معرفی
Geraldine Richmond is the Presidential Chair in Science and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, where she has been a faculty member since 1985. She holds appointments in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within the College of Arts and Sciences. Richmond directs multiple undergraduate research programs and serves in significant national leadership roles including on the National Science Board and as Secretary of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Richmond received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Kansas State University and her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Her educational background has shaped her commitment to both advanced research and foundational science education, particularly in introductory chemistry and science literacy courses.
Her primary research examines the chemistry and physics occurring at complex surfaces with relevance to energy production, environmental remediation, and atmospheric chemistry. Using laser-based methods and theoretical simulations, her most recent work focuses on understanding environmentally important processes at water surfaces. Richmond's interdisciplinary approach bridges physical chemistry, environmental science, and surface physics to address critical environmental challenges. Her work has established her as a leading expert in interfacial phenomena, particularly at aqueous boundaries.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on nanoemulsions, surfactant behavior at liquid interfaces, and advanced spectroscopic techniques like vibrational sum frequency generation. Her work spans fundamental physical chemistry investigations while increasingly incorporating elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education and career pathways, reflecting her dual commitment to scientific discovery and social impact.
- National Medal of Science
- Priestley Medal of the American Chemical Society
- Linus Pauling Legacy Award
- ACS Olin-Garvan Medal
- American Physical Society Davisson-Germer Prize in Surface Physics
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring
- ACS Award for Encouraging Women in the Chemical Sciences
Richmond has mentored dozens of undergraduate, graduate students and postdoctoral associates throughout her career. She directs two major undergraduate research programs: the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, which she has led continuously for 30 years (making it the longest-running NSF REU program in the country with over 400 participants), and the Presidential Undergraduate Research Scholars (PURS) Program. Her grant portfolio includes continuous NSF funding for the REU program and support from a University of Oregon alum for PURS. Richmond has secured significant resources to advance both scientific research and educational initiatives.
Richmond leads the Richmond Science Group laboratory at the University of Oregon, which conducts cutting-edge research on surface phenomena. She is also the founding and current Director of COACh (Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists), a grassroots organization formed in 1998 that has helped in the career advancement of over 20,000 women scientists and engineers across the U.S. and in more than 20 developing countries worldwide. COACh runs career-building workshops and networking programs globally to support women in STEM fields.
