South Pasadena Chemist Wins Cal State L.A. Outstanding Professor Award

A South Pasadena resident who teaches chemistry at California State University, Los Angeles, is among four members of the university’s faculty to win the 2013 Outstanding Professor Awards.

Matthias Selke, an internationally known chemist, won the award for “excellence in teaching and significant achievements in scholarly inquiry or creativity, professional activities, and service to the campus and community,” according to a news statement issued Thursday by Cal State L.A. 

The statement described Selke as “a devoted mentor who involves undergraduate and graduate students in his interdisciplinary scientific research programs.”

Selke, who received his Ph.D. from UCLA, is known for his interdisciplinary research program on the interaction of light and oxygen with organic molecules. “Light and oxygen can be toxic and react with various organic molecules, including biomolecules,” the university statement said.

“This process has been studied by Selke and his co-workers at CSULA for antioxidants, such as trans-resveratrol (found in wine grapes), as well as some amino acids and related molecules,” the statement added.

The professor has also explored new metal-based molecules that can make “singlet oxygen,” which is a high-energy form of oxygen used in photodynamic cancer therapy, the statement said.

Selke and his colleagues received the honor during the University’s 2013 Fall Faculty Day on Sept. 23. A reception in tribute of the award winners is scheduled onTuesday, Oct. 8, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the university’s Golden Eagle Ballroom, the news statement said.

The other three professors who were honored along with Selke were Los Angeles resident John Kennedy, an American composer whose work has been premiered nationally and internationally; Kaveri Subrahmanyam, a Pacific Palisades resident who is a nationally-recognized expert in development psychology; Nancy Warter-Perez, an Altadena resident who is a distinguished computer engineer noted for her work regarding underrepresented minorities.