Meet the Professor: Dr. Christa Hestekin

Dr. Christa Hestekin, assistant professor of chemical engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since Fall 2006. Hestekin earned a bachelor's of science in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Northwestern University.

Intro to Engineering
Christa entered college with no idea what her major should be, so she consulted a professor. After discussing her interest in medical school, the professor advised her to consider engineering as a way to accomplish her goals.

As an undergraduate, Hestekin was a researcher and completed an internship. She tried different things to figure out what she liked best before pursuing it, and discovered that she preferred research, more than industry.

Influences
Christa’s first impression of engineering came from her dad, who was a civil engineer. “I couldn’t get passionate about bridges,” she said lightheartedly, “but I liked the logical side of the brain that you had to use to be an engineer.” Her appreciation of math and science, paired with encouragement from her first chemical engineering professor, Dr. Bhattacharyya, kept her on the track to become a chemical engineer.

University of Arkansas
Christa and her husband, Jamie Hestekin, accepted positions in the chemical engineering department and were drawn to the strength of the Honors College and the emphasis on undergraduate research. Hestekin’s research assistants are sometimes as young as college sophomores, and she’s delighted that University of Arkansas students begin research early and stay with the same lab for years at a time.

She also seems to enjoy the challenge of teaching. “Students will ask you about a concept in ways you never thought,” she said. “Being a teacher makes you learn all the things you know in different ways.”

Research
Hestekin researches biomedical and environmental matters. Her biomedical research seeks to detect genetic alterations that lead to disease, such as identifying early protein aggregation or DNA mutations. Her solution is to screen patients as early as possible and identify the appropriate treatment.

In her environmental research, she creates improved biofuels, particularly from algae. “It’s my job to figure out whether algae has oil to make better biodiesel or carbohydrates for bioethanol,” Hestekin said. Her work may give insight into different processing techniques and shed light on the use of wild algae, as well as farm-grown algae.

Off the Clock
Hestekin is a black belt in martial arts. She likes to sing on occasion, accompanied by her husband, who plays the piano. She is an avid video game player, and is on a God of War kick right now.