The University of Utah’s College of Engineering is pleased to announce that chemical engineering professor Kevin Whitty has been named the new associate dean for research as of July 1. He replaces chemical engineering professor Eric Eddings, who had been the associate dean for seven years.
Whitty joined the University of Utah in 2001. He became associate professor in 2006 and was promoted to full professor in 2015. He has 25 years’ experience in high temperature processing of fossil and renewable resources for production of power, heat, chemicals and fuels. His research focuses on advanced technologies for energy production with CO2 capture including gasification, chemical looping and high pressure oxy-coal combustion.
Whitty received a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and a master’s and doctorate degree from Åbo Akademi University in Finland, all in chemical engineering. Prior to joining the U, he spent four years in industry managing research and directing pilot operations for energy technology development companies in Stockholm, Sweden.
He has an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Miskolc in Hungary, was given the Professional Achievement Award for Innovations in Green Process Engineering from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and received the University of Utah’s Celebrate U Achievement Award in 2016.
As associate dean for research, Whitty is responsible for administration of the research enterprise of the college, the departmental BEEF awards, the Honors program, College graduate fellowships, and co-chairs the University Seed Grant program. He works with the Dean on Retention, Promotion and Tenure (RPT) reviews, faculty mentoring and publicity efforts. He is also responsible for facilitating collaborative research efforts between faculty members from different departments and colleges across campus.