Carsten Sievers

Carsten Sievers serves as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he leads research in sustainable catalytic processes for fuel and chemical production from alternative resources. His work bridges fundamental spectroscopy with industrial reactor design to address petroleum dependence.

Education:

• Diploma, Technical University of Munich, Germany (2003)
• D.Sc., Technical University of Munich, Germany (2006)

Research Focus: Sievers' program integrates fundamental studies using IR, NMR, XAS, and Raman spectroscopy to probe catalyst structure-reactivity relationships with applied research on flow reactor systems for biomass conversion (hydrodeoxygenation, sugar upgrading) and mechanocatalytic polymer depolymerization. Key initiatives target CO₂-neutral chemical production from biomass and waste plastics, emphasizing catalyst stability and regeneration.

Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) reveals a strategic pivot toward mechanocatalysis for plastic recycling (polyethylene, polystyrene) and ammonia synthesis, while maintaining expertise in hydrocarbon catalysis. Dominant themes include reaction environment engineering in ball mills, metastable surface characterization, and process intensification for CO₂ electrolysis.

Scientific Recognition:

• 2012 Young Scientist Award, International Congress on Catalysis
• 2023 ACS Fellow designation

Academic Leadership: As Director and Past President of the Southeastern Catalysis Society, former ACS Division Director, and Editor of Applied Catalysis A: General, Sievers shapes catalysis research direction. His Sievers Group has secured competitive fellowships for students like Yuchen George Change (Eastman Chemical Fellowship) and Victor Brandão (Ziegler Award), reflecting strong mentorship in sustainable reaction engineering.

Research Infrastructure: The group operates advanced flow reactors, spectroscopic characterization suites, and mechanochemical systems for in-situ catalyst analysis, supporting collaborations with industry partners on technology translation.