Faculty & Staff Resources

Purnendu K. (Sandy) Dasgupta got his honors in Chemistry BSc degree, and MSc in Inorganic Chemistry from India and his PhD in Analytical Chemistry with a minor in Electrical Engineering) from LSU in 1977. While he was getting a PhD, he also earned a diploma as a TV mechanic. Sandy worked for a year as an instructor at LSU before joining the University of California at Davis to study inhalation toxicology of air pollutants. Sandy says he has never been quite sure what to do with himself. In Bengali, his mother tongue, he is a published poet and a novelist. But after his father and grandfather, he is a third generation University Professor. After 25 years at Texas Tech, he joined the University of Texas at Arlington where he is presently the Hamish Small Chair in Ion Analysis. He has authored 450+ papers/book chapters and was primary person to update the last edition of Christian’s undergraduate text on Analytical Chemistry. More than 250 of his papers are in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science and Technology. At this point in time he has published more papers in Analytical Chemistry than any other author. He is a significant inventor, the majority of his 31 patents have been licensed. His work in chromatography been recognized by the ACS Award in Chromatography, Dal Nogare Award in Separation Sciences, the Giorgio Nota medal in Open tubular liquid chromatography. Giddings Award in Chemical Education, EAS Fields of Analytical Chemistry Award, etc. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His work on environmental perchlorate led to public awareness and eventual regulation. Recently he received the 2018 Texas Distinguished Scientist award from the Texas Academy of Science, first Asian American to be so honored. During the ACS meeting in New Orleans he received the Talanta Medal in Analytical Chemistry, the medal has been given since 1960, he is the fourth American to receive it. He received the ACS Award in chemical Instrumentation. The Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry students Association at our sister institution UT Dallas honored him as their awardee and distinguished lecturer in 2019. Sandy says he likes to think of himself as a problem solver rather than a specialist. Above all, he likes building things: His website proclaims: We foster builders, not users.