Lisa Ponton

Dr. Lisa Ponton, associate professor of chemistry, received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, a Master of Science in chemistry from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Iowa State University. In her doctoral work she studied temperature effects in electrochemically-modified liquid chromatography, a derivative of HPLC. She was also a team member working to develop a water analysis method for use on the International Space Station. After completion of graduate school she began teaching as an assistant professor of chemistry at Elon University before moving to Baldwin Wallace University in 2011. She teaches introductory chemistry, quantitative analysis, instrumental analysis, advanced topics in analytical chemistry and environmental chemistry. She is an active member of the Cleveland section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and has recently been elected chair-elect. She is also involved with the ACS Exam Institute and is co-author of both Diagnostic of Undergraduate Chemical Knowledge (DUCK) exams. She is currently working on a committee to develop the third DUCK exam.

She works with undergraduate students on several different projects. Two of the projects are closely related, both targeting the examination of natural waters for estrogens. One of these projects uses a yeast bioassay to measure total estrogenic activity. The other related project uses a more traditional approach by using solid phase extraction followed by derivatization and GC-MS analysis to determine the concentrations of specific estrogens and estrogenic compounds. A different project collaborating with Dr. Carrie Davis Todd is also underway examining road dust and soil for metals associated with automobile use.

Dissertation

Coupling temperature control with electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography: fundamental aspects and applications

College Teaching

Elon University 2004–2011