Join us for a panel with Chemistry at Illinois alumni as they share about their experiences and careers.
A reception will follow the panel at 4:30 pm.
For information about and to register for the Q&A Session with Panelists immediately preceding the panel, please visit: Q&A Sessions with Panelists
The panelists are:
Brett McGuire (BS, ‘09)
Class of 1943 Career Development Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Brett McGuire received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009 and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 2014. He was a National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Jansky Fellow and then a NASA Hubble Fellow from 2014-2020 at the NRAO and the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. In 2020, he started a faculty position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he is now the Class of 1943 Career Development Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Research in the McGuire Group uses the tools of physical chemistry, molecular spectroscopy, and observational astrophysics to understand how the chemical ingredients for life evolve with and help shape the formation of stars and planets. Beyond research, he is heavily involved in the design and advocacy for several next-generation astronomical observatories.
LaShaunda T. King-McNeil, Ph.D., (BS, ’95)
Senior Director, R&D, Olay Product Development & Packaging Innovation
Procter & Gamble
LaShaunda McNeil has worked at the Procter & Gamble company for over 17 years. LaShaunda’s roles at P&G have provided the foundation for mastery and innovation through the identification and mechanism of action understanding of new technologies, the creation of various biological, clinical, and imaging test methods, as well as the design and delivery of holistic product innovations to the market. LaShaunda’s work has supported multiple brands across the Beauty Care business including Old Spice, Secret, Olay, Native Skin, SKII, Head & Shoulders, and Pantene. Currently, as R&D Senior Director in the Global Skin Care product development organization, LaShaunda is responsible for leading the transformation of the Skin Care category via creation of strategic product and packaging platforms and holistic product designs that enable strong new market propositions that will expand the Olay and Native brand form offerings and benefit spaces.
Alan H. Wu (PhD, '80, Malmstadt)
Professor of Laboratory Medicine, Chief, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
San Francisco General Hospital
Dr. Alan Wu is Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Co-core Laboratory Director at the San Francisco General Hospital. He directs clinical testing at the hospital, conducts translational research and clinical trials for new diagnostic tests and instrumentation, and teaches graduate students, medical students, residents in pathology, and postdoctoral fellows in clinical chemistry.
