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College Grabs Leading Chemist and Journal from IUPUI
Dr. Clifford E. Dykstra
After an extensive national search that brought four highly distinguished candidates to campus, the College appointed Dr. Clifford E. Dykstra as the new chair of the Department of Chemistry. Dykstra is a Chancellor’s Professor of Chemistry at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His primary research focuses on electronic structure theory, molecular properties, and weak interaction phenomena, and his most recent research relates to hydrogen fuel technology, for which he has a significant NSF grant proposal pending. In 2003, Dykstra received IUPUI’s top campus award for research, and in 2005 he won the Trustees Teaching Award. He also recently co-edited a major volume on the first 40 years of theoretical and computational chemistry. In addition to his prestigious record of scholarship and teaching, Dykstra will also bring a major journal to Illinois State. He serves as editor of the Journal of Molecular Structure—Theochem, one of the premier journals in the discipline.

 “Following Dr. Dykstra’s interview, our only question was whether we could steal such fine scholar with such administrative promise away from IUPUI. I am pleased we were able to do so,” said Dean Olson. “ISU is a great campus with terrific programs in chemistry,” said Dr. Dykstra. “The strengths of the faculty and staff in the Department of Chemistry and the emerging opportunities make for an exciting time ahead. I look forward to joining the department this fall and to living in my home state of Illinois once again."

Throughout his career, Dykstra has procured numerous grants, including ten from the National Science Foundation, totaling over $2 million. Dykstra has delivered close to 100 invited lectures across the United States, and is approaching his 200th scholarly publication. He is also the author of three textbooks published by Prentice-Hall. In addition to serving as editor for a major journal, Dykstra also serves on the editorial boards of Chemical Physics Letters and Theoretical Chemistry Accounts. In all, he handles more than 600 journal submissions from around the world each year. “As if Dr. Dykstra’s stellar record of research and grant generation were not enough, the fact that he will bring a premier journal with him to Illinois State makes this appointment extremely significant,” said Dean Olson. “Many of the premier chemists in the world will now come to know Illinois State through their work with Dr. Dykstra. This really places us on the global map.”

Dykstra earned B.S. degrees in chemistry and physics from the University of Illinois in 1973, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then completed his Ph.D. in chemistry in only three years from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976. In 1977, Dykstra returned to the University of Illinois as an assistant professor, earning the rank of full professor in 1988. In 1990, Dykstra moved to his wife’s home state of Indiana, taking a position as Professor of Chemistry at IUPUI. There, he served as Associate Dean of Science from 1992-1996, and in 2001 he was named Chancellor’s Professor of Chemistry—equivalent to Illinois State’s Distinguished Professor designation.

 
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