Timothee Pourpoint is the recipient of the 2020 C.T. Sun School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Excellence in Research Award.

The award is presented annually to an individual or team of faculty members in AAE to recognize high quality contributions in science and engineering. Pourpoint was honored during a virtual faculty meeting May 6.

“I am extremely honored by this prestigious award,” said Pourpoint, who earned his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue in 2005, started at Purdue as a research scientist in 2006 and joined the faculty in 2013. “I remember Professor Sun from my early days in AAE just about 20 years ago, and it is truly humbling to now have this recognition next to me as I prepare the next 20 years.”

Pourpoint has an outstanding record of impactful and high-quality contributions in the field of propulsion, specifically in the area of hypergolic propellants. He is recognized by the international community as one of the leaders in the area and has played a key role in the resurgence of research and development in the use and study of hypergolic propellants in industry and at government labs.

Pourpoint has built experimental capabilities at Purdue and has been developing a focused, thoughtful and disciplined program of research with hazardous materials.

“There is no other university lab in the country that comes close to the excellence and output of Tim’s program,” wrote a nominator for the award.

Pourpoint is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and author of 142 technical publications.