Sara Skrabalak, the James H. Rudy Professor of Chemistry, has just been named editor-in-chief of two of the most prestigious scientific journals in her field: Chemistry of Materials, and its younger offshoot, the year-old ACS Materials Letters.
“Chemistry of Materials is a journal that I grew up on, scientifically speaking,” says Skrabalak, a Pennsylvania native who joined the IU faculty in 2008. “I remember reading it as an undergrad. It’s a tremendous honor to now be its editor-in-chief.”
And, Skrabalak says with a laugh, her appointment also means that she is now in a certain sense the boss of one of her own undergraduate mentors, who currently serves as an associate editor of Chemistry of Materials.
The field of materials chemistry is constantly evolving as the world seeks solutions for acute technological and health crises. In collaboration with biologists, engineers, and physicists, materials chemists develop the materials that are used in everything from medical diagnostic tests to solar power generators.
For instance, Skrabalak notes that because of the former dominance of the steel industry, Midwestern universities tended to focus on research in that area. Now they are branching out in a number of fresh directions.
Skrabalak has given a lot of thought to the future direction of the journals she will lead. “One of the things that I’m really looking forward to is giving a voice to scientists who aren’t always so well represented in academic journals,” she says.
Skrabalak wants to provide a platform for scientists of diverse backgrounds, as well as for young scientists who can find it hard to break into journals as august and competitive as these. She also wants to feature the work of scientists in regions around the world as well as the U.S.
Skrabalak herself chose the discipline after debating whether to major in art history. The two fields aren’t really so far apart, she explains. “I am always amazed that you can create such beautiful structures in chemistry. Many of our materials have very defined shapes and symmetries, just like those you’d find in artistic wall tiles. Chemists can create new materials and artists can push the boundaries of what is possible with those materials.”
Caroline Jarrold, who chairs the IU College of Arts and Sciences Department of Chemistry, says that Skrabalak’s appointments mark a success for both her and the department. “It is no surprise to us that she has been recognized as a leader in her field,” says Jarrold. “Her professional trajectory has been stellar, as evidenced by her national awards, high levels of external funding, and associate editorships. These journals will benefit from her vision and leadership, and her appointment will further elevate the visibility of our department’s strength in materials chemistry.”
Story by Julie Gray
One of the things that I’m really looking forward to is giving a voice to scientists who aren’t always so well represented in academic journals.
Sara Skrabalak, the James H. Rudy Professor of Chemistry
