Roland Faller, dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech University, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Although Faller’s academic background is in physics, his research and teaching have been closely linked to chemical engineering since he moved to the United States in 2000.
“That was my first interaction with chemical engineering,” Faller said, recalling how his work in Germany overlapped with chemical engineering departments in the U.S. He continued to teach thermodynamics and eventually became chair of the chemical engineering department at the University of California, Davis, before joining Texas Tech as dean in 2023.
Faller’s election to AIChE Fellow recognizes his long-term contributions to chemical engineering and his professional accomplishments. The fellowship requires at least ten years of AIChE membership (not including student years) and evidence of significant service and achievement within the field.
“I didn’t really feel surprise, but validation is probably the closest to how I can describe it,” Faller said about receiving news of his election. “It’s validation of the work I have been doing over many years and it’s really an interesting group to be a part of.”
Faller’s scientific career includes winning a U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Principal Investigator Award in 2003 and publishing more than 150 scientific papers.
“Dean Faller’s election as an AIChE Fellow underscores his scholarly depth and his remarkable ability to bridge disciplines,” said Provost & Senior Vice President Ron Hendrick. “Though trained in physics, his lasting impact in chemical engineering reflects the kind of cross-disciplinary excellence and innovation that will help propel Texas Tech University’s research forward.”
Nominated by Jennifer Curtis, former UC Davis College of Engineering dean and an AIChE Fellow herself, Faller joins several colleagues who hold this distinction. He sees mentorship as central to his new role: “What it really is all about to me is mentoring the next generation,” he said. “Yes, I’ve achieved quite a bit in my career, but it is not really about me anymore. Honestly, these days, the successes of my former students are even sweeter than my own.”
Faller also encourages students at Texas Tech to participate actively in professional organizations such as AIChE: “It really enriches the student experience and is connecting the students to their profession and people from both industry and academia,” he explained. “I think one of the biggest things AIChE does is shows you what’s going on at the nationwide scale so you not only see what you are doing is meaningful but how it compares elsewhere.”
He will receive his official recognition during November’s AIChE Annual Meeting in Boston. Looking ahead, Faller plans to focus on supporting students through mentorship: “We have to make sure that the next generation has opportunities,” he said. “The success of an institution always hinges on their junior members, and as senior members, it’s our responsibility to make sure we make it possible for them to actually build the road down which the junior members can go.
“I’m really looking forward to our students and our young faculty doing great things.”
