UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS STOCKBRIDGE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

AMHERST John G. Stoffolano, Jr., Ph.D. Fernald Hall, Room 204A Telephone: (413) 545-1046 270 Stockbridge Rd stoff@umass.edu Amherst, MA 01003 http://stockbridge.cns.umass.edu/john-g-stoffolano-jr

Dr. John Stoffolano Stockbridge School of Agriculture Univ. of Massachusetts February 19, 2016 Amherst, MA 01003 To Whom It May Concern: It is a pleasure to write a supporting letter for Scott Keating who has conducted research in my laboratory for the past academic year and worked during the summer of 2015 and is now applying to your health economics program at Weill’s Cornell pharmacy school. I am an entomologist and M.S. from Cornell in Ithaca. I am currently researching physiological strategies in the blowfly, Phormia regina, associated with feeding, especially the role of a specific antimicrobial peptides. I am also working on serotonin and its effect on flies. Today, many students have no ambition, they have no vision, and they are not goal oriented. This is not the case with Scott. Scott has lots of ambition, great vision to enter the health professiont, and is focused on achieving this vision. He stands well ahead of the majority of students I have had in my classroom since 1969 and also working in my laboratory. I would rank him in the top 1%. Scott joined my research group in the fall of 2014 and has been a major driving force behind the laboratory and research group. He also took the lead in keeping the fly colony going during the summer of 2015. His research topic is to identify in one fly species the presence of an antimicrobial peptide. The project involves learning how to dissect the flies, locate the salivary glands, prepare various solutions with pH adjustments, reading research papers, conducting the bioassay, collecting the data, and synthesizing it. Scott is working with Dr. Stephen Eyles who is the director and runs the analytical laboratory where the composition of the salivary glands will be analyzed using both HPLC and mass spectrometry. Also in my laboratory are undergraduates doing different projects and Scott always helped them when they needed help, which involved dissections and/or making different concentrations of solutions. Scott is extremely goal oriented, focused on courses and research, and is able to convey his ideas very well. He works independently with little supervision and only asks questions when need be. He is personable and works well with his colleagues. He is trustworthy and dependable. Scott is extremely enthusiastic about research and took the initiative to pursue and complete a very difficult research topic that has not been done before. He read the readings essential for his topic and always asked pertinent questions. I would like to comment on one important criterion for someone planning to go into the health related profession and, that is persistence, motivation, and concern about the health of all individuals. Students in the biology department, as elsewhere, are having trouble finding

laboratories that will give them research experience. I advertised for the position in my laboratory group and had over 50 biology students apply to my program. Even though he was not in my college, I was able to obtain from my interview with him that he is focused and highly motivated. Out of the 50 or more applicants, I only took 2 students and, Scott was one of them. He is well spoken, not shy or timid, and has a pleasant personality. He is precise in measurements and recording data. Scott gets along with his colleagues, works well in a team situation, and carefully plans his work commitments. I am sure he will excel in your program. I could always count on him to following directions. I never gave him directions for the next step in his research, but let him figure it out. Often he disagreed with me and provided a better alternative to the solution or step. Scott is psychologically well balanced. He has excellent communication skills (i.e., both speaking and writing). He is extremely punctual and responsible. I have no reservations concerning him becoming one of your best students and, one your university will be proud to have as a graduate. Without a doubt, Scott has the character that will make an health related economist. I know during the summer of 2015 he also worked at a local pharmacy. He has a strong drive to solving problems, which is paramount in today’s health profession. His personality and commitment to helping clients have a better life is obvious once you meet him. For a relatively complete C.V. of mine, you can go to http://www.umass.edu/ent/faculty_staff/stoff/cv.html If you have questions, please call 413-545-1046 or stoff@umass.edu. Sincerely,

John Stoffolano, Professor