Ruben Carbonell

Ruben Carbonell is the Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. He leads the Carbonell Research Group, focusing on bioseparations, pathogen detection, and affinity chromatography using combinatorial peptide libraries. His work includes developing nonwoven-based separation media and novel ligands for monoclonal antibody purification.

Education: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College (1969), Ph.D. from Princeton University (1973). He has advised over 70 MS/PhD students and 33 postdocs. Current roles include Director of the William R. Kenan Institute and the Golden Leaf Biomanufacturing Training Center.

Research emphasizes affinity ligand discovery for biotherapeutic purification, nonwoven membranes for continuous biomanufacturing, and viral clearance technologies. Recent advancements include high-capacity nonwoven membranes and PIM systems for cell-free protein capture.

Publications (15+ recent articles) highlight innovations in membrane chromatography, peptide ligand design, and biomanufacturing readiness frameworks. Over 20 patents and two start-ups (Ligamar and PRDT) commercialize his research.

• Awards: Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal (2007), AIChE Fellow (2003), Alcoa Research Award (2001)
• Grants/Leadership: NSF Science & Technology Center Director (1999–2008), multiple industry collaborations

Labs/Teams: Directs the Carbonell Group and collaborates with NC State’s Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center. Current projects include FDA-compliant viral vector purification and anti-biofouling membrane coatings.