Carter wins Julian Award for contributions to chemistry

Polymer scientist Kenneth R. Carter has won the Percy L. Julian Award for significant contributions in pure and applied research in chemistry.

The award was presented to Carter at the national conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) in Orlando, Fla. last week. The organization’s most prestigious award, it honors black chemist Percy L. Julian, who is known for work that led to the discovery of cortisone.

Carter was recognized for his contributions during his career in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department and at the IBM Almaden Research Center. An associate professor, his research has included work on the development of organic and hybrid materials for future use in advanced electronics and storage technologies. He has numerous publications and over 24 patents in these areas.

Carter’s work involves the synthesis and characterization of new polymeric materials with specially designed properties, many of which have been integrated into manufacturing environments in conjunction with workers in IBM’s development and manufacturing divisions.

He joined the faculty in 2004 after nearly 20 years in polymer research, including 13 years at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, Calif. Since joining the faculty, Carter has been a co-leader in the establishment of the Nanoimprint Lithography Laboratory and is a test bed project coordinator for the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing. He is currently the associate director for research at the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Polymers.

His teaching interests include graduate-level courses in polymer chemistry and advanced polymeric materials. His research group focuses on polymer dielectrics, organic electronic materials, and advanced nanopatterned materials design and synthesis.

Carter served as chair of the American Chemical Society (ACS) division of polymer chemistry from 2000-04. While in that position he had the opportunity to strengthen ties between the ACS and NOBCChE, including assisting with organizing and instructing at the NOBCChE Science Academy for Young Students program at California State University-Hayward. He also serves on the editorial advisory board of the ACS journal Chemistry of Materials.

April 12, 2007.

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