Emory & Henry Professor Shows Passion for Science

BY LAURA MONDUL
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER

Though acknowledged extensively within the scientific community for his cutting-edge research on endohedral fullerenes – an exciting molecule development – Dr. Jim Duchamp of Emory & Henry College is recognized by his students and colleagues for his teaching and availability to students.

A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Duchamp was born into science. His father worked for the Upjohn pharmaceutical company, so Duchamp was raised in a science-oriented household. With a father who studied crystallography, Duchamp says he grew up in a home filled with mineral and rock samples.

“It was like growing up in a museum,” laughed Duchamp. “There were all sorts of mineral samples with little cards on them all around the house. When I was a kid, what I feared most were rock shops, because my dad would go in and he wouldn’t come out until they closed.”

This passion for science was passed on to a young Duchamp. He completed his undergraduate study in chemistry at Kalamazoo College, and then received degrees from Yale and Cornell University, a fact he tries to keep from his students.

“For some reason, first-year students, especially, find their professors kind of scary,” said Duchamp. “If it some how gets out that you went to Yale, that just makes you extra scary, and the students are less likely to come to you for help.”

In spite of his accolades, Duchamp’s students seem to find him approachable and his dedication to teaching and research has influenced many aspiring chemists.

“Personally, Dr. Duchamp has set an example of a true Renaissance Man, one whose interests and personality are as developed as his professional career,” said Anthony Leonard, an E&H graduate who is now working toward his doctorate at the Medical University of South Carolina. “From making ice cream with liquid nitrogen to having political debates in his office, there truly is no gathering that Dr. Duchamp cannot enliven with his humor and conversation.”

Duchamp also has managed to spearhead groundbreaking research on the development of molecules called fullerenes. Along with collaborator Dr. Harry Dorn of Virginia Tech, Duchamp is one of the leading experts in this field.

As Duchamp explains, fullerenes are molecules that are being developed for use as contrast agents in magnetic resonance images [MRIs] in the detection of tumors.

Duchamp is the co-inventor of a patented method that developed precursors for the synthesis of water soluble endohedral fullerenes, which dramatically improve the usefulness of MRIs. There are other possible applications for fullerenes, such as use in solar cells to create energy. Duchamp, along with Dorn and other colleagues, are at the forefront of this technology and have been published extensively in scientific journals as well as chemistry textbooks.

What Duchamp finds most intriguing about his research is that it is more applied than other areas of scientific study. He notes that much of science is theoretical, but he prefers a more hands-on field with practical and real-life applications.

“It’s exciting, because a lot of the stuff I worked on before this was more basic research, which is interesting and fun, but not necessarily useful. It is exciting to be working on something that could actually help save lives or treat people,” he said.

Perhaps it is this passion for a hands-on approach that has gained him recognition in both scientific research and his classroom work. Certainly it has been the guideline for his career.

Duchamp cites the student focus of small, liberal arts colleges as the reason he is now with E&H. His undergraduate study at Kalamazoo, a small, liberal arts school, set the stage for his future. When applying for permanent positions, Duchamp felt strongly that he wanted to be at a student-oriented institution rather than a research-oriented one.

“I enjoy the interaction with the students,” he says. “What’s important in an institution is having the students be successful and getting all of the things they need.”
Perhaps most remarkable is Duchamp’s ability to balance his two passions. Although he is known for his availability on campus, he still finds time for his fullerene study. Mostly, he focuses on the research during the summer and other school breaks, but his students are never truly left behind.

For example, some students have participated in a summer research program at Virginia Tech with Duchamp and Dorn. Two of Duchamp’s students, Leonard and Keera Fletcher, have even made contributions to the study of fullerenes by discovering properties previously not understood.

“Jim is the quintessential scholar/teacher, a perfect fit for our liberal-arts institution, whose work both inside and outside of the classroom has had a major impact on the life of the college,” said E&H Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Christopher Qualls.

Outside the classroom and laboratory, Duchamp enjoys more physical pastimes – including camping, biking and jogging. His favorite recreation is sculling, or rowing, a hobby he developed during his days at Yale and a sport not often practiced in the Appalachians.

“Dr. Duchamp is the only person I know who has enjoyed rowing his single scull around Hungry Mother Lake,” said Dr. Jim Warden, physics professor at E&H. “He has gained more than a few curious onlookers!”

The combination of his quirky personality and brilliant contributions to science endears Duchamp to both his students and colleagues. Whether it’s the flashy glass award for Virginia Outstanding Faculty that adorns his desk, the stuffed toy of Beaker from the Muppets or the soccer ball he uses to illustrate a fullerene, Duchamp’s office speaks as much to his character as his admirers do.

“I’ve had many excellent mentors, but none have demonstrated the unending passion and dedication for teaching and personal growth of his students,” says Leonard. “I am proud to say I’m one of the many fruits that have grown from his great work, and I’m excited for the future of Emory and Henry students who will have the fortune to thrive, thanks to him.”