About
// Biography
Chemist. Builder. Lab + Infra.
I'm Joseph Ward — a PhD organic chemist by training, software engineer by inclination, and Director of Digital Infrastructure at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I run instructional laboratory services for thousands of students a year, manage staff and budgets, and architect the digital infrastructure that keeps it running — including a custom platform called ChemStands that automates inventory, lab scheduling, and internal recharge activities. In 2026 I was selected as an LSA Staff AI Steward to help guide the ethical application of generative AI tools across the college.
On the volunteer side, I serve as Treasurer and CTO/Lead Developer for the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry, where I manage a multi-million-dollar budget and a 2,500-page web footprint reaching over a million users a year. The Division has earned two ChemLuminary Awards under the web initiatives I've led. I also serve on the Board of Directors and as Lead Technical Officer for Organic Reactions.
Team Ward Labs is the personal corner of all of this — a place to write about the spaces in between: homelab projects, tooling I build for chemistry teaching labs, hobby distilling, and whatever else lands on my workbench.
// Experience
Where I've worked
Lab Services Manager & Director of Digital Infrastructure — University of Michigan
2019 — Present
Direct instructional laboratory services for 6,800+ students annually; supervise 5 full-time staff and 14 student workers. Architected the custom "ChemStands" digital platform automating inventory, lab scheduling, and internal recharge activities. Procured and integrated $1M+ in advanced teaching instrumentation including a Shimadzu NX2020 GC/MS and 16 Nanalysis benchtop NMR units for 1:1 student access. Reduced student lab fees from $100 to $25–$50 through optimized procurement. Selected as an LSA Staff AI Steward (2026) to guide ethical application of generative AI tools.
Treasurer & CTO/Lead Developer — ACS Division of Organic Chemistry
2014 — Present
Manage a multi-million-dollar Division budget (Treasurer, 2023–Present) and a 2,500-page digital footprint serving 1M+ annual users (CTO, 2014–Present). Migrated fiscal operations to QuickBooks Online Advanced and built a custom API-driven fundraising tracking system. Independently migrated the Division's website infrastructure from Blackbaud to WordPress, saving $10,000+. Two ChemLuminary Awards directed (2022 and 2025).
Board of Directors & Lead Technical Officer — Organic Reactions
2024 — Present
Re-engineered the digital distribution pipeline to automate information-sharing and expedite peer-review workflows for one of organic chemistry's most-cited monograph series.
Coordinator of General Chemistry Laboratories — Michigan State University
2014 — 2018
Instructor of Record for CEM 161/162, managing 2,300 students and 35+ Graduate TAs per semester. Spearheaded project-based curriculum reform. Served on the Faculty Design Group for the $100M+ STEM Teaching and Learning Facility, designing 2,500 sq. ft. of prep rooms and teaching stockrooms.
Associate Professor of Chemistry (Tenured) & IT Analyst — Rockford University
2002 — 2014
Chair of Chemistry and Interim Chair of Computer Science. Developed SQL-based reporting for administration. Oversaw equipment acquisition for a 3-year US Department of Education grant (2009–2011). Recognized for Last Lecture Series Honor (Student-Nominated, 2013).
// Education
My studies
PhD, Organic Chemistry
2002
Michigan State University
BS, Chemistry (Cum Laude)
1996
Lawrence Technological University
// Tools & Skills
What I know and use in my day to day work
Tools
WordPress
PHP
JavaScript
Python
Bash
Docker
Linux
Cloudflare
OpenTofu
MariaDB
Astro
QuickBooks Online
Skills
Lab Management
Curriculum Design
Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA)
Web Architecture
Budget Management
Fundraising Operations
AI Ethics
Chemistry
Organic Synthesis
Total Synthesis
NMR Spectroscopy
GC/MS
Laboratory Safety
Hobbies
Distilling
Soap Making
Homelab / Self-Hosting