Dr. Kuo Receives Outstanding Scientist Award

The Oregon Academy of Science (OAS) has awarded the 2019 Outstanding Oregon Scientist Award to Dr. Louis Kuo, Professor of Chemistry. The OAS promotes scientific research and education in Oregon, and nominees for this award must have made significant contributions to research in the natural, physical, or social sciences. Dr. Kuo was specifically selected in recognition of his considerable contributions to the field of environmental toxin remediation. His research focuses on the hydrolysis of organophosphates, which are key functional groups found in nature for use in genetic information storage, in industrial nerve agents, and in crop pesticides and herbicides. As one of his recommenders wrote, “The quality of Louis’s research is exceptionally high, which is all the more remarkable when you consider that it is done using only undergraduates…his work on organophosphate hydrolysis catalysis with metallocenes set the standard for the field.” Indeed, during his 25 years at Lewis & Clark, Dr. Kuo has formally mentored and collaborated with 55 undergraduate students—and more than 28 of these students have co-authored peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals and presented their work at national meetings. An accomplished scholar. Dr. Kuo has received both national recognition and sustained competitive funding from both private foundations and federal agencies for his cutting-edge research totaling over $1M and two patents granted. In addition to current grants from both the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society, Dr. Kuo is a co-Principal Investigator on one more proposal under consideration. More information about Dr. Kuo’s research may be found on his website.

The OAS will formally present this award to Louis at their annual meeting on February 23, 2019—and he has been asked to deliver the keynote address at the 2020 meeting. In the meantime, please join us in congratulating Louis on this significant accomplishment!