Columbia chemistry professor Kenneth B. Eisenthal is the 2006 recipient of the Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry of Liquids for his pioneering studies of equilibrium and ultrafast phenomena at liquid interfaces and in bulk liquids. The award is presented annually by the American Chemical Society.
The 'Hildebrand' is a national award offered by the American Chemicals Society to recognize contributions to the understanding of the chemistry and physics of liquids. Columbia's chemistry department is distinguished in having had two faculty members win this award in the last five years. Professor Bruce Berne received the award in 2002.
Viewing his work from a more global context, Eisenthal says "considering that more than two-thirds of the earth's surface is (liquid) water, that most of the chemistry and biochemistry in the soil is at the liquid water - mineral interface, and that it is the 'liquid water - membrane' interface that determines what enters and leaves living cells, we note that there is much to do, and happily note the explosive increase in basic and applied studies of liquid surfaces using these laser methods."
Over the years, Eisenthal's research group has consisted of graduate students, undergraduates, visiting high school teachers, foreign visitors and minority students who came under a National Science Foundation program to increase minority representation in science.
"They are the people who did the work" he says. "I enjoyed receiving and sharing the award with them. Among my current research activities I find it very exciting to be collaborating with a distinguished neurobiologist, Professor R. Yuste, of the Columbia biology department, in the use of these same nonlinear laser methods to image and thereby probe the functioning of nerve cells in live nerve tissue."
Eisenthal adds, "One of the most satisfying aspects of Columbia life is the enthusiasm of faculty to join in interdisciplinary research efforts. I trust that this congenial atmosphere will continue to grow, and am pleased to see that the administration values interdisciplinary research."
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