News & EventsHulburt Memorial Lectures
The Hugh M. Hulburt Memorial Lecture was established to bring leaders in chemical engineering research and management to Northwestern to lecture and interact with students and faculty members, and to foster closer collaboration between industry and academia in the education of future chemical engineers.
About Hugh M. Hulburt
A talented administrator and teacher, Hugh M. Hulburt (1917–1987) dedicated his professional career to practicing chemistry and promoting the chemical engineering profession. After receiving his PhD in 1942, he worked in various industry positions, becoming director of research and development at the Chemical Construction Corporation and later director of chemical engineering and of physical research at American Cyanamid Company.
After joining Northwestern in 1964, Hulburt served as chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1965 to 1971, associate dean of the Graduate School from 1975 to 1980, and associate dean of the Technological Institute from 1980 to 1983. He chaired the committee to establish the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and fostered closer ties between industry and the University and between science and engineering.
Hulburt was editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Process Design and Development from its inception in 1962 until 1986, during which time it became a highly respected journal. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data and on the National Science Foundation’s Advisory Panel for Engineering Chemistry and Energetics. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was its Institute Lecturer in 1962.
2026 Hulburt lecture
May 14th | 9:30am | Pancoe Auditorium
Concetta La Marca, Chemours
Past Presentations
2024: Chau-Chyun Chen, Texas Tech
2023: Jean Tom, Bristol Myers Squibb
2022: Grace E. Colón, InCarda Therapeutics Inc.
2020: Anne Roby, Linde
2019: Gavin Towler, Honeywell
2018: Jack Burgman, PPG
2017: Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech
2016: Joan Stafslien, Millenium Health
2015: Jennifer Feeley, ExxonMobil
2014: Ann Czyzewski, AbbVie
2013: Paul Collins, Eli Lily and Company
2012: Don Nelson, Chevron Technology Ventures
2011: Rakesh Agrawal, Purdue University and Air Products
2010: Ben Christolini, UOP (delivered by Simon Hobbs)
2008: Jeffrey J. Siirola, Eastman Chemical Company
2007: William F. Banholzer, Dow Chemical Company
2006: Lawrence B. Evans, Aspen Technology Inc.
2005: Keith Grime, Procter & Gamble Company
2004: Patricia T. Sparrell, ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc.
2003: Richard M. Gross, Dow Chemical
2002: Sang-Tae Kim, Lilly Research Laboratories
2001: Patrick R. Gruber, Cargill Dow LLC
2000: Stephen W. Drew, Merck & Company Inc.
1999: William W. Graessley, Princeton University
1998: Stanley A. Gembicki, UOP
1997: Thomas M. Sutliff, Baxter Healthcare International
1996: William J. White, Bell & Howell
1995: Kathleen C. Taylor, General Motors
1994: Norman N. Li, AlliedSignal Inc.
1993: L. Lewis Hegedus, W. R. Grace & Company
1992: James E. Patton, Eastman Kodak Company
1991: Harold J. Corbett, Monsanto Company
1990: Warren R. Haug, Procter & Gamble Company
1989: Edward A. Mason, Amoco Corporation
1988: Vern W. Weekman, Mobil Corporation