AIChE’s 2025 Institute and Board of Directors’ Awards were presented on November 2, during the Honors Ceremony at the Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. These are AIChE’s most prestigious awards, honoring eminent chemical engineers for career accomplishments, service to society, and service to the Institute.
Representing AIChE’s Awards Committee, Jacinta Conrad presented 12 Institute Awards. Current AIChE President Joseph Smith presented the Board of Directors’ Awards. He noted that AIChE would also celebrate other distinguished contributors through its division, forum, and committee awards. See detailed profiles of all award winners honored at the Annual Meeting.
Nominations for the 2026 Institute and Board of Directors’ Awards are open. Learn more and submit your nomination by February 15, 2026.
The F.J. and Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award for Service to the Institute
The F. J. and Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award, sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, is presented to a member of AIChE who has made outstanding contributions to the chemical engineering profession through service to the Institute, in both the professional and technical areas of Institute activities. This year’s award went to Sangtae Kim, retired Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Distinguished Professor at Purdue University.
For contributions to the chemical engineering profession in streamlining the programming of the national AIChE meetings and new insights on viscous particulate flows.
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award
The Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement by a Woman Chemical Engineer is given to a woman member of AIChE who has made significant contributions to chemical engineering research or practice. The candidate’s contributions may include a component of service, mentorship or leadership in raising the visibility of women in chemical engineering.
The award is sponsored by Pfizer. The 2025 Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Pioneer Award recipient was Dr. Marianthi Ierapetritou, Gore Centennial Professor at the University of Delaware.
For research leadership in process modeling and optimization, uncertainty analysis and scheduling in pharmaceutical and sustainable manufacturing, and for championing women in STEM careers.
The Allan P. Colburn Award for Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Institute
Sponsored by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, The Allan P. Colburn Award is the second-oldest award of AIChE and was established in 1945. It is given to encourage excellence in publications by a younger member of the Institute. This year’s award went to Dr. Milad Abolhasani, ALCOA Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineer at North Carolina State University.
For contributions to flow chemistry and data-driven microreaction engineering, accelerating discovery and smart manufacturing of functional materials through process intensification with self-driving labs.
Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research
Sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation and the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity, The Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in fundamental or applied chemical engineering research. This year’s recipient is Dr. Arup K. Chakraborty, John M. Deutch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
For significantly advancing immunology by integrating theory, computation, and experimental studies, leading to breakthroughs in vaccine design and immune system elucidation.
The Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology
The Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology Award, sponsored by Air Products, was established in 1993 and recognizes sustained excellence in contributing to the advancement of technology in the production, distribution, and application of industrial gases. This year’s award recipient is Dr. Haiqing Lin, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Buffalo.
For pioneering advances in materials and membranes for post-combustion and pre-combustion carbon captures.
The R. H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, The R. H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering recognizes significant and new contributions to chemical reaction engineering. This year’s recipient is Dr. Yong Wang, Regents Professor at Washington State University.
For developing sustainable technologies to tackle present and future energy, resource, and environmental challenges by combining advanced catalytic materials and innovative reactor designs.
The Industry Leadership Award
The Industry Leadership Award recognizes those who have made a lasting impact across the industries served by chemical engineers. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation. This year’s recipient is Daryl Roberts, Senior Vice President, Chief Operations and Engineering Officer of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
For being an inspiring and visionary leader of operational excellence and sustainability across the industry and a passionate champion of future engineers and innovators.
The Industrial Progress Award
The Industrial Progress Award recognizes significant contributions to industrial practice by an individual working in industries served by chemical engineers. The selection of this early-career award is based on the impact of the contributions, the magnitude of the challenges involved, and innovation and creativity. This year’s Industrial Progress Award is presented to Dr. David Couling, Principal Investigator at Corteva Agriscience.
For consistently coupling exceptional technical innovation with exemplary collaboration to develop sustainable processes crucial for successful launch of new agricultural products with global impact.
Industrial Research and Development Award
The Industrial Research and Development Award, sponsored by AbbVie, recognizes individuals or teams working in the industries served by chemical engineers, for innovation that has resulted in the successful commercial development of new products and/or new processes for making useful products. This year’s award recipient is Michael Thien, Global Head and Senior Vice President at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
For world class leadership in pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing including impactful groundbreaking medications, including the breakthrough HIV protease inhibitor, ebola vaccine and Keytruda.
The Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering
The Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering is endowed by the AIChE Foundation and recognizes outstanding progress in chemical engineering by an AIChE member during his or her early career. This year’s honoree is Dr. Michael Jewett, Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University.
For distinguished contributions in biochemical engineering, particularly using synthetic biology and cell-free systems to accelerate biosystems design for sustainable manufacturing, therapeutic production, and education.
The Warren K. Lewis Award
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company, The Warren K. Lewis Award recognizes distinguished and continuing contributions to chemical engineering education. This year’s winner is Y. A. Liu, Alumni Distinguished Professor, Virginia Tech.
For 51 years of excellence in sustainable design education and practice, student mentoring, pioneering textbooks, creative scholarship, and leadership in innovative engineering training for sustainability.
The Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice
The Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice recognizes chemical engineering contributions in the industrial practice of the profession. The award is endowed by the AIChE Foundation and supported by CACHE Corporation. This year’s honoree is Sourav Sengupta, DuPont Laureate at DuPont.
For pioneering applications of catalytic science and reaction engineering, outstanding technical leadership, and commitment to tackling challenging and value-creating industrial problems.
The William H. Walker Award
Sponsored by John Wiley & Sons, The William H. Walker Award recognizes excellence in contributions to chemical engineering literature. This year the Walker Award winner is David Kofke, SUNY Distinguished Professor at the University of Buffalo.
For seminal innovative contributions to the foundations of molecular thermodynamics and simulation that have transformed the computation of thermophysical properties important to chemical engineering applications.
Joseph Smith concluded the ceremony with congratulations to the recipients and encouragement for new nominations for next year. Feel free to congratulate our recipients in the comments section below or on social media using #AIChEAnnual.
Learn more about recipients of the 2025 Institute & Board of Directors’ Awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Awards are open until February 15, 2026.
View more photos from the 2025 Annual Meeting Honors Ceremony below.
