December 19, 2000

Contact: Jill Hummels, School of Engineering, (785) 864-2934.

Subramaniam to head chemical and petroleum engineering

LAWRENCE -- Bala Subramaniam has been named department chair for chemical and petroleum engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas. He had served as associate chair since 1996.

Subramaniam, KU's Dan F. Servey distinguished professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, said he was especially excited about the high quality of the department's students and faculty.

"In recent years, our students have won Goldwater and Churchill scholarships, and placed first in the academic bowl organized by the National Society of Black Engineers," he said. "Our seniors have won more awards in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers design contest than any other department in the nation."

Counting current and emeritus faculty, Subramaniam said, the department has five fellows of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and three distinguished members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Further, the department's percentage of female faculty and undergraduate students is well above national averages.

As head of the department, Subramaniam succeeds Don Green, Deane E. Ackers distinguished professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, who has returned to teaching and research duties.

Since joining the department in 1985, Subramaniam's research has focused on exploiting supercritical fluids in catalytic reactions and in pharmaceutical processing. He holds seven patents, has co-authored more than 50 research publications, and has presented seminars at 35 universities and lectures at a number of international meetings. He has served on panels for the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency and American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Subramaniam has received the Gould Award for teaching and the Miller Award for research from the School of Engineering, as well as the ASEE Dow Outstanding Young Faculty award. Twice he has been a finalist for KU's HOPE award -- Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator. In 1996, he was awarded the John E. and Winifred E. Sharp teaching professorship.

Subramaniam came to KU from the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his master's and doctoral degrees. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Madras, India.