SECRETARY
GANESH
SAIRAM GANESH, Sr. Scientist, Global Business Technology, Axalta Coatings System.
Education: BS Chemical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2019; MS Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2021.
Professional Positions: Graduate Student Researcher, Univ of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2019-2021; Process Engineer/Chemist, Axalta Coating Systems, Front Royal, VA, 2021-2025, Sr. Scientist, Axalta Coating Systems, Philadelphia, PA, 2025- Present.
Honors and Professional Societies: Robert Ma Scholarship Award for Exceptional International Graduate Student, 2021.
ACS Membership: 2021- Present.
Local Section Participation: Head Judge + Category Judge for Prince William Regional STEM fair, 2025; Head Judge for Eng- GUA, 2025; Graduate Mentor, STEM, University of Maryland, 2020.
Statement: I am excited to run for Secretary in the Philadelphia Section of ACS. The need for transparent communication is paramount in all parts of a successful program or business to run.
One area I believe our policies can strengthen is information accessibility- ensuring that meeting minutes, even updates and section decisions are clearly communicated and archived for all members. I would advocate for streamlining internal communications and enhancing member engagement through regular surveys, newsletters and digital bulletins that would keep the community engaged. In today’s age of AI and rapid innovation, we should also leverage modern tools to improve efficiency.
In addition, I see an opportunity to improve member onboarding and retention by creating clear pathways for new members to get involved. These initiatives can range from orientation sessions, resource guides to spotlight features that highlight member achievements. We can take these a step further by outreaching local groups and schools in building a visible community.
I am eager to contribute meaningfully to the section’s growth and impact.
IRWIN
MATTHEW IRWIN, Technology Manager, Process Technology, Axalta Coating Systems
Education:
PhD Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2016
BE Chemical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2011
Professional Positions:
Process Technology Manager, Axalta Coating Systems, Philadelphia, PA (2024 – Present)
Principal Investigator, DuPont, Wilmington, DE (2021 – 2024)
Team Manager, Axalta Coating Systems, Philadelphia, PA (2019 – 2021)
Scientist, Axalta Coating Systems, Philadelphia, PA (2016 – 2019)
Honors and Professional Societies:
NSF GRFP Fellow (2011 – 2016)
Tau Beta Pi
ACS Membership:
Philadelphia Section (2020 – Present)
National Participation:
Committee on Professional Training, Associate Member (2023 – Present)
Local Section Participation:
Immediate Past Chair (2025)
Chair (2024)
Chair-Elect (2023)
Program Planning Committee (2020 – 2022)
Statement: I am pleased to run for the position of Secretary of the Philadelphia Local Section. As Chair in 2024, I was honored to guide a year that blended renewal with tradition during our Section’s 125th anniversary. We offered a balance of new and established programming, ranging from a “Meet Our Committees” networking event at Workhorse Brewing to hallmark events like the Edgar Fahs Smith Lecture and the Excellence in Teaching and Student Awards. Our 125th Anniversary Gala at the Weitzman Museum, featuring Dr. Joseph DeSimone, ACS CEO Albert Horvath, and Councilmember Mark Squilla, brought together partners across academia, industry, and government to celebrate our Section’s enduring legacy.
Looking ahead, I hope to bring greater efficiency and consistency to the role of Secretary by modernizing how we capture and share meeting records. To help manage what has traditionally been a demanding workload, I plan to responsibly incorporate secure large language model-based tools to assist in transcribing and organizing meeting notes, followed by careful human review to ensure accuracy and context. This approach will make it possible to produce timely, high-quality minutes while preserving the integrity and transparency that the role requires. My experience as Chair and as a manager in industry has prepared me to adopt these tools thoughtfully, enhancing efficiency without compromising the trust and precision essential to the Section’s governance.
PhillyACS 