Page 11 - April 2026 Insider

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INSIDER April 2026

Page 11
Scholar Alumni – Where Are They Now? …

Continued from Page 10

Kerry Hanson, PhD (1993-1997, UCSD) earned a PhD in Chemistry
at UCSD in 1997 and did a brief internship at Galderma Laboratories in
La Jolla. She went on to do postdoctoral work at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1998-2001 and then joined the
faculty as Visiting Research Assistant Professor in the Laboratory for
Fluorescence Dynamics in the Department of Physics, where she
worked on two-photon fluorescence imaging of UV-induced reactive
oxygen species (ROS) generation in skin from 2001-2004.

In 2005, Dr. Hanson joined the faculty at the University of California,
Riverside (UCR) as research chemist, where she is focused on
identifying the photochemical and photophysical pathways and environmental conditions that
effect the photostability of UV filters used in commercial sunscreens.

Dr. Hanson has a 15-year consulting experience with sunscreen R&D leaders, focusing upon
antioxidant performance in over-the-counter sunscreens. She has also done expert witness
consulting in patent litigation, using her experience in spectroscopy, separations and data. In
addition, she has a 15-year commitment to community outreach and scientific literacy in Riverside.
One of the advantages of her research is that it appeals to undergraduate students. She’s had the
pleasure of mentoring multiple undergraduates leading to publications in peer-reviewed journals,
poster presentations and even a UCR College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) Grand
Slam win. For the past several years, Dr. Hanson has supervised a student-led R’Course at UCR on
the "Science of You: Skin, Hair and Teeth," which teaches the science behind both our appearance
and products like sunscreens, while also throwing in a few fun facts on skin, hair and dental care.

Here is a recent article by Dr. Hanson on how chemicals in sunscreen protect our skin from damage:
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/how-do-the-chemicals-in-sunscreen-protect-our-skin-
from-damage/

ARCS Calendar of Events

APRIL
• Tuesday, April 21 – Board Meeting (via Zoom)

MAY
• Sunday, May 17 - Scientist of the Year Celebration
(The Conrad Performing Arts Center)
• Tuesday, May 19 – Board Meeting (via Zoom)

JUNE

• Tuesday, June 2 – General Meeting (La Jolla Country Club)
• Tuesday, April 21 – Board Meeting (via Zoom)