DANBURY, CONN. — Dr. Forest Robertson has come a long way in the seven years since he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Western Connecticut State University — and he brings all his academic achievements and experience home to Western this fall with his full-time appointment to join the university’s chemistry faculty.

“The Chemistry Department at Western is wonderful,” Robertson remarked in a recent interview as he revisited the journey that has brought him back as an assistant professor of chemistry. “My life has been influenced by so many faculty members at Western, and as a professor here I will be able to continue the work that they began in me. I hope to be the same kind of professor and provide inspiration to the next generation of chemists.”

Recipient in 2012 of a Ph.D. in chemistry from Dartmouth College, Robertson has gained recognition in his field for ground-breaking research work that promises to provide more efficient laboratory tools to support the synthesis and identification of biologically active compounds of potential usefulness in treating a wide range of diseases. Working under the mentorship of Dartmouth Professor of Chemistry Dr. Jimmy Wu, he completed his dissertation in 2012 investigating chemical processes that describe the formation of carbon-sulfur and related carbon bonds commonly found in pharmaceutical agents. His research with Wu yielded important findings including successful development of a streamlined two-step reaction using readily available chemicals that can be completed within a few hours, compared with the more complex process in widespread laboratory use at present that requires several days under harsh conditions to complete.

“We have been able to achieve the same results in less time and with higher yields, using benign reagents and mild reaction conditions to access molecules with potential biological relevance,” he said. “This method offers a much more efficient way to synthesize and screen a huge library of compounds in a short amount of time.” Once those compounds warranting further study are identified, he added, pharmaceutical laboratories can conduct more refined and targeted screening to identify potentially useful therapeutic properties such as inhibition of cancer cells and tumor growth or action as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Robertson, a resident of Newtown, looks forward to continuing his research work in this field in collaboration with his colleagues at Western and in continuing correspondence with Wu and other Dartmouth faculty members. His pursuit of research at Western also will provide opportunities for WCSU students to benefit from first-hand experience as assistants in his laboratory, in the same way that he learned practical lessons in the lab as a Western undergraduate assisting a chemistry faculty mentor in research to synthesize molecules with anti-histaminic properties.

“You learn best through experiential learning, when your research mentor gives you the freedom to make mistakes and determine what you did wrong so that you will never do it again,” Robertson said. “You’re going to make mistakes that cost you time and effort — but looking back, you come to understand that you have learned how to work effectively in the lab thanks to these great mentors and teachers who have given you knowledge to transfer down the road.”

Robertson recalled how the spark of his passion for chemistry was ignited by a simple demonstration during an 11th grade chemistry course. “This teacher always gave examples, and I still remember one lesson when she said, ‘Here I have a balloon filled with helium: Under certain conditions, I can tell you the exact number of helium atoms in this balloon.’ That was my ‘ah-hah’ moment when I said, ‘I’m going to be a chemist!’”

Impressed by Western’s program accredited by the American Chemical Society, Robertson received continuing support after his enrollment from WCSU faculty members whose advisement guided him throughout his undergraduate studies. Their example as mentors who always kept an open door to their students has provided a valuable role model as he assumes his responsibility this fall to teach lab sessions in organic chemistry in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Nicholas Greco.

The expansion of the organic chemistry lab schedule to four hours weekly beginning this fall “will allow me to give a more comprehensive pre-lab lecture every week and to introduce new experiments into the laboratory curriculum,” Robertson said. “I want my laboratory sessions to be an interactive experience. During my lectures, I want to encourage my students to ask questions until I have cleared up any points of confusion and have helped them to understand the material better. My philosophy is that I will provide my students with all of the help and resources that they need so that they can achieve their personal goals.”

Robertson gained considerable experience as an instructor during his doctoral studies at Dartmouth as a teaching assistant for four terms of organic chemistry lab, as well as one lab term for the general chemistry course. “I became a better teacher and a better chemist because I had to fully understand the complex topics and techniques so that I could write and present my lectures,” he said. Since receiving his doctorate, Robertson has taught part-time as an adjunct professor in the WCSU Chemistry Department while serving as senior scientist and project manager for Global Biomedical Technologies, where he has worked with development of polymers designed to act as adhesive switches used in surgical dressings and other medical applications.

Robertson observed that Western’s instructional and research programs in chemistry benefit significantly from the state-of-the-art instrumentation provided in the university’s Science Building laboratories, which offer the capacity to conduct investigations central to chemical research including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography. “This equipment allows us to keep up and stay competitive with bigger universities, and to offer instruction that enables our students to study and acquire data about the compounds we synthesize in the lab,” he noted.

At the same time, he anticipates that the relatively small class size of about 16 students for each lab session will encourage student-teacher interaction. “You get to know all the students by name, and they don’t feel embarrassed to ask a question,” he said. “It helps me to teach more effectively when I can call upon students to ask for their feedback on what we’re discussing in class. And I am definitely looking forward to helping my students choose their courses and plan for their future as their academic adviser.”

Robertson’s hope is that he will share some of the passion that inspired him to pursue a career in chemistry with his students, even those who expect to follow different interests when they enter the workforce.

“Chemistry is ubiquitous,” he remarked. “Legislation is being passed that involves chemistry; the press and the evening news report regularly on topics that deal with chemistry. If you do not have the basic scientific knowledge necessary to understand simple chemistry, you may believe almost anything that anyone tells you about these important subjects. Knowledge of chemistry enables you to be well informed, and to reach an informed opinion about what you are being told.”

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

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