Professor Honored by American Chemical Society

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Charles L. Wilkins

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Charles L. Wilkins, distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded the 2013 American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Award in Chemical Instrumentation, sponsored by the Dow Chemical Co. The award recognizes Wilkins for his contributions to a broad range of analytical instrumentation techniques that have been documented in more than 300 publications.

University of Arkansas System President Donald Bobbitt, who was a member of the chemistry faculty at the time, was instrumental in bringing Wilkins to the University of Arkansas from the University of California, Riverside, in 1998.

"I was so pleased to learn that the American Chemical Society has recognized Dr. Wilkins' outstanding work and achievements as an international leader in the field of mass spectrometry," said Bobbitt. "I consider my role in recruiting Charles to the University of Arkansas among my proudest accomplishments as chair of the department of chemistry. I'm honored to call him my colleague and friend."

Wilkins' leading contributions in a wide range of analytical instrumentation, including advances in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FT- nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and computerized laboratory data acquisition and analysis adds to his distinction.

He has primarily been recognized for his contributions to the development of "hyphenated" instrument approaches to couple distinct types of instrumentation for analytical purposes. He was among the first to propose combining a gas chromatograph with infrared and mass spectrometry in a single analysis system. He was also a leader in the combination of high performance liquid chromatography analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance, in ways that opened the current use of high performance liquid chromatography nuclear magnetic resonance for metabolomics studies. His work, in collaboration with Michael Gross, pioneered the use of ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for analytical applications.

Wilkins was honored at the SciX, SCIentific eXchange meeting held Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in Milwaukee, Wisc., for the work that garnered him this latest award from the American Chemical Society. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the conference devoted to all aspects of Analytical Chemistry presented by the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies organization. The four founding societies are now joined by eight others in a global Federation stretching across scientific boundaries. SciX 2013 continues the tradition of excellence in scientific sessions, exhibits and networking.

For more about Wilkins and his award see the Fall issue of the Fulbright Review.