Iowa State chemical engineering alumnus and noted member of the National Academy of Engineering Lanny Robbins has arrived on campus to begin his new position with the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Originally announced in the fall of 2016, Robbins joins the department as a distinguished faculty fellow. As a faculty member in the department, he will be providing his experience and expertise to benefit both faculty and students in a number of areas, including advising on faculty advancement and industry engagement; enhancing undergraduate teaching laboratories; preparing students to work in industry; and leading seminars and workshops on professional development and leadership.
Robbins received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Iowa State in 1961; an M.S. in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1966. He retired as a research fellow with Dow Chemical in 2003, and is world renowned for his expertise in fundamental engineering research and pilot plant process development, particularly in separation and purification processes that reduce harmful emissions from industrial towers and remove impurities from commercial wastewater. His work has resulted in more than 200 Dow technical reports and outside publications, 18 U.S. patents, and a 2011 book, “Distillation Control, Optimization, and Tuning.” He is also an author in the subject of liquid-liquid extraction in the renowned “Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook.”
“Iowa State is proud and excited to welcome Lanny Robbins to campus,” said President Steven Leath when Robbins’ hiring was announced. “Lanny is not only one of the world’s most accomplished engineers, but also an alumnus who has consistently lent his expertise back to our academic programs.”