W.S. Winston Ho

Dr. W.S. Winston Ho is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at The Ohio State University, holding joint appointments in the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. With over 50 years of combined industrial and academic experience, he leads pioneering research in molecular separation technologies. His industrial tenure includes R&D leadership at Exxon, Xerox, and Commodore Separation Technologies, where he commercialized gas treating processes and membrane systems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1971)
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1969)
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (1966)

His research focuses on advanced membrane systems for critical environmental and energy challenges, including:

• CO₂-selective membranes for hydrogen purification and carbon capture
• High-flux desalination membranes with fouling resistance
• Proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells operating under low humidity
• Supported liquid membranes for pharmaceutical recovery and heavy metal removal

Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on scaling membrane technologies for industrial applications, particularly carbon capture from flue gas and hydrogen purification. Over 75% of his last 15 articles address CO₂ separation, membrane scalability, or material enhancements for energy systems.

Major Scientific Awards:

• Elected to National Academy of Engineering (2002) and Academia Sinica (2014)
• AIChE Institute Award (2006), Gerhold Award (2007), Evans Award (2012)
• New Jersey Inventor of the Year (1991) with 60+ U.S. patents
• Global recognition including Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Awards

He directs the Winston Ho Research Group, focusing on membrane process scale-up and holds advisory roles in national research panels. Current projects include field testing spiral-wound membrane modules for carbon capture and developing fluoride-containing membranes to enhance solid oxide fuel cell efficiency. His work has been funded by DOE, NSF, and industrial partners, resulting in commercial implementations of membrane technologies.