Ned B. Bowden

I started out at Caltech (California institute of technology) working with Robert H. Grubbs on olefin metathesis, a reaction I still study in my independent research. After obtaining my B.S. in 1994, I left the West coast for the East coast and joined the group of G.M. Whitesides at Harvard University. I obtained a M.S. (1997) and a Ph.D. (1999) working on "Order and disorder: Mesoscale self-assembly and waves". I then left the East coast to come back to the West coast for a post-doc at Stanford University with Robert M. Waymouth (2000-2002) working on polymers.

I held post-doc positions both at Harvard (1999) and Stanford (2000-2002) Universities. In 2002, I joined the faculty at the University of Iowa as an assistant professor. I started my independent research and have seen the "first generation Bowdenites"  (as my students like to call themselves) flourish into great chemists. In 2020, I was promoted to full professor at the University of Iowa.

Education

1994 – 1999

M.S. in 1997; Ph.D. in 1999
Department of Chemistry
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
Thesis Title: Order and Disorder: Mesoscale Self-Assembly and Waves
Advisor: Professor George M. Whitesides        

1990 – 1994

B.S. in 1994
Department of Chemistry
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91126
Advisor: Robert H. Grubbs

Professional Appointments

2020 – Present

Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Iowa

2009 – 2020               

Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Iowa

2002 – 2009 

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

2000 – 2002

Post-doctoral Scientist
Department of Chemistry
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA 94305
Advisor: Professor Robert M. Waymouth

1999

Post-doctoral Scientist
Department of Chemistry
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
Advisor: Professor George M. Whitesides

Editor Positions

May 2018 – Present    

Associate Editor of ACS Applied Nano Materials

Honors and Awards

2014

University of Iowa Inventor Award

2009

University Housing Academic Excellence Award

2006

Graduate Student Travel Award Administered by the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry for my student M. Brett Runge

2005

American Cancer Society Grant for New Avenues of Research

2003

American Chemical Society: Petroleum Research Fund Type G Award

2003

Research Corporation: Research Innovation Award

2000 – 2002

Postdoctoral Fellowship Based in the Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies

1994 – 1997

Predoctoral Fellowship from the Department of Defense

1994

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Student Award for Outstanding Senior Majoring in Chemistry

1993 – 1994

Barry Goldwater Scholarship

1992 – 1993

Richard P. Schuster Memorial Prize to Outstanding Junior or Senior in Chemistry

1992 – 1994

Caltech Carnation Scholarship