Chemistry Department Welcomes Dr. Daniel Mortensen

Professor Daniel Mortensen graduated with a BS in Chemistry from BYU in 2011 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley in 2016. Dr. Mortensen had a post-doc position at BYU for about six months between graduate school and his current position; during this time he worked with Dr. David Dearden on developing new ways to measure the size and shape of molecules. Dr. Mortensen will be assuming the post as Assistant Professor. Currently he has a facility where he uses mass spectrometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting to analyze biological samples. He is also working on projects directed at understanding the causes of aging, cancer, Alzheimers, and even ancient American trade routes.  Mortensen came to BYU “as a student because it seemed like a high quality option that wouldn’t break the bank. As a professional, I came here because I love BYU and its values, especially its focus on the success of its students.” Mortensen has three kids, ranging from two to seven years old, and his wife has recently gone back to school at BYU to pursue a degree in sociology. “The most fun part of my job is being able to delve into a variety of research topics and engage with people all over campus,” said Mortensen.

Photographer: Kuang Lee

Writer: Taelin Wilford