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“It gave you the opportunity to be in an environment that’s similar to an early-stage startup.” Yang specialized in electrically conducting polymer complexes like paint that prevents rust on cars, boats or military fighter jets, or polymers that adjust how light filters through windows or eyeglasses. McCarthy quickly became an expert, and with a group of peers, adapted the technology for chromatography—a process scientists use to separate the parts of a mixture so they can study each one. Industries like pharmaceuticals, semiconductor processing, paint, food, and “It was exciting because we were working on things that could change the world,” he says. McCarthy’s research drew the attention of chromatography analysis company Dionex Corp. Then research executive Chris Pohl saw potential in both the research and McCarthy and offered him a position. Pohl recalls McCarthy as a proactive and persistent researcher engaging with scientists across the industry as he worked to make stationary phases He’s the rare executive who is just as comfortable discussing first-quarter financials as he is explaining the finer points of chromatography. And his success all started as a doctoral chemistry student at the University of Rhode Island. environmental protection all depend on chromatography to improve their products.

Separate color by column chromatography

using the conductive polymer he studied at URI. His proposal represented an entirely new approach to ion-exchange materials, or substances made of special resins or membranes that trade ions to purify or separate substances. They’re a vital tool in clean water systems, energy storage, and chemical manufacturing. Although the project didn’t reach the market, McCarthy leveraged the experience to design devices—still in use today—that make it easier to separate and purify ingredients used in modern medicines. “He was a major contributor to our team while he was with us,” Pohl says. McCarthy then took a leap to start ATRP Solutions, which focused on the commercialization of a novel polymerization technique for making highly custom polymer structures possible. But before he took the leap, he made one call. His former doctoral advisor Yang told him to go for it. It was a giant risk, but McCarthy says URI prepared him. While at URI, McCarthy estimates at least half, if not 70 percent, of his 1,000 or so chemical reaction experiments failed.

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