Richard C. Flagan

Richard C. Flagan is the Irma and Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering at California Institute of Technology. With a career spanning from 1975 to present, he has served in roles including Executive Officer for Chemical Engineering (1997, 2004-13). His research focuses on aerosol science, atmospheric chemistry, and particle characterization, with notable work on secondary organic aerosols, biological particles like pollen, and Titan's atmospheric particle formation. Beyond atmospheric studies, he explores phase transitions in materials and separations technologies.

• Education: B.S.E. (1969), S.M. (1971), Ph.D. (1973) from MIT

His 15 most recent articles (2022-2025) reveal trends in ammonium nitrate dynamics, iodine-enhanced nucleation, and nanoparticle characterization, covering subfields like urban haze formation, cloud microphysics, and climate-active aerosols. A 2010 NAE member, Flagan's work bridges instrumentation development for aerosol analysis with applications in solar energy and planetary science. He has taught ChE 103 abc: Transport Phenomena and ChE 151 ab: Physical and Chemical Rate Processes, demonstrating commitment to both research and education in chemical engineering.