Chemist Smirnov Named Scott Distinguished Professor

The College of Sciences has named Alex I. Smirnov of the Department of Chemistry as the Governor Robert W. Scott Distinguished Professor.

The professorship was established in 2007 by late UNC President Emeritus C.D. Spangler Jr. through the C.D. Spangler Foundation to support the activities of a full professor in chemistry.

Smirnov is a prominent chemist who joined the NC State faculty in 2000. He conducts interdisciplinary research in the areas of magnetic resonance, spin physics, nanotechnology, and biophysics of lipid bilayers and membrane proteins. His work has opened several new directions in chemical interdisciplinary research and resulted in methods that have been adopted by a number of other researchers.

“Alex Smirnov is making important interdisciplinary contributions to our college and to his field,” said Chris McGahan, dean of the College of Sciences. “We are excited to honor and support his innovative work.”

Smirnov has been awarded $12.5 million in research grants since joining the NC State faculty. He has authored or coauthored more than 130 scientific publications and delivered more than 80 invited conference presentations.

Smirnov was awarded the prestigious International EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) Society Young Investigator Award in 1998 and received an NC State Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award in 2014. He has served as a guest editor of Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, a member of the External Advisory Committee of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and on the advisory committees for several national and international conferences. He is also a visiting scientist at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.