University of California, Santa Cruz
Chemistry, Honors, 1992
Undergraduate Research Advisor: David S. Kliger

University of California, San Diego 
Ph.D., Chemistry, 1998
Thesis Advisor: John D. Simon

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1998-2001
Postdoctoral Advisor: Robert M. Clegg

Professional Research Chemist, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, Jan. 2007-present

Visiting BYA Researcher, University of California, Riverside, January 2005-January 2007

Visiting Research Assistant Professor, Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 2001-Dec. 2004

Galderma Research Inc., La Jolla, CA
Internship, 1998

Kerry M. Hanson, Personal Care/Sunscreen Consulting
2001-present

5 Year Career Highlights





 

2020: Discovered avobenzone photostability is drastically improved under micelle encapsulation.

2019: Filmed PBS NOVA's "Beyond the Elements: Life" with David Pogue.  Air-date: February 17, 2021

2017: Patent issued for "Methods for up-conversion using hybrid molecule-nanocrystal materials."

2015: Discovered octyl methoxycinnamate degrades under aggregated conditions

Current:   UV filter photochemistry and photostability. 

Post-doctoral and VRAP: Development of two-photon fluorescence imaging protocols to study chemical events (reactive oxygen species, pH) in skin.  Sunscreen-sensitization of UV-induced ROS in skin.  The effects of antioxidants upon UV-induced ROS in skin.

Graduate: Spectroscopy of the epidermal ultraviolet chromophore urocanic acid.  Ultrafast spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy.

 

Teaching


Student Mentorship









 

Professional Service & Outreach

Science of Skin & Hair
Chemistry 1B

2007-2020: (8) Undergraduate Research Students, Bardeen Lab

• Includes (4) RISE students
• Duties included directing their research projects, weekly meeting, lab training Reviewer for (in alphabetical order)

2007-2020: (19) Graduate Students & post-docs, Bardeen Lab

• 5 publications (#1-#5)
• Duties include lab instrument & data analysis training & collaboration, lit search training, exam & presentation prep, career guidance

1. Transfer Student Initiative, 2017-2018
2. Target of Opportunity Faculty Recruitment, 2018
3. Focus School: Taft Elementary, 2007-Present
   • SunWise @ Taft Elementary Project Coordinator , 2015-2018
   • "Frankenweenie and the Scientific Method" and "Reaction Time and the Scientific Method," Taft Elementary School, Riverside, CA, 3rd & 4th grades, (2013-present)
   • Chemistry "States of Matter" and "Electricity & Magnetism" demonstrations for Taft Elementary School, Riverside, CA 1st, 3rd, & 4th grades (2007-present)
   • Children's Sunprotection Curriculum-Taft Elementary 1st Grade (2009)
4. Chemistry Olympiad Representative, San Gorgonio Section of ACS at UCR, 2015-2019
5. Science Fear! Night National Chemistry Week, UCR, 2013
6. Community Event @
   • Box Spring Elementary, Moreno Valley, December 2019
   • Highland Elementary, Riverside, October 2019
   • Alcott Elementary, Riverside, May 2016 (Bilingual Event)
   • Castle View Elementary, Riverside, May 2015, 2016 (Bilingual Event)
7. Science Fair Judging for RUSD regionals, 2007-present

Reviewer for
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
Food Toxicology
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 
Journal of Biophotonics
Nature Nanotechnology 
​​​​​​​Photochemistry and Photobiology
The Royal Society Research Grants

• SunWise @ Taft Elementary Project Coordinator , 2015-2018
• "Frankenweenie and the Scientific Method" and "Reaction Time and the Scientific Method," Taft Elementary School, Riverside, CA, 3rd & 4th grades, (2013-present)
• Science Fear! Night National Chemistry Week, UCR, 2013
• Science Olympiad Chemistry Coordinator, UCR, 2012
• Chemistry "States of Matter" and "Electricity & Magnetism" demonstrations for Taft Elementary School, Riverside, CA 1st, 3rd, & 4th grades (2007-present)
• Children's Sunprotection Curriculum-Taft Elementary 1st Grade (2009)
• Children's Sunprotection Curriculum-Child Development Center- UCR (2008)

Publications

 

Talks

Awards

1. "Effects of solvent and micellar encapsulation on the photostability of avobenzone," K. M. Hanson, M. Cutuli, T, Rivas, M. Antuna, J. Saoub, N. T. Tierce, and C. J. Bardeen, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 19, 390-398 (2020).
2. "Hybrid Organic-inorganic photon-powered actuators based on diarylethene nanocrystals," X. Dong, F. Tong, K. M. Hanson, R. O. Al-Kaysi, D. Kitagawa, S. Kobatake, C. J. Bardeen, Chem. Materials, 31, 1016-1022 (2019). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b04568
3. "Photochemical degradation of the UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate in solution and in aggregates," K. M. Hanson, S. Narayanan, V. M. Nichols, and C. J. Bardeen, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 14, 1607-1616 (2015).
4. "Hybrid molecule-nanocrystal photon upconversion across the visible and near-infrared," Z. Huang, X. Li, M. Mahboub, K. M. Hanson, V. M. Nichols, H. Le, M. L. Tang, and C. J. Bardeen, Nano Lett., 15(8), 5552-5557 (2015).
5. Hanson, K. M.; Beasley, D. G.; Meyer, T. A.; Bardeen, C. J. "Antioxidants in sunscreensfor improved ROS photoprotection." Cosm. Toil., 126, 712-716 (2011). Cover Article
6. Bonda, C.; Pavlovic, A.; Hanson, K. M.; Bardeen, C. J. "Singlet quenching proves faster is better for photostability." Cosm. Toil., 125, 40-48 (2010) 
   Best paper award, Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 2010.
7.  Hanson, K.M.; Bardeen C.J. Application of nonlinear optical microscopy for imaging skin. Photochem. Photobiol.  85, 33-44 (2009).
8. Hanson, K.M.; Davis, S.K.; Bardeen, C.J. "Two-photon standing-wave fluorescence correlation spectroscopy." Opt. Lett. 32, 1-4 (2007)
9. Hanson, K. M.; Gratton, E.; Bardeen, C. J.  "Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced ROS in the skin."  Free Radical Biology Medicine, 41, 1205-1212 (2006).
10. Hanson, K. M.; Clegg, R. M. "Two-photon fluorescence imaging and ROS detection with the epidermis." Methods in Molecular Biology (Totowa, NJ, US) (2004), 289 (Epidermal Cells), 413-421.
11. Lee, Erica H.; Faulhaber, D.; Hanson, K. M. et al. "Dietary lutein reduces UVR-induced inflammation and immunosuppression." J. Invest. Dermatol.122, 510-517 (2004).
12. Behne, M. J.; Barry, N. J.; Hanson, K. M. et al. "Neonatal development of the stratum corneum pH gradient: localization and mechanisms leading to emergence of optimal barrier function." J. Invest. Dermatol. 120, 998-1006 (2003).
13. Hanson, K. M.; Clegg, R. M. "Bioconvertible vitamin antioxidants improve sunscreen photoprotection against UV-induced reactive oxygen species."
    J Cosmet Sci. 54 589-98 (2003).
14. Behne, M. J.; Meyer, J. W.; Hanson, K. M. et al. "NHE1 regulates the stratum corneum permeability barrier homeostasis." J. Biol. Chem. 277, 47399-47406 (2002).
15. Hanson, K. M. Behne, M. J.; Barry, N. P. et al. "Two-photon fluoresecence lifetime imaginge of the skin stratum corneum pH gradient." Biophys. J.83, 1682-1690 (2002).
16. Hanson, K.M.; Clegg, R.M. "Observation and quantification of UV-induced ROS in ex vivo human skin." Photochem. Photobiol.76, 57-63 (2002).
17. Hanson, K. M.; Simon J. D. "Epidermal trans-UA and the UVA-induced photoaging of the skin." Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 95, 10576-10578 (1998).
18. Hanson, K. M.; Simon, J. D. "The origin of the wavelength-dependent photoreactivity of trans-UA." Photochem. Photobiol. 67, 538-540 (1998).
19. Hanson, K. M.; Simon, J. D. "Photochemistry of UA: evidence that UA should be used with caution in cosmetic formulations." J. Soc. Cosm. Chem. 48, 151-157 (1997).
20. Hanson, K. M.; Simon, J. D. "The photochemical isomerization kinetics of UA and their effects upon the in vitro and in vivo photoisomerization action spectra." Photochem. Photobiol. 66, 829 (1997).
21. Hanson, K. M.; Li, B.; Simon, J. D. "A spectroscopic study of the epidermal chromophore trans-UA." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 48, 151 (1997).
22. Li, B.; Hanson, K. M.; Simon, J. D. "The primary processes of the electronic excited state of t-UA." J. Phys. Chem. 101, 969 (1997).
23. Fu, X.; Schmitz, F. J.; Govindan, M; Abbvas, S. A.; Hanson, K.M. et al. "Enzyme inhibitors: new and known polybrominated phenols and diphenyl ethers from fluor indo-pacific sponges." J. Nat. Prod. 58, 1384 (1995).
24. Wallace-Williams, S. E.; Moller, S. et al. "Excited state s-cis rotamers produces by extreme red edge excition of all-trans-1,4,-diphenylbutadienes." J. Phys. Chem. 97, 9587 (1993).
25. Wallace-Williams, S.E. et al. "Solvent and temperature effects on the exvcited inglet state absorption of diphenylbutadiene." Photochem. Photobiol. 56, 953 (1992).

News Articles:

1. Hanson, K.M. "How do the chemicals in sunscreen protect our skin from damage?" The Conversation, May 25, 2017, republished by
2. "Room for Debate: What We Don’t Know.” New York Times, July 5, 2010. 

Radio & Television 

1. PBS NOVA "Beyond the Elements: Life," first aired February 17, 2021.

   

2. Top of Mind with Julie Rose, BYU Radio, May 28, 2019
3. KPCC LA, AirTalk with Larry Mantle, July 19, 2010, contributing panelist: “Sunscreen: Is It Safe?”

Interviews/Research Featured 

1. "You asked: Is Sunscreen Safe-and Do I Really Need it," Time, Markham Heid, July 30, 2014
2. "When did Sunscreens Become So Complicated," Slate, Melinda Wenner Moyer, June 13, 2013
3. "Sunscreens Can Damage Skin, Researchers Find" (August 29, 2006)-reported in 32 newspapers/magazines (2006-2007).
4.  WCVB - Boston's Channel 5, June, 2007
5. CBC, Nova Scotia, September 2006
6. KVMR, Nevada, September 2006
7. KABC, LA, August 2006 
8. KVCR LA, August 2006

1. Invited Speaker, SkinCare Ingredients 2011, CosmeticsDesign Europe & USA, William Reed, NY, Virtual Webinar
2. Invited Speaker, SUNCARE 2020: Challenges and Future Imperatives for Improving Suncare for  American Consumers, The Coppertone Solar Research Center, Yale Club, New York-declined, April,  2010
3. Annual Meeting of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, New York, presented by Craig Bonda-Hallstar,  December 2010
4. Keynote Speaker, LFD Workshop in Advanced Fluorescence Imaging and Dynamics, University of   California, Irvine, October 2010
5. Invited Speaker, Introductory Course in Fluorescence Techniques, Spectroscopy and Microscopy, University of California, Irvine, April 2009.
6. Annual Meeting, American Academy of Dermatology, San Francisco, presented by Thomas A. Meyer,   Schering-Plough HealthCare, March 2009.

Cancer Research Foundation of America (2001-2003) 
Skin Cancer Foundation Photobiology Award (2001-2002)
University of Illinois Research Board Fellowship (2001)
Hans P. Schaefer Award, Society of Cosmetic Chemists  (1999)
Galderma Research Inc. Merit Award (1998)
NIH-NIGMS Congressional Budget Testimony (1998) [ref: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 95, 10576 (1998)]
Mrs. Walter J. Podbielniak Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Chemistry Scholarship (1995-1997)
ARCS Scholarship (1992-1994)
Drexler Scholarship in Chemistry (1992)
Honors, University of California at Santa Cruz (1992)