Jim R. Ropchan, PhD

Research Scientist

A Timeline of Professional Milestones

1971

Earns a degree in chemical engineering technology from the St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in Canada.

1972

Achieves a Bachelor of Science, with honors, and receives the Outstanding Scholar Award from the Detroit Institute of Technology.

1973

Is a quality control chemist with the Ford Motor Co. in Ontario, Canada until 1976.

1977

Is a part-time organic chemistry instructor at the Detroit Institute of Technology and a high school math and science teacher in Ontario, Canada.

1981

Earns a PhD from the University of Detroit in the field of synthetic and organometallic chemistry; Is a postdoctoral scholar at UCLA until 1983.

1983

Is an associate investigator within the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics at the University of California, Los Angeles until 1985.

1984

Lectures on radiopharmaceutical chemistry/cyclotron research in Italy, Canada and Switzerland through 1991.

1986

Is the director of radiopharmaceutical operations and chief chemist at the VA Medical Center’s Positron Emission Tomography Facility in Los Angeles CA, continuing in the role.

1987

Is an instructor of radiopharmacy and secretary of the Radioactive Drug Research Committee at the VA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, continuing in the roles.

1989

Receives the Superior Performance Award from the VA Medical Center and again in 1991, during which he was also named Man of the Year by ABI.

1989

Is the director of Radiopharmaceutical Production and Cyclotron Operations including targetry development and continues in the role.

1992

Is named Man of the Year by IBC; Is the director of the Radiopharmaceutical Research and Production Programs relating to PET and continues in the role.

1996

Receives the Presidential Seal of Honor Award.

2000

Is the vice president of Radiopharmaceutical and Cyclotron Operations at the Vital Imaging/UCSD PET Facility until 2006.

2006

Conducts PET research/production at the Yale PET Center and continues in the role.

2020

Is director of Radiopharmaceutical and Cyclotron Operations at the Yale PET Center.

2020

Receives the Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who and is recognized in the Wall Street Journal.

2021

Elected a Fellow with the American Institute of Chemists (1986) and IBC and elected Research Fellow with ABI.

2021

Elected a member in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and New York Academy of Sciences (1990).

2021

Elected a member with the American Chemical Society (1979), American Heart Association and American Management Association (1990).

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