Professor Emeritus Harry Dorn joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1974 after completing his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California, Davis. Over the decades, he has taken on many different roles, including professor of radiology at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, now known as the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. He was recently honored with emeritus status for his long career and dedication to the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry.
Dorn’s impact extends far beyond his teaching roles. Dorn has made significant contributions to the fields of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) research and carbon nanoscience.
A pivotal moment in Dorn’s career came during a sabbatical at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in the early 1990s. Originally there for NMR research, Dorn was persuaded to explore fullerenes — a form of carbon discovered 5 years earlier. This shift led to influential research on the synthesis, separation, and functionalization of fullerenes, culminating in seminal papers on the bond lengths and solid-state dynamics of C60, a soccer-ball-shaped molecule.
As Dorn enters retirement, he plans on spending more time with his seven grandchildren and continuing to publish papers. Reflecting on his 50 years at Virginia Tech, Dorn emphasizes the values he’s upheld: “Maintain integrity,” Dorn said.
On this foundation of integrity, he hopes his colleagues and future scientists will continue to aim high with their research and achievements. Dorn’s legacy will be his unwavering commitment to scientific excellence, and although he is stepping away from his official duties, his passion for science will always remain undiminished.