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Ken Feldman was born and raised in Miami
Beach, Florida, where a proximity to, and an affinity for,
the Atlantic Ocean dominated his early years. Days (mis?)spent
fishing and snorkeling fostered a keen interest in all things
marine, a fascination that continues today. In 2004, that
interest finally culminated with a plunge into the marine
aquarium hobby, and today he is the proud caretaker of a 175-gallon
reef tank housing a host of fish and corals whose behaviors
continue to educate him on a daily basis. He is joined in
his aquarium avocation by his daughter Leah, who has been
instrumental in aquascaping the tank as well as in choosing
both fish and corals.
Ken has a day job as well - Professor of Chemistry at the
Pennsylvania State University. He spends his aquarium down-time
focusing on teaching and research in the area of Organic Chemistry.
He has published numerous articles on the organic chemistry
of molecules found in the reef environment, particularly from
sponges. Currently, his research interests include (a) devising
the means to synthesize sponge- and coral-derived metabolites
that elicit promising chemotherapeutic responses against some
cancers and against some immune system malfunctions, and (b)
elucidating the molecular mechanism by which these biological
properties are manifest.
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