Chemical Engineering Professor and University of Houston alumnus Vemuri Balakotaiah has been chosen as a John and Rebecca Moores Professor for his outstanding contributions to teaching, research and service at UH. This five-year position will begin with the 2002-2003 academic year.
Balakotaiah received his Ph.D. from UH after earning a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras. He has been teaching full-time at UH for almost 20 years.
His research interests include chemical and environmental reaction engineering, nonlinear dynamics and pattern formation, two-phase flow, flow in porous media and applied mathematics.
Balakotaiah directs the Multiphase Flow and Reaction Engineering Group in the Cullen College of Engineering. Composed of one post-doctorate and seven doctorate students, the research group is currently conducting studies on chemical reaction engineering and multiphase flows.
Among Balakotaiah's numerous awards are three Best Applied Research Paper Awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the 2001 Senior Faculty Research Award, the Zeldovich award from the Dow Chemical Company and the 1991 Thiele Lectureship award from University of Notre Dame. He served on the Technical Advisory Board of Dow Chemical Company from 1998 to 2001. He has published over 100 journal articles.
To be recommended for a Moores professorship by the Committee on Distinguished and Named Professors, a tenured, full-time professor must demonstrate documented teaching and research excellence, an ability to create a diversely styled and high-quality learning environment, and a potential for future contributions. In addition, the professor must have an internationally acknowledged, respected and cited research record and exhibit significant involvement in UH.