2019 Continuing Contribution Award

Before officially “retiring” from Chemistry in 2004, Professor Emeritus Ronald E. Verrall, B.Sc., Ph.D., was leading a research group that, among other projects, used thermodynamic, dynamic, and spectroscopic methods to investigate complex amphiphilic systems as possible models of fundamental biological interactions.

Since then, Ron has mentored and collaborated with his former graduate students in Chemistry and in Pharmacy, some now in faculty positions: his name appears on publications in 1998-2019 with Lee D. Wilson, U of S Chemistry professor in the Global Institute for Water Security, 2001-10 with Shawn Wettig, Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, now teaching Pharmacy at UWaterloo, and 2006-19 with Ildiko Badea, now U of S associate professor, Pharmacy. She and Pharmacy Professor Anas El-Aneed attest that Dr. Verrall “masterminded” a synthesis of gene/drug delivery carriers for their research, mentored them in successful grant applications, served on student advisory committees, fostered “the creation of a team science, ”and helped their faculty-student team prepare for good journals the 38 publications that resulted. Their students Drs. Mays Al-Dulaymi and Waleed Mohammed-Saeid agree with both that Dr. Verrall “shaped our careers.