Kristi L. Kiick, Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Delaware, passed away on January 2. She was 58 years old.
A native of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Dr. Kiick earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Delaware and her master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Georgia. After working in the private sector for several years, Dr. Kiick earned a second master’s degree and a doctorate in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dr. Kiick began her career at the University of Delaware in 2001 as an assistant professor, ultimately rising to the rank of full professor 10 years later. She was named the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor in 2017. An interdisciplinary scientist, Dr. Kiick held faculty appointments in materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering, and biological sciences, as well as affiliate appointments with the Nemours Department of Biomedical Research, the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. During her 23-year tenure, Dr. Kiick served in several leadership roles, including deputy dean of the College of Engineering and chair of the department of biomedical engineering.
As a scholar, Dr. Kiick was an expert in the design, synthesis, and characterization of protein, peptide, and self-assembled materials. She worked on biomaterials with the potential to advance medicine, providing insights into wound healing, chemotherapies, and heart and musculoskeletal diseases. Dr. Kiick was a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the American Institute of Medical and Biomedical Engineering.