STEAM Education & Research
Robert Bubeck, Ph.D.
Robert A. Bubeck, Ph.D., is currently a Research Assistant Professor at Michigan State University with over 45 years of experience in industrial research and development. Research areas include the development of new liquid crystalline polymers, semi-crystalline polymers, thermosets, hyperbranched polymers, and dendrimers. He has broad-based expertise in the areas of structure/property fundamentals, mechanical behavior, composites, polymer blends, rheology, fiber spinning, 3D additive…
C. Hasemann, Ph.D
Charles A. Hasemann, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development at the Michigan State University Innovation Center, earned his doctorate in Molecular Immunology and performed his post-doctoral training in X-ray Crystallography. As an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, he established an NIH-funded laboratory studying immune system-related protein structure and function. He was subsequently recruited to Parke-Davis…
Daniel Henton, Ph.D.
Daniel Henton, Ph.D. faculty at MSU St. Andrews, conducted research at the Michigan Molecular Institute before joining Michigan State University in 2015. Previous to that, he served the Dow Chemical Company for more than 34 years, conducting research within several business units, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing services, and core research and development. Currently, his research is focused on homogeneous, heterogeneous, and enzymatic catalysis,…
Jack Kruper, Ph.D.
William J. (Jack) Kruper, faculty member at MSU St. Andrews, retired as a Dow Corporate Fellow in 2015. Throughout his 33-year career at Dow, he was involved with Dow’s Renewable Feedstocks Research Program, leading discovery and development efforts in glycerin to epichlorohydrin (GTE), glycerin to propylene glycol, and a portfolio of new projects. His leadership in the flame retardant program with Dow Building…
James McConnell, Ph.D.
James Russell “Russ” McConnell, Ph.D. Dr. McConnell graduated from Gannon University (Erie, Pennsylvania) in 1980 with a major in chemistry and minor in biology. Doctoral work was completed at the Ohio State University in 1984 in the discipline of organic chemistry. In the fall of 1984, he began work at the Dow Chemical Company, retiring in 2019 with over 34 ½ years…
Madylin Sherman
Madylin Sherman, a research assistant at MSU St. Andrews, currently contributes to various research projects, including chemical synthesis and process chemistry. Additionally, she mentors high school students engaged in projects at St. Andrews. She graduated with honors in 2023 from Michigan Technological University, obtaining a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During her tenure at Michigan Tech, she conducted research on microbial…
Edmund Stark, Ph.D.
Edmund Stark, MSU St. Andrews faculty, is currently researching methods to protect honey bees from harmful mites through hyperbranched polymer systems offering timed release of miticides. He is also responsible for oxazoline polymerizations and polyimide synthesis for gene transfection, and also leads MSU’s local Astronomy and Telescope Nights. Prior to joining Michigan State University, he was responsible for research and development of novel…
Troy Terwillegar
Troy Terwillegar currently serves as the site manager at MSU St. Andrews. Terwillegar came to St. Andrews in 2010 as building manager when the facility was home to the Michigan Molecular Institute (MMI). In his current position, Terwillegar oversees all aspects of building maintenance and remodeling and is also responsible for the equipment at MSU St. Andrews. Troy is an experienced project…
Tracy Zhang, Ph.D.
Phone (989) 374-9909 Tracy Zhang, MSU St. Andrews faculty, and outreach specialist, conducted polymeric materials research at the Michigan Molecular Institute in Midland, Mich., for more than 10 years before joining Michigan State University. Her current role involves promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to K-12 students and conducting research in the development of biosourced hyperbranched poly(ester)s for the controlled release…
