Thanks to Duquesne Professor, New Scientists are Prepared for Anything

 Enter Dr. Thomas Montgomery’s lab. 
 
“He was always there to answer questions and help us troubleshoot problems,” said Cocolas, who is earning his doctorate degree in chemistry and was recently hired as a chemist by J Star Research in New Jersey. “At the same time, he held us to high standards and expected good work.”
 
Montgomery, an assistant professor in the university’s chemistry and biochemistry department, teaches students at every level – from first-year undergraduates to fifth-year doctoral students. A recipient of Duquesne’s Excellence in Teaching Award, he says meeting students where they are at is a key to success.
 
“It’s important to find a mentoring balance for each student,” he said. “Sometimes, you step back and let a student struggle a little bit to help them learn. In other cases, you may ask questions to help the student figure out an approach to a problem.”
 
Creating a supportive, collaborative culture in the lab is vital, Montgomery noted.
 
“Whether they are working in industry or academia, students need to know how to work together to achieve success,” he said. “Science, especially today, requires working with others who have expertise and experience in a variety of fields. It’s essential to becoming a professional scientist.”
 
As part of the collaborative process, students learn together by writing the first draft of a research paper for publication, with Montgomery offering edits and engaging in a back-and-forth with the group.
 
“Students will ask other students questions that they won’t ask me,” he said. “They learn a lot through the process.”
 
Cocolas, who co-authored two research papers with Montgomery and others on organic chemistry, said he enjoyed working with his lab peers on creating a synthetic anti-cancer compound that could eventually help patients going through chemotherapy.
 
“It had never been made synthetically before and we want to be the first group to make it,” he said. “That’s a big goal we are working on.”
 
Helping students reach for bigger goals is part of Montgomery’s approach, as his graduates have enjoyed success at major biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and been accepted into graduate programs at prestigious universities.
 
“He’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” Cocolas said. “He makes the material so easy to understand and I know many students who have enjoyed his classes. He’s a wonderful person.”