Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering (Emeritus)
Laboratory Fellow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Faculty Senior Scientist, Chemical Sciences Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1996-2019)
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Catalysis (1997-2010)
President, North American Catalysis Society (2009-2017)
President, International Association of Catalysis Societies (2016-2024)
Education
Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude), 1977; Princeton University
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, 1982; Stanford University
Professional Appointments
Laboratory Fellow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2019-date)
Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering (2009-date)
Chancellor Professor of Chemical Engineering (2006-2009)
Professor of Chemical Engineering (1993-date)
Faculty senior Scientist, E.O Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1998-2019)
Director, Berkeley Catalysis Center (1999-2016)
Exxon Research and Engineering Co.(1982-1993): Research Associate; Head, Catalysis Section
Major Honors and Awards
2023 Faraday Lectureship Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry
2022 Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
2021 Member, Real Academia de Ciencias (Spain)
2021 NACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis
2020 E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, American Chemical Society
2019 Michel Boudart Award, North American Catalysis Society/European Federation of Catalysis Societies
2018 Neil Armstrong Visiting Fellow, Purdue University (2018-2021)
2018 William H. Walker Institute Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
2018 Doctor Honoris Causa, Technische Universität München
2017 President, North American Catalysis Society (2009-2017)
2016 National Academy of Inventors
2016 Vice President, President, International Association of Catalysis Societies (2016-2024)
2015 American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2014 Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
2013 Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
2013 Honorary Fellow, Chinese Chemical Society
2012 ENI Prize, New Frontiers in Hydrocarbons
2012 Gabor Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis, American Chemical Society
2011 Francois Gault Lectureship Award, European Federation of Catalysis Societies
2011 Alpha Chi Sigma Institute Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
2011 Cross Canada Lecturer, Chemical Institute of Canada
2010 Fellow, American Chemical Society
2010 Best Teacher Award, Department of Chemical Engineering
2010 Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Catalysis (1997-2010)
2009 Tanabe Prize in Acid-Base Catalysis
2008 National Academy of Engineering
2007 Humboldt Senior Scientist Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
2007 Doctor Honoris Causa, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
2006 Robert Burwell Award, North American Catalysis Society
2005 Donald Sterling Noyce Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of California
2005 George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon Chemistry, American Chemical Society
2005 Honorary Professor, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
2004 V.N. Ipatieff Professor, Northwestern University (2004-2005)
2004 Wilhelm Manchot Chemistry Professorship, Technische Universität München
2004 Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion
2003 Richard H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
1998 Best Teacher Award, Berkeley AIChE Chapter
1997 Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis, North American Catalysis Society
1996 Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
LSAC Research Group
Recent Publications
Lab: 271, 276, 297, 374, 376, 391, & 393 Tan
Lab phone: 510-642-6892 (2nd floor) | 510-643-0930 (3rd floor)
Heterogeneous catalysis and chemical reaction engineering
Professor Iglesia has been involved in studies of heterogeneous catalysts for the direct and indirect conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons, uses of light alkanes in desulfurization and de-NOx, reactions, dehydrogenation of light alkanes to alkenes and aromatics, catalytic reforming and cracking processes, for low-temperature isomerization, alkylation, and combustion reactions. Current research projects also include the practical use of catalytic membranes to combine reaction and separation functions in alkane dehydrogenation and conversion processes and the development of theoretical methods for predicting the structure, transport, and chemical properties of porous solid catalysts. His research group at Berkeley combines expertise and facilities for the synthesis of novel catalytic solids, their in-situ structural and mechanistic characterization, and the detailed modeling of kinetic and transport processes in catalytic processes relevant to oil refining and petrochemical synthesis.