Stacey I. Zones is currently a Research Fellow with Chevron’s Energy and Technology Company, working in the catalyst department. He has also been an Adjunct Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Zones earned a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego in 1978, with a thesis in the area of model systems for nitrogen fixation. He joined Chevron in 1980 and began a program in searching for new zeolite structures with a strong emphasis on designing organic cations to aid in the synthesis. He continues to head that effort for Chevron, as well as contribute as a team member in efforts to develop the zeolite products into commercial use, working on manufacturing and catalyst development efforts. He is also involved in new business opportunities for zeolites for Chevron.
Dr. Zones is a co-author and co-inventor on more than 150 zeolite science papers and 150 technology patent applications. He has had a successful long-standing collaboration with Professor Mark Davis and group at Caltech in the area of fundamentals of zeolite synthesis. He is a past President of the California Catalysis Society. His research was recognized by the International Zeolite Association with the 2001 Breck Award for outstanding research contributions. In 2007 he received the Houdry Award from the North American Catalysis Society for contributions in applied catalysis. Last year he was elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering.