Rate My Professor Robert Walker

Walker's research employs second harmonic generation (SHG) and vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) to investigate molecular organization and reactivity at solid/liquid, liquid/liquid, and liquid/vapor interfaces, alongside Raman microscopy for high-temperature electrocatalytic surfaces in solid oxide fuel cells operating at or above 1000 K with fuels such as methane, methanol, hydrogen, and higher hydrocarbons. He directs the Montana University System Materials Science Graduate Program, established in 2013 under his leadership as state director for a decade, and serves as Project Director for the NSF EPSCoR RII Track 1 SMART FIRES program. Walker has authored over 130 peer-reviewed publications, including 'Nonlinear Optical Responses from Au Surfaces as a Function of Temperature and Atmospheric Composition' (J. Phys. Chem. C, 2022), 'Carbon Nanoparticle-Induced Changes to Lipid Monolayer Structure at Water-Air Interfaces' (J. Phys. Chem. B, 2022), and 'L-Phenylalanine Partitioning Mechanisms in Model Biological Membranes' (J. Phys. Chem., 2022). He has mentored over 30 Ph.D. graduates, with more than 90% of his papers featuring graduate or undergraduate co-authors, and sustains annual research expenditures exceeding $500,000. His honors include the 2021 Fox Faculty Award for Achievement in Teaching, Research, Scholarship, Creativity, and Mentoring; 2016 Provost's Award for Graduate Research/Creative Mentoring; 2023 College of Letters and Science Distinguished Professor; NSF CAREER Award; and AAAS Fellow status. Walker mentors junior faculty, leads multidisciplinary teams, and bolsters science and engineering initiatives across Montana's university system.