Congratulations to Phillip E. Savage, winner of the 2020 Cecil Award. He has served as the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Penn State and the Walter L. Robb Family Chair since 2014. Phil is also Editor-in-Chief of I&EC Research. Phil earned his PhD from the University of Delaware and then joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1986, where he is now Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus. He has published over 235 research articles in archival journals and given over 100 invited lectures at other universities and international symposia. He holds three U.S. patents, two of which have been licensed and put into practice commercially.
Phil’s research deals with kinetics, pathways, and mechanisms for reactions in hot, compressed water with environmental applications. His recent work focuses on hydrothermal conversion of waste biomass to fuels and chemicals. He received the inaugural (2015) Energy & Fuels Excellence in Publication Award from ACS, the 2014 Research Excellence Award from the AIChE Sustainable Engineering Forum, the Inaugural (2009) Michigan Governor’s Award for Green Chemistry, and the 2001 National Catalyst Award from the American Chemistry Council in recognition of his outstanding teaching and contributions to chemical education. He is a Fellow of both the AIChE and ACS.
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