2020 Humphrey Tonkin Award Goes to Andrew Craft
Professor of Chemistry Andrew Craft (A&S) is the 2020 recipient of the Humphrey Tonkin Award that honors a full-time University of Hartford faculty member for scholarly and/or artistic creativity. In more than two decades at UHart, he has conducted groundbreaking research that could lead to the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels.
Hydrogen is more energetic than fossil fuels, does not contaminate the environment, and is abundant, however, it is unstable, flammable, and most metals become brittle when exposed to it, which makes storage problematic. Professor Craft has become a research leader in searching for metals and alloys that do not become brittle when they absorb hydrogen. Assistant Professor and Chair of Chemistry Eric Mahan, said, “Professor Craft’s research has wonderfully illustrated the interdisciplinary nature of materials science, encompassing chemistry, physics, engineering and metallurgy.” Such research requires creativity and innovation, said UHart Professor of Chemistry Edward Gray in a letter supporting Craft’s nomination for the Tonkin Award. “He literally had to create and test his own equipment, modifying the equipment as the needs of the experiment dictated.”
Through his research, Craft has involved and mentored a long list of undergraduates, a fact that sets him apart in academic research. He has published 44 peer-reviewed articles, his research been cited more than 500 times, and yet, one of his published papers had 12 UHart undergraduates as coauthors. The benefit gained by undergraduates who work with Craft goes far beyond their time at UHart. His research students have some of the strongest success rates in the entire department with applying to and completing graduate school.
UHart Chemistry Professor Laura Pence summarized Craft’s merit, “His research is creative, innovative, valued by the scientific community, and is training our next generation of scientists.”
Craft holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Vermont and a BA in Chemistry from Clark University. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and has received grants from the Petroleum Research Fund.