Jeff Siirola, AIChE Fellow

Jeff Siirola received a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970 for early work in the area of computer-aided chemical process invention. The work became part of the basis for the textbook "Process Synthesis" co-authored with Dale F. Rudd and Gary J. Powers.

Siirola joined Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1972. His assignments have involved the development and application of process synthesis methods and tools for inventing better industrial chemical processes; computer-aided process design, simulation, optimization, and economic evaluation; resource conservation and recovery; and chemical technology assessment. Siirola retired in 2011 from Eastman as Technology Fellow. In the fall of 2011, he began to split his time between Purdue and Carnegie-Mellon to teach Senior Design.

An industrial trustee and former president of CACHE Corporation, Jeff is also an ABET international chemical engineering program evaluator, a member of the Chemical Sciences Roundtable, and several chemical engineering editorial and departmental advisory boards. An AIChE Fellow, Jeff served on the Board of Directors from 1999 – 2001, and on the Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council. He has served as chair of the Publication Committee, vice chair of the Education and Accreditation Committee, and has served on the National Program, Continuing Education, Research and New Technology, and Awards committees. Jeff was also director, chair, and programming coordinator for the Computing and Systems Technology Division, as well as director of the East Tennessee Local Section. He has received the George Lappin National Program Committee Service Award, the CAST Division Computing Practice Award, and has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

In the fall of 2003, Dr. Siirola was chosen by the national AIChE membership to be President-Elect in 2004 and served as President of the national AIChE in 2005.

Return to AIChE East Tennessee Home