Dr. Jeffrey J. Siirola will join Purdue ChE as Professor of Engineering Practice, starting this Fall semester, at the 50% FTE level. His responsibilities are to teach (either as lead instructor or with other faculty members) the senior capstone Design course, to be involved with the Global Policy Research Institute (GPRI) and faculty in the energy/sustainability areas, and to serve as a resource in our planning efforts in his areas of expertise, including manufacturing. His appointment is for the current academic year, with the possibility to renew for at least two more years.

Dr. Siirola retired recently as Technology Fellow, Eastman Chemical Company. He is an NAE member (elected 1994), has received many other recognitions, and served in many leadership roles, including President of AIChE in 2005. He currently serves on the ABET Board of Directors and as its Secretary, is a member of the NRC Committee on Inherently Safer Chemical Processes, and serves on many prominent ChE program advisory boards. He has also served in advisory roles at Purdue: Discovery Park External Advisory Council, 2003- present ; Energy Center Advisory Board, 2007-present. Dr. Siirola also has another important connection with Purdue ChE – he is the proud father of John D. Siirola (BSChE 2000).

Dr. Siirola received his BSChE degree from the University of Utah (1967) and Ph.D. (ChE) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1970). Along with his thesis advisor, Dale Rudd and fellow graduate student Gary Powers, he co-authored the pioneering textbook, Process Synthesis, Prentice-Hall (1973).