Kevin Hoke

Dr. Hoke is an inorganic chemist by training, with a specialization in the field of bioinorganic chemistry. In addition to giving students the opportunity to study and investigate chemical problems in the classroom, he mentors undergraduate student researchers in his research lab.

Dr. Hoke’s research group investigates the oxidation-reduction properties of proteins such as cytochrome c, the Rieske protein, and other proteins containing metal atoms as cofactors. These proteins have distinctive colors, which makes other biochemistry lab groups jealous. These proteins play critical roles in the transfer of electrons in the cellular process that uses oxygen in the air we breathe to produce biochemical energy. Since electron exchange is so important to the healthy function of these proteins. Dr. Hoke’s research group uses electrochemical methods to study them in addition to spectroscopic characterization. He and his student coauthors have published in top-tier journals, and have presented their work at regional and national conferences.

Dr. Hoke teaches Inorganic Chemistry and General Chemistry, as well as several instructional laboratories at Berry. When his head is full of chemistry and can’t absorb any more that day, he likes to take one of his bikes out of his office and ride the trails and roads around Berry.