UB Professor Receives 2007 Schoellkopf Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- David A. Kofke, Ph.D., University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has received the 2007 Jacob F. Schoellkopf Award.

The award, which honors an individual in the Niagara Frontier for outstanding work and service in the fields of chemistry or chemical engineering, is given each year by the Western New York section of the American Chemical Society. The society has been presenting the medal annually since 1931, making it the oldest of its kind nationally. UB scientists also won the award in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005.

In selecting Kofke, the jury cited his significant and lasting contributions to the field of applied thermodynamics. He was cited for his creative insight and advancement of applied thermodynamic theory through the development and application of molecular simulation methods that yield both qualitative and quantitative understanding of complex behaviors.

Kofke's innovative and important pedagogical contributions to the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum, especially in the field of thermodynamics, also were recognized, as were his accomplishments as an outstanding teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students alike.

Kofke conducts research in which he uses molecular simulation to evaluate the physical behaviors exhibited by model materials.

One of his goals is to develop knowledge and methods that enable others to conduct thermodynamic free-energy calculations efficiently and reliably, which is critical to the rational design of better, more sophisticated materials and processes, as well as to improving our understanding of the basic mechanisms of nature, life and disease.

Kofke also coordinates a multi-institution software engineering project aimed at developing a cyberinfrastructure that can synthesize the efforts of a broad range of molecular simulation developers.

He is a recipient of the prestigious 2004 John M. Prausnitz Award for "significant and lasting contributions to the field of applied chemical thermodynamics" sponsored by the International Conference on Properties and Phase Equilibria for Product and Process Design.

A UB faculty member since 1989, Kofke also is a recipient of both the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activities. He also received a UB Exceptional Scholar Award for Sustained Achievement.

Kofke lives in East Amherst.