All the Best — UNL Chemistry Faculty Tell Their Stories

This oral history is part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti Association Oral Histories https://mediacommons.unl.edu/luna/servlet/detail/UNL~86~86~135~1448694?qvq=lc:UNL~86~86&mi=19&trs=48

Dr. Robert Powers became a chemistry professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2003 and is about to retire after 23 years. Prior to UNL, Bob was a drug discovery researcher for 11 years at American Cyanamid, which eventually became Wyeth and is now part of Pfizer. Bob was born in Jersey, New Jersey. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in chemistry because he earned a bach...

Dr. Dave Berkowitz was born in 1960 in Urbana, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago, where he did undergraduate research. Next, he earned his doctorate from Harvard University. However, his advisor, Steve Benner, moved from Harvard to ETH Zurich, also called the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Dave accompanied him to Zurich where he completed h...

Dr. George Sturgeon was a chemistry professor at the University of Nebraska -Lincoln for 39 years, from 1964 to 2003. During his time at UNL, he spent 15 years as the vice chair. I like to say that multiple chairs served under him. George was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in chemistry because he earne...