Bernard J. Bulkin

Ph.D. 1966
Company Director (numerous corporate and not for profit boards)
Distinguished Alumni Award (2007)

I discovered Purdue Chemistry through my undergraduate research professor, Robert Bauman, a Purdue graduate, who recommended that I attend Purdue.

I chose my thesis advisor, Professor Walter F. Edgell, after talking with him at an ACS meeting. He was my scientific father, and in many ways, he was as close to me as mentor and guide as my own father. He taught me how to communicate my scientific work clearly and professionally. But, just as important, he taught me how to have fun while doing science.

As a graduate student I was a teaching assistant in physical chemistry with Professor Robert Livingston. He impressed on me that as faculty we are entrusted with the future lives of our students, not only to teach them as well as we are able but to grade them fairly. He made me a better professor after I left Purdue.

I loved being part of the big graduate student and faculty community at Purdue and made lifelong friends there. I tell prospective graduate students that it is best to do a PhD in a big department in a campus town, so you have lots of facilities and colleagues, but can walk to and from the lab at any time of the day or night.