Jeffrey Rimer

Dr. Jeffrey Rimer serves as the Abraham E. Dukler Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering within the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston. His research program spans multiple disciplines of chemical engineering, materials science, and biochemistry with significant contributions to crystal engineering, zeolite catalysis, and biocrystallization.

Dr. Rimer earned his B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and Chemistry from Allegheny College in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2007, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University's Molecular Design Institute (2007-2009).

His research program focuses on crystal engineering with relevance to energy and medicine, particularly investigating nonclassical crystallization mechanisms. His work combines synthesis, state-of-the-art characterization, and materials testing to develop structure-performance relationships across two major research areas: Catalysis (developing novel zeolite materials through understanding nucleation and growth pathways, designing nanosized and hierarchical zeolites, and engineering bifunctional catalysts) and Biocrystallization (studying crystals implicated in human diseases including kidney stones, malaria, breast cancer, and gallstones).

Analysis of Dr. Rimer's recent publications reveals a strong focus on nonclassical crystallization pathways, zeolite catalyst design with enhanced mass transport properties, and the development of molecular modifiers for pathological crystallization processes. His work spans fundamental mechanisms to practical applications in energy conversion and disease treatment.

• Southwest Catalysis Society Award for Excellence in Applied Catalysis (2025)
• AIChE Fellow (2024)
• Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Award (2024)
• Welch Catalyst for Discovery Program Grant (2023)
• CSGS Outstanding Mentor Award (2023)
• Senior Faculty Research Excellence Award (2022)
• National Academy of Inventors, Senior Member (2021)
• Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Engineering (2020)

Dr. Rimer has mentored numerous graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral researchers, demonstrating exceptional commitment to education as evidenced by multiple teaching and mentoring awards. His research group maintains extensive collaborations with industry, medical centers, and other universities and national laboratories. The Rimer Group operates state-of-the-art facilities for crystal growth, characterization, and catalytic testing, with particular expertise in high-temperature atomic force microscopy for examining crystal surface growth. The group is also working to establish a research center on nonclassical crystallization with emphasis on pharmaceutical applications.