Voting Period: November 15 to November 30, 2023. SVACS members eligible to vote for our leadership group will soon receive an email notification to cast their votes online. A sample ballot, plus biographies and statements for candidates, are shown below in preparation for receiving the email. Silicon Valley ACS is a volunteer-run organization. Please show them your support by voting!
Sample Ballot
Chair-Elect (3-year commitment: Chair-elect in 2024, Chair in 2025, Immediate Past Chair in 2026).
Vote for ONE (1)
| Amanda Nelson | |
| Write-in (please specify) |
Treasurer (2-year term, 2024-2025) Vote for ONE (1)
| Ihab Darwish | |
| Write-in (please specify) |
Councilor 2 open positions for 3-year terms (2024-2026). Vote for TWO (2)
| Grace Baysinger | |
| Natalie McClure | |
| Write-in (please specify) |
Alternate Councilor 1 open position for a 3-year term (2024-2026). Vote for ONE (1)
| Karan Dikshit | |
| Howard Peters | |
| Write-in (please specify) |
Biographies and Statements for Candidates
Chair-Elect
Amanda Nelson
Biography: Amanda Nelson, like all humans, is an informavore—naturally lured by the acquisition of knowledge. But for her, it’s not just an adaptive mechanism; it’s an exhilarating rush as her brain’s striatum reward system lights up with each new discovery. Amanda’s college years provided an ideal playground for dopamine surges to reinforce relentless pursuits of new knowledge. Her insatiable curiosity grew as she ventured to triple major in pre-law, psychology, and chemistry baccalaureate programs, fueled by dreams of a future in forensic science. However, the stark reality gently whispered that the life of a forensic scientist wouldn’t mirror the glamorous depictions popularized in TV series like CSI, Bones, or Forensic Files. Rather than be disillusioned by this revelation, Amanda immersed herself in an organic chemistry research lab. Every experiment evolved explorations that rewarded these information-seeking behaviors and prompted further inquiries into the literature for deeper explanations. Her research project culminated in an ACS conference presentation, catching the eye of a Virginia Tech professor who steered her towards graduate school. Amid the diverse array of careers and applications showcased at the conference, being recruited to pursue a Ph.D. felt like the most natural progression for her career.
Amanda conducted the final year of her doctoral research in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, which deepened her appreciation for international collaboration and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Upon her return to the United States, Dr. Nelson became the manager of Stanford’s Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory Program, which provided a platform for her to foster learning in ways which mirrored her own quest for knowledge. She adapted the laboratory experience to the COVID-19 pandemic by packaging and shipping over 600 customized chemistry kits worldwide, ensuring that the flame of curiosity continued to burn brightly for students in the face of adversity.
In her journey of lifelong learning, Dr. Nelson has come full circle to find a role that perfectly aligns her passion for information and the desire to foster scholarly inquiry. As the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Librarian at Stanford, Amanda curates information to support students in their own research endeavors and knowledge quests. It’s a job that immerses her in the world of inquisition, allowing her to share her techniques for navigating vast oceans of information with the next generation of informavores. This journey, from a relentless information addict to a curator and enabler of information, reflects her enduring commitment to education and the sharing of knowledge.
Statement: I’m honored to announce my candidacy for Chair-Elect and deeply grateful for the support of our Executive Committee. I firmly believe in our local section’s role as an accessible and welcoming link that ensures our members feel continuously connected to the broader ACS community.
Today, I’m excited to share my vision for our section’s future. If elected as Chair, I will prioritize:
- Enhancing Member Engagement: We’ll foster a tighter-knit community with vibrant networking events that spark collaboration, knowledge sharing, and lasting connections.
- Promoting STEM Education: We’ll engage with local schools, support science fairs, and nurture the curiosity of the next generation of chemists, continuing our outreach mission.
- Sustainability Initiatives: I’ll provide a platform for our members to share their expertise and address critical environmental issues, acknowledging chemistry’s pivotal role.
- Professional Development: I’ll institute sustainable mentorship programs that will empower members at all career stages to foster their growth through our network.
- Diversity and Inclusion: I am dedicated to ensuring that diversity and inclusion are woven into the very fabric of our activities and leadership, reflecting the rich community tapestry we serve.
With an interdisciplinary academic background in law and psychology, a doctorate in chemistry, international research scholarship, and extensive laboratory management experience, I’ve transitioned into curating information as the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Librarian at Stanford. My strong leadership history, including roles as a manager, an advisor of the chemistry fraternity and an Alternate Councilor in our local section, prepares me to lead our section towards growth and excellence.
I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated volunteers, engaging our members, and strengthening the impact of the Silicon Valley ACS Local Section. I’m eager to serve as your Chair. Vote for me, Amanda Nelson, and let’s embark on an inspiring journey together.
Thank you for your trust and unwavering support.
Goals: To me, ACS and our local section signify the atlas to an ever-evolving field of chemistry. I envision a future where ACS is not just an organization but serves an integral role in our professional stories— offering insights, workshops, tools, and an ongoing source of inspiration. The local section represents an accessible resource where every member, regardless of their relationship with chemistry, will find a neighborly and welcoming community that provides professional support and camaraderie.
My personal journey—from an enthusiastic seeker of knowledge to a curator and promoter of information—illustrates how the ACS can easily kindle the flames of our careers. I see the ACS as a conduit through which we can quench our intellectual thirst and build lasting friendships. This vision is not just about an organization; it’s about promoting an accessible and everyday resource that enriches the advancement of chemistry as a science and as a profession.
Treasurer
Ihab Darwish
Biography: Ihab S. Darwish received his BS degree in chemistry from SUNY/Old Westbury and his MS and PhD degrees in Organic Chemistry from Princeton University. After a two-year postdoctoral appointment with Professor Marvin J. Miller, he joined Seattle-based Pathogenesis, a startup focusing on chronic infectious diseases. Shortly thereafter, he joined Darwin Molecular/Chiroscience/Celltech where he developed chemical libraries focusing on autoimmune diseases. In 2002, Dr. Darwish moved to the Bay Area and joined Rigel Pharmaceuticals where he worked as a medicinal chemist focusing on the development of novel, small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of viral diseases, metabolic disorders, immuno-oncology as well as oncology. In August 2021, Dr. Darwish joined Nuvation Bio, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic candidates tackling unmet needs in oncology. Dr. Darwish joined the Silicon Valley Section upon moving to the Bay Area and accepted an appointment as an Alternate Councilor in August of 2005. In 2006 and again in 2009, he was elected to three-year terms as Alternate Councilor and was appointed Treasurer of the Section in June of 2009. In 2010, Dr. Darwish was elected as the Section Treasurer and has served in that capacity since then.
Statement: I am hopeful you will provide me with the opportunity to continue to serve as Treasurer of ACS/Silicon Valley Local Section. I joined the American Chemical Society early on in my career and have enjoyed various benefits the Society offers. As Treasurer, I will continue to ensure our Local Section has the funds to carry out the Section’s stated goals and objectives. If elected, I will continue to support existing programs and explore new policies that would enhance our Local Section’s efficiency and help navigate our Section through various economic cycles. I am pleased with my record of service and hope you will re-elect me. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Councilor
Grace Baysinger
Biography: Grace Baysinger was the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Librarian at Stanford for 32 years, retiring in 2023 with Emerita status. Prior to coming to Stanford and after graduating from the University of Michigan, she worked for a decade in the University of Michigan Natural Sciences Library and as Head of the Chemistry Library. Her professional interests include collection development, scholarly publishing, end-user searching, and online search interfaces. She became interested in chemical safety information resources and worked to strengthen the Stanford Libraries collection, developing a guide to safety information resources. She is currently a member of the ACS National Committee on Chemical Safety. ACS Technical Division memberships include Chemical Information (CINF), Chemical Health and Safety, Education, History, and Chemistry & the Law. She previously served as Chair of the ACS Publications Committee, ACS CAS Committee, and CINF. She was made an ACS Fellow in 2017. Current professional activities: Co-editor and author for the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication; Member of the ACS Chemical Safety Committee; Member of the Pistoia Alliance Chemical Safety Library’s Advisory Panel; Advisory Board for the Science of Science; Trustee for the Chemical Structure Association (CSA) Trust; Councilor, Webmaster, and Newsletter Editor for the Silicon Valley ACS. Personal interests include playing with her three grandsons (one who is nearly 5 years old and twins who are two years old), reading science and mystery books, and playing New York Times online games Spelling Bee, Wordle, and Letter Boxed.
Statement: I have been a member of ACS for 30 years. Many of my ACS contributions have been at the National level but in 2016, I decided to become more active in the Silicon Valley Local Section, first serving on the Program Committee, then as Chair and currently as Councilor, newsletter editor, and webmaster. It has been a great experience to be part of the Local Section’s Executive Committee because they are a diverse, dedicated, and knowledgeable group. It would be an honor to continue representing the Silicon Valley Section as a Councilor. Being a Councilor is a way for me to continue playing a meaningful role in our local section and to be an advocate and champion for us at the national level. It is also an opportunity to apply my knowledge and experience to help shape governance so that it meets the 21st century needs of its members. The best way to ensure that ACS meets the current and future needs of its members is to be an active participant in it. Many thanks in advance for your support!
Natalie McClure
Biography: Natalie McClure is a regulatory affairs consultant with extensive experience in drug development, regulatory affairs and quality assurance. She obtained her PhD in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University in 1979 and BS in Chemistry from the University of Michigan. She started her career at Syntex Research, working in the process development laboratories on new synthetic approaches to prostaglandin and large scale peptide synthesis and then changed career direction to drug regulatory affairs. Natalie is also an instructor at the UC Berkeley Extension program offering several courses in drug development and regulatory affairs. She has been very active in ACS Silicon Valley section, serving as Chair and Councilor. Natalie currently serves on the Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC) for ACS at the national level, and is completing another term as local section Chair. She is passionate about introducing students to the excitement and fun of science.
Statement: I am running for my third term as Councilor for Silicon Valley section. I am currently serving on the LSAC (Local Section Activities Committee). This is the National ACS committee that administers the local section programs with funding opportunities, shared ideas for novel programs, celebrations of the Chemluminary Awards, and advice and support for sections that are in disarray. Since I am completing my term as Chair of the local section, I hope to devote more time to ACS National activities and planning the ACS Western Regional meeting scheduled for 2025. I ask for your vote and support as councilor for the 2023-2026 term. Thank you.
Alternate Councilor
Karan Dikshit
Biography: Greetings, ACS Silicon Valley! I am a materials engineer at FLO Materials, a startup company trying to solve the plastics pollution problem by creating infinitely recyclable polymer formulations. I obtained my BS in polymer engineering from the University of Pune, India and PhD in materials science and engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. I first came to the Bay Area for an internship at Carbon in Redwood City and I enjoyed my time so much that I decided to return to the area upon completion of my PhD in the summer of 2022. At CU Boulder I worked with Dr. Carson J. Bruns – who co-authored the book on the mechanical bond with 2016 Chemistry Nobel Laureate Sir J. Fraser Stoddart – on chemical modifications of polyrotaxanes. Gaining fundamental insights into how chemistry plays a role in thermal and mechanical properties of polymers has trained me to create polymers and plastic formulations with desired properties. I have applied this knowledge to advance the technology at a few companies in the Bay Area – Carbon, TE Connectivity, FLO Materials – and will continue contributing to the chemical sciences. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and racquet sports and I’m always on the lookout for people who share the same interests.
Statement: I would be honored to serve the ACS Silicon Valley chapter as an alternate councilor. SVACS has made it possible for people from diverse backgrounds to network and socialize while also providing a platform for chemistry outreach. As an early career professional, I believe I can help steer efforts to ensure younger chemists are more active in the section. I will also initiate efforts to connect with other local groups such as the Society of Plastics Engineers to provide more networking opportunities for early and mid-career scientists and engineers.
Howard Peters
Biography: Howard Peters, Ph.D., earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and his doctorate at Stanford University. He received his law degree while working full-time and studying all in night classes at Santa Clara University School of Law. As a chemist, he led research projects at Dow Chemical in Midland, MI, and at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute) in Menlo Park on volatile anesthetics, organic fluorine compounds, herbicides, and high explosives. Following his career in the lab (becoming a co-inventor on seven U.S. patents and co-author of many publications and presentations), he was a patent attorney with Syntex Corp in Palo Alto and then in private patent law practice in Silicon Valley for more than 30 years. He has been an ACS member for more than 60 years, an ACS Fellow since 2010 and an elected member of the ACS Council for 35 years. He served as Director-at-Large on the Society’s national Board of Directors from 2005 to 2007 and was a candidate for President of ACS in 2007. He lost and retired from active patent law practice in 2007. ACS Service: SVACS Alternate Councilor (2021-2023), SVACS Science Fair Judge (2022 & 2023), ACS Committee on Patents and Related Matters (CPRM) 1976-Present, Co-founder (1983) & Member of The ACS Division of Chemistry and the Law.
Statement: I have been an active member of SVACS since 1976. So… I provide significant corporate memory for the planning and completion of many SVACS activities. Howard and Sally Peters shared the 2016 Helen M. Free Award for outstanding public outreach from the national American Chemical Society (ACS). For over 20 years, the Peters have toured the United States sharing their signature presentation, “Chocolate — Food of the Gods,” which explores the history and chemistry of one of America’s favorite treats. They also have been scientist-author lecturers on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and on Princess Cruise ships. Other venues have included churches, science clubs, children’s museums, and schools. Through these activities, we have reached out to virtually every demographic, including underrepresented groups in science.
SOME QUESTIONS. Do you sometimes think that…
- ACS at the national level may be going in some wrong directions?
- ACS is acting at the national level like a large not-for-profit chemistry publishing corporation and is forgetting that it has a large membership component?
- ACS at the national level, could be more transparent with its activities to its members?
- If so, then I ask for one of your votes in November…
