Biography

Lehman College - Chemistry

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research
Naphtali
O'Connor
Greater New York City Area
My interests span both chemical education and biomaterials research. My research goals are to develop biomaterials for use as antimicrobial wound dressings and cancer therapeutics. My lab recently developed a facile modular method for preparing hydrogels from polysaccharides and polyamines, and have employed antimicrobial polyamines to incorporate antimicrobial activity. We are currently exploring the application of these materials as wound healing agents. We are also currently working on the development of curcumin based biomaterials as antibacterial agents and cancer therapeutics.

As an educator, I am primarily concerned about the preparation of students to enter the workforce. As such, I am involved in education research to develop undergraduate chemistry labs that better prepare students for the tasks they will encounter. As such, I have developed a model called 'Scientific Roleplaying' that can be used as training device for undergraduate students.