Joseph A. Heppert, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies
Professor, Chemistry
University of Kansas - Lawrence

Dr. Heppert chaired the KU Chemistry Department from 2005 -2009 and was the founding director of the University’s Center for Science Education from 2001-2009. He joined KU in 1985 as an assistant professor of chemistry.

Dr. Heppert’s research initially focused on the isolation and characterization of the first class of stable terminal transition metal carbide compounds. These compounds could be an important link in understanding the conversion of CO and H2 produced from coal into hydrocarbon fuels. More recently, Dr. Heppert’s group has investigated the mechanism of formation and reactivity of these unique compounds. These studies are relevant to understanding chemical processes catalyzed by rurthenium alkylidene complexes. Ruthenium alkylidene catalysts have become a powerful tool in the selective synthesis of a range of organic molecules, including a wide variety of new biologically active compounds.

Dr. Heppert has also been active in projects to improve science teaching and science teacher preparation. He sits on Senator Pat Roberts Advisory Committee on Science, Technology and the Future, is past chair of the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Education, and works with the KU Center for Teaching Excellence on the introduction of more innovative teaching strategies in the natural sciences. Dr. Heppert is currently the lead investigator of a National Mathematics and Science Institute (NMSI) award to replicate the UTeach model of math and science teacher preparation at KU. UKanTeach currently has over 160 enrollees at the beginning of its third year of implementation. He also efforts to create a regional Educational Research Consortium drawing on the expertise of social science, science and education researchers from KU, the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Kansas State University. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has provided major funding in support of this program.

Dr. Heppert received a B.S. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Radiochemistry from San Jose State University in 1978, where he participated in summer research at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982, studying boron hydride chemistry with Professor Donald Ganies.  He completed postdoctoral training at Indiana University in the area of transition metal alkyl and alkoxide chemistry under the direction of Dr. Malcolm Chisholm.