Laura E Fernandez
About Laura E Fernandez
Laura E. Fernandez is a Program Officer at the American Chemical Society, where she oversees the materials science portfolio. She has held various roles in academia and research, including positions at the University of Minnesota and Penn State University, and has extensive experience in journal management and editorial activities.
Work at American Chemical Society
Laura E Fernandez currently serves as a Program Officer at the American Chemical Society (ACS) since 2024. In this role, she manages a team that includes a development editor and a managing editor. She oversees the strategy for the materials science portfolio, which encompasses journals such as ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and ACS Applied Bio Materials. Prior to her current position, she held several roles at ACS, including Senior Managing Editor from 2020 to 2022 and Associate Publisher from 2022 to 2024. Fernandez coordinated the launch activities for multiple new applied materials journals at ACS in 2018, 2019, and 2022.
Education and Expertise
Laura E Fernandez earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry from Mount Holyoke College from 2004 to 2008. She then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Theoretical Computational Chemistry at Penn State University, completing her studies from 2008 to 2013. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her work in the field of chemistry and materials science, contributing to her expertise in managing scientific publications and research initiatives.
Background
Laura E Fernandez has a diverse professional background, with early experience as a Research Intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2003. She worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Minnesota from 2013 to 2016, collaborating with Dr. Donald G. Truhlar. Prior to her roles at ACS, she held positions at the University of Minnesota as a Scientific Coordinator for the Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center and at Penn State University as a Graduate Student with Dr. Sharon Hammes-Schiffer.
Previous Roles and Responsibilities
Before her current position at the American Chemical Society, Laura E Fernandez held various roles in academic and research settings. She worked at Mount Holyoke College as a Tutor and Laboratory Teaching Assistant in Organic and Physical Chemistry from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, she was a Resident Assistant for the SPARK program at Brown University in 2005 and 2006. Her experience spans multiple institutions, contributing to her comprehensive understanding of scientific research and education.
Achievements in Scientific Publishing
During her tenure at the American Chemical Society, Laura E Fernandez managed a portfolio that included prestigious journals such as ACS Nano and Nano Letters from 2016 to 2020. Her role involved overseeing editorial processes and contributing to the strategic direction of scientific publications. Her coordination of launch activities for new journals demonstrates her capability in advancing the field of materials science through effective publication strategies.