For Chemistry Prof. Tim Funk ’00, returning to Gettysburg College as a professor wasn’t just a professional move—it was a homecoming. A 2000 graduate of the College, Funk earned his B.S. in chemistry at Gettysburg before gaining valuable industry experience at the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. He went on to earn his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology and worked at another pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline, before joining Gettysburg’s Chemistry Department in 2007.
As a student, Funk embraced both the academic and co-curricular experiences that define a Gettysburg education. From conducting research with faculty mentors like Chemistry Emeriti Prof. Joseph Grzybowski and Chemistry Chair Donald Jameson to managing the WZBT radio station and playing on the tennis team, he immersed himself fully in campus life.
“The research I did as a student was a turning point—it made me realize I enjoyed research and set the stage for my career,” he reflected.
Now, as a faculty member, Funk brings that same enthusiasm and dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists. A synthetic chemist, his research focuses on creating catalysts from earth-abundant metals for sustainable chemical processes, as well as designing molecules that can deliver cargo like DNA and RNA into cells. Collaborating with Prof. Vince Venditto ’03 at the University of Kentucky, Funk continues to push the boundaries of scientific discovery with Gettysburg students as key contributors. Funk’s students don’t just learn about chemistry—they do it.
Through active learning and flipped classroom models, Funk fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. He credits Gettysburg’s unique research environment—especially the Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute at Gettysburg College (X-SIG) program—for giving students early and meaningful opportunities to grow as scientists. His mentorship has resulted in publications with 23 students and 41 student conference presentations.
“Chemistry, like other laboratory sciences, is a hands-on discipline,” Funk said. “The research experiences we provide for our students are one of the most important parts of our jobs as professors and scientists because of how important they are from a scientific training perspective.”
Whether he’s teaching, researching, traveling with his wife—College Archivist Amy Lucadamo ’00—and their children, surfing waves at the beach, or jamming on guitar at home, Funk’s passion for curiosity, connection, and discovery shines through. Looking ahead, he hopes to develop new therapeutically relevant compounds—and he’s committed to ensuring Gettysburg students are at the forefront of that work.
“My goal is to get students to the point where they are presenting their results to me and proposing the next round of experiments,” he said. “That’s when I know that they are making the transition from student to scientist.”
By Corey Jewart
Photos courtesy of Sarah Principato
Posted: 04/28/25