"Hi, I’m Kirby." That's how Florida State's vice president for research introduces himself to everyone who comes to his office for a visit.

"K-Squared," as he's often called by his physics colleagues, came to his position as vice president in 2003 as a trusted and highly respected researcher, teacher and administrator. A nuclear physicist by training, Kemper served as chairman of the physics department from 1997 to 2003. He joined the physics faculty at FSU in 1968, three months after receiving his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

In 2002, Kemper was awarded the ultimate accolade of his fellow academics at Florida State, being named a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor. In nominating him for the honor, Nobel laureate Robert Schrieffer, former chief scientist of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, described Kemper as "a highly distinguished nuclear physicist with an outstanding worldwide reputation" with more than 200 refereed publications to his credit.

Kemper also is cited for his devotion to undergraduate teaching and graduate training (he directed the physics department's graduate education program for six years in the 1980s) and an "infectious enthusiasm" that has won him praise from three generations of students.

Kirby is married to Margaret-Ray Kemper. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

Click here for Dr. Kemper’s vita: http://www.physics.fsu.edu/faculty/kemperkirby.pdf

Contact Information:

Dr. Kirby W. Kemper
Robert O. Lawton Professor of Physics and
Vice President for Research
109 Westcott Building
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1330
Phone: 850.644.9694
Fax: 850.645.0108
Email: kkemper@research.fsu.edu