Lawrence L. Tavlarides named IEC Division fellow

Lawrence L. Tavlarides, professor of chemical engineering and materials science in the L. C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS), was named a fellow of the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (IEC) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The award is in recognition of Tavlarides’ research that impacts both chemistry and chemical engineering.

This is the sixth year this award has been made by the IEC division. In recognition of his achievements, a half-day symposium will be held in Tavlarides’ honor at the spring 2012 ACS Meeting. Tavlarides will also receive a plaque naming awarded fellows of the IEC Division, a one-year membership in the IEC Division and a $750 travel award.

This award recognizes Tavlarides for his research on separation processes based upon liquid extraction and adsorption, spanning over 40 years. His current research focus involves separation of radio nuclides from nuclear waste. Tavlarides credits his colleagues and students for their contribution to his work and the subsequent recognition. “When I say my work, I mean work with my colleagues and students. Without them this would not have happened.”

Tavlarides received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1963, 1964 and 1968, respectively. He was chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at LCS from 1981-85 and served as associate dean of graduate affairs and research from 1995-96. He has worked as a research engineer with CPC International, Moffet Technical Center in Argo, Ill., and with the Gulf Research and Development Center.

Tavlarides has extensive consulting experience with the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as well as Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc.; Dow-Corning, USA; Dow Chemical Co., Inc.; Exxon Research and Engineering Co. and Kraft, Inc., among others. He is recipient of the North American Mixing Forum (Division of AIChE) Award for Excellence in Research (2001), Chancellor’s Citation Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement from SU (1994), fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1990) and the Shell Postdoctoral Fellowship, Technical University of Delft (1968-69).