William J. Koros stands as a preeminent figure in membrane science, with more than four decades of leadership in research, scholarship, and education of practitioners in energy-efficient separations. He currently serves as The GRA Eminent Scholar in Membranes and the Roberto C. Goizueta Chair for Excellence in Chemical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he has been a distinguished faculty member since 2001. Prior to his tenure at Georgia Tech, Dr. Koros held academic positions at the University of Texas at Austin and North Carolina State University, building a career dedicated to revolutionizing separation processes. His educational foundation includes a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, complemented by four years of industrial experience at E. I. DuPont Company before pursuing graduate studies.
Dr. Koros has pioneered innovative approaches to membrane-based separations that significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions across industrial applications. His scholarly contributions encompass over 500 referred publications and more than 37 issued US patents, establishing foundational knowledge in materials science for separation technologies. His visionary 2004 AIChE Journal perspective article "Evolving beyond the thermal age; Membranes can lead the way" catalyzed industry-wide recognition of membrane technologies as a pathway to competitive advantage with environmental benefits. Koros's research on advanced membranes, sorbents, and barriers has enabled major innovations in materials engineering and process integration, particularly for challenging gas separation applications with significant environmental implications.
As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Membrane Science for 17 years from 1991-2008, Dr. Koros profoundly shaped the global research agenda and mentored generations of scientists in the field. He has cultivated numerous PhD, MS, and post-doctoral researchers who now serve as change agents in leadership roles across industry and academia, extending his transformative impact. His distinguished career has been recognized with the AIChE Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology (1995), the AIChE Separation Division's Clarence Gerhold Award (1999), and election to the National Academy of Engineering (2000), culminating in the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Congress on Separation and Purification Technology. Dr. Koros continues to advance the frontier of membrane science, developing next-generation technologies that address critical global challenges in sustainable energy and environmental protection.
