Michael P. Harold

Dr. Michael P. Harold is the Cullen Engineering Professor in the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Houston (UH). His expertise lies in catalysis and reaction engineering, with a focus on multi-functional reactors, emission control technologies, and sustainable chemical processes. He has advised 39 doctoral students and authored 185 peer-reviewed publications. His research advances include reduced emissions in chemical reactors and enhanced catalyst performance through dynamic operation and material innovations.

Education: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (1980), Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston (1985).

Research Interests: Catalysis for emission control, methane oxidation, structured catalysts, and reactor design. His work bridges molecular-scale mechanisms and industrial-scale applications, emphasizing sustainability and efficiency.

Recent Article Trends: Focus on dynamic operation of catalytic systems (e.g., forced dynamic oxidation), electrified catalysts for energy applications, and spatiotemporal control in reactor design. Key themes include selectivity enhancement, emission reduction, and sustainable hydrogen production.

• Awards: AIChE’s R. H. Wilhelm Award (2023), Southwest Catalysis Society’s Excellence in Applied Catalysis (2019), UH’s Esther Farfel Award (2013), AIChE Fellow (2014).

Professional Roles: Served as Editor-in-Chief of the AIChE Journal (2012–2021), Chair of AIChE’s Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division (1999, 2022), and President of ISCRE Inc. (2017–2018). Led the UH Chemical Engineering Department as Chair for 16 years across two terms.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Texas Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability (TX-CEF), focusing on catalytic reactor design and emission control technologies.