Enrique Iglesia stands as a preeminent figure in chemical engineering and catalysis research, holding the distinguished Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He concurrently serves as a Laboratory Fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and maintains his status as a Faculty Senior Scientist at the E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he contributed significantly from 1996 to 2019. Iglesia's academic journey began with a summa cum laude Bachelor of Science degree from Princeton University in 1977, followed by his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in 1982, where his early research at Exxon's corporate laboratories sparked his enduring interest in catalysis. After twelve formative years at Exxon Research and Engineering, where he ultimately led the Catalysis Research Section with responsibility for deploying catalytic technologies across Exxon's downstream and chemicals sectors, he joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1993, establishing himself as a transformative leader in the field of chemical engineering.
Professor Iglesia's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the mechanistic understanding of heterogeneous catalysis, with profound implications for energy conversion, chemical synthesis, and environmental protection technologies. His more than 350 publications and 40 patents have addressed conceptual and practical challenges through innovative kinetic, spectroscopic, isotopic and theoretical approaches, leading to novel catalyst architectures that have transformed industrial processes. Among his most significant innovations is a zeolite-based technology currently employed throughout the oil and chemical industry for the conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons and other critical catalytic processes. His work has earned international recognition for its scientific rigor and practical impact, particularly in developing sustainable energy processes and catalytic systems that reduce environmental harm while enhancing industrial efficiency. Iglesia's research group at Berkeley has pioneered methodologies that integrate advanced synthesis of catalytic solids with in-situ structural characterization and detailed kinetic modeling, establishing new paradigms for understanding catalytic phenomena at the molecular level.
Beyond his research achievements, Iglesia has profoundly shaped the global catalysis community through leadership roles including Director of the Berkeley Catalysis Center from 1999 to 2016, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Catalysis from 1997 to 2010, and President of both the North American Catalysis Society (2009-2017) and the International Association of Catalysis Societies (2016-2024). His dedication to education has been recognized with Berkeley's highest teaching honor, the Donald Sterling Noyce Prize, alongside multiple departmental and college teaching awards, reflecting his commitment to mentoring the next generation of chemical engineers. Iglesia's election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2008, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015, and the National Academy of Inventors underscores his exceptional contributions to science and engineering. His recent recognition with the prestigious 2023 Faraday Lectureship Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry highlights the enduring significance of his work in advancing catalytic science for sustainable energy carriers, fuels, and chemicals, cementing his legacy as a visionary whose research continues to address pressing global challenges in energy and environmental sustainability.
