UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Christine Keating, Shapiro Professor of Chemistry at Penn State, has been honored with the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry 2024 Langmuir Lectureship Award. The Langmuir Lectureship annually recognizes two individuals working in the broad field of colloid and surface chemistry. It is sponsored by the ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry and the ACS journal, Langmuir.
Colloid and surface chemistry is a branch of physical chemistry that studies colloids, mixtures of microscopic particles that are evenly dispersed in solutions, and the interfaces where different mixtures meet.
A particular focus of Keating’s research since she began her independent career has been the separation and compartmentalization of liquid solutions into different mixtures in distinct areas, a process called liquid-liquid phase separation. This body of work contributes to the understanding mechanisms for, and consequences of, phase separation in living cells. It inspires biotechnological advances including new microreactor strategies and suggests physical mechanisms for how protocells may have first appeared on the early Earth.
“This award is special to me because I identify strongly as a colloid and surface scientist, and I am honored to join the list of past recipients,” Keating said. “They include Professor Janos Fendler, who was my faculty mentor for a transformative undergraduate research experience, and who received the Langmuir Lectureship in the first year this award was given. It is also wonderful to follow in the footsteps of my Penn State colleagues who have been previous Langmuir Lectureship Awardees: Kristen Fichthorn in 2020, Ayusman Sen in 2019 and Paul Cremer in 2017. Penn State has a history of excellence in colloid and interface science!”
As part of her recognition, Keating received a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration and reimbursement for travel expenses to the ACS fall 2024 meeting and a featured publication in the journal Langmuir. She also delivered a special lecture at the ACS fall 2024 symposium.
“We are thrilled to see Chris receive this award," said Ken Knappenberger, department head of chemistry at Penn State. "Her research in colloid and interface science, including complex colloidal environments, liquid-liquid phase separation and nanoparticle assembly, is groundbreaking. She and her research have inspired many new directions across various fields of science and engineering.”
Keating has published more than 100 scientific papers and holds six patents related to her research. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and currently sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation. Keating has received numerous awards in recognition of her teaching and research, including a Faculty Scholar Medal from Penn State in 2017, the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation in 2005, a Beckman Young Investigator Award from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in 2004, a Unilever Award for Outstanding Young Investigator in Colloid and Surfactant Science in 2004, a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 2004 and a CAREER Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2003. She was named a distinguished professor of chemistry in 2020 and Shapiro Professor of Chemistry in 2022 at Penn State.
Keating earned a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry at St. Francis College in Loretto in 1991 and a doctoral degree in chemistry at Penn State in 1997. She was a postdoctoral associate in the Penn State Department of Chemistry from 1997 to 1999 and a research assistant professor in chemistry at Penn State from 1999 to 2001. Keating became an assistant professor of chemistry in 2001, was promoted to associate professor in 2007 and to professor in 2012. She is affiliated with the Astrobiology Research Center, the Materials Research Institute and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State.