Chemistry and Food Science Faculty

Steven Cok

Professor and Chair

Office: Hemenway 436G
Phone Number: 508-626-4782
Email: scok@framingham.edu

Education
PhD University of Chicago
BS Michigan State University

Research Interests
Dr. Cok's research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms for regulating gene expression.

Courses Taught
CHEM 300 Principles of Biochemistry
CHEM 301 Biochemistry I
CHEM 332 Biochemistry II

Emmanouil Apostolidis

Professor

Office: Hemenway 436B
Phone Number: 508-626-4777
Email: eapostolidis@framingham.edu

Education
PhD, MS, BS University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Research Interests
Dr. Apostolidis's research is focused on the determination of the in vitro biochemical mechanisms of action of plant, seaweed, and fish by-product derived metabolites for type 2 diabetes and related hypertension and oxidation management.

Courses Taught
FDSC 151 Principles of Food Science
FDSC 161 Introduction to Food Science and Technology
FDSC 405 Food Analysis
FDSC 413 Food Safety and Microbiology
CHEM 300 Principles of Biochemistry laboratory
CHEM 301 Biochemistry I laboratory
CHEM 480 Chemical Research I

Dwayne Bell

Associate Professor

Office: Hemenway 436E
Phone Number: 508-626-4748
Email: dbell3@framingham.edu

Education
PhD University of Texas at Austin
BS California Polytechnic State University

Courses Taught
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 207 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 208 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate Change, and Energy

Catherine Dignam

Professor

Office: Hemenway 436
Phone Number: 508-626-4778
Email: cdignam@framingham.edu

Education
PhD State University of New York at Stony Brook
AB Smith College

Research Interests
Dr. Dignam's research involves the design and synthesis of novel chiral metal complexes for use in asymmetric catalysis. She also serves as the Program Director for FSU’s Inclusive Excellence Award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, directs the FSU STEM Racial Equity Project which focuses on faculty development and effective use of equity data, and is on the National Advisory Board for the Equity-Based Teaching Collective. 

Courses Taught
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 401 Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 481 Chemical Research II

A smiling Professor Chantrell Frazier in her lab coat
Chantrell Frazier

Assistant Professor

Office: Hemenway 436D
Phone Number: 508-626-4779
Email: cfrazier2@framingham.edu

Dr. Frazier has been awarded a Mary Miles Bibb Teaching Fellowship for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. The Bibb Fellowship is named after Mary Miles Bibb, FSU Class of 1843, the University’s first African-American graduate and the first African-American teacher’s college graduate in the United States. Bibb Fellows are selected for their sustained and passionate commitment to diversity and inclusion In teaching, scholarship, and/or service.

Education

PhD (2022) Biochemistry, Florida International University
BS (2016) Forensic Science (Chemistry), Savannah State University

Dr. Frazier is the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in Biochemistry from Florida International University.

Research Interests
Dr. Frazier's research has focused on the application of human scent forensics in subject identification.

Courses Taught
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis laboratory
FORS 111 Introduction to Forensic Science

Suzanna Magnuson

Instructor

Office: Hemenway 306
Phone Number: 508-626-4779
Email: smagnuson@framingham.edu

Education
MS Western Governors University
BS Westmont College

Courses Taught
CHEM 103 Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry laboratory
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis laboratory

Vinay Mannam

Associate Professor

Office: Hemenway 436F
Phone Number: 508-620-1220, x4229
Email: vmannam@framingham.edu

Education
PhD, MS Food Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
BS Agricultural Engineering, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, India

Research Interests
Dr. Mannam's research interests are related to food engineering - specifically, grain and beverage processing - and food security.

Courses Taught
FDSC 151 Principles of Food Science
FDSC 161 Introduction to Food Science and Technology
FDSC 351 Food Engineering and Processing
FDSC 408 Food Chemistry
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis laboratory
RAMS 101FS 1st-Year Seminar: The Cost of Food Waste and How We are Paying For It

Christopher McGrath

Instructor

Office: Hemenway 306
Phone Number: 508-626-4779
Email: cmcgrath@framingham.edu

Education
MA Brown University
BS Framingham State University

Courses Taught
CHEM 103 Introductory Chemistry laboratory
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry laboratory
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis laboratory
CHEM 207 Organic Chemistry I laboratory
CHEM 321 Instrumental Analysis laboratory
CHEM 401 Inorganic Chemistry laboratory

Ishara Mills-Henry

Associate Professor

Office: Hemenway 440
Phone Number: 508-626-4795
Email: imillshenry@framingham.edu

Education
PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS, BS Clark Atlanta University

Research Interests
Dr. Mills-Henry's research focuses on the stability and aggregation of the eye lens crystallin proteins as it relates to cataract formation. She is also interested in the development of photoreceptors in zebrafish.

Courses Taught
CHEM 101 The Chemistry of Life
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 300 Principles of Biochemistry
CHEM 301 Biochemistry I
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Protein Structure, Folding, and Disease

Sarah Pilkenton (on leave)

Professor

Office: Hemenway 436A
Phone Number: 508-626-4780
Email: spilkenton@framingham.edu

Education
PhD Purdue University
BS The University of Virginia's College at Wise

Research Interests
Dr. Pilkenton's research interests are in the application of analytical chemistry and modern chemical instrumentation to environmental and food science.

Courses Taught
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 321 Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Forensic Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 481 Chemical Research II
RAMS 101CH 1st-Year Seminar: What Am I Drinking?

Argyroula Stamatopoulou

Associate Professor

Office: Hemenway 436I
Phone Number: 508-626-1220, x4222
Email: astamatopoulou@framingham.edu

Education
PhD Purdue University
BS University of Massachusetts-Boston

Research Interests
Dr. Stamatopoulou's research is focused on understanding the energetics of protein-protein interactions and studying the effect of solvation on conformational equilibrium.

Dr. Stamatopoulou is also the chemistry teacher certification advisor for the Department.

Courses Taught
CHEM 107 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 108 Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 207 Organic Chemistry I laboratory
CHEM 303 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 304 Physical Chemistry II

Shelli Waetzig

Professor

Office: Hemenway 436C
Phone Number: 508-626-4784
Email: swaetzig@framingham.edu

Education
PhD University of Kansas
BS Creighton University

Research Interests
Dr. Waetzig's research focuses on the design of small molecule synthesis using new methodologies.

Courses Taught
CHEM 207 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 208 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Structural Determination of Organic Compounds
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Advanced Organic Chemistry - A Deeper Look into Mechanisms of Organic Reactions
CHEM 390 Special Topics: Biomedical Problems
CHEM 480 Chemical Research I