Chemical Engineering News
Exciting things are always happening in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Utah. Browse current and past news articles below.
October 21, 2024
Salah Faroughi: Bridging the Gaps across Scales
October 16, 2024
EPA funds U Investigation into Improving Air Quality in Schools
August 20, 2024
The U’s Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center to Receive $3.75M from EPA to Expand Energy Efficiency Program
The UDEQ was selected to receive nearly $75 million from the CPRG Implementation Grants program and will fund 13…
May 23, 2024
Utah FORGE Successfully Completes Stimulation and Circulation Tests
The Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) at the University of Utah has successfully…
April 5, 2024
Utah Air Quality Summit Takes a Multifaceted Look at Pollution Issues
Individuals spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is associated with numerous…
December 18, 2023
ChemE Student Outreach Team Again Receives National Recognition
For students in the Department of Chemical Engineering, the future of the discipline is not just about making…
December 15, 2023
Himanshu Sant Joins Department of Chemical Engineering
An expert in biomedical microfluidics, Sant’s research involves developing novel ways to deliver drugs, conduct…
December 14, 2023
Adriana Payan-Medina Earns NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
The highly-competitive NSF fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the…
November 29, 2023
Kody Powell Named to the New John A. and Amy B. Williams Endowed Professorship in Chemical Engineering
University of Utah’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering has appointed Kody Powell to the John A. and Amy B.…
November 27, 2023
University of Utah Researchers Put Airborne Viral Transmission Risks Under the Microscope
As the COVID pandemic began to unfold in late 2019, researchers around the world scrambled to learn as much as possible…
November 22, 2023
Weighing Cancer Cells with Light: Zangle Lab Receives +$3M in Grants from DoD and NIH
For the past 10 years, Zangle has been pioneering a technique that uses high-powered, highly-light-sensitive…
October 13, 2023
University of Utah Researchers Have a Million-dollar Idea to Protect Kids from Air Pollution
Utah’s striking summer sunsets, with their fiery oranges and reds, can easily take the breath away. Unfortunately,…
September 26, 2023
‘As Great Salt Lake Dries, Dust Is New Danger’
Chemical Engineering Associate Professor Kerry Kelly’s air quality research continues to be nationally recognized.
September 14, 2023
Petroleum Experts Renews Software License For Student Use
Petroleum Experts Ltd., a Scotland-based engineering firm that develops optimization software for the oil and gas…
September 13, 2023
Multiple Open Faculty Positions in Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah invites applications for multiple tenure-track faculty…
June 6, 2023
ChemE’s Distinguished Alumni and Senior Awards
The Department of Chemical Engineering recognized both academic and professional excellence at its annual Distinguished…
May 3, 2023
Chem-E Grad Receives Sandia National Laboratories’ Truman Fellowship
After earning her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the U in 2022, Josefine McBrayer has been awarded the prestigious…
March 9, 2023
Sidney Cushing Named NACADA Recipient
Congratulations to University of Utah chemical engineering undergraduate academic advisor Sidney Cushing, who was named…
March 7, 2023
Powell Receives Utah Engineers Council Award
Congratulations to University of Utah chemical engineering associate professor Kody Powell, who was named Engineering…
February 16, 2023
Texas Instruments Announces New Utah Fab
Texas Instruments announced it will build a semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah.
February 9, 2023
U.S. Energy Secretary Visits FORGE Team
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm met with the U's FORGE Team on campus.
January 12, 2023
COE Receives Major Gift, New Name
For 128 years, the University of Utah’s College of Engineering has been the state’s premier research and educational…
December 14, 2022
Kelly Wins Women in Science Award
Kerry E. Kelly is one of five national winners of the 2022 Women In Science Incentive Prize.
October 26, 2022
U Engineers Help with New AirView Map
The Salt Lake County Health Department has launched AirView, an online, real-time air-quality monitoring map that is…
October 26, 2022
IIAC Receives Green Business Award
Congratulations to the University of Utah’s Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center (IIAC), which was awarded a 2022…
October 21, 2022
Holmes Receives Fulbright Scholarship
University of Utah chemical engineering associate professor Heather A. Holmes has received a Fulbright Future…
October 12, 2022
Hydrogen from Waste Biomass
Kevin Whitty has received two $2 million grants to research methods to convert waste biomass to hydrogen.
September 1, 2022
Steven E Aumeier Seminar
Dr. Steven E. Aumeier is Idaho National Laboratory’s Senior Advisor, Strategic Programs. The title of his seminar is…
August 24, 2022
Lab Safety Day 2022
At the University of Utah’s College of Engineering, lab safety is a priority. To increase awareness of university…
August 17, 2022
Welcome Deisy Fernandes!
The University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering would like to give a warm welcome to its newest member of…
July 18, 2022
FORGE in Science Magazine
Click here to read a story on the FORGE geothermal laboratory in the latest issue of the scientific journal, Science.
June 17, 2022
Cheaper Battery
Tao Gao has discovered a way to make much cheaper and more rechargeable iron metal batteries for renewable energy…
May 12, 2022
FORGE Reaches New Milestone
Researchers at FORGE have created the first successful hydraulic fractures near the bottom of an injection well.
May 12, 2022
Professor Emeritus A. Lamont Tyler Passes
Austin Lamont Tyler, a beloved professor of chemical engineering, passed away May 8.
April 14, 2022
NSF GRFP Fellowship Recipients
Three University of Utah chemical engineering graduate students were offered awards in the National Science…
April 5, 2022
Building a Better Battery
Tao Gao has demonstrated a new kind of high-voltage flow battery that can store more energy at a lower price.
March 25, 2022
ChemE Students Win National Energy Prize
Two chemical engineering graduate students won one of the top awards in the national EnergyTech University Prize…
March 24, 2022
Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award Recipient
Click here to read a Q&A about Katrina Le, this year's recipient of COE's Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher…
March 4, 2022
Eddings Elected AIChE Fellow
Chemical Engineering Chair Eric Eddings was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
January 29, 2022
Holmes Appointed to HEI Research Committee
University of Utah chemical engineering associate professor Heather A. Holmes is one of three distinguished scientists…
November 10, 2021
Wash-and-Wear Sensors
Huanan Zhang has developed a process that turns clothing fabric into biosensors which measure a muscle’s electrical…
August 9, 2021
Butterfield Receives Two National Awards
Tony Butterfield was honored with two teaching awards from AIChE and ASEE.
August 5, 2021
Whitty Elected AIChE Fellow
COE Associate Dean of Research Kevin Whitty was elected Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
August 4, 2021
Up In Smoke
University of Utah chemical engineering associate professor Heather Holmes has developed a method to better determine…
August 4, 2021
Saving Energy, Cutting Pollution
The U's Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center is examining how businesses can cut down on emissions.
July 8, 2021
McLennan Honored with Service Award
Congratulations to University of Utah chemical engineering professor John McLennan, who was honored with the American…
June 29, 2021
Air Flow Study in Science Advances
With the help of Saad and Sutherland, "Mitigation strategies for airborne disease transmission in orchestras using…
April 22, 2021
Inversion Pollution Research
Heather Holmes has received a $2.6 million grant to research pollution from temperature inversions.
March 24, 2021
Recharge Your Batteries
Chemical engineering assistant professor Tao Gao has obtained a new understanding of how to dramatically speed up the…
March 3, 2021
Welcome New Faculty
The University of Utah’s College of Engineering welcomes associate professor Heather Holmes and assistant professor Tao…
February 22, 2021
COE Alumna to Be Honored on Founders Day
Chemical engineering alumna Sara Jones will be honored with Distinguished Alumni Award.
January 20, 2021
Engineering Team with Milind Deo Receives DOE Grant
An engineering team from the U has received a $1.9 M DOE grant to design and build a sensor system to help farmers make…
January 8, 2021
Cities to Try U Air Quality Network
An air quality monitoring network developed and deployed by University of Utah engineers will now be installed in…
January 4, 2021
Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate Grads
Learn about the first graduates of our new Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate program. This includes Sid Agrawal,…
December 24, 2020
ChemE Professor Emeritus Ronald Pugmire Passes
Ronald Pugmire, chemical engineering Professor Emeritus and former university associate vice president of research,…
November 24, 2020
Where There’s Fire There’s Smoke
Chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry E. Kelly co-authored a study to understand the spread of wildfire smoke…
September 21, 2020
Colin Young Receives AIChE 35 Under 35 Award
Congratulations to University of Utah chemical engineering graduate Colin Young, who received the American Institute of…
September 18, 2020
Blowin’ in the Wind
Chemical engineers James Sutherland and Tony Saad conducted an analysis of the air flow in Abravanel Hall for the Utah…
September 3, 2020
Idle Threat
Kerry E. Kelly leads a team that will be designing and testing a new dynamic air pollution display system.
August 26, 2020
2020 COE Teaching and Staff Awards
Congratulations to this year's winners of the University of Utah College of Engineering Teaching and Staff Awards.
August 19, 2020
Energy Center Wins Award
The Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Utah has received the Center of Excellence Award.
August 11, 2020
Online Excellence Awards
Congratulations to associate professor (lecturer) Tony Butterfield, assistant professor (lecturer) Stacy Firth, and…
June 29, 2020
Students Win Poster Awards
Three University of Utah chemical engineering students, all advised by assistant professor Kerry Kelly, were each…
May 18, 2020
Social Disparities in Air Pollution
Chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry Kelly is a co-author of a new study about social disparities in air…
May 7, 2020
Kerry Kelley Receives NSF CAREER Award
University of Utah chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry Kelley has received a National Science Foundation’s…
May 6, 2020
Marc Porter Named Distinguished Professor
Marc D. Porter was named Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering.
May 6, 2020
Tony Butterfield Received U’s Distinguished Teaching Award
Butterfield can now add the U’s Distinguished Teaching Award to his already full mantle of honors.
April 28, 2020
COE Research Into COVID-19 Pandemic
Click here for a list of seven COE research projects being funded by the U to combat the COVID-19 pandemic including…
April 3, 2020
Engineers to Create PPE
U engineers are using 3D printers, laser cutters and other equipment to create new personal protective equipment for…
February 28, 2020
Porter Named to Chemistry Society
Marc Porter was recently named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
February 7, 2020
Burning Questions on Air Pollution
A College of Engineering study shows restrictions on wood burning in Utah have had a great impact on air quality.
January 31, 2020
Eddings Gets $1.9M Grant
Eric Eddings has received a $1.9 million grant for continued research on converting coal pitch into carbon fiber.
December 2, 2019
Porter Named AAAS Fellow
Chemical engineering professor Marc D. Porter was named a fellow to the Council of the American Association for the…
November 25, 2019
Students Win National AIChE Competition
Two chemical engineering student teams win first national AIChE K–12 STEM Outreach Competition.
September 13, 2019
Kelly Receives Environmental Award
Chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry E. Kelly has received the AIChE Environmental Division Early Career…
September 3, 2019
Help Make the U a Safe Campus
Help maintain a safe environment on the University of Utah campus with this informative website.
August 20, 2019
2019 COE Teaching and Staff Awards
Congratulations to the 2019 College of Engineering’s Teaching and Staff Awards recipients!
July 2, 2019
Eddings Named ChemE Chair
Chemical engineering professor and former associate dean for research, Eric Eddings, has been named the new chair of…
June 25, 2019
Better Energy Management
Kody Powell has received a $3.8 million grant to further develop software that more efficiently manages coal plants.
June 24, 2019
Student Wins Best Paper
University of Utah sophomore chemical engineering student Katrina Le was awarded the William H. Corcoran Award from the…
May 17, 2019
“You’ve got to have more engineers”
A story from Forbes explains Utah's success story in tech, thanks in part to the college feeding new engineers to the…
May 16, 2019
The air we breathe; pollutants in our own home
Recent research at the University of Utah is starting to reveal that the air indoors can be just as polluted as the air…
May 3, 2019
2019 COE Convocation
Click here for information on this week's College of Engineering convocation, including parking, the schedule and…
April 16, 2019
Chemical Engineering Distinguished Alumni
Kurt Nielson, chief engineer at ExxonMobil, received the University of Utah Department of Chemical Engineering…
April 5, 2019
Petroleum Engineering Program Video
There’s still time to apply for admission to the Master of Petroleum Engineering program for this coming fall semester.…
March 21, 2019
Air Quality Sensor Network
Click here to see a National Science Foundation video about chemical engineers' work on a portable air quality sensor…
March 13, 2019
Grad Program on the Rise
According to U.S. News & World Report, our chemical engineering’s graduate program rose five spots to 56th.
March 12, 2019
Student / Faculty Spotlight: Micale Ward / Kody Powell
Micale Ward-a senior in the University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of the Air National…
March 5, 2019
Turning Algae Into Fuel
University of Utah chemical engineers develop fast method to convert algae to biocrude.
February 28, 2019
Michael Hoepfner Receives NSF CAREER Award
Michael Hoepfner was awarded the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award…
January 22, 2019
Petroleum Experts Renews Software License for Student Use
Petroleum Experts has renewed an educational license for University of Utah students to use its suite of software free…
January 10, 2019
In Memoriam: Noel de Nevers
University of Utah chemical engineering Emeritus Professor Noel de Nevers died Jan. 4 at his home in Salt Lake City.
December 24, 2018
COE Benefactor, Peter Meldrum, Passes
University of Utah chemical engineering graduate, Peter D. Meldrum, co-founder of Myriad Genetics, died Dec. 20.
September 26, 2018
New Center Saves Companies Energy
The Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Utah honored three businesses with awards for their…
August 31, 2018
New Faculty Member Yunshan Wang
The Department of Chemical Engineering welcomes our new faculty member Yunshan Wang.
August 6, 2018
FORGE Ahead
The Deseret News recently profiled the new FORGE project that will construct a geothermal laboratory near Milford,…
July 9, 2018
Petrophase 2018
The Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to organize and host Petrophase 2018 from July 8 - 12 at the Chateaux…
July 2, 2018
Researchers Receive DOE Grant for Center
The College of Engineering has received a $10.75 million grant to create an Energy Frontier Research Center.
June 29, 2018
Student Spotlight: Kyle Branch Wins “Best Poster”
Congratulations to University of Utah chemical engineering graduate student Kyle Branch for winning “Best Poster” in…
June 15, 2018
John McLennan on Team that Received $140M Grant for Geothermal Research
The laboratory, called Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) will focus on developing enhanced…
April 11, 2018
Pershing Returns to the College of Engineering
David W. Pershing returns to the College of Engineering after six years as U president.
April 5, 2018
Chemical Engineering Team to Demo Air Quality Sensors
Professors Tony Butterfield and Kerry Kelly have been selected to demonstrate their pollution sensors at the USA…
April 3, 2018
John McLennan and More COE Faculty Honored
The Career & Professional Development Center at the U honored associate professor John McLennan with a Career Services…
March 15, 2018
Student Spotlight: Shakar Bradost
Shakar Bradost is a senior in the chemical engineering program and has been very involved in undergraduate research. He…
February 27, 2018
Kerry Kelly Receives UCAIR Award
University of Utah chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry E. Kelly was awarded the Clean Air Person of the Year…
February 22, 2018
Sarofim Distinguished Lecture: Kimberly Ritrievi
The Adel Sarofim Distinguished Lecture will be held on March 12th. Kimberly E. Ritrievi will be presenting "Chemical…
January 25, 2018
Our Chinese Community
In an effort to promote academic exchange and partnerships between the University of Utah and international partners,…
January 17, 2018
Safety First
For University of Utah chemical engineering adjunct professor Daniel Crowl, there is nothing more critical to a…
November 28, 2017
Student Spotlight: Aimee Oz
Aimee, a junior in the chemical engineering program has impressive research experience. The advice that she would give…
November 8, 2017
Tony Butterfield Receives National Education Award
University of Utah chemical engineering associate professor (lecturer) Tony Butterfield received this year’s Award for…
November 7, 2017
ChemE Graduates Win Design Competition
Three recent graduates of the University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering tied for first place in this…
August 28, 2017
Putting it to the Test
A team of researchers led by University of Utah chemical engineering and chemistry professor Marc Porter and U surgeon…
August 23, 2017
James Sutherland Receives Outstanding Teacher Award
Congratulations to Chemical Engineering associate Professor James Sutherland for receiving the Outstanding Teacher…
May 11, 2017
2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards
The University of Utah Department of Chemical Engineering congratulates this year’s honorees for the Distinguished…
April 22, 2017
New Class: Advanced Numerical Methods
A new class will be offered this fall: ChEn 6703 - Advanced Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineers. Dr. James…
April 18, 2017
Milind Deo Selected by the SPE as a Distinguished Lecturer
University of Utah chemical engineering professor and department chair, Milind Deo, has been selected by the Society of…
April 13, 2017
Siavash Nadimi is 2017 Garr Cutler Energy Prize Winner
The prize recognizes a University of Utah graduate student who has published a paper, which, in the Garr Cutler Energy…
March 31, 2017
U Engineers Help Businesses Save on Energy Costs
University of Utah chemical engineering assistant professor Kody Powell and mechanical engineering assistant professor…
March 27, 2017
Powell Wins Faculty Award
Chemical engineering associate professor Kody Powell has been given the Faculty Recognition Award from the university’s…
March 3, 2017
Utah’s Need for Engineers
Utah’s tech sector continues to grow, and engineering colleges around the state are doing everything they can to meet…
February 23, 2017
Lawrence Thatcher Awarded
U chemical engineering alum, Lawrence Thatcher, was honored with this year’s Governor’s Medal for Science and…
February 16, 2017
Student Spotlight: Manas Pathak
Congratulations to Dr. Manas Pathak who has recently defended his Ph.D. working with Dr. Milind Deo. His research…
February 7, 2017
Building Blocks for Bad Air
Chemical engineering faculty launched the AirU program for Salt Lake County high schools in which they visit science…
January 20, 2017
Freshmen and Seniors Team Up, Go to Work
A chemical engineering program with associate professor Tony Butterfield gives students valuable professional work…
January 11, 2017
Welcome to our New Faculty Member!
Welcome to our new faculty member Tony Saad. His research is focused on developing numerical methods and simulation…
January 5, 2017
Butterfield Receives National Educator Award
Chemical engineering associate professor (lecturing) Tony Butterfield has received the 2017 National Organization of…
December 1, 2016
Four Decades Of Outstanding Service
After 36 years of outstanding service to the University of Utah, chemical engineering professor Edward Trujillo will be…
December 1, 2016
James Sutherland: Solutions Through Simulations
The outcomes of his research will help engineers to develop more efficient systems for power generation,…
October 31, 2016
Distinguished Lecture Nov. 8: Dr. Robert Kee
On November 8th, Dr. Robert Kee will present "Process intensification in the catalytic conversion of natural gas to…
October 27, 2016
Making a New Pitch for Coal
Eric Eddings has launched a new project to research better ways to transform coal into carbon-fiber material,…
September 26, 2016
Welcome to our New Faculty Members!
The University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering is pleased to welcome three new faculty members as it…
August 31, 2016
Why I think oil and natural gas are indispensable for the foreseeable future
CEO and Chairman of the Board of Chevron speaks on the future of oil and natural gas. "Those of us in the industry know…
August 16, 2016
Student Spotlight: Shae Thompson
Shae Thompson will be starting her Junior year in Chemical Engineering in Fall semester 2016. She is a member of the…
May 27, 2016
Student Spotlight: S. J. Wang
As a principle engineer at IM Flash, Wang has been recognized as a worldwide expert for the control system at Micron…
May 23, 2016
Meet Colin Young – Featured YP for May 2016
Chemical Engineering Graduate Research Assistant and Ph.D. Candidate Colin Young is featured in AIChE ChEnceted this…
May 3, 2016
U Air Quality Project in the News
University of Utah chemical engineering assistant professor Kerry Kelly helped seniors in the U’s School of Computing…
February 17, 2016
Biosensor Research Profiled
Professor Jules Magda's work on high-tech biosensors is profiled in this year's Technology & Venture Commercialization…
February 17, 2016
Petroleum engineering is the highest-paying college major
Those with a bachelor's degree in this engineering field earn a median of $136,000 annually.
February 10, 2016
Faculty Honored by Career Services
Five faculty members from the University of Utah’s College of Engineering will be recognized by the university’s Career…
February 9, 2016
Stegner Center Green Bag: Why Utah Struggles With Air Quality
From Particles to People: Why Utah Struggles With Air Quality and How This Affects Human Health.
January 13, 2016
Assistant Professor Kody M. Powell Joins Department Faculty
The University of Utah Department of Chemical Engineering welcomes its newest faculty member, assistant professor Kody…
December 16, 2015
Student Spotlight
Travis Healey is a senior in Chemical Engineering, and will graduate in May of 2016. He first became interested in…
November 19, 2015
Team of U Chemical Engineering Students Create Hydrogen-Powered Chem-E-Car
If you give a group of chemical engineers hydrogen, they could probably make you a car. At least, that is what some…
November 13, 2015
New Course: Heterogeneous Catalysis
Chemical Engineering 5960/6960, Heterogeneous Catalysis is a new class starting Spring 2016.
November 13, 2015
New Graduate Course in Chemical Engineering
New Graduate Course in Chemical Engineering Starting Spring 2016: Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids
October 26, 2015
The Mixing Cup 2015 Newsletter
The Mixing Cup 2015, the newsletter for the University of Utah's Department of Chemical Engineering, is now available…
September 18, 2015
Air Quality Expert, Kerry Kelly, Joins Department Faculty
July 21, 2015
Firing Up the Engine
University of Utah chemical engineering students have converted a truck to run on wood chips as part of a new class.…