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Joel Harris Wins 2015 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology

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Distinguished Professor Joel Harris was awarded the 2015 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology at an awards dinner at Rio Tinto Stadium on January 13, 2016.

Four faculty members from the U are among 11 winners of the 2015 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology. The other U honorees are Rich Brown, dean of the College of Engineering; Sarah George, executive director of the Natural History Museum of Utah; and Tom Parks, vice president for research.

Two men stand and smile at the camera. On the left is Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox, wearing a suit. On the right is Joel Harris, wearing a suit and his new Governor's Medal around his neck. The U honorees are Joel Harris, distinguished professor of chemistry; Rich Brown, dean of the College of Engineering; Sarah George, executive director of the Natural History Museum of Utah; and Tom Parks, Vice President for Research.
Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox with
Distinguished Professor Joel Harris

 Sarah George, executive director of the Natural History Museum of Utah;
Tom Parks, Vice President for Research;
Rich Brown, dean of the College of Engineering;
and Joel Harris, distinguished professor of chemistry.

Harris, named an awardee in the academia category, was cited as a “pioneer behind many of today’s techniques for probing molecular structure at liquid and solid interfaces.” He developed methods “that capitalize on the interaction of light with matter to reveal detailed information about molecular structure.”

During his years at the U – 2016 will be his 40th – Harris established and grew his department’s analytical chemistry program, published more than 230 peer-reviewed research papers, mentored 33 doctoral students and won numerous awards, particularly for teaching. He’s a graduate of Duke University with a doctorate from Purdue University.

Congratulations Joel!