Bio
Having defied convention to become a chemist at a time when few women entered the field, Ruth Stark is an eminent scientist and an inspiring role model for hundreds of young men and women from diverse backgrounds. Stark earned her Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, San Diego and completed her postdoctoral training at MIT. After teaching at Amherst College, in 1985 Stark became an associate professor of chemistry at CUNY’s College of Staten Island and the institution’s first woman to build her own scientific research program. Stark, the author of 95 highly-cited scientific papers, is recognized for her unique ability to assemble talent across disciplines. Stark initiated a Research Coordination Network for emerging bimolecular technologies that has evolved into a worldwide support group funded by the National Science Foundation. As the founding Director of the CUNY Macromolecular Assemblies Institute, Stark leads a large research team of physicists, engineers, chemists and biochemists, including postdoctorals, graduate students, undergraduates and even high school students. Her commitment to promote women and men in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is singular in its focus. Stark notes, “Young scientists need a broad and continuous range of supports. It is not only about the science.”In 2005, Stark was named a Distinguished Professor at the City University of New York, a title awarded to few. She and her team moved to CUNY’s City College in 2007. In June 2010, Stark became acting Dean of Science, a position from which she will soon step down to focus on teaching and research. Martin Moskovits, Provost at City College, comments, “Ruth is one of those rare individuals who is equally and superlatively talented in all areas: research, teaching and senior academic administration.”
