D epartment
H ighlight
Chemistry
8
From energy storage and generation to nanoscale 3D battery
Henry S. White A Positive Force in Electrochemistry b y
A nne
M arie
students to do high risk and truly innovative research that they
architectures to the transport of drugs through human skin, Henry
wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.
White’s research is pioneering and highly imaginative within the
field of electrochemistry. His work on nanoscale electrochemistry
electrochemistry says White. Research isn’t just about solving a
was groundbreaking and has developed into a significant field of
problem, it’s about learning how to ask interesting and original
research with various applications. Professor of Chemistry Shelley
questions—something White finds a lot of joy in doing.
Minteer commented that White “greatly enjoys complex problems
and is the electrochemist to go to when you have complex mass
very diverse area, comprising many fundamental research topics
transport phenomena to understand.”
in chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering. It
is also extremely relevant in providing potential solutions to
There’s an obvious reason why Henry White is considered one of
“There are a lot of great questions” in the field of
“Electrochemistry is a fascinating area of science, and a
the most influential and innovative electrochemists of his generation: he
many problems that society faces, especially in providing means
wears his passion and thoroughness for research on his sleeve. White
for developing sustainable energy sources. I’ve been very
maintained a strong research group funded by the National Institutes
fortunate during my career to have had the necessary funding
of Health, National Science Foundation , the Department of Energy, and
and resources to work on very basic science questions in this
the Department of Defense while serving for six years as Chair of
area. And I’ve been even more fortunate to be able to work with
the Department of Chemistry, then five years as Dean of the College of
incredibly talented students and postdocs at the University of
Science. His administrative service was a commitment back to an institution
Utah, many who have continued to work on electrochemical
that allows him to do what he loves most: teaching and research.
problems in both industry and academics.”
Now that he can once again devote all of his time to
Vi v ienne
Dr. Hang Ren, a former postdoc of White’s who is now an
research and teaching, White is thrilled to be immersed in the
Assistant Professor at Miami University in Ohio, focused on
frontiers of electrochemistry—asking relevant and innovative
electrical measurements on individual DNA molecules trapped
questions for our generation’s complex problems. As the Widtsoe
inside a protein nanopore while training with White. They were
Presidential Chair, he continues to train postdoctoral fellows,
able to trap a single DNA molecule for hours, and watch its
undergraduates, and graduate students in electrochemistry. The
motional dynamics, and monitor chemical reactions via the
Widtsoe Chair specifically is valuable in providing funding for
change in electrical current through the protein.
“ Research isn’t just about solving a problem, it’s about learning how to ask interesting and original questions.”
