Lee Penn
{{Short description|American chemist and academic}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = R. Lee Penn
| workplaces = University of Minnesota
Johns Hopkins University
Towson University
| alma_mater = Beloit College
University of Wisconsin–Madison
| thesis_title = Growth and phase transformations : Insights from hydrothermal coarsening experiments using nanocrystalline TiO₂
| thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/609182928
| thesis_year = 1998
}}
R. Lee Penn is an American chemist and the Merck Professor of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Their research considers crystal growth, materials and environmental chemistry. Penn is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. In 2020 Penn was awarded the University of Minnesota George W. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service.
Early life and education
Penn earned their undergraduate degree at Beloit College. They moved to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for their graduate studies, studying the growth and phase transformations of titanium dioxide.{{Cite book|last=Penn|first=Rona Lee|url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/40987637.html|title=Growth and phase transformations: Insights from hydrothermal coarsening experiments using nanocrystalline TiO₂|date=1998|language=English|oclc=609182928}} Penn moved to the Johns Hopkins University as a postdoctoral fellow.{{Cite web|title=Penndamonium|url=http://www1.chem.umn.edu/groups/penn/cv.html|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www1.chem.umn.edu}}
Research and career
Penn started their independent career at the University of Minnesota in 2001. In 2008 they were awarded a McKnight Presidential Fellowship at the University of Minnesota.{{Cite web|title=McKnight Presidential Fellows {{!}} Scholars Walk|url=https://scholarswalk.umn.edu/faculty-awards/mcknight-awards/presidential-fellows|access-date=2021-02-28|website=scholarswalk.umn.edu}} Penn studies the growth mechanisms of crystals and nanomaterials. Amongst such systems, Penn is interested in the self-assembly of metal oxide nanoparticles and their emergent phenomena.{{Cite web|title=Professor R. Lee Penn - Research|url=https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/professor-r-lee-penn/research|access-date=2021-02-28|website=sites.google.com|language=en-US}} They are particularly interested in advanced imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy.{{Cite web|title=Multimedia Gallery - R. Lee Penn of the University of Minnesota department of chemistry. {{!}} NSF - National Science Foundation|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=58347&from=|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www.nsf.gov}}
Academic service
Penn has been an active member of the American Chemical Society since 2011.{{Cite web|title=Department of Chemistry|url=http://www1.chem.umn.edu/news/news.lasso?serial=904|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www1.chem.umn.edu}} They have served as chair of the American Chemical Society Division of Geochemistry. Penn is also committed to outreach, education and public engagement. They established a microscopy camp to introduce middle- and high school students in exploring microscopy and advanced materials characterisation techniques.{{Cite Q| Q105726612|author= Flynn, Leslie|author2=Johnson, Page|author3=Penn, R. Lee}}
Awards and honors
- 2009 George W. Taylor College of Science and Engineering Alumni Society Award for Distinguished Teaching{{Cite web|title=Collegiate awards {{!}} College {{!}} College of Science and Engineering|url=https://cse.umn.edu/college/collegiate-awards#teaching|access-date=2021-02-28|website=cse.umn.edu}}
- 2015 Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education{{Cite web|title=Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education {{!}} Scholars Walk|url=https://scholarswalk.umn.edu/faculty-awards/awards-for-outstanding-contributions/morse-recipients|access-date=2021-02-28|website=scholarswalk.umn.edu}}
- 2015 Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society{{Cite web|url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i28/2015-ACS-Fellows.html|title=2015 ACS Fellows|access-date=2021-02-28|website=cen.acs.org}}
- 2016 University of Minnesota Women's Centre Charlotte Striebel Equity Award{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
- 2020 University of Minnesota George W. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service{{Cite web|title=Collegiate awards {{!}} College {{!}} College of Science and Engineering|url=https://cse.umn.edu/college/collegiate-awards|access-date=2021-02-28|website=cse.umn.edu}}
Selected publications
- {{Cite Q|Q56529551}}
- {{Cite Q|Q29012738}}
- {{Cite Q|Q37115255}}
Personal life
Penn is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.{{Cite web|title=Lee Penn|url=https://500queerscientists.com/lee-penn/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=500 Queer Scientists|language=en-US}} Penn also enjoys riding and racing bicycles, hauling all sorts of things by bicycle (including humans, furniture, and groceries), advocating for non-car based transportation, volunteering with [http://sisterscamelot.wildapricot.org Sisters Camelot] to distribute food that would otherwise be discarded, advocating for folks who hold marginalized identities, working to remove barriers for folks who hold marginalized identities, parenting their fantastic teen (born in 2002), being a loving spouse, and 3D printing. Penn faced cancer treatment in 2011–2012.
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American LGBTQ scientists
Category:Beloit College alumni
Category:University of Minnesota faculty