Semih Eser

Semih Eser, Professor of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering, is affiliated with the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University. He serves as Director of the Carbon Materials Program at the EMS Energy Institute and holds editorial roles at multiple journals.

• Education: Ph.D. in Fuel Science (1986), M.S./B.S. in Chemical Engineering (1978/1976) from Middle East Technical University.

His research focuses on carbon materials from petroleum and coal, including:

• Mesophase formation for needle coke production
• Activated carbon preparation and adsorption properties
• Catalytic oxidation of solid carbons
• Mechanistic analysis of carbon deposition
• Supercritical hydrogenation of heavy residua
• Microscopy/image analysis of carbon microstructure

Recent publications examine carbon characterization via temperature-programmed oxidation and microscopy, activated carbon synthesis from bio-precursors, and catalyst design for hydrodechlorination. Themes span Energy Science, Environmental Engineering, and Materials Chemistry.

• Scientific Honors:
  • ACS Fellow (2014)
  • Fulbright Scholar (2014)
  • Multiple ACS Division Awards (2005–2023)
  • Wilson Award for Teaching (2001)

As undergraduate program chair and former associate head, he has developed innovative teaching methods including problem-based learning, concept mapping, and computational tools for energy education.