Every employee at Organic Consultants, Inc. is a highly-skilled chemist with at least seven years of experience at our laboratories. Since 1980, our scientists have produced work for 21 US patents and four patent applications – all of which are held by our clients. This alone is testimony to the creativity and productivity of our people.

Lloyd J. Dolby, PhD
President

Dr. Dolby founded Organic Consultants, Inc. while he was a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with High Honors from the University of Illinois where he did undergraduate research with Professor Kenneth Rinehart. Dr. Dolby’s PhD degree is from the University of California at Berkeley with Professor Donald Noyce. After a postdoctoral year at the University of Wisconsin with Professor Eugene van Tamelen, he began his academic career at the University of Oregon where he directed the studies of 22 PhDs, many of whom have led distinguished careers. This body of work resulted in nearly eighty publications ranging from secondary isotope effects to alkaloid synthesis.

Dr. Dolby's honors and activities include a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and a NIH Career Development Award. He was a visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo and he consulted for the National Cancer Institute.

Shervin Esfandiari, PhD
Senior Chemist

Dr. Shervin Esfandiari earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Tehran.  His PhD is from the University of Oregon with Professor Lloyd Dolby. His academic career began at Pars College where he rose to Dean of Chemistry. He then moved to The Free University of Iran where he became the Vice President of the University.

Dr. Esfandiari’s academic work resulted in four papers, two books and three educational films.  He also began a chemical consulting business in Iran, and his work there resulted in several commercial applications. After returning to the United States 18 years ago, he joined Organic Consultants, Inc. His work here has contributed to two papers and nine patents.

Alfred A. Avey PhD
Senior Chemist

Dr. Avey obtained a BS degree in chemistry from San Diego State University in 1987 where he conducted undergraduate research with Professor E. J. Grubbs. Following graduation, he worked as an analytical chemist for the City of Burbank, CA. In 1988 he began graduate studies at the University of Oregon and received his PhD in 1993 with Professor David R. Tyler. His graduate research was on the synthesis and reactivity of water-soluble organometallic compounds. 

Following his PhD, Dr. Avey was a Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor Ross H. Hill at Simon Fraser University where he studied the synthesis and photochemistry of small molecules for the direct photolithographic depositing of metals and metal oxides. 

Dr. Avey has worked at Organic Consultants, Inc. since 1996 focusing on the synthesis of morphinan derivatives and other alkaloids. Dr. Avey is co-inventor on several patents in this area and several more on the synthesis of other API’s.

David C. Muchmore, PhD
Senior Chemist

Dr. Muchmore received a Bachelor of Science from Dartmouth, College and a PhD from the California Institute of Technology, where he studied synthetic organic chemistry with Professor Robert E. Ireland.  He subsequently spent 13 years as a research associate in the laboratory of Professor F. W. Dahlquist at the University of Oregon. During this time, he worked on preparative methods, ranging from synthesizing small molecules for protein modification and for incorporation of stable isotopes into proteins to developing expression systems for those proteins. He then joined Bend Research and worked on enzymatic resolution and a variety of organic synthesis problems. Use of biological processes for these preparations was a major emphasis.

Dr. Muchmore was awarded a patent for methods of enzymatic resolution. He has been at Organic Consultants, Inc. for 16 years. More than twenty publications have resulted from this accumulated work.

Jeremiah A. Marsden, PhD
Senior Chemist

Dr. Marsden earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he performed research with Professor David Boyles and held a position as a lab technician in an analytical laboratory. His PhD is from the University of Oregon with Professor Michael Haley where his research involved the synthesis and characterization of phenylacetylene macrocycles and cross-coupling reactions. There he authored nine publications and one book chapter.

Dr. Marsden received both a GAAN and IGERT fellowship while at the University of Oregon. During his seven years at Organic Consultants, Inc., his work has included synthetic route development and synthesis of heterocycles and prostaglandins.

Vivian R. MacKenzie
Director of Laboratories

Vivian MacKenzie received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon where she was on the Dean's List.  She did undergraduate research with Professor David Tyler that resulted in a publication. She spent 12 years working in analytical and environmental chemistry performing various analyses, maintaining and complying with quality control and DEQ, EPA, city, state, and OSHA regulatory requirements. Two of her positions involved new laboratory set-up, hiring, training and all associated documentation for client and EPA contract compliance, plus client project management.

The last position Ms. Mackenzie held before joining Organic Consultants, Inc. was as a Senior Laboratory Technical Analyst at the City of Eugene Wastewater Treatment Plant. She excelled at working in the regulatory environment and that experience was carried on to Organic Consultants, Inc. During her 12 years with OCI, Ms. Mackenzie has been responsible for DEQ, city, state, OSHA, GLP, DOT and DEA regulation compliance. She is the point of contact for all audits, inspections and compliance questions. She also prepares and implements Standard Operating Procedures, the Chemical Hygiene Plan, and the Laboratory Health and Safety Program. Ms. Mackenzie conducts research at OCI that resulted in two patents to date.