As a high school junior, John Texter attended a regional National Honor Society student conference at LeHigh University, his eventual alma mater. It was there that a professor — whose philosophy was to teach within engineering, not about engineering — inspired him.
"He spoke in metaphors. Most people found him difficult to understand, but I didn't," Texter recalled. "When I got to LeHigh, that got me interested in chemistry while studying electrical engineering. That set me off on a path aimed toward physical chemistry."
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POLYMER PRODUCTION: John Texter, an EMU
professor of polymer and coating technology,
discusses with Nikhil Tambe, a graduate student in
EMU's polymers master's program, the student's
research on making and characterizing colloidal
crystalline arrays of beads that are smaller than 1
micrometer. Texter was recently awarded the Ronald
W. Collins Distinguished Research II Award. |
Texter recently received the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award in the Research II category. This award is presented to a faculty member who has been at EMU five or more years and conducts outstanding research. He received a $3,500 check and a plaque.
"I just feel very honored by my peers and the administration. It's nice that they have previous award winners introduce you at the ceremony," Texter said, mentioning Gregg Barak, a professor of criminology, who won last year's Research II Award. "It does make you feel warm and fuzzy when you're told you're doing a good job."
Texter has been a professor of polymer and coating technology at EMU's Coatings and Research Institute (CRI) since 2002. He received tenure in 2005.
His research interests are many. They include advanced nanocomposite materials synthesis and characterization and self-assembly processing; polymeric thin films and composites; fire- and heat-resistant polymeric materials; colloidal crystal coating and manufacturing; templating photonic crystals from polymeric arrays; and nanoencapsulation of useful pigments.
Of all his research efforts, Texter said he was most proud of interdisciplinary work he conducts with Dan Clemans, an EMU associate professor of biology The two found a surfactant (surface acting agent) without silver that was able to kill a host of "grand positive" bacteria, including anthrax, staph and strep. Typically, such surfactants include silver, which is a well-known antibiotic.
"Eventually, it will be used for treatments in medicine," he said. "I figure it is something I'll be working on until I croak. It takes time to get these things through the medical system."
And while his research is what he was honored for, Texter said it wouldn't be as fulfilling if he wasn't teaching, which he described as "a privilege."
"There's a stimulation you get from young people, plus a satisfaction in helping particular students," he said. "Bright 'A' students don't need you, except in a formal sense. With bright 'C' and 'D' students, you can stimulate them to achieve more of what they're capable of. There is more satisfaction in getting bright underachievers to get motivated."
In addition to his teaching duties, Texter serves as the primary investigator in obtaining federal funding for research. Since he has been at EMU, the CRI has brought in approximately $6.5 million in federal earmarks, much of that to conduct coatings research for the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force.
"The money we have obtained has really gone into improving EMU and its programs. It's also resulted in things useful to this country," Texter said, giving credit to Congressman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and State Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) for shepherding the federal military earmarks.
Texter received his doctorate in chemistry from LeHigh University, where he studied at the Zettlemoyer Center for Surface and Coatings Research. He also received his bachelor's degree in engineering from LeHigh.
He was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology (2002-2004), and has worked for Strider Research Corporation (1998-2002) and Eastman Kodak Company (1978-97) in various areas of dispersion and emulsion technology.
Texter is an inventor, editor and author of more than 150 publications, including four books, 42 issued U.S. patents, and numerous research and review articles.
"I think the Coatings Research Institute has a brand value to the university," Texter said. "It's been around a good long while. When I and other professors publish, we're just enhancing exposure academically through publishing."
He has received numerous awards and honors, including a service recognition award from the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry; a team achievement award for improved ferrotyping; induction into the Kodak Distinguished Inventors' Gallery; an innovation award for nanocrystalline technology; the CTO patent award for innovation and initiative in patenting; and various fellowships.
Texter is active professionally and has served as chairman of the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry of the ACS; chairman of the Chemistry at Interfaces and the Chemistry of Supermolecules and Assemblies Gordon Research Conferences; and organizer of many international symposia. He is a member of the ACS, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Physical Society, and the Society for Imaging Science and Technology.
"Things you discover in research might lead to more products and understanding," he said. "Ultimately, something this country benefits from bolsters the goal of a culture that is supportive of education."
