2021 NOKACS Executive Committee

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Zhou Chen, Chair

Zhou Chen earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC, CAS), China in 2012 and then worked with Prof. Maurice Brookhart as a Postdoctoral Fellow over five years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Houston. He currently works for Chevron Phillips as a Research Chemist. His research interests span organometallic chemistry and catalysis. In his spare time, he is enjoying traveling with his family.

Masud Monwar, Chair

Masud Monwar earned his Ph.D. from the University of Akron with a focus on the characterization of complex polymer systems utilizing NMR spectroscopy techniques. He also received training at the Central Experimental Station of DuPont as an intern and at UW-Madison as a post-doctoral researcher. After pursuing academic careers at Florida State University and Texas A & M for a few years, Masud joined Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. in 2013. Currently, he is the Team Leader of the Polymer Characterization group. Masud has been a member of ACS for 9 years, and has authored/ co-authored two books, two book chapters and a dozen research article in peer-reviewed journals. He enjoys cooking, gardening and road trips when he takes a break from science.

Vicky Suding, Secretary

Vicky joined Phillips 66 in 2017 after earning a BS in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. She is currently a Senior Associate Technician in the Organic Photovoltaics group working on small area device fabrication and testing. She has been a member of the ACS for 5 years.

Raj Kailasam, Treasurer

Raj Kailasam has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Montana with a focus on contaminant removal from water systems. Prior to joining Phillips 66, Raj worked for Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. (formerly Sylvania); where he worked in the field of powder metallurgy, hydrometallurgy, refractory metal separations, and rare earth metals recovery. He currently works as a Research Scientist for Phillips 66 Research Center in the Water Research Group. He has experience serving in various ACS sections in the past and he hopes to serve well in the NOK-ACS section as well.

Randy Heald, Councilor

Randy has a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Nebraska and is a thirty-five-year member of ACS. Randy recently retired from Phillips 66 after a twenty-nine-year career. Apart from a two-year stint at the Borger Refinery, Randy spent his career at the Phillips 66 Research Center where, beginning in 2001, he held a series of management positions. Randy has been a member of the organizing committee for the Bartlesville District Science Fair since 2006 and was the director for the last four years. From 2002 to 2006 Randy led the organizing committee for NOKACS National Chemistry Week activities.

John Hays, Alternate Councilor

John earned a PhD in Physics from Oklahoma State University in 1994, researching the linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of II-VI and III-V semiconductors. He has taught Physics and Physical Sciences at Oklahoma State University and Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University). Join joined Phillips Petroleum R&D in 1996, working in physical properties of materials, and was sent to work in the laboratory at Phillips Sweeny Refinery shortly afterwards. He returned to R&D in 2006 and worked in the area of heavy metals for several years before becoming part of Water Research. He is currently in Analytical Sciences, working in the Process Chemistry group, which assists Phillips 66 facilities with operational problems.

Chad Ellis, Awards Chair

Chad grew up in central Virginia, ultimately graduating from Carnegie Mellon in 2010 with his PhD in chemistry.  He continued studying at Cornell as a postdoc and moved to Bartlesville in 2013 to develop technologies for Phillips 66 and now Chevron Phillips Chemical.  He has served NOKACS since 2018, and is looking forward to serving as Award Chair in 2021.  In his spare time, he enjoys fishing with his kids.