In Memoriam: Carl A. Koval (1952–2026)
The Department of Chemistry mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Carl A. Koval, a longtime member of the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ community, who died September 27, 2026, at the age of 74.
Koval joined the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ faculty in 1980 and remained at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØuntil his retirement in 2018, a career spanning nearly four decades. He was Professor Emeritus in Chemistry and an Institute Fellow Emeritus with the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI).
An electrochemist by training, Koval earned his bachelor's degree from Juniata College and his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology before completing postdoctoral work at Purdue University. His research at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder encompassed renewable energy and physical inorganic chemistry, including work on electrochemical separations and membrane-based technologies.
During his long career at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder, Koval contributed not only through his research, but as a teacher, mentor, and colleague to generations of students and members of the Chemistry community. Throughout his career, he played an active role in the life and leadership of the department.
He served twice as chair of Chemistry, from 1998–2001 and again from 2015 until his retirement in 2018. He also helped establish Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute and advised 26 Ph.D. students during his career.