Christa Hestekin Named to Endowed Professorship

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Christa Hestekin

Christa Hestekin, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been selected to hold the Ansel and Virginia Condray Endowed Professorship in Chemical Engineering from Jan. 1, 2014 until July 1, 2015.

The Ansel and Virginia Condray Endowed Professorship in Chemical Engineering was established in 2002 by Ansel Condray and Virginia Condray, both University of Arkansas alumni. Its purpose is to support a highly qualified faculty member in the Ralph E. Martin department of chemical engineering by providing the resources needed to continue and further the scholar’s contributions to teaching, research and public service.

Hestekin's research interests are in the separation of biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, using microchannel electrophoresis for applications in medicine and the environmental sciences. Specifically, Hestekin examines protein aggregation and her work can be applied to a range of fields, including the detection of amyloid proteins for Alzheimer’s disease and improved methods for analyzing algae for biofuel production. Hestekin explained that she plans to use the funding associated with the professorship to increase research production and expand into new research areas.

“Dr. Hestekin is very deserving of this honor,” said Robert Babcock, head of the Ralph E. Martin department of chemical engineering. “Her work here at the university has been excellent, and I’m confident that as holder of this  professorship, she will be able to broaden and deepen her research in ways that will benefit the department and the College of Engineering. In doing so Dr. Hestekin will honor and fulfill in a unique way the criteria of the endowed professorship.  We are thankful she has this opportunity ”

Hestekin has been at the University of Arkansas since 2006. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Northwestern University. She is currently serving as the vice president of the AES Electrophoresis Society.