan and Akron has focused on effects of emulating the size scale,

surface chemistry and modulus of the extracellular matrix. In 2013, she moved to the

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston where she holds appointments

Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and the

Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering. To date, her 38 peer reviewed

publications have received over 3,000 citations.

5. Reese Johnson

Kiresha Johnson is from the Woodlands, Texas. She studied Biochemistry at Baylor

University and proceeds to teaching chemistry in secondary education. Passionate about

community service and science, Kiresha was eager to join the Greater Houston ACS

chapter. Service, diligence, excellence, and teamwork has always been at the forefront

for Kiresha Johnson's leadership roles. Kiresha previously served as the

publicity/fundraising chair for Baylor’s St. Jude Children’s Research chapter while holding

the position of Assistant to the Office of the President at Baylor. She seeks to participate

at a greater capacity within GHS-ACS and will strive to keep in mind the goals and mission

of the organization while incorporating them into the integrity of her work.

6. Joshua Alegria

My name is Joshua Alegria and I have recently earned my bachelor’s degree in chemistry

from the University of Houston-Downtown. During this endeavor, I gained a passion for

chemistry that only grew with expansion of knowledge and principals from the rigorous

coursework. During my undergraduate research, I particularly took an affinity to the

biochemistry portion while studying the anticancer properties of components found in

turmeric root. My enthusiasm also encompassed the environmental, polymer, and

physical chemistry courses.

During the summer of 2020 I was finally able to interact with the American Chemical

Society, Houston chapter, and I had a blast at the social events. It was an entertaining

experience to be able to interact with others with my passion and completely different

divisions within the chemistry field. I find that interactions like this can help students relate

to professors more and have a positive impact when completing higher education and

career placement. I am grateful to be considered for the position and will do everything I

can to help the American Chemical Society!