Yinlun Huang honored with AIChE Excellence in Process Development Research Award
The Wayne State University College of Engineering announced that Yinlun Huang, professor of chemical engineering and materials science, is the recipient of the 2024 AIChE Excellence in Process Development Research Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes individuals who have made significant technical contributions to the advancement of process development through research, teaching or regulatory activities, with a focus on accomplishments in the past decade.
Huang, a Fellow of AIChE since 2014, was honored for his outstanding record in the research and education of sustainable process design and manufacturing, and for his extensive collaboration with industry. His research has led to groundbreaking advances in areas such as sustainable manufacturing, nanopaint design and multiscale modeling for process optimization. His work has been adopted in industrial settings, reducing environmental impact while increasing profitability.
“This award is a significant recognition of our efforts in advancing sustainable process development,” said Huang. “I am deeply grateful to AIChE and my colleagues at Wayne State and beyond for their continued support. This journey has been rewarding not just in scientific breakthroughs but in the real-world applications that benefit industry and society.”
In his career spanning more than three decades, Huang has contributed to numerous innovative initiatives, such as the Profitable Pollution Prevention (P3) theory and its evolution into collaborative and integrated P3 methodologies. These innovations have successfully minimized chemical and water use while improving profitability in manufacturing processes, particularly in the electroplating industry.
“Yinlun’s work has redefined the field of process development and sustainability,” said Jeffrey Potoff, professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. “His dedication to integrating research and education is truly remarkable, and his contributions have far-reaching impacts on both academia and industry.”
The AIChE Excellence in Process Development Research Award will be presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting later this year. This recognition adds to Huang’s distinguished list of accolades, including the AIChE Lawrence K. Cecil Award in Environmental Chemical Engineering in 2022 and the Michigan Governor’s Green Chemistry Award in 2009. Huang received the 2010 AIChE Research Excellence in Sustainable Engineering Award and the 2016 AIChE Sustainable Engineering Forum Education Award, making him the first in the chemical engineering community to receive both accolades. He was also a recipient of the NASF Scientific Achievement Award in 2013.