Michael Doherty

Michael Doherty serves as Professor and Mellichamp Chair in Process Systems Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering within The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara. His research establishes foundational methodologies for chemical process design with critical applications in pharmaceutical and specialty chemical manufacturing.

His academic credentials include:

• BS from Imperial College London
• PhD from Trinity College, University of Cambridge

Doherty's research pioneers geometric techniques in process engineering including residue curve mapping and bifurcation analysis to solve complex separation challenges. His work on crystallization of organic materials addresses critical quality attributes like polymorph control and crystal morphology, while his reactive separation systems research integrates chemical reactions with separation processes to achieve quantum efficiency gains. These innovations directly impact pharmaceutical manufacturing where crystal purity and structure determine drug efficacy.

His extensive honors include:

• Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022)
• Election to the National Academy of Engineering (2015)
• E.V. Murphree Award for Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (2012)
• Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research (2004)
• Named among the "One Hundred Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era" by AIChE (2008)

Professor Doherty maintains active leadership through editorial roles including Associate Editor for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Board of Consulting Editors for the AIChE Journal, while directing the Doherty Research Group focused on next-generation process design methodologies.

The Doherty Group operates within UCSB's Chemical Engineering department, utilizing advanced computational and experimental facilities to develop feasibility frameworks for complex chemical systems including chiral separations and multi-component crystallization processes.