College of Engineering Named Professors

Suresh Advani

George W. Laird Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Chair, COE Named Professors Committee

Research: Rheology, fluid mechanics and heat transfer as applied to composite processing and alternate energy sources such as fuel cells and hydrogen storage. Google Scholar

The funds for this endowment were provided through the George W. Laird Fund in Mechanical Engineering, which was established in 1991 through a gift from the George W. Laird Computer-Aided Engineering Foundation. This foundation was established in 1987 by Mr. Laird’s father, William W. (Chick) Laird, to provide support to the University of Delaware’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Gonzalo R. Arce

Charles Black Evans Professor of Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research: Nonlinear signal processing, wireless communications, statistical signal processing, electronic imaging and display, bioelectronics, image processing, multimedia security and communications. Google Scholar

This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Evans and his father, George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.

Kenneth E. Barner

Charles Black Evans Professor of Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research: Statistical signal processing, nonlinear and sparse signal processing, sensor network and consensus systems, machine learning, and information access methods for individuals with disabilities, including tactile, haptic, and multimodal systems. Google Scholar

This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Evans and his father, George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.

Anthony N. Beris

Arthur B. Metzner Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Modeling and simulation of complex flows, nonequilibrium thermodynamics and transport phenomena. Google Scholar

This professorship honors the late Arthur B. Metzner, who came to the University in 1953 and chaired the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1970-77. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and received the UD’s Francis Alison Award.

Thomas S. Buchanan

George W. Laird Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Research: Models of Muscle Coordination, Medical Imaging, Knee Stability and Osteoarthritis, tic and EMG patterns after ACL injury. Google Scholar

This professorship honors the memory of George W. Laird, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering who earned a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1971. He was killed in a tragic accident in 1977. The funds for this endowment were provided through the George W. Laird Fund in Mechanical Engineering.

Wilfred Chen

Gore Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Cellular and metabolic engineering, synthetic biology for biofuel production, protein therapeutics, viral detection, drug discovery, and protein purification. Google Scholar

This professorship honors the Gore family, including Robert W. Gore `59, Sarah I. Gore `76M and the late Genevieve W. Gore. Robert W. Gore, a 1959 chemical engineering graduate of the University of Delaware, served as president of W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc. and is a member of the UD Board of Trustees. In 1990, Dr. Gore received the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and he was inducted into UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 1992.

Tsu-Wei Chou

Unidel Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Research: Materials science, applied mechanics, fiber composite materials, piezoelectric materials, and nanocomposites. Google Scholar

• Francis Alison Faculty Award, 2001

Funded by the Unidel Foundation, this endowed chair honors the memory of Pierre Samuel du Pont, industrialist, philanthropist and educational visionary. His generosity began with an anonymous gift of land to then-Delaware College in 1915, which forms the central area of campus now known as The Green. Mr. du Pont also played a role in establishing the University’s Junior Year Abroad Program, the first program of its kind in the world.

Dominic M. Di Toro

Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Research: Water quality modeling, the development of mathematical and statistical models for water quality and sediment studies. Google Scholar

• National Academy of Engineering, 2005

This professorship honors the late Edward C. Davis, who graduated from then-Delaware College in 1905 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He became one of the nation’s leading hydraulic engineers and was a generous benefactor to the University.

Dawn M. Elliott

Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor
Biomedical Engineering

Research: Biomechanics of collagenous soft tissues and intervertebral disc function, degeneration, and restoration. Google Scholar

Thomas H. Epps, III

Allan and Myra Ferguson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Renewable and sustainable polymers, polymer membranes for batteries, polymer composites, drug delivery, nanoscale assembly of polymers. Google Scholar

This professorship was established in 2015 with a gift from UD alumni Allan and Myra Ferguson. Allan Ferguson had a 20-year career as a chemical engineer at Johnson & Johnson, then senior operating positions at two biotech companies, followed by 20-plus years in international venture capital investing in early-stage biotech and medical device companies.

John W. Gillespie, Jr.

Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering

Research: Advanced composite materials. Google Scholar

This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.

Chin-Pao Huang

Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Research: Industrial wastewater management, aquatic chemistry, chemical oxidation technologies. Google Scholar

• Francis Alison Faculty Award, 2008

This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.

Marianthi Ierapetritou

Bob and Jane Gore Centennial Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Process operations, design and synthesis of flexible production systems focusing on pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy and sustainability process modeling and operations, and modeling of biopharmaceutical production. Google Scholar

This professorship acknowledges the generosity of Robert W. ’59 ’10H and Jane Gore.

Kristi L. Kiick

Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor
Materials Science and Engineering

Research: Synthesis, characterization, and application of protein, peptide, and self-assembled materials for applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bioengineering, with specific research in cardiovascular, vocal fold, and cancer therapies. Google Scholar

James T. Kirby

Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Research: Applied coastal research, currents, wave conditions, nearshore oceanography. Google Scholar

This professorship honors the late Edward C. Davis, who graduated from then-Delaware College in 1905 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He became one of the nation’s leading hydraulic engineers and was a generous benefactor to the University.

Kelvin H. Lee

Gore Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Gene expression monitoring tools, including mass spectrometry, for the measurement of protein expression relevant to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and to human health.

This professorship honors the Gore family, including Trustee Robert W. Gore `59, Sarah I. Gore `76M and the late Genevieve W. Gore. Robert W. Gore, a 1959 chemical engineering graduate of the University of Delaware, served as president of W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc and also was a member of the UD Board of Trustees. In 1990, Dr. Gore received the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and he was inducted into UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 1992.

Abraham M. Lenhoff

Allan P. Colburn Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Applied protein biophysics, separation processes and colloid and interface science. Google Scholar

• Francis Alison Faculty Award, 2014

This professorship honors Allan P. Colburn, a nationally prominent chemical engineer who was chairman of UD’s Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Dr. Colburn also served as acting president of the University in 1950 and provost from 1950 until his death in 1955.

Raul F. Lobo

Claire D. LeClaire Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Inorganic materials synthesis and characterization, catalysis and kinetics, and adsorption and separations. Google Scholar

This professorship was made possible by the endowment of the late Mr. Claire D. LeClaire, formerly of Dover, in support of chemical engineering efforts at the University

Michael E. Mackay

Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering

Research: Polymer-based solar cells, neutron and x-ray scattering, rheological characterization, nanocomposites, nanoparticle self-assembly. Google Scholar

This professorship recognizes deserving senior members of the UD faculty.

David C. Martin

Karl W. and Renate Böer Chaired Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering

Research: Materials via self assembly, Microelectronics/photonics, Nanotechnology, New biomaterials, Tissue Engineering. Google Scholar

The professorship honors Karl W. Böer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Solar Energy, and Renate Böer, an authority in the field of international trade. A pioneer in the fields of solar cells, solar energy systems, and solid state physics, Dr. Böer was a faculty member from 1962-1994. In 1987, the University established the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit in his honor. Dr. Boer also was awarded UD’s Medal of Distinction in 1998.

Eleftherious T. Papoutsakis

Unidel Eugene du Pont Chair
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Systems biology, metabolic engineering, and experimental and computational genomics. Google Scholar

• National Academy of Engineering, 2018

This chair honors Eugene du Pont, who served as the fourth president of the DuPont Co. from 1889-1902. The Eugene du Pont Distinguished Memorial Scholars program, funded by a Unidel Foundation endowment and supporting highly qualified incoming freshmen, also is named in his honor.

Lori Pollock

Alumni Distinguished Professor of Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences

Research: Software engineering, including helping software engineers maintain and test their large software systems, as well as computer science education. Google Scholar

This professorship was established with an endowment commitment made by the University of Delaware Alumni Association in 2002.

Ajay K. Prasad

College of Engineering Alumni Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering

Research: Applying fundamental fluids and thermal physics to renewable energy technologies including hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, wind and solar. Google Scholar

Established in 2007 by more than 50 UD alumni and their employers, the College of Engineering Alumni Professorship endowment assists the college in attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in engineering education and research.

Dennis W. Prather

College of Engineering Alumni Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research: The development of micro-, meso- and nano-photonic devices, applied optics and electromagnetic research, and imaging technologies in the millimeter-wave (mmW) part of the spectrum. Google Scholar

This named professorship is supported by an endowment fund established by alumni in 2004 to assist in attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in engineering education and research.

John F. Rabolt

Karl W. and Renate Böer Professor of Materials Science Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering

Research: Electrospun polymer nanofibers, tissue engineering scaffolds, nanostructures.

The professorship honors Karl W. Böer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Solar Energy, and Renate Böer, an authority in the field of international trade. A pioneer in the fields of solar cells, solar energy systems, and solid state physics, Dr. Böer was a faculty member from 1962-94. In 1987, the University established the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit in his honor. He was awarded UD’s Medal of Distinction in 1998.

Millicent O. Sullivan

Alvin B. and Julie O. Stiles Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Biomaterials for drug delivery, gene delivery, and tissue engineering, with specific therapeutic targets including metastatic breast cancer, bone repair, wound healing, and cardiovascular repair. Google Scholar

Levi Thompson

Elizabeth Inez Kelley Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Design and synthesize nanoscale materials for catalytic and energy storage applications. Google Scholar

• National Academy of Engineering, 2021

Dionisios G. Vlachos

Unidel Dan Rich Chair in Energy
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Multiscale simulation, reacting flows, reaction mechanism development, microreactors, portable power, energy, crystal growth, nanomaterials, zeolites, membranes, separations, cellular engineering and cancer. Google Scholar

Funded by the Unidel Foundation, this endowed chair honors Dan Rich for his distinguished service as the University’s provost from 2001 to 2009.

Norman J. Wagner

Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, molecular thermodynamics. Google Scholar

• National Academy of Engineering, 2015
• Francis Alison Faculty Award, 2020

Funded by the Unidel Foundation, this professorship honors Robert L. Pigford, chairperson of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from 1947-66, the first recipient of the University’s Francis Alison Faculty Award and a member of the UD.

Cathy Huey-Hwa Wu

Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair in Engineering and Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences

Research: bioinformatics and computational systems biology. Google Scholar

The Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair honors the late Edward Jefferson, former chairman and chief executive officer of the DuPont Company and a University trustee and benefactor. The Jefferson Chair is funded through an endowment established by the Unidel Foundation.

Xiang-Gen Xia

Charles Black Evans Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research: Wireless communications systems, space-time coding, time-frequency analysis, and other signal and image processing. Google Scholar

This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Mr. Evans and his father George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.

Yushan Yan

Henry Belin du Pont Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research: Electrochemical energy engineering; Energy conversion and storage; fuel cells; electrolyzers; flow batteries; electrochemistry; electrocatalysis; polymer electrolytes; electrochemical interfaces; zeolites and covalent organic frameworks. Google Scholar

This chair honors Henry Belin du Pont, who served on the Board of Trustees from 1944 until his death in 1970. His unusually diverse educational background and other life-long interests set the tone for his broad-based role at Delaware. Being well informed about business, science, and technology issues, he was a leader in community development. Upon his death, he bequeathed a substantial legacy to the University.