Siva Ramesh

Chemical Hygiene Officer

sramesh@jcsu.edu

As both a research scientist with the M-PURE (Brown-Fox) group and the lab coordinator/Chemical Hygiene Officer for the JCSU College of STEM, I live on both sides of the lab bench - out front and behind the scenes. I took my undergraduate degree from N. C. State University, majoring in polymer and color chemistry. While at State, I conducted research with Dr. Samuel Hudson, studying sustainable deacetylation techniques for converting chitin to chitosan, a biopolymer with various important pharmaceutical, water treatment and biomedical applications. I also worked on a mini-project examining the extent to which flame retardancy of certain organic and synthetic textiles is enhanced by chitosan as a char-forming agent in conjunction with commercial flame retardant chemicals. Growing up close to nature helped foster a deep awareness of how safety and sustainability are central to practicing science, both now and into the future. An environmental toxicology minor and feeling that academic settings were my natural fit led me to Central Piedmont Community College as a lab technician/teaching assistant. A whirlwind of lab preps, lab planning and other interesting happenings followed. Following this memorable time (extended by a pandemic), I was brought into the JCSU and M-PURE families through the grace of Dr. Tracy Brown. Serendipity is wonderful. I am an active member of the Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Health and Safety, and History Divisions of the American Chemical Society. When I’m not keeping things moving in the labs (in the College of STEM and BNACC), or researching (often some interesting scientific literature), I enjoy family, friends, learning (about food, languages and cultures), reading and music (diverse genres of both), photography, exploring (outdoors and generally), following Charlotte FC, and developing a recent interest in the history of science. Always excited about what’s new, and opportunities for working with you!