ChemE NEWS CHEMICAL & PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
From the
WINTER 2014
Chair
As I reflect on my first full year as Chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Pitt, I cannot help but be tremendously proud at what our department has accomplished. And this newsletter only reflects the tip of the iceberg! Energy and sustainability are top priorities at the University and the Swanson School, and so you’ll read about our research in catalysis and carbon sequestration, as well as our newest faculty appointments in those fields. Our work in computational modeling, specifically with polymer gels, has received national and international attention. And our interdisciplinary collaboration with the Swanson School’s Department of Bioengineering is also leading to new translational research in medicine. In this issue we’ll introduce a new feature on philanthropic support; specifically, a new legacy gift from Dr. James Pommersheim, Class of 1970.
In short, our Department has added five new faculty, improved our US News & World Report ranking, experienced a tremendous increase in expenditures and grants, and captured some notable awards. This could not be possible without my renowned faculty colleagues, as well as our exceptional undergraduate and graduate students. I hope you enjoy this year’s recap of our accomplishments, and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,
Steven R. Little, PhD Associate Professor, CNG Faculty Fellow and Chair
Department Establishes James Martin Pommersheim Award for Excellence in Teaching
T
hanks to a legacy gift from James M. Pommersheim PhD ’70, the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering this year established the James Martin Pommersheim Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award will recognize departmental faculty in the areas of lecturing; teaching; research methodology and research mentorship of our students; conducting seminars; tutorials; and recitations. Such faculty will actively pursue knowledge with their students and will be distinguished
in the manner and method they fulfill the Department’s mission to provide outstanding under-graduate and graduate instruction in our program. Robert M. Enick, PhD, NETL RUA Faculty Fellow, Bayer Professor and Vice Chair for Research, was the 2013 inaugural award recipient. According to Steven R. Little, department chair, the award recognizes the passion that Dr. Pommersheim holds for the Swanson School and the Department
and its excellence in academics and research.“Dr. Pommersheim follows the work of our faculty with great intensity, and so I’m honored that we could recognize his generosity by establishing this award in his honor,” Dr. Little says. “The endowment he established for the department will positively impact our educational mission and greatly benefit our students and faculty.” continued on back cover > > >