Paul R. Loconto holds a PhD. in analytical chemistry and an MS in physical chemistry. He has published 35 peer-reviewed papers in analytical chemistry and in chemical education. He has given over 40 talks and poster presentations at various workshops, meetings, and conferences. After brief stints at the American Cyanamid Co., Stamford, CT, and the Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI, in 1974, Dr. Loconto began teaching introductory, environmental, general and organic chemistry at Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, NY. He joined NANCO Environmental Services in Wappingers Falls, NY, as R&D manager in 1986. In 1990, he joined the Michigan Biotechnology Institute in Lansing. In 1992, he became the laboratory manager for the graduate program in Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University, East Lansing, where he conducted analytical method development for both the NIEHS analytical core and the EPA Hazardous Substance Research Center while coordinating the development of an instructional analytical laboratory for the graduate school. In 2001, he joined the Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Laboratories, as a Laboratory Scientist Specialist. Here, in addition to training new employees on how to use GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and GC-AED instruments, as well as SPE sample prep techniques, he taught co-workers how to satisfy QA/QC requirements. He focused on developing analytical methods for biomonitoring while conducting trace quantitative analysis in support of the Laboratory Response Network for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He retired in late 2013, yet continues as a consultant, educator, and writer.
