Kris Thunhorst

Kris is a Senior Division Scientist in the Automotive Aftermarket Division in the Safety and Industrial Business Group at 3M.  She received her Chemical Engineering BS degree from Purdue University and her PhD from the University of Colorado Boulderwith a focus on photopolymerization.  

During her 27 years with 3M, she’s held positions in all three Business Groups and in the Corporate Research Lab as well.  She has distinguished herself as a company leader in new product development from inception through commercialization.  In collaboration with exceptional cross-functional teams, she discovers and brings to life new technologies to improve 3M processes, and products to boost customers’ productivity and profitability. 

Her work has been recognized with numerous leadership and technical awards, most recently her induction into the prestigious 3M Carlton Society, and notably including the National AIChE Industrial Research and Development Award, University of Colorado Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, Purdue Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award, National Science Foundation Fellowship, 2 Corporate Circle of Technical Excellence and Innovation Awards, PSI Leadership award, and Best Overall Technical Paper Award.  Her teams have been responsible for significant financial contributions to 3M.