04/06/2011

Thomas L. Guggenheim, Ph.D.

Current position:

Principal Process Chemist for SABIC Innovative Plastics

Education:

Bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College in 1978, and doctorate in physical organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota under the tutelage of Paul Gassman in 1983

Research:

Doctorate research focused on solvolysis studying alpha cyano carbocations, synthetic methods

Work highlights:

Process development in the area of high temperature polyetherimide engineering thermoplastics. Currently involved in pilot plant design and operation, plant optimization, hazard evaluations, wastewater treatment process development, analytical method development.

What one thing from your experiences in the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry prepared you for what you currently are doing or plan to do in the future?:

Exposure to many subjects in chemistry and the interaction of people in my group and the department prepared me for any technical challenge while working with a diverse set of people.

Family information:

Wife, bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, now teaching high school chemistry, Katie (24) now a third year doctorate candidate in Mark Kurth's (one of Professor Tom Hoye's Ph.D. students) at the Uuniversity of California-Davis; Kristen (21), senior at Purdue majoring in biology; and John (16), a junior currently acing chemistry. Currently I'm aging grudgingly, but enjoying work, hoop and growing trees.

Tom is pictured with some of his colleagues at the SABIC Innovative Plastics research center in Bangalore in Karnataka, India.