Professor Robert M. Strongin received his B.A. in Chemistry (Honors) from Temple University. After working as an industrial chemist at FMC Corporation and SmithKline Beechman (now Glaxo), he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania to obtain his doctoral degree in Organic Chemistry. His Ph.D. studies in the laboratory of Professor Amos B. Smith, III led to co-authorship of 33 peer-reviewed original research articles. Upon graduation he began his independent career at Louisiana State University where he rose steadily through the academic ranks to become the Philip and Foymae West Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. After moving to the Portland State University Department of Chemistry he received affiliate appointments at the Oregon Health and Sciences University, where he currently has several ongoing collaborations. 

Professor Robert M. Strongin directs an internationally-recognized academic research program, is a successful biotech startup founder, and is known nationally for his work in STEM education. Early in his independent career he received a highly prestigious Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award. He has since secured continuous major research support, mainly from the National Institutes of Health, spanning approximately two decades. He has published well over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts that have been cited approximately 5,000 times. 

Professor Strongin is best known for the design and synthesis of functional organic fluorophores for highly targeted biosensing and molecular probe applications and, more recently, for studies of the origin of chemical byproducts in electronic cigarettes. Professor Strongin’s fluorescent dyes have been licensed to three chemical companies and many are now commercially available. His academic research impacts the molecular diagnostics of chronic disease and has contributed to current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress and the side-effects of major pharmaceuticals. His research group has also recently synthesized a molecular probe to address challenges during the intraoperative imaging of pancreatic cancer. He is also the co-founder of the startup pharmaceutical company, Elex Biotech, LLC. The company creates new drugs to treat arrhythmias and related heart problems arising from aberrant calcium processing. Elex Biotech currently has Phase 2 support from the NIH. 

In the area of STEM education, he founded the Louisiana State University NIH IMSD (Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity) Program to train underrepresented undergraduates in biomedical research. The program has now been in existence for over a dozen years. At PSU he has served in leadership roles in the LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science) Program as well as the project leader of a Provost’s reTHINK initiative project focusing on enhancing the undergraduate experience in chemistry and biology. He also has contributed to the broader scientific community via activities including over a decade of consistent service as a chairman of several NIH research-focused study sections. He has also independent met with members of the U.S. Congress to discuss the effects of recent policy and budget appropriations on scientific research. He has won several teaching and research awards during his independent career, most recently including the John Elliot Allen teaching award at PSU. He has also served as a Sigma Xi Distinguished National Lecturer.