Kim Renee Dunbar

As a leader in the field of inorganic chemistry, Kim Renee Dunbar has been awarded a number of prestigious titles and distinctions from respected institutions. In addition to serving as a professor at Texas A&M University, she leads a research team there that has made major strides in the field of chemistry. 

 

Kim Renee Dunbar heads a research team at Texas A&M University that helps improve the international understanding of topics in inorganic chemistry. Her work and distinguished contributions to science, which are backed by a handful of major institutions, have earned Dunbar a variety of esteemed titles and awards. 

 

In 2004, Kim Renee Dunbar was named a Davidson Professor of Science and holds the title of first female chair-holder of the Davidson Chair in Science. Three years later, she was named a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, which is Texas A&M University’s highest academic faculty rank. To date, she’s received the ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry and the very first Eminent Scholar Award from her university among many others.

 

She and her team have made landmark discoveries in chemistry, having spent years studying and developing projects that aid humanity through stronger materials, disease treatments, novel compounds and much more. Their work has had a significant impact on the international scientific community as a whole. 

 

Kim Renee Dunbar and her research team focus on inorganic chemistry with a special emphasis on coordination chemistry. In their research, they aim to understand and better explain the relationship between molecular structure and physical properties. The research projects they pursue span topics like molecular magnetism, anti-cancer compounds, and multifunctional materials with organic radicals. 

 

The students within the research group are at a unique advantage as they can expand their chemical knowledge outside the boundaries of their degree and serve an instrumental part of an internationally-recognized scientific research group. They gain experience in several

state-of-the-art techniques and instrumentation, which include air-free synthesis (glovebox and

Schlenk-line), X-ray crystallography, SQUID magnetometry, mass spectrometry, computational

chemistry, cell viability assays, electrochemistry, and electronic, EPR, infrared, and NMR

Spectroscopies.

 

To further the research group’s efforts to understand the properties of inorganic chemistry, Kim Renee Dunbar and her team have received support from many respected institutions and organizations that provide financial assistance. Among notable contributors are the United States Department of Energy, the American Chemical Society, the Welch Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

 

Dunbar initially earned a bachelor degree from Texas A&M University before earning her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University. She conducted postdoctoral research at Texas A&M after graduating and eventually developed the Dunbar Research Group with chemistry faculty, students, and assistants. Today, her team’s research improves the knowledge base of inorganic chemistry in labs, facilities, and educational institutions around the world. 

Kim Renee Dunbar has been recognized as a leader in the field of organic industry for decades, and she is regularly invited to guest lecture during major scientific gatherings and has been awarded a range of prestigious titles. Texas A&M University, where Dunbar is a professor, awarded her the first-ever Eminent Scholar Award. 

 

As Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, Kim Renee Dunbar serves as a worthy role model to students, faculty, and scientists everywhere. For her work in inorganic chemistry, Dunbar has been honored with a variety of titles and awards, and she is recognized as a standout contributor in the field of inorganic chemistry. 

 

She’s a fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS) as well as a recipient of the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award. Besides receiving the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award twice to date, Kim Renee Dunbar has also received the first Eminent Scholar Award from Texas A&M University, which showcases the extraordinary achievements of female university faculty members.

 

In order to be eligible, candidates for the Eminent Scholar Award must meet certain criteria such as serving as a tenured full professor for at least two years with Texas A&M University and proving to be an exemplary role model to both students and faculty in and out of their department. The award aligns with the university’s core mission to uphold the discovery, development, communication, and application of knowledge in a range of academic and professional fields. 

 

Kim Renee Dunbar received Texas A&M’s inaugural Eminent Scholar Award in 2011, which was awarded for her original research in the field of inorganic chemistry. The Award is a partnership between Texas A&M University and the Aggie Women Network with aligned goals to identify the women that represent a vital part of the mission of the university.

 

Together, the Aggie Women Network and Texas A&M University work to ensure the female faculty members that exemplify outstanding characteristics are recognized for their positive influence on the educational experience of female students. Through the Eminent Scholar Award, both parties can honor women who have demonstrated a clear record of excellence in teaching, mentoring, and service, especially to female students at Texas A&M.

 

Kim Renee Dunbar has developed an international reputation for excellence after shedding light on topics like synthetic, structural and physical inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. She was recruited to Texas A&M University in 1999 as a full professor and in 2004 became the first woman in the College of Science to receive a named Chair. In addition, Dunbar holds the Davison Chair and is a University Distinguished Professor. She has lectured around the world and is known for her support and mentoring of minority students and young women, making her the ideal candidate for the Eminent Scholar Award. 

Chemist and professor at Texas A&M University Kim Renee Dunbar has contributed landmark research in inorganic chemistry for decades to the international scientific community. To honor her achievements in the advancement of inorganic chemistry, Dunbar received the prestigious ACS Distinguished Service award. 

Since earning her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University in 1984, Kim Renee Dunbar has been an international leader in the field as well as a role model to her peers and students. Over the years, she’s earned a number of awards and accolades for her work including being the first female holder of the Davidson Chair in Science. She’s taught at and conducted research from Texas A&M University for decades and has earned the institution’s highest academic faculty rank, the Distinguished Professor of Chemistry title. 

To date, Kim Renee Dunbar has won an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, a Camille & Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, and fellowships in both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Chemists. In addition, she’s a two-time recipient of the Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award (winning in 2006 and again in 2012) and earned the first Texas A&M Women Former Students’ Network Eminent Scholar Award. 

“She stands as an exemplary role model for young women who aspire to academic positions in chemistry,” says Jeffrey R. Long of the University of California, Berkeley, who is a longtime colleague.

The purpose of the ACS award is to recognize those who have advanced inorganic chemistry through significant service in addition to providing outstanding research to the scientific community. Recipients of the award are given $5,000 and a certificate declaring their achievement, as well as up to $1,000 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented.

To be eligible for the ACS award, nominees like Kim Renee Dunbar must have demonstrated extensive contributions to the advancement of inorganic chemistry. Applicable contributions include teaching, writing, research, and the administration of chemistry. The nominee must also be an ACS member before becoming eligible for the award. 

The ACS award was established in 1963, and it was first supported through funds provided by anonymous donors for the first two years. After, Mallinckrodt, Inc. supported the award from 1965 to 1997, and Strem Chemicals, Inc. assumed sponsorship of the award in 1998.  

“I have been passionate about inorganic chemistry since I was an undergraduate, and I could not imagine another career,” says Kim Renee Dunbar. “I deeply admire the previous recipients of the award, all of whom set the bar very high for all of us in inorganic chemistry and inspired me greatly. I am highly honored to receive this award, and the many excellent students, postdocs, and coworkers who have contributed to the success of my research program share it with me.”

Renowned professor and researcher Kim Renee Dunbar of Texas A&M University has changed the international scientific community’s understanding of inorganic chemistry since beginning her career decades ago. Among other notable appearances, she was invited to share her insight with the students and faculty of Westminster College for the Ken and Nancy Long Chemistry Lecture. 

 

Kim Renee Dunbar is regularly invited to shed light on new scientific discoveries, especially in synthetic, structural, and physical inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. She has helped transform scientific understanding of the subject ever since earning a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University. Today, she teaches and performs research at Texas A&M University.

 

Among the numerous guest lectures and presentations, she has delivered over the years, she was invited to speak at Westminster College as part of the first–ever Ken and Nancy Long Chemistry Lecture. Westminster College, located about an hour north of Pittsburgh, which has developed a reputation for excellence in faculty, academics, and individualized attention. The school is known for its unique and conducive classroom sizes with a 11:1 student–to–faculty ratio and an average of 1,300 students each year. 

 

The college sponsors 20 varsity sports, 18 honor societies, and more than 80 clubs, and works diligently to create lasting and meaningful connections with each of their students. In this way, they develop lifelong rapport with their extensive alumni base. The institution draws in world–class professionals such as Kim Renee Dunbar to encourage independent thinking and deliver superb education to its student body. 

 

The mission of Westminster College is to help men and women develop competencies, commitments and characteristics which have distinguished human beings at their best. The liberal arts tradition is the foundation of the curriculum continually designed to serve this mission in a rapidly changing world.

The College sees the well–educated person as one whose skills are complemented by ever–developing values and ideals identified in the Judeo–Christian tradition. Westminster‘s quest for excellence is a recognition that stewardship of life mandates the maximum possible development of each person‘s capabilities. The College thus realizes its mission in men and women who as students:

• Develop intellectual curiosity and the competencies to reason logically, evaluate critically, communicate effectively, imagine creatively, appreciate and produce aesthetic and creative expressions of humanity;
• Acquire a knowledge and appreciation of self, society, human cultures, and the natural world, and human relationships to God;
• Develop and demonstrate moral and ethical commitments to neighbor, society, and the natural world consistent with the understanding of self;
• Commit themselves to lifelong learning and the acquisition of skill for careers and responsible service as world citizens.

Westminster College was created on January 21, 1852 in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, with an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from the very beginning. As one of the earliest coeducational colleges in the nation, Westminster was founded to promote the spirit and values of Christianity while focusing on the development of the individual – intellectually, spiritually, and socially – which still rings true today. 

Westminster is proud of its heritage, and optimistic about its future. Serving the needs of students has enabled Westminster to become one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges.

Recognized for its high–level presence, Westminster College is a top–tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of “The Best 379 Colleges” by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President’s Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Since its beginnings in 1852, Westminster College has been a church–related institution. We are related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) by covenant with the Synod of the Trinity which states: “Students at Westminster are enrolled in a college sustained through the decades by what was the United Presbyterian Church of North America. This heritage has at its core those ideals exemplified by Jesus Christ. Today the College strives continually to understand and express the relationship between its religious heritage and the liberal arts ideals and values in ways relevant to a rapidly changing world. Westminster embraces the whole church with its many traditions and the human race in its diversity. The College is open to the moral and spiritual character of different religious traditions and resolves to continue its participation in both ecumenical and interfaith endeavors.” Covenant Agreement with Synod of the Trinity, 2008.

A national leader in educational excellence, guest speakers like Kim Renee Dunbar demonstrate the caliber of professionals they wish to foster through their programs. During the inaugural Ken and Nancy Long Chemistry Lecture, Dunbar spoke about her research, “Metals in Medicine throughout the Ages: From Ancient Egypt to Victorian England to the 21st Century.” The lecture series is funded by Dr. Ken Long, Westminster professor of chemistry emeritus, and his wife, Nancy, to invite outstanding chemists to speak to Westminster students.

 

Dr. Ken Long, who worked with Dunbar at Westminster, said, “Kim Renee Dunbar was outstanding as a student and has been highly successful as a graduate. We are proud of her accomplishments and are delighted she is the first Ken and Nancy Long Chemistry Lecturer.”