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Toby Nelson received his B.Sc. in chemistry from Francis Marion University and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from University of South Carolina as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He was a UNCF-Merck Postdoctoral Fellow in organic materials at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of organic materials via green methods and the development of new bio-inspired organic semiconductors based on the natural pigment Melanin.

 

He is engaged in the Department of Defense funded project with Stillwater-based RPX Technologies to create a UAV-mounted sensor that the military can use to detect toxic compounds such as explosives and other dangers without risking lives. He is also engaged in the Alfred P. Sloan funded project on green methods to synthesize high performance polymers. In collaboration with the Division of Access and Community Impact, he has received grants from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to fund The Polymer Life Summer Academy for first-generation and underrepresented minority students from rural and intercity high schools in Oklahoma.