Richard Zare

Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 2008

Richard Zare Portrait Photo

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Richard N. Zare is the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science at Stanford University. He is Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Stanford University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor. Dr. Richard Zare’s mentoring interests are directed at improving opportunities for all students, but he is passionate about gender and ethnic equity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). He has developed a stellar 40 year career as a scientist, educator, and leader in public science. Some of his distinguished recognitions include receiving the National Medal of Science, the National Academy of Sciences award in Chemistry and serving as a member of the National Science Board. He has had a national impact as a role model and author and his interests and career success place him in the position to serve as a role model for effective mentoring of women and minorities in science. He has mentored 49 postdoctoral and graduate students who are women or minorities. Of these, 17 became faculty in chemistry or physics. The addition of this number of minority faculty from a tier one research institution could have a profound effect on the higher education community.