Current Address:
Department of Chemistry
Saint Joseph's College
US 231 South
Box 722
Rensselaer, Indiana 47978 USA
219-866-6380
http://www.saintjoe.edu/~pfaff/
Academic Background:
Undergraduate: Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, 1970 - 1975. B.A., 1975, with majors in chemistry and psychology.
Graduate: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 1975 - 1980. M.S., 1978; Ph.D., 1980. Research Director: Michael J. Pavelich (now retired from the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO). Dissertation topic: Kinetics of Substitution Processes of Complexes of Rhodium(III) and Iridium(III).
Professional Experience:
2002 - present: Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Saint Joseph's College
2000 - present: Director of Transfer Student Orientation, Saint Joseph's College
1998 - present: Professor of Chemistry, Saint Joseph's College.
1994 - present: Chair, Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph's College.
1993 - 1998: Associate Professor of Chemistry, Saint Joseph's College.
1992, 1997: Visiting Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University.
1992 - 1993: Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
1990 - 1991: Visiting Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University.
1981 - 1992: Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
1981: Temporary Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Iowa State University.
1980 - 1981: Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor James H. Espenson, Ames Laboratory (USDOE), Iowa State University.
1980: Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Oklahoma.
1979: Author of the Chemistry Unit, Natural Sciences Curriculum, College of Liberal Studies, University of Oklahoma.
1977 - 1980: Administrative Assistant to the Coordinator and Faculty of the General Chemistry Program, University of Oklahoma.
Professional Affiliations:
Association of American Colleges and Universities
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange
American Chemical Society
Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Honorary
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
Voluntary Service to My Community:
Trinity United Methodist Church, Rensselaer, Administrative Council, 1999 – present, Council president, 2007 – present.
Trinity United Methodist Church, Rensselaer, webmaster, 2002 – present.
Jasper Foundation, Rensselaer, webmaster, 2003 – present.
Voluntary Service to My Profession:
Co-director, Science Olympiad regional tournament, 2007 - present.
Indiana Academy of Science. Program Chair for annual meeting, 1997.
Science Olympiad. Event supervisor, Saint Joe regional competition, 1994 - present.
Science Resource Person. Information, materials, and presentations on science were provided to Western Hills Elementary School, Omaha, 1992 - 93.
American Chemical Society. Registration Chair for three-day regional (seven states) meeting, 1991.
Science Fair Judge, Omaha North High School, 1990.
Classroom Materials. Materials on the use of microcomputers were devised for Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1984. Materials were also devised and aid was given for a hands-on field trip to the UNO Campus Computing facilities, 1985.
Workshop Co-Presenter on Forensic Science, National Science Teachers Association, Omaha Area Chemistry Teachers, 1983.
Chemical Stocks Evaluation. The chemical holdings of schools were evaluated and aid was given in disposing of unwanted chemicals. Ryan H.S. (1982), Thomas Jefferson H.S. (1983), Iowa Western Community College (1983).
Consultant, Rapid Printing and Mailing, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska, working on printing press optimization.
Consultant, IMS, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska, animal feed producer, working on laboratory design and safety.
Service to My Institution:
President's Enrollment Management Council, Saint Joseph's College, 1995 – present.
Admissions, Scholarship, and Retention Committee, Saint Joseph’s College, 2002 – present.
Board of Trustees, Saint Joseph’s College, 2002 – 2005.
Faculty Assembly, Saint Joseph’s College, Chair, 1999 – 2000.
Budget Advisory Group, Saint Joseph's College, 1997 – present.
Institutional Planning and Priorities Council, Saint Joseph's College, 1996 – 2000. Chair of the Academics Taskforce, 1996 – 1997.
Faculty Enrollment Committee, Saint Joseph's College, 1994 – 95.
Hazardous Materials Control Committee, University of Nebraska system, 1982 – 1993.
Committee on Computer Usage, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1984 – 90. Committee Chair, 1987 – 90. Task Force on Software Acquisition, Chair, 1985 – 86.
Committee on Student Recruitment and Retention, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1987 – 1993.
Vice Chancellor's Task Force on Retention, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1988 – 1993.
Honors and Awards:
Teaching Excellence Award, Saint Joseph’s College, 2003.
Inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society as honorary member, 1994.
Excellence in Teaching Award nominee, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993.
Presentations:
Robert C. Pfaff, "Computational Methods in Molecular Modeling of Psychoactive Drugs," Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies conference, San Francisco, April, 1993.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Molecular modeling of Serotonergic Hallucinogens," Seminar Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, February, 1993.
Robert C. Pfaff, Xuemei Huang, Danuta Marona-Lewicka, Robert Oberlender, and David E. Nichols, "Lysergamides Revisited," National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Review Symposium, Washington, DC, July, 1992.
David E. Nichols and Robert C. Pfaff, "Novel Serotonergic Agents," International Symposium on Neuromedicinal Chemistry, Lund, Sweden, May, 1992.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Molecular modeling of Serotonergic Hallucinogens," Seminar Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September, 1991.
Scott Snyder, Xuemei Huang, Michael P. Johnson, David E. Nichols, Robert Oberlender, Robert C. Pfaff, "2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran Analogues of Hallucinogenic Phenethylamines," Chemical Pharmacology Symposium, Purdue University, May, 1991.
Robert C. Pfaff, "An Application of Graph Theory to Molecular Structure and Reactivity," Departmental Colloquium Program, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October, 1989.
Wallace J. Murray, Robert C. Pfaff, Monica Ramchandani, "Further Correlations of Pharmacokinetic Data of Benzodiazepines Using Topological Indices," American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists National meeting, Atlanta, October, 1989.
Wallace J. Murray, Robert C. Pfaff, "Developing an Understanding of the Influence of Structure on Chromatographic Retention Indices Using Topological Approaches," American Chemical Society National meeting, Miami Beach, September, 1989.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Molecular Connectivity and Chemical Graph Theory," Seminar Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October, 1988.
Wallace J. Murray, Rodney S. Markin, Robert C. Pfaff, Ren-Li Li, Meng-Shen Cai, "Molecular Connectivity and Graph Theoretical Study of Cinnamide Anticonvulsants: Additivity vs. Similarity," American Chemical Society National meeting, Los Angeles, September, 1988.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Chemistry for the Non-Chemist," workshop at the annual meeting of the Safety and Health Council of Greater Omaha, 1988.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Computerized Grade Keeping Workshop," The Center for Improvement of Instruction, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1987.
Jeffery W. Seyler, Robert C. Pfaff, "Reactions of trans-dichlorobis(ethylenediamine)iridium(III)," Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Annual meeting, 1987.
Scott W. Moss, Robert C. Pfaff, "Bromination of trans-diaquabis(ethylenediamine)rhodium(III) in Aqueous Acidic Solutions," Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Annual meeting, 1987.
Robert C. Pfaff, "VAX Computer Grade Maintenance System," Seminar Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1986.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Chemical Safety and Emergency Response in Small Schools," Iowa Academy of Science, Annual meeting, 1985.
Publications:
Pfaff, R.C.; Huang, X.; Marona-Lewicka, D.; Oberlender, R.; Nichols, D.E. "Lysergamides Revisited," National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph 146: Hallucinogens: An Update, G.C. Lin and R.A. Glennon, eds., 1994, 52-73.
Huang, X.; Marona-Lewicka, D.; Pfaff, R.C.; Nichols, D.E. "Drug Discrimination and Receptor Binding Studies of N-isopropyl Lysergamide Derivatives," Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 1994, 47, 667-673.
Robert C. Pfaff, Instructor's Resource Manual, to accompany Chemistry: The Central Science, 6th Ed., Brown, LeMay, and Bursten. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1994, 315 pages.
Franklin, M.; Trainor, D.; Pfaff, R.C. Xochi Speaks, educational poster on psychoactive drugs, 1992.
Oberlender, R.; Pfaff, R.C.; Johnson, M.P.; Huang, X.; Nichols, D.E. "Stereoselective LSD-like Activity in d-Lysergic Acid Amides of R- and S-2-Aminobutane," Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 1992, 35, 203-211.
Robert C. Pfaff, annotations in Annotated Instructor's Edition of Chemistry: The Central Science, 5th Ed., Brown, LeMay, and Bursten. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991, 1045 pages.
Robert C. Pfaff and Theodore Sakano, Instructor's Resource Manual, to accompany Chemistry: The Central Science, 5th Ed., Brown, LeMay, and Bursten. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991, 140 pages.
Robert C. Pfaff, Instructor's Manual to Accompany Gilleland's Introduction to Chemistry. St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1986, 246 pages.
Robert C. Pfaff, "Chemical Safety and Emergency Response in Small Schools," Journal of Chemical Education 1985, 62, A282-A286.
Robert C. Pfaff, Grade Management Program, v5.0, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, distributed internally as a VAX/VMS executable image and externally as a set of VAX/VMS source and object files; available documentation is 26 pages.
Robert C. Pfaff, Laboratory Exercises to Accompany Chemistry in the Environment and Society, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1983, revised 1984, 1987, 78 pages.
Robert C. Pfaff, Safety and Security Manual, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1982, revised 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 38 pages.
Pavelich, M.J.; Maxey, S.M.; Pfaff, R.C., "Anation of Aquapentaamminerhodium(III) Cation by Chloride in Aqueous Solution. A Low, Variable Ionic Strength Method for Studying Anation Reactions," Inorganic Chemistry 1978, 17, 564-70.