Mark Griep

Mark Griep is a chemistry professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He studies the function of the enzymes that duplicate DNA in bacteria and is especially well known for his work with the enzyme named primase, the enzyme that starts the DNA duplication process. In the classroom, he has taught the entire range of courses from introductory chemistry for non-science majors to a graduate level course in chemical biology. He has also taught several honors courses including one for entering freshmen titled The Color Red that explored the abstract concept of “red” from nine academic perspectives. In 2007, he received an Alfred P. Sloan Award in the area of Public Understanding of Science to learn how chemical imagery and dialog makes their way into the narrative of popular movies. In 2008, he received a Distinguished Teaching Award in recognition of his efforts to make chemistry understandable. In 2010, Oxford University Press published ReAction! Chemistry in the Movies that he co-authored with his wife Marjorie Mikasen. Since then, he has given several keynote lectures across the country about chemistry in the movies. In 2011, he began collaborating with Nebraska’s two tribal colleges, Nebraska Indian Community College and Little Priest Tribal College, to connect their chemistry courses to local community topics.