Academic excellence at KSC took another step forward with the appointment of Paul Baures as Professor and David F. Putnam Chair in the Chemistry Department. Dr. Baures brings invaluable expertise in biochemistry and medicinal chemistry to our academic community. For more than two decades, he has been conducting applied and basic research and teaching in the field. He is the recipient of numerous awards and grants from institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, and the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Baures has a particular interest in antifreeze proteins that are found in some fish, insects, and plants—proteins that protect organisms from damage in cold temperatures. He is researching how to mimic these proteins with low-cost and environmentally friendly coatings that could be used to keep power lines or airplane wings free of ice in storms. Dr. Baures is also interested in investigating the artificial sweetener sucralose and the physiological impacts of its consumption, as well as studying the prevalence of Lyme Disease in the Keene area, and the way in which the bacteria causing Lyme Disease is spread. He is working on a project that includes collaborating with other chemists in creating compounds with potential biological activity that are now being tested in labs across the country in order to learn more about how cells work and diseases occur.

“Work of great significance is being produced at Keene State College, and I am proud to be part of it. Nature provides a lot of inspiration for what I do, and my goal is to impart my knowledge and inspiration on a new generation of students. I hope that by sharing my experience, students will go on to conduct their studies and research that will change the world for the better,” Dr. Baures explained.