Andrew Hrymak

Professor Andrew Hrymak is a distinguished academic in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University, where he has been a faculty member since 2009. Prior to his appointment at Western, he served as Professor and Department Chair at McMaster University from 1985-2009. During his tenure at Western, he held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from July 1, 2009 to July 31, 2018. He currently serves as Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western and has held significant editorial roles including Editor of Computers and Chemical Engineering (2002-2010) and Editor-in-Chief of International Polymer Processing (2004-2016).

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1985)
• B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University (1980)

Professor Hrymak's research focuses on the modeling, design, and optimization of materials processing systems, with particular emphasis on composites processing, injection molding, compression molding, mixing liquid coating flows, and complex rheology. His work integrates computational methods with experimental approaches to address challenges in polymer processing operations.

His research spans multiple scales, from microscopic fiber-matrix interactions to macroscopic process modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding the behavior of complex fluids and multiphase systems, particularly in the context of polymer composites manufacturing. His work often combines computational fluid dynamics with experimental validation to develop predictive models for industrial applications.

Professor Hrymak's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on advancing the science and engineering of polymer processing, with recent work incorporating machine learning approaches to model complex material behaviors. His research has practical applications in automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries where composite materials play a critical role.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010)
• Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (2005)
• Excellence in Process Development Research Award by the Process Development Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2005)

As an academic advisor, Professor Hrymak has mentored numerous graduate students through their PhD and Master's research. His current research group includes students working on projects related to structural long-fiber thermoplastics for automotive applications, compression molding simulation, and dip coating processes. His research has been supported by various funding sources including NSERC, Greenfield Global Products, and the Chinese Scholarship Council. He has also served on important committees including the Fellowship Selection Committees of the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and was past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chemical Institute of Canada.

Professor Hrymak is actively involved with the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western, where he serves as Deputy Director. His research group collaborates with industry partners on various projects related to composite materials processing and characterization. He has also been instrumental in developing the virtual process chain concept for sheet molding compound composites, which integrates multiple simulation tools to predict final part properties based on processing conditions.