Joan S. Valentine *71 Revisits Princeton Chemistry

Professor Joan S. Valentine *71, the first female Ph.D. recipient from the Department of Chemistry, returned to Princeton as a Department of Chemistry student-invited lecturer on May 17, 2017. Professor Valentine is Distinguished Research Professor and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Her research focus has spanned from super-oxide chemistry to the origins of life.

In addition to a full day of meetings with faculty and students, and a seminar presentation, Professor Valentine sat for an interview with the department’s science writer, Tien Nguyen, Ph.D. The full interview covers Professor Valentine’s research interests, her career trajectory, and her reflections upon returning to visit Princeton. The video excerpt here focuses on her return visit to Princeton.