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UI Chemistry Professor Receives International Humboldt Research Award
Dec. 12, 2005
MOSCOW, Idaho – Peter Griffiths, professor and chair of the University of Idaho chemistry department, has been awarded a Humboldt Research Award for Senior United States Scientists. The Humboldt Foundation of Bonn, Germany presents the award to recognize scholars who have gained international eminence in their field. It is conferred in recognition of lifetime achievements in science.
Griffiths will receive a prize of 60,000 Euros, approximately $70,000, to support 10 months of collaborative research at the Technical University of Dresden at Dresden, Germany.
“I am very honored to receive this award,” said Griffiths. “I’ve had a very interesting career.”
Griffiths joined UI in 1989 as professor of chemistry and chair of the chemistry department. His area of specialization is infrared and raman spectrometry, methods of studying the way materials absorb light of different wave lengths.
“Peter is an internationally recognized expert in spectroscopy,” said Judith Parrish, dean of the College of Science. “His accomplishments have been recognized by the Council for Near Infrared Spectroscopy, and he received the inaugural Gerald R. Birth Award. Professor Griffiths is devoted to his students and, as chair of the department of chemistry, to excellence in chemistry education at the University of Idaho. We are fortunate indeed to have such an outstanding researcher and mentor at the University of Idaho.”
Griffiths will take a sabbatical from UI to participate in research work with Reiner Salzer at the Technical University of Dresden. The project involves the use of vibrational spectroscopy for the diagnosis, and possible treatment, of diseases such as cancer.
“Salzer is attempting to detect diseased areas in the body with a fiber optic probe, and then with the same probe, burn them out,” said Griffiths. “That would be a very important advancement, if it’s shown to be feasible.”
While Griffiths could point to a number of accomplishments as a researcher and administrator as a highlight to his career, he says working with students is most memorable.
“Every time you see a graduate student through to a Ph. D., it is a highlight,” said Griffiths. “I’ve had some excellent students. I always enjoy the last phases of getting the dissertation finished. It’s a joint effort between and student and the professor, and it only happens once or twice, maybe three times, a year.”
Griffiths has been the major adviser to 49 Ph. D. recipients – 20 at UI – and the fiftieth is scheduled to earn the advanced degree this spring.
CONTACTS: Peter Griffiths, chemistry department chair and professor, (208) 885-6552, pgriff@uidaho.edu; Judy Parrish, College of Science dean, (208) 885-6195,parrish@uidaho.edu; or Jeff Olson, University Communications, (208) 885-8934, jolson@uidaho.edu
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