The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University has announced Gregory Dudley has joined the organization as the Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and chair of the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry.
He joins the chemistry faculty from Florida State University, where he has taught since 2002. His current research areas focus on natural products with medicinal applications. Natural products research impacts the development of a number of drugs including aspirin and penicillin.
“I am delighted that Greg Dudley is the new chair of the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry,” said R. Gregory Dunaway, dean of the Eberly College. “Not only is he a highly experienced teacher and mentor, but he is also a top-notch scientist who is conducting cutting-edge research.”
“He possesses great leadership skills and I have every confidence that he will take the department of Chemistry to even greater heights of excellence.”
The Eberly Distinguished Professorship continues the Eberly family’s commitment to furthering higher education. To receive the professorship, the appointee must have a distinguished record of scientific achievement, as judged by external experts, as well as a record of excellent teaching. The appointee will be expected to be a leading role model for other faculty members.
Dudley received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000. During his time there he coordinated the MIT Chemistry Outreach Program, where graduate students travel to local high schools and perform chemistry demonstrations.
He conducted postdoctoral research in the Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute Cancer Center in New York City; and he has received graduate fellowships from Boehringer-Ingelheim and Bristol-Myers Squibb, a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health, and the Roche Award for Excellence in Organic Chemistry.
WVU in recent years has doubled down on its efforts to become better known as a national research player. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, with the University receiving the highest research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in February. The ranking is shared by only 114 other universities.
In the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, a wave of projects in recent years has been awarded more than $3.8 million in funding commitments. This funding, researchers say, is leading to innovation with the potential for commercialization and will engage a new generation of chemistry students.
“These are exciting times,” Dudley said. “The talent, resources, and support available here are exceptional, as are the growth opportunities. I am proud to be part of WVU, and I look forward to getting started.”
