Isiah M. Warner was born in DeQuincy, Louisiana (Calcasieu Parish) on July 20, 1946.  However, he spent his formative years (from the age of two) in Bunkie, Louisiana (Avoyelles Parish) where he attended Carver Elementary and High School.  His interest in science developed at an early age (two years old) when he orally sampled kerosene to determine why this odd smelling liquid was able to produce light.  After a stay in the hospital, he put his science career on hold until the age of twelve when he received his first chemistry set.  Needless to say, he did not resume his oral sampling technique and instead relied on smell and visual observations.  From that point on, there was no getting rid of the science bug.  He took every science course that was offered at Carver High, graduating Valedictorian of his high school class in 1964.

The schools were still segregated in Louisiana and he was offered a full scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Historically Black College and University).  Between his high school graduation and freshman year in college, he attended a summer institute in chemistry at Southern University.  After this program, the Chair of Chemistry at Southern offered him the opportunity to skip the first year of chemistry if he majored in chemistry, an opportunity which he quickly accepted. He graduated Cum Laude from Southern University with a B.S. Degree in 1968.

After working for Battelle Northwest in Richland, Washington for five years, he attended graduate school in chemistry at the University of Washington, receiving his PhD in chemistry (analytical) in June 1977.  He was assistant professor of chemistry at Texas A&M University from 1977 to 1982.  He was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor effective September 1982.  However, he elected to join the faculty of Emory University as associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1986.  Dr. Warner was named to an endowed chair at Emory University in September 1987, and was the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry until he left in August 1992.  During the 1988/89 academic year, he was on leave to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as Program Officer for Analytical and Surface Chemistry.  In August 1992, Dr. Warner joined Louisiana State University as Philip W. West Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. He was Chair of the Chemistry Department from July 1994-97, and was appointed Boyd Professor of the LSU System in July 2000. In April 2001, Dr. Warner was appointed the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives.

The primary research emphasis of Dr. Warner's research group is the development and application of improved methodology (chemical, mathematical, and instrumental) for studies of complex chemical systems.  His research interests include (1) fluorescence spectroscopy, (2) guest/host interactions, (3) studies in organized media, (4) spectroscopic applications of multichannel detectors, (5) chromatography, (6) environmental analyses and (7) mathematical analyses and interpretation of chemical data using chemometrics (chemical data analysis techniques).  

Dr. Warner has more than 230 published or in-press articles in refereed journals since 1975.  He has given more than 400 invited talks since 1979.  In September, 1985, he was issued a patent for his work entitled "Process and Apparatus for Chemical Removal of Oxygen in Luminescence Measurements," a patent in September, 1986 entitled "Method and Apparatus for the Stabilization of Direct Current Arc Lamp", and a patent in June, 1998 entitled “Micelle Polymers for Improved Separations of Chiral Species.”  He has since had two additional patents, and has one other patent pending.  He has chaired thirty-one doctoral theses since 1982 and is currently supervising thirteen other Ph.D. theses. 

Dr. Warner’s many honors include:

• Quality Education for Minorities Network’s Giant in Science Award, 2004;

• Distinguished Alumnus Award, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Washington, 2004;

• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, 2003

• Council for Chemical Research Diversity Award, 2003

• ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Student into the Sciences; 2003

• Eminent Scientist Lectureship, presented to undergraduate at ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, 2003

• Sigma Xi’s College of Distinguished Lecturers, 2003-2004

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, 2002

• CASE Louisiana Teacher of the Year, 2000;

• LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, 2000;

• AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award, 2000

• 2000 Eastern Analytical Symposium Award for achievements in the Fields of Analytical Science;

• Listed in the 18^th Edition of Who’s Who in the World in 2000;

• 1998 Fulbright Fellowship for Research/Teaching in Kenya;

• 1997 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from the President of the United States awarded through NSF;

• Member, National Academies' Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Chemical Sciences Roundtable (1997-01);

• Member of the MPS advisory Committee of NSF (1996-99);

• Member of the ACS Committee on Committees (1996-),

• Member of the ACS Committee on Public Relations (1996-98);

• Member of the ACS Committee on Minority Affairs (1996-98);

• Co-Chair of the 1998 FACSS Meeting in Austin, TX, November 11-16, 1998;

• Member of the Vision 2020 committee on Chemical Measurements (1996-);

• Member of the Advisory Committee for Meyerhoff Scholars, University of Maryland Baltimore County (1996-);

• 1996 Southern University award for the “Most Outstanding Graduate from the Southern University Department of Chemistry”;

• 1995 International Who’s Who of Professionals;

• 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education;

• 1994 Bennedetti-Pichler Award from the American Microchemical Society;

• 1993 Outstanding Teacher Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE);

• 1992 Charles Herty Medal from the Georgia section of the American Chemical Society; 1991 New York Section of Society of Applied Spectroscopy Gold Medal;

• Member of the Pharmacological Sciences Review Committee of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (1990-93);

• Member of External Review Committee for the Analytical Chemistry Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1990-92);

• ACS Task Force for Monitoring Analytical Chemistry 1989;

• 1988 Percy Julian Award for Outstanding and Significant Contributions in Research;

• Listed in Who's Who in Frontiers of Science and Technology in 1985;

• Listed in International Directory of Distinguished Leadership in 1985;

• Recipient of one of 200 1984 Presidential Young Investigator Awards;

• Served as an advisor on the National Academy of Science Advisory Panel for the Center for Analytical Chemistry at the National Bureau of Standards from 1983 to 1986;

• Appointment to the Advisory Council of the National Research Resources Division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (1986-90);

• Who's Who in the South and Southwest in 1978/79 and 1980/81.

Dr. Warner's Curriculum Vita in PDF Format
Office of Strategic Initiatives – http://osi.lsu.edu
Warner Research Group – http://www.chem.lsu.edu/imw/