Skip to main content
HomeJanie Woo

Janie Woo

Janie Woo is a retired organic chemist. Born in Hong Kong, Janie came to this country in 1967 and entered the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Janie worked as a research chemist and technical sales representative in the chemical industry and founded her own chemical sales company in 1979, which she directed until 2004. In 1989, continuing to run her own company, she also joined her husband’s chemical manufacturing company, Scher Chemicals, as Operations Manager until both companies were sold to Noveon (now Lubrisol) in 2004. She remained as Technical Director until 2006. After her retirement from industry, Janie has been a volunteer as a research scientist in the Department of Scientific Research at the Metropolitan Museum. While there, she performed spectroscopy analysis on art objects to determine authenticity and to help in the conservation of works of art. She is actively involved in the arts as a Fellow of The Frick Collection, patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and member of the Visiting Committee of the Department of Scientific Research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, where she has been chair of the Art Committee and is currently serving on the Membership Committee.  Janie and her husband Stephen live on the Upper East Side. Her husband is an art historian and collector.