Principle Investigator

Dr. Christopher B. Roberts

Dean, George and Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut Professor and Department Chair
Co-Director, NSF-IGERT on Integrated Biorefining

Department of Chemical Engineering
212 Ross Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849-5127

Phone: (334) 844-2036
Fax: (334) 844-2063
E-mail: robercr@auburn.edu

Bio

Christopher B. Roberts began his academic post at Auburn University as an Assistant Professor in 1994 and is currently the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and the George E. and Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut Professor of Chemical Engineering at Auburn University.  Roberts earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Christopher B. Roberts’ areas of research include nano-materials synthesis and processing using tunable solvent systems, nano-catalyst design, heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis in supercritical fluid solvents, alternative fuels synthesis via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, supercritical fluid and gas-expanded liquid technologies, and molecular thermodynamics.  Roberts’ research work is currently supported by the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the National Energy Technology Lab, and others.  Roberts currently serves on the editorial board of the journal Fuel Processing Technology and the journal Fluid Phase Equilibria and has twice received the Auburn Engineering Senior Research Award (most recently in 2011) as well as the Walker and Birdsong teaching awards.  He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has given more than 300 technical presentations.  He is currently directing the research of 10 Ph.D. students, 1 Post-doc and 4 undergraduate students.

EDUCATION

1994

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
Dissertation: Laser Flash Photolysis Investigations of Reactions and Molecular Structure in Supercritical Fluids

1992

M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame

1990

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia

EXPERIENCE

2004 – Present

Uthlaut Professor and Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

2003 – Present

Department Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

2000 – 2004

Uthlaut Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

1999 – 2000

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

1994 – 1999

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Nanomaterials Synthesis, Separation and Processing in Tunable Solvent Systems
• Green Chemistry Approaches to Nanomaterials Synthesis and Processing
• Nanoscale Catalysis and Reaction Engineering in Supercritical Fluid Systems
• Fuel Processing Technology and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of Liquid Fuels
• Gas-Expanded Liquids and Supercritical Fluids for Pharmaceutical, Polymer & Materials Processing
• High Pressure Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior

SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS

• Auburn Alumni Engineering Council Senior Faculty Research Award – 2011
• Member, National Academy of Inventors – 2011
• Best Scientific Quality Paper Award, Gordon Research Conference – 2005
• Best Poster Award, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division, AIChE Annual Meeting – 2004
• Camp War Eagle Faculty Honoree – 2004
• Auburn Alumni Engineering Council Senior Faculty Research Award – 2003
• Auburn University College of Engineering Walker Merit Teaching Award – 2002
• George E. and Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut Professorship – 2000 to present
• Outstanding Faculty Member, Department of Chemical Engineering – 2000
• Lamda Sigma Society Teacher of the Quarter Award – Spring 2000
• Outstanding Faculty Member, Department of Chemical Engineering – 1999
• Auburn University College of Engineering Walker (Birdsong) Superior Teaching Award – 1997
• Auburn Alumni Engineering Council Junior Faculty Research Award – 1997
• Outstanding Dissertation Award, University of Notre Dame – 1994
• NSF Travel Grant for NATO Advanced Study Institute on Supercritical Fluids, Kemer, Turkey – 1993
• Participant NSF-REU in Particulate Systems Engineering – 1989

SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Senior Member – American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Member – American Chemical Society
• Member – American Society for Engineering Education
• Member – Council for Chemical Research