September 23-24, 2004

ITEM124-2003-R0904  Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Chemistry upon Eric Grimsrud; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT: Upon the occasion of the retirement Eric Grimsrud from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the State of Montana.

 

EXPLANATION: Dr. Grimsrud received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) in 1966 and his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1970. He held a teaching / postdoctoral research position at the University of Alberta (Edmonton) until 1973. He then held a Research Associate's position within the Air Pollution Research Laboratory of Washington State University (Pullman) until 1975, when he became an Assistant Professor within the Chemistry Department of Montana State University (Bozeman). He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1979 and to Full Professor in 1983.

During his 29-year tenure at MSU, Dr. Grimsrud has provided a wide range of services. He has taught numerous chemistry courses at all levels, from introductory general chemistry to advanced graduate courses. His contributions to the analytical chemistry portions of the curriculum have been particularly significant. He has also provided a wide range of administrative services to MSU including service on numerous departmental, college and university committees. He also served as acting Head and Assistant Head of Chemistry at various times.

While at MSU, Dr. Grimsrud also developed a strong research program that has received continuous funding from the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation from 1976 to the present. The focus of his research has been the development of new methods for the trace analysis of organic substances by instruments based on gas phase ion chemistry. His current interests include the development of instruments for the real-time insitu analysis of organic substances in ambient air and human breath. Through his research programs, more than 20 graduate students have received Ph.D. or Masters degrees at MSU while a much greater number of undergraduate students have had research experiences in Dr. Grimsrud's lab. While at MSU, Dr. Grimsrud and his students have published more than 100 scientific papers in the top journals of chemistry and have given a far greater number of verbal and poster presentations throughout North America and Europe.

For his accomplishments in the areas of teaching and research at MSU, Dr. Grimsrud has received numerous awards including the Wiley Research Award (1982), the Cox Family Award for Creative Scholarship and Teaching (1993) and the DOW Chemical Distinguished Teaching/Research Award in Analytical Chemistry (1992). For service to the public school system of Bozeman, Dr. Grimsrud was awarded the Child Advancement Project (CAP) Volunteer of the Year Award (1998).

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon Eric Grimsrud the rank of Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.