Faculty Profile: Casey Jones

The following Q&A is part of a series created by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences to introduce new faculty. Get to know Assistant Professor of Chemistry Casey Jones, who joins the faculty this fall, in the interview below.

Education: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow 2013, Oregon Health & Science University; PhD 2010, Princeton University; BA 2005, Reed College.

Research and Teaching Interests: Organic synthesis for biomedical applications.

What most excites you about joining the Lewis & Clark community?

I am very excited by the strong support for undergraduate science research, including cutting-edge instrumentation and newly renovated teaching and research facilities. I also love that students across all disciplines are encouraged to study abroad!

Describe the current trajectory of your scholarly research.

I am interested in giving students the opportunity to synthesize compounds found in wine and berries, attach these compounds to the surface of medical devices, and test the effect of these compounds on the growth and migration of cells found in the cardiovascular system. The goal of this work is to improve the body’s healing response after the implantation of a stent, a medical device used to reopen narrow arteries found in patients with coronary heart disease.

What kind of hobbies or special activities do you enjoy outside of work?

I enjoy cooking, reading, and watching soccer as a loyal member of the Timbers Army and the Rose City Riveters.

What were your childhood goals/aspirations?

Even as a little girl, I knew I wanted to teach. Back then, my students were teddy bears and I would expertly lecture on addition and subtraction.

What are you listening to in your car right now?

Vincent Vallières, a Québécois singer-songwriter.

What was your favorite childhood story?

My father is an amazing storyteller. My favorites have always been his stories of growing up in the orange groves of Southern California with his dog, protector, and friend, Clancy.