Sergio Mendez

Dr. Sergio Mendez is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). He joined CSULB in 2009 after postdoctoral research at Cornell University and the University of New Mexico. His academic journey includes a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico, focusing on polymeric materials.

His research interests span green engineering, biofuels, biomedical devices, and polymer solutions. He has advised 8 Master’s students, authored 25 peer-reviewed publications, and holds an h-index of 17. Notable awards include the 2022 Impact Influencer Award and 2018 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Mendez has contributed to sustainable materials development, including biofuels from waste and green composites. His recent work involves biomedical device development as CTO of Beach Biotech, Inc. He actively mentors students, emphasizing hands-on learning through experiments and simulations.

Professional contributions include reviewing for DOE programs and journals like Chemical Engineering Science. His military service (U.S. Marine Corps, 1986–1990) and industry experience at Intel Corporation highlight his diverse background.