Jun 18, 2012 - Claremont, Calif. -

Kerry Karukstis, Joseph B. Platt Chair of Effective Teaching in Chemistry and Chair of the Faculty at Harvey Mudd College, has been selected as one of two professors nationally to be named a 2012 Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) Fellow. The prestigious award, which recognizes excellence in undergraduate research, teaching and mentoring, will be presented to Karukstis on June 24 at the 2012 CUR Conference at The College of New Jersey.



These awards are presented to two CUR members who have developed nationally-respected research programs involving undergraduate students. Each CUR Fellow is also awarded a CUR Student Research Fellowship that they will give to a deserving undergraduate at their respective institutions. CUR Fellows Award recipients have established outstanding records of obtaining funding for their collaborative research with their students, and have published research findings with undergraduate co-authors. They reach out to students of all backgrounds, incorporate research activities into the courses they teach, and lead efforts to institutionalize research on their campuses and across the nation. In sum, they are leaders and role models for countless faculty and students. The second 2012 CUR Fellow is Dr. Joyce Kinkead, Professor of English and Associate Vice President for Research at Utah State University.

CUR President William Campbell stated “the CUR Fellows Award is the highest honor CUR can bestow.  Kerry and Joyce have earned it by providing research, scholarship, and creative opportunities for undergraduate students; serving as inspirations and mentors for colleagues; and encouraging all of us to engage and improve our undergraduate research programs.”

Karukstis has been a long-standing member of the Council on Undergraduate Research, where she has served as councilor for the Chemistry Division and currently serves as Emeritus President Councilor. She has conducted externally-funded research (NSF-RUI, NIH-AREA, ACS-PRF, Research Corporation, Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award 1994), in collaboration with over 100 undergraduates at Harvey Mudd, and publishes regularly with undergraduate co-authors. She maintains an active research laboratory with undergraduates as collaborators. Her research interests focus on using spectroscopic and light scattering techniques to characterize the structure and physical properties of surfactant aggregates and macromolecular host guest systems.

"I'm very honored by this recognition and am grateful for the strong institutional culture of undergraduate research at Harvey Mudd that helped me launch my research program and my professional involvement in CUR,” said Karukstis. “This is an award that I share with the College."

“Professor Karukstis has, from the moment she arrived at HMC, been dedicated to research with undergraduates,” said Dean of Faculty Robert Cave.  “She understands how important research is to their formation as young scientists and was the driving force in the department for providing research opportunities at very early stages in students' careers.  Her research has been far ranging, touching topics from photosynthesis to phase behavior of complex mixtures, and this has allowed students to explore varied interests in physical chemistry. She has been truly impressive to watch.”



When recommending her for the award, one of her former students wrote “Professor Karukstis taught me how to be a scientist. She taught me how to think about my work, utilize the resources around me, take risks in studying a system, how to be dedicated to your craft as a scientist, and possibly most importantly, the implications of our work in a broader context.”  Another former student wrote “Professor Karukstis embodies the true spirit of a teacher-scholar and she mentors by example.  I model so much of what I do as a teacher-scholar myself on what she taught me when I was an undergraduate at Mudd.”




Karukstis has co-authored three books and co-edited three volumes, including two focused on undergraduate research:   Developing and Sustaining a Research-Supportive Curriculum and Transformative Research at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions.   She has long been a national advocate for undergraduate research.   For eight years she served as a feature editor for the Journal of Chemical Education on undergraduate research issues.  She is co-principal investigator on two NSF-supported projects to catalyze the development of undergraduate research programs and enhance undergraduate STEM education throughout state university systems and within public and private consortia. 

Karukstis served as president of CUR from 2007-2008 and has held numerous other leadership positions within the organization.   She served as a member of the National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry Committee of Visitors in 2009-2010.  She was recognized as the CUR Volunteer of the Year in 2004 and again in 2010, and in 2003 she received the Henry T. Mudd Prize for Outstanding Service to Harvey Mudd College.

As part of the CUR Fellow Award, Karukstis will receive a CUR Student Research Fellowship to support a student pursuing research in her laboratory.