College of Natural Science
 
Outstanding Alumni Award

for 1999 to

Paul J. O'Connor

 

The 1999 College of Natural Science Alumni Association is pleased to present the Outstanding Alumni Award to Paul J. O'Connor of Midland, Michigan. Dr. O'Connor serves as Project Director, Advanced Materials, Central Research and Development with Dow Chemical in Midland. A 1991 Ph.D. graduate of the Department of Chemistry, Paul made original and creative contributions to the field of gas phase ion optics. This field is used in the design of instrumentation used for molecular structure determination, such as mass spectrometers. At Dow, Dr. O'Connor has extended his understanding of the control and chemistry of reactive gas phase species, through the development of plasma-based methods for surface modification. He has pioneered several novel analytical and material science methods that have attracted a considerable amount of attention in the technical community.
 
Dr. O'Connor's publications in scientific journals and the pursuit of patents while at Dow has advanced a number of disciplines. In analytical sciences, he developed methods for polymer analysis by using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption ionization techniques on synthetic and biopolymers. He has also developed methods for ultra trace analysis for organic molecules in complex aqueous matrices. This methodology is crucial for effective environmental monitoring. For this work he was awarded a US Patent He has pioneered materials science techniques for characterizing phase transitions in polymers by using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, which resulted in several scientific publications in high quality technical journals.
 
He is a member of the American Chemical Society, Society of Vacuum Coaters, American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Phi Lambda Upsilon (MSU Chapter). He and his wife are active in the Midland Community and in their church. As a liaison between the Dow Chemical Company and MSU, his involvement extends across the State, where he is an outspoken and effective advocate for MSU. He maintains positive contacts with MSU alumni across the nation. The College of Natural Science Alumni Association is pleased to recognize the loyalty and excellence of scientific contributions made by Paul J. O'Connor, by awarding him the 1999 Outstanding Alumni Award.