SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 8) – In a ceremony during its Annual Meeting here yesterday, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) presented awards to 16 leaders and innovators in chemical engineering. This year marked the first presentation of four new awards that spotlight achievements in the industrial sectors of chemical engineering.
The Dow Chemical Company R&D Team: Shuttle Crew of Freeport, Texas received the Industrial Research and Development Award for the discovery of a new mechanism for polymerization. The team was able to create new polymers thanks to their discovery, and modify existing plant reactors. The award recognizes individuals or teams working in the industries served by chemical engineers, for innovation that has resulted in the successful commercial development of new products and/or new processes for making useful products. Principal research scientist in Dow’s modeling and materials science group Daniel J. Arriola accepted the award on behalf of The Dow Chemical Company.
The inaugural Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals or teams working in the industries served by chemical engineers, for leadership and accomplishment in activities including: management; sales and marketing; public, community, and industrial relations; commercial and business development, training, or public service. S. Shariq Yosufzai, vice president, Chevron Corporation, received the award for both his leadership over the past 35 years and for creating three startup companies in a Fortune 15 company.
Bristol-Myers Squibb – Process Research and Development, received the Process Operations Award, which recognizes individuals or teams working in plant operations, process control and/or supply chain management that have significantly improved the safety, reliability or economics of process operations. Vice President of Process R&D Mauricio Futran accepted the award on behalf of the company for its efforts in implementing recipe control in pharmaceutical process development.
The Engineering and Construction Award recognizes individuals or teams for achievement in the design and/or construction of process plants or process plant revamps. The Marathon Petroleum Company received the award for its successful design and construction of the addition to their Garyville, Louisiana refinery. The project was completed in 37 months, despite numerous challenges including two hurricanes. The project boosted the local economy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, allowing for placement of over $1.5 billion in contracts to Louisiana companies. James Shoriak, director of major downstream projects at Marathon, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
The Sustainable Energy Award recognizes individuals, teams or companies who have made a significant contribution toward alternative energy development, generation and use. UOP-ENI Biologically-based Fuels Team received the award for its approach to producing diesel and jet fuels from a broad range of biomaterials. Chris Gosling, UOP’s director of refining development, and Giovanni Faraci, feasibility study and technology benchmarking manager for Eni’s Refining and Marketing Division, accepted the award on behalf of UOP-ENI. The company is headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois.
In addition, AIChE also honored these 11 outstanding chemical engineers:
Peter T. Cummings, the John R. Hall Professor of Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, received the Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering.
Thomas F. Edgar, the George T. and Gladys H. Abell Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, received the F. J. and Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award for Service to AIChE. The award is sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company.
Teh-Chung Ho, senior research associate at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company in Bridgewater, NJ, received the Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice. The award is sponsored by CACHE Corporation.
William John Koros¸ Roberto C. Goizueta Chair and Georgia Research Alliance Scholar in Membranes at the Georgia Institute of Technology, was presented the William H. Walker Award for Excellence in Contributions to Chemical Engineering Literature. The award is sponsored by John Wiley & Sons.
Ali Khademhosseini, assistant professor at Harvard-MIT’s Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, received the Allan P. Colburn Award for Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Institute. The award is sponsored by E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company.
William B. Russel, the A.W. Marks ’19 Professor and Dean of the Graduate School at Princeton University’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, was presented with the Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research. The award is sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation.
Richard D. Noble, the Alfred T. and Betty Look Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado, received the Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology. The award is sponsored by Praxair, Inc.
Michael W. Deem, the John W. Cox Professor of Bioengineering at Rice University, was presented with the Professional Progress Award for Outstanding Progress in Chemical Engineering. The award is sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals.
Glenn E. Taylor, a retired executive director of AIChE, was presented with the Award for Service to Society. The award is sponsored by Fluor Foundation.
Ioannis G. Kevrekidis, professor of chemical and biological engineering at Princeton University, was presented with the R.H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering. The award is sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company.
T.W. Fraser Russell, the Allan P. Colburn Emeritus Professor (retired) at the University of Delaware, received the Warren K. Lewis Award for Chemical Engineering Education. The award is sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company.
“The world faces many challenges today, but chemical engineers, as demonstrated by these exceptional award winners, have the innovative spirit and skills to solve them,” said Henry T. “Hank” Kohlbrand, president of AIChE. “The accomplishments of these engineers – and the work of our thousands of members worldwide – are paving the way for a better future.”
About AIChE:
AIChE is a professional society of more than 40,000 chemical engineers in 92 countries. Its members work in corporations, universities and government using their knowledge of chemical processes to develop safe and useful products for the benefit of society. Through its varied programs, AIChE continues to be a focal point for information exchange on the frontier of chemical engineering research in such areas as nanotechnology, sustainability, hydrogen fuels, biological and environmental engineering, and chemical plant safety and security. More information about AIChE is available at www.aiche.org.