معرفی
James W. Harris is an Assistant Professor and Hewson Engineering Faculty Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Alabama, College of Engineering. He is affiliated with the Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center and leads the Harris Laboratory, which focuses on sustainable catalytic processes for energy and chemical production.
His research interests lie at the intersection of catalysis, materials characterization, and green chemistry. He investigates how metal surface properties evolve under reaction conditions and how confined sites in zeolites influence catalytic activity. His group employs in situ and in operando techniques to understand reaction mechanisms for the responsible production of fuels and chemicals.
The recent publications from his lab highlight a strong trend in developing selective, efficient, and environmentally benign catalytic processes using bimetallic nanoparticles, zeolite-encapsulated complexes, and aqueous-phase reactions. These works span applications in fuel synthesis, green solvents, and waste-to-value conversion, reflecting a cohesive research vision centered on sustainability and precision catalysis.
Scientific Awards:
- NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, December 2024
- Pioneer of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, AIChE CRE Division, 2024
- ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator Award, ACS PRF, 2022
- Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, ORAU, 2021
- Top Mentor of Undergraduate Researchers, UA URCA, 2021
- William H. Melson Award for Research Excellence by untenured faculty, The University of Alabama, 2025
- Faculty Excellence in Professional Service Award, UA College of Engineering, 2025
- Early Career Research Excellence & Innovation Award, UA College of Engineering, 2025
Advising and Grants: Dr. Harris mentors a growing group of PhD students including Alex Minne, Shivangi Borate, Ethan Iaia, Hasanath Bathali, Britney Mack, Treycen Garton, and Gabe Miller. His research is supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF), the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and internal grants such as from the Alabama Water Institute. He also serves in leadership roles as programming co-chair for the AIChE Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division, alternate councilor for the ACS Division of Catalysis Science and Technology, and President of the Southeastern Catalysis Society (SECS).
Labs and Teams: The Harris Laboratory is part of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and collaborates with the Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center. The lab integrates catalyst synthesis, advanced characterization, and reaction engineering to develop next-generation catalytic technologies for sustainability.
