Professor
Department of Chemistry
Murray State University
1234 Jesse D. Jones Hall (office)
1233 Jesse D. Jones Hall (laboratory)
Phone:  (270) 809-3543
Fax:  (270) 809-6474
e-mail:  kmiller38@murraystate.edu

 

 

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Brief Bio:

 

Dr. Miller is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended the University of Dayton as an undergraduate, where he earned his B.S. in Chemistry (1998).  He then attended the University of Notre Dame where he earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2003) under the advisorship of Dr. Xavier Creary.  Dr. Miller then spent nearly seven years in industry with Rohm and Haas and Dow Chemical (2003-2010), working in the areas of PVC stabilizers, solvent and emulsion-based polymers and alternative cure technologies for the packaging adhesives industry. During his time in industry, Dr. Miller co-authored four peer-reviewed papers, was awarded one patent and contributed to the development of a number of commercial products.  He then shifted to academia and spent a brief, six-month stay in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech as an Assistant Research Professor under the direction of Dr. Timothy E. Long.  Dr. Miller then joined the Department of Chemistry at Murray State University in the fall of 2010 as an Assistant Professor. In 2015, Dr. Miller was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Miller was then promoted to full Professor in 2019. To date, Dr. Miller has mentored over 30 undergraduate research students majoring in chemistry or biology and 5 Masters-degree seeking students, resulting over 20 peer-reviewed publications and numerous presentations and local, regional and national scientific meetings. His primary teaching responsibilities include organic and polymer chemistry and enjoys incorporating "real world" chemistry into the classroom.

 

Education:

 

Ph.D. – University of Notre Dame (Advisor:  Dr. Xavier Creary)

 

B.S.  – University of Dayton

 

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Professional/Industrial Experience:

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Murray State University - Professor of Chemistry (2019-present)

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Murray State University - Associate Professor of Chemistry (2015-19)

 

Murray State University - Assistant Professor of Chemistry (2010-15)

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Virginia Tech - Assistant Research Professor (2010)

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The Dow Chemical Company/Rohm and Haas Company - Senior Research Scientist (2003-2010)

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The Procter and Gamble Company - Pre-doctoral Internship (1998)

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Awards and Recognitions:

 

2021-22           Karl F. Hussung Professorship in Chemistry (Murray State)

2017                Outstanding Professional Member Research Award (ACS, Kentucky Lakes Section)

2017-18           Karl F. Hussung Professorship in Chemistry (Murray State)

2016                Outstanding Researcher Award (Jones College of Sci. Eng. And Tech., Murray State)

2015                Presidential Research Award (Murray State)

2015                MSU Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award

2015                American Chemical Society, Division of Organic Chemistry Travel Award

2014-15           Neil V. Weber Award for Excellence – JCSET (Murray State)

2013                Emerging Scholar Award – Murray State University Alumni Association

2013-14           Karl F. Hussung Professorship in Chemistry (Murray State)

2009                Ringier Technology Innovation Award, Packaging Industry (co-awardee, Dow)

2002                J. Peter Grace Fellowship (University of Notre Dame)

1997                Patterson College Chemistry Award (University of Dayton)

1994-98           Presidential Scholarship (University of Dayton)

 

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Research Funding:

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Kentucky NSF EPSCoR RA Grant Award, “Performance and Durability Studies of Ionomer-Based PEM Fuel Cells,” 2023-24 (PI: Dr. Aleck Leedy)

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Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant, National Science Foundation, “Acquisition of a Gel Permeation Chromatography System with Dynamic Light Scattering Capabilities to Advance Research and Instructional Activities at Murray State University” 2022-23. (co-PI: Drs. Bikram Subedi, Grace Eder, Christopher Lennon, Gary Stinchcomb).

 

National Science Foundation (Division of Materials Research, Polymers Program): “RUI: CAS: Collaborative Research: Synthesis, Conductivity, and Morphology of Cellulose-Based Ionic Materials,” 2021-24. (co-PI: Dr. David Salas-de la Cruz).

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Undergraduate Research Award (UR), American Chemical Society - Petroleum Research Fund (2020-2023)

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National Science Foundation:  MRI (Major Research Instrumentation) Grant - Acquisition of a Rheometer to Enhance Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Education at Murray State University  (2018-20)

 

National Science Foundation (Division of Materials Research, Polymers Program):  RUI: Thiol-ene/yne Poly(ionic liquid) Networks for Separation and Electroactive Technologies (2017-20)

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Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF) RDE: 'Click' Poly(ionic liquid) Networks for Electrochemical Energy Applications (2017-18)

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Regional Research Enhancement Grant (R-REG), Kentucky NSF EPSCoR (2016), co-PI with Dr. Daniel Johnson (MSU)

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National Science Foundation:  MRI (Major Research Instrumentation) Grant - Acquisition of a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (2014-15)

 

Undergraduate New Investigator Award (UNI), American Chemical Society - Petroleum Research Fund (2013-2015)

 

Regional Research Enhancement Grant (R-REG), Kentucky NSF EPSCoR (2013)

 

Gordon Research Grant, Murray State University, Department of Chemistry (2013, 2016)

 

Cottrell College Science Single-Investigator Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (2011-13)

 

CISR Grant, (Committee on Institutional Studies and Research), Murray State University (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2021-23)

 

Service Activities:

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Councilor, Kentucky Lake Section, American Chemical Society (2023-25)

Chair, Kentucky Lake Section, American Chemical Society (2020, 2022)

Department of Chemistry Seminar Coordinator (2011-13, 2015-16)

Faculty Advisor, Student Members of the American Chemical Society (SMACS) (2011-22)

Faculty Advisor, Alpha Lambda Delta First-Year Student Honors Society (2010-15)

Academic Appeals Committee Member (CSET) (2012-19)

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