NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) will recognize 16 leaders and innovators in chemical engineering with the 2026 Institute and Board of Directors’ Awards. The honorees, selected for their significant contributions to research, education, industrial practice, and service to the profession, will be celebrated at the 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting, November 8-12, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Institute and Board of Directors’ Awards represent AIChE’s highest honors, recognizing individuals whose work has advanced chemical engineering and benefited society.

Dr. Nicholas Peppas, Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, will receive the F. J. and Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award for Service to AIChE. The award is sponsored by Dow.

Dr. Liang-Shih Fan, Distinguished University Professor and C. John Easton Professor in Engineering, The Ohio State University, will receive the Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering.

Dr. Rong Yang, Associate Professor, Cornell University, will receive the Allan P. Colburn Award for Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Institute. The award is sponsored by DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Dr. Samir Mitragotri, Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, will receive the Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research. The award is sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation.

Dr. M. Scott Shell, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, will receive the Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation.

Dr. Kenneth Hanley, Senior Vice President of Research & Development for 3M’s Transportation & Electronics, will receive the Industry Leadership Award.

Dr. Theresa Whiting, Product Developer, 3M Abrasive Systems Division, will receive the Industrial Progress Award.

Dr. Kevin Seibert, Vice President, Engineering, Synthetic Molecule Design and Development, Eli Lilly and Company, will receive the Industrial Research and Development Award. The award is sponsored by AbbVie.

Dr. Ruilan Guo, Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, will receive the Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology. The award is sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Dr. Alon McCormick, Professor, University of Minnesota, will receive the Institute Award for Service to Society and the Energy and Sustainability Award.

Dr. Richard Flagan, Irma and Ross McCollum/William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering, California Institute of Technology, will receive the L.-S. Fan Award for Excellence in Contributions to Chemical Engineering Literature. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation.

Scott J. Herrmann, Engineering Fellow at Qnity Electronics Inc., will receive the Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation and supported by CACHE Corporation.

Dr. Norma Alcantar, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, will receive the Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement by a Woman Chemical Engineer. The award is sponsored by Pfizer.

Dr. Vemuri Balakotaiah, Professor Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair, University of Houston, will receive the R. H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering. The award is sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company.

Dr. Doraiswami (Ramki) Ramkrishna, Harry Creighton Peffer Distinguished Professor, Purdue University, will receive the Warren K. Lewis Award for Chemical Engineering Education. The award is sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company.

Dr. Dionisios Vlachos, Unidel Dan Rich Energy Chair in Energy Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware; Director, Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI); and Director, Delaware Energy Institute (DEI), will receive the William H. Walker Award for Excellence in Contributions to Chemical Engineering Literature. The award is sponsored by Wiley.

The 2026 honorees have strengthened chemical engineering through their discoveries, innovation, education, and service,” said Anne O’Neal, AIChE’s 2026 President. “Their accomplishments reflect the imagination and ingenuity that continue to move our profession forward and shape what comes next. We are proud to recognize their leadership and lasting contributions.

For more information about AIChE awards, visit www.aiche.org/awards.

About AIChE — The Global Home of Chemical Engineers

AIChE is a professional society of more than 52,000 chemical engineers in over 128 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 frontiers of chemical engineering research in such areas as energy, sustainability, biological and environmental engineering, nanotechnology and chemical plant safety and security. More information about AIChE is available at www.aiche.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aiche-recognizes-outstanding-achievements-with-2026-institute-and-board-of-directors-awards-302897388.html

SOURCE American Institute Of Chemical Engineers