Michelle E. Tochtrop, Ph.D.

Associate

Michelle Tochtrop is an associate at Pearne & Gordon LLP.  She has experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications, as well as in performing legal research in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological arts.  Michelle also provides other legal support, including drafting, and research support for patentability, validity, and infringement opinions.  Prior to entering the legal field, Michelle completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Biology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Michelle’s doctoral research was divided between two projects.  The first was focused on small molecule synthesis and development of novel pharmaceutical agents.  This included the development of an original methodology for measuring ion flux across lipid membranes and design of new synthetic ion channels for use as drugs.  The second project utilized radiochemical synthetic methods, including cyclotron production of radioisotopes and synthetic radiochemistry, to develop novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents for both humans and small mammals.  Michelle also spent time as a research associate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where she developed radioisotope purification methods as part of the Stockpile Stewardship Program.

Michelle has a strong interest in chemical education.  Prior to entering the legal field, Michelle spent two years teaching chemistry at both the high school and college levels.