Students in the Piscataway High School ChemClub got a detailed view into academic research and real-life applications of chemistry during a special presentation from a member of the Piscataway Board of Education.
Dr. Tom Connors, who first joined the Board in 2008 and has served as president and vice president, addressed about 50 members of the ACS ChemClub on Wednesday, Feb. 26, about research for his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Connecticut.
“It was my pleasure to present to the PHS ChemClub,” Dr. Connors said. “I've been a member of the American Chemical Society for the past 43 years, and I’m so happy that our High School has an active ACS Chemistry Club.”
The PHS ChemClub is guided by adviser and chemistry teacher Amina Elmahalawy. Dr. Connors lecture was also enjoyed by visitors Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Glenn Lottmann, PHS Principal Chris Baldassano, and PHS Science Chair Jessica Pritchard.
Board of Education member Dr. Tom Connors addresses the PHS ChemClub as Principal Chris Baldassano and Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli listen.
“Our district is extremely lucky to have this kind of resource for our students to tap into,” said Dr. Ranelli. “Our Board of Education is committed to giving our students all the tools they need to succeed through the school year. The fact that Dr. Connors can use his own successful academic and career history to excite our students about their futures is next level. Our district motto is ‘Inspire’ and this fits perfectly with that vision.”
The visit came about when ChemClub President David Tenorio saw Dr. Connors at a school function. Tenorio was aware of Dr. Connors’ Ph.D. in chemistry and professional background, so he asked if he would like to speak at a ChemClub meeting. Dr. Connors was interested immediately.
Students were excited to hear the technical details of his work titled, “The Electrocatalytic Dehalogenation of Toxic Organohalides.” He explained that organohalides – including the notorious pollutant PCBs – were known to cause serious health problems and little was known about their chemical interaction mechanisms and methods for their analysis and decomposition.
Dr. Connors’ discussion perfectly aligned with ChemClub’s mission by highlighting real-world applications of chemistry beyond the classroom.
“In our meetings, we focus on experiments, research discussions, and guest speakers who broaden our understanding of various chemistry fields,” said Elmahalawy, the club’s adviser. “His lecture on electrocatalysis and environmental chemistry directly connected to our goal of exploring diverse branches of chemistry and their societal impact.
“He also emphasized the importance of collaboration and lifelong learning in STEM — core values that ChemClub actively promotes.”
In addition to detailing his academic research, Dr. Connors told the students personal stories about his long journey to a Ph.D. and about his colleagues and mentors.
“I had an incredible faculty research advisory group who taught me that relationships are everything,” he said.
He also told students that his “academic great-grandfather” (his mentor’s mentor’s mentor) was Jaroslav Heyrovsky, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1959 for his discovery of polarography. This new method revolutionized the way in which chemists were able to study chemical mechanisms via electron transfer theory.
From left are Piscataway High School Science Chair Jessica Pritchard, chemistry teacher and ChemClub adviser Amina Elmahalawy, ChemClub officers Tina Nguyen and David Tenorio, Board of Education member and guest speaker Dr. Tom Connors, and ChemClub officers Jimi Huang, Aayhush Patel, and Jazmine Alvarado Ortiz.
Elmahalawy said that one of the most impactful aspects of Dr. Connors' lecture was his explanation of electrocatalysis and its role in breaking down toxic organohalides.
“He made complex chemistry concepts accessible, showing how his research had real-world environmental applications,” she said. “Additionally, his passion for lifelong learning and problem-solving in chemistry left a lasting impression, inspiring many of us to think about how chemistry can be used to tackle global challenges.”
After achieving his Ph.D., Dr. Connors went on to a successful career in the Technology Division of the Colgate-Palmolive Co., which brought him to Piscataway. After his 25-year career at Colgate-Palmolive, he became director of product development for a privately held company called Envirochem Inc. Dr. Connors holds 41 formulation patents and has co-authored 33 peer-reviewed published scientific articles.
In his lecture to the ChemClub, Dr. Connors provided valuable insights into Ph.D. research, career pathways in chemistry, and the importance of persistence in scientific discovery.
“The visit was incredibly well-received by students, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hear from an expert in the field,” Elmahalawy said. “The discussion reinforced the significance of critical thinking, experimentation, and collaboration in the research process. Students gained a deeper understanding of how chemistry extends beyond the classroom and left feeling motivated to explore research opportunities and STEM careers.”
Dr. Connors is happy to be able to inspire PHS students to continue to study chemistry.
“I hope I excited them to think big, to be curious, and get involved in scientific research,” he said. “My Ph.D. was the most intellectually interesting and stimulating time of my life. It changed my life forever. It got me a 25-year career with a Fortune 500 company and a lifelong pension.
“The world needs more scientists because there will always be complex scientific problems to solve.”