Chapple

Clint Chapple, a 15-year biochemistry faculty member and new department head, says he plans to put particular emphasis on undergraduate education and finding additional research funding for the faculty.

He replaces Jim Forney, department head since 2001, who is returning to full-time teaching and research.

“As a leading research biochemist and an outstanding educator, Clint Chapple brings tremendous experience and leadership skills to the position of department head,” said Randy Woodson, who made the appointment as Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture before he moved on to become Purdue’s provost.

“I’m honored to have the support and trust of the Department of Biochemistry’s students, staff and faculty to work on these new challenges,” Chapple said. “I want to build on the momentum Jim established for the undergraduate program.

“We must make sure that our curriculum continues to keep pace with the incredibly rapid rate that biological sciences, including biochemistry, are advancing.

“Another important goal is to ensure that our faculty succeed in the incredibly competitive funding environment. A key to this success will be establishing new collaborations within the department and the College of Agriculture as well as across campus, particularly with researchers in Discovery Park-based centers and the Cancer Center.”

Department of Biochemistry scientists study biochemical reactions, molecular biology and molecular genetics that are related to human, plant and animal health, including growth, cancer, and infectious and genetic diseases. The department has 17 full-time faculty members and one adjunct professor, as well as 10 emeritus professors.

Chapple is the 2008 recipient of the Richard L. Kohls Award as the outstanding undergraduate teacher in the College of Agriculture. His research focuses on understanding and manipulating a compound in cell walls called lignin that contributes to plants’ structural strength but which hinders conversion of plants into other materials. He already has found ways to change lignin content to improve processing of wood pulp for paper production, and he now is looking for ways to more easily convert plants into biofuel, which is of great interest to the growing alternative energy industry.

Chapple is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has served as president of the Phytochemical Society of North America. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany, and his doctoral degree in chemistry, all from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Contact Chapple at chapple@purdue.edu