He specializes in organic chemistry, chemical biology, and chemical education. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Professor Pontrello regularly instructs Organic and Lecture and Laboratory courses as well as General Chemistry and Chemical Biology courses. Undergraduate students in his research lab are developing synthetic inducers/inhibitors of huntingtin protein aggregation, designing selective metalloprotease inhibitors, synthesizing compounds that target a protein/nucleic acid interaction necessary for HIV replication, or working on projects related to science education. In his "spare" time, he likes to cook and draw. (pontrell@brandeis.edu)