Forest J. Robertson was born and raised in a quiet town in the southwest corner of Connecticut. After graduating from high school in 2003 he attended Western Connecticut State University where he majored in chemistry. He took advantage of the various research opportunities within the chemistry department and during this time his passion for chemical research and his desire to pursue a graduate degree in synthetic organic chemistry was born.
In May 2007, he graduated summa cum laude from Western Connecticut State University and then began his journey through graduate school at Dartmouth College in the fall of 2007. Under the guidance of Professor Jimmy Wu, his research focused on the development of efficient synthetic methodologies that described the formation of C—C, C—N, and C—S bonds.
After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2012 he landed a position as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University where he synthesized conjugates with potential anti-epileptic properties and efficacy against Alzheimer’s disease. In 2013, he was hired as a Senior Scientist at Global Biomedical Technology where he investigated various applications for the company’s proprietary adhesive “switch.”
During his time at Yale University and Global Biomedical Technology he was an adjunct instructor in the evenings at his alma mater where he taught the laboratory component of courses that ranged from everyday chemistry for non-science majors to organic chemistry for chemistry and biology majors, and students pursuing a career in medicine.
In 2014, he began his career as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Western Connecticut State University where he has since been able to share his love of chemistry and research with his students.