Dr. Frey pursued higher education at The Ohio State University where he sought a degree in Chemistry from 1953 to 1954 but chose to join the military serving in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 instead of completing a degree at that time. In 1956, after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he returned to The Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1959. Dr. Frey worked as a chemist at the U.S. Public Health Service in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1959 to 1964, while taking graduate courses in chemistry in the Evening School of the University of Cincinnati. 

An extraordinary practitioner, Dr. Frey won a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Graduate Student Fellowship in 1964 and pursued graduate education in Biochemistry at the University of Michigan and Brandeis University starting in 1964. He later graduated from Brandeis with a Ph.D. degree in 1968 and was an NIH postdoctoral Fellow in Chemistry at Harvard University in 1968.

The doctor launched his career in academia from 1969 to 1981 serving as a Professor of Chemistry at Ohio State University. He later joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a Professor of Biochemistry from 1981 to 2008. He has received many accolades for his contributions to the field of chemistry during his illustrious career including the Repligen Award from the American Chemical Society; the Hilldale Award in Physical Science from the University of Wisconsin; the Alexander von Humbolt Senior Scientist Award; Distinguished Alumni Award, from the Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University; Gordon Hammes ACS Biochemistry Lectureship and Award; Ashland Oil Foundation Professorship; WART Professorship, Robert H. Abeles Professor of Biochemistry; Alexendar von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award; Wellcome Visiting Professor in the Biomedical Sciences, Emory University; election to U.S. National Academy of Sciences; and an invitation to the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA.

A testament to his influence and significant contributions to the field, Dr. Frey is a Fellow of several prestigious scientific organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Along with his pre- and post-doctoral honors, Dr. Frey has also served as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Ohio State University, 1969-74; Associate Professor of Chemistry, Ohio State University, 1974-79; Academic Vice-Chair, Department of Chemistry, Ohio State University, 1977-80; Professor of Chemistry, Ohio State University, 1979-81; Professor of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1981-2008; and Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008-present.

He notes that his mentors are Professor Adeles; Professor Frank Westheimer; and Professor Calvert and asserts that he strives to follow his philosophy that “scientists need to work hard and be honest in all transactions.” Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Frey is studying piano and enjoys studying music in his spare time. He would like to dedicate this honor to his wife, Carolyn, and thank her for her love and support.