Celebrating Kristin Bowman-James' 50th KU Anniversary

A. The biggest lesson I have learned is that chemistry can take you down multiple roads. New challenges can arrive when least expected. When they arise, you should definitely take the challenge. I began my career as an inorganic chemist studying coordination chemistry with transition metal ions, especially using macrocyclic ligands that could completely surround the metal ions. Macrocycles were the focus of my postdoctoral mentor Prof. Daryle Busch (at The Ohio State University). I started out interested in the subfield of bioinorganic chemistry, especially in biological mimics for heme iron proteins that bind oxygen molecules, like hemoglobin and myoglobin. My first sabbatical leave was in 1983, and I chose to work with Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg. Jean-Marie had coined the term supramolecular coordination chemistry in 1978. This new field examined molecules that associate, not by covalent bonds, but by weaker, intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds or  - interactions. Jean-Marie was using macrocycle chemistry, but his applications were more in the field of bioorganic chemistry. During this time in Strasbourg, my late husband Matt Mertes and I studied the interactions of macrocycles with biologically relevant anions such as adenosine triphosphate, often referred to as the energy currency of cells. These type of macrocycle-anion interactions can be described as anion coordination, a sub-category of the supramolecular realm. Anions are especially important since most are very complex due to the nature of their charge and difficult for chemists to selectively target, as in extractions and sensing. Since that time, anion coordination has developed and expanded into its own field and includes many researchers.

A. Even now I don’t think of it in those terms, but I am most proud of what we (the Department) accomplished during those years. We were at a very opportune time, with several faculty retirements that led to the opportunity to make multiple hires. As a result, we were able to hire four women faculty members, three of whom are still here, Cindy Berrie, Helena Malinakova, and Heather Desaire. I think this success was in part due to having a woman as Chair and also having two other women faculty members, Cindy Larive and Barbara Schowen. My suspicion is that our department appealed to more women applicants. Of course, the hiring decisions were up to the Department faculty, who made great choices. We were also able to get incredible retention packages for two faculty members being lured away, Cindy Larive and Bob Dunn. These included a 600 MHz NMR for Cindy and early promotion with tenure for Bob. Both stayed at KU for some time, but a number of years later Cindy left for UC Riverside and is now Chancellor at UC Santa Cruz. Of course, Bob is and just a few years ago stepped down from chairing the department for four years.

A. I was always interested in science as far back as I can remember. When I was 12 years old, I started watching the series “Man and the Challenge,” a TV series about a scientist physician and woman cohort who worked for a government agency. They had all sorts of adventures solving scientific crises. I decided then to become a scientist and do exciting things. In high school it became clear that chemistry was my forte. I had this incredible teacher, William Torop, at Upper Darby High School. We kept in touch, and he was so proud. He eventually went to graduate school and earned his PhD. So that was how it began, and I have never regretted it.

A. Naturally I cherish every award and honor I ever received, and I’ve had many memorable years, but 2021 was a particularly fantastic year. That year, I received the ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry. That just blew me away, since my research nowadays is mostly on organic systems. However, the award was for transition metal coordination chemistry perspectives for my anion research. My most cherished honor is induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, also in 2021 – definitely a banner year. I had no clue I had even been nominated!

A. I always loved cars and driving. I got my learners permit as soon as I could. My first car was a stick shift 1966 Volvo S122. It wasn’t sporty, but I loved it. After I married my first husband, Matt Mertes, a medicinal chemistry professor, we purchased an orange corvette (his favorite color – not mine). After Matt’s untimely death, my mechanic suggest the drag races would be a breath of fresh air after working with all those “stuffy academics” – his words not mine. He was the one who encouraged me to buy my rear engine dragster and try my hand at racing. That was how I met Gary, my second husband, who basically trained me in drag racing, and we became a family. I also enjoy music and started piano lessons at age 5. Mostly I love playing classical music, such as Mozart, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. From grade school through high school, I played in the orchestra and accompanied the choir. Now I just play for my own pleasure.

The field was just beginning when I started expanding my search to supramolecular coordination chemistry. The term supramolecular chemistry was coined by the Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn in 1978, that referred to molecules that associate but not by covalent bonds, for example, by hydrogen bonds or pi-pi interactions. Anion coordination was basically a sub-category of the supramolecular realm. Anions are especially important since most are very complex due to the nature of their charge and difficult for chemists to selectively target, as in extractions and sensing. Now, anion coordination has developed and expanded into its own field and includes many researchers.