Meet New Faculty Members Keith Keitz and Nate Lynd
Ben (Keith) Keitz
Assistant Professor
Ben Keitz officially joins the department this summer from UC Berkeley, where he is currently a postdoctoral fellow. He earned a B.S. in chemical engineering at UT Austin and a Ph.D. in chemistry at Caltech.
What is the primary goal of your research and how is it impacting/benefitting society?
We’re interested in using synthetic chemistry and biology to prepare new materials with applications in energy, sustainability, and healthcare. One goal is to synthesize materials that will pave the way for more efficient, large-scale chemical transformations. Another goal is to develop materials that shed light on the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
What attracted you to The University of Texas at Austin?
I’m from Austin! Besides that, UT excels in every area of science, engineering, business, and law and is making a strong push to be one of the best universities in the world. I’m also excited to give back to a school that played such a large role in my education.
What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
I love playing soccer and baseball. I also enjoy baking and dabbling in graphic design!
Nate Lynd
Assistant Professor
Nate Lynd joined the department in June 2014 from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he still serves as a staff scientist and project leader at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis. He earned a B.S. in chemistry at Michigan State University, a Ph.D. in materials chemistry at the University of Minnesota, and carried out postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
What is the primary goal of your research and how is it impacting/benefitting society?
Polymers are present in nearly every technology platform to some capacity. In my group, we address key challenges in chemical engineering in the areas of energy, environment, and healthcare through the development of new polymer materials.
What attracted you to The University of Texas at Austin?
The collegiality among faculty, the collaborative research environment, and the high esteem for the students. I feel like UT-Austin is a wonderfully positive environment.
What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
My favorite hobbies are reading science fiction, and running.
Tags: Keith Keitz, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Nate Lynd, new faculty, UT Austin