Dual Chemists Share Joint Position
Spouses share contract, classroom space, but they each have their own research interests.
An open position in the chemistry department attracted plenty of
applications, but one was unique — a married couple applying to share
the same position.
Joel Dopke and Nancy Carter Dopke are both inorganic chemists. They
were looking to share a joint tenure-track position at a small
university in the Midwest and found a fit at Alma.
“There are more joint positions out there than people think,” Joel
says. “But some state schools can’t do them, so we did some research
and talked to some other couples in similar positions. We didn’t want
to put one of our careers ahead of the other’s.”
Nancy Carter Dopke and Joel Dopke
They
came to Alma after seven years in a joint position at Mercer University
in Macon, Ga. Though the couple earned tenure at Mercer, they had
always hoped to relocate closer to the Midwest. Joel is from Wisconsin
and Nancy from Illinois.
“We could have lived in a big city and had two positions at separate
institutions, but we really wanted to be in a smaller town,” Nancy
says. “We wanted to work at a small college and knew it would probably
only have one inorganic chemistry position.”
They chose to apply to Alma because of the ideal location in a small
community. The department also had the materials they needed to
continue their research.
“We actually had turned down other positions in the Midwest because we
were looking for the right position — which we found at Alma,” Nancy
said. “We also were happy that the College was so willing to work with
the joint appointment contract.”
Nancy graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. with her undergraduate degree in chemistry.
“I loved chemistry in high school. I love molecules and thinking about the microscopic world,” she says.
Joel earned his undergraduate degree at St. Norbert’s College in De
Pere, Wis., where Alma alumnus Larry Scheich taught him physical
chemistry.
“I was always a ‘science geek’ and thought I wanted to teach high
school chemistry and physics,” he says. “After taking physics in
college, I realized I should just do chemistry. I found it very
satisfying.”
The two met during their first year of graduate school at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, in an inorganic chemistry class. They
were married in the third year of the program. They earned Ph.D.
degrees, defending their theses just two days apart.
After graduation, the couple worked for two years at the University of
Illinois-Urbana-Champaign doing postdoctoral research, and Nancy also
taught.
Though the two are inorganic chemists, they each specialize in
different areas. Nancy’s research has historically focused on
instrumental techniques in inorganic chemistry. Joel’s’ is in synthetic
chemistry.
“Though we’re two people under one contract, we’ve never team taught
and have our own research agendas,” Joel says. “But, we do share space,
so when I have a question, I don’t have to pick up the phone.” Nancy
adds, “Thankfully, we do each have our own office.”
The two split the teaching load as close to 50:50 as they can. This
year Nancy taught Chemical Analysis and Inorganic Chemistry whiles Joel
taught Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and Basic Chemistry.
Nancy’s research looks at how structure influences the reactivity of
compounds containing multiple metal atoms. She is particularly
interested in the relationship of the structure of metal complexes with
ruthenium and platinum and their ability to oxidize alcohols, the
reaction that takes place in a direct methanol fuel cell.
Joel’s research focuses on generating new metal environments that mimic
industrial and catalytic systems. One aspect of this involves the
synthesis of model compounds for catalysts that remove sulfur and
nitrogen contaminants from gasoline. His graduate training was in boron
chemistry, which remains an area in which he continues to work.
“This job allows you to be one kind of person during the school year
and put on another hat during the summer — it’s a good way to keep your
mind fresh,” Joel says.
“There is a greater focus on teaching during the academic year and then a focus on research during the summer,” Nancy says.
— Amanda VanLente-Hatter
Posted: Wed, April 16th, 2008 at 3:52PM
