Ignacio Grossmann
Rudolph R. and Florence Dean University Professor, Chemical Engineering
Ignacio E. Grossmann is the R. R. Dean University Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and former department head at Carnegie Mellon University. He obtained his B.S. degree at the Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, in 1974, and his M.S. and Ph.D. at Imperial College in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He is a member and former director of the Center for Advanced Process Decision-making, an industrial consortium that involves about 20 petroleum, chemical, engineering, and software companies. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He has received the following AIChE awards: Computing in Chemical Engineering, William H. Walker for Excellence in Publications, Warren Lewis for Excellence in Education, Research Excellence in Sustainable Engineering, Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering, John M. Prausnitz AIChE Institute Lecturer. In 2015 he was the first recipient of the Sargent Medal by the IChemE. In 2025, Grossmann was selected as Foreign Academic of the Chemical and Physical Sciences Section of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain. He has honorary doctorates from Abo Akademi in Finland, University of Maribor in Slovenia, Technical University of Dortmund in Germany, University of Cantabria in Spain, Russian Kazan National Research Technological University, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina, Universidad de Alicante in Spain, RWTH Aachen in Germany, and Universidad Nacional del Sur in Argentina. He is a 2019 top cited scientist in Computer Science and Electronics: 53 Worldwide, 38 National. He has authored more than 700 papers, several monographs on design cases studies, the recent textbook Advanced Optimization in Process Systems Engineering, and the textbook Systematic Methods of Chemical Process Design, which he co-authored with Larry Biegler and Art Westerberg. His main research interests are in the areas of discrete continuous optimization, optimal synthesis and planning of chemical processes and energy systems, and supply chain optimization. Grossmann has graduated 68 Ph.D. and 34 M.S. students.
Optimization Models and Methods
Education
1977 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Imperial College, University of London
1975 MS, Chemical Engineering, Imperial College, University of London
1974 BS, Chemical Engineering, Universidad Iberoamericana
Media mentions
Chemical Engineering
Alum spotlight: Vikas Goel
Whether in the oil and gas industry or at one of the largest e-commerce marketplaces in India, Vikas Goel (‘05) applies data science and AI to make better decisions under uncertainty.
Grossmann named Foreign Academic
ChemE’s Ignacio Grossmann was selected as a Foreign Academic of the Chemical and Physical Sciences Section of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences of Spain.
Chemical Engineering
Alum spotlight: Yingkai Song
Yingkai Song (‘16) applies mathematical optimization to help decision-makers in the aviation industry determine when to fly, delay, or cancel certain flights while meeting customer demand.
Chemical Engineering
In keynotes, alums share careers with purpose and impact
Celia Cruz (‘99) and Victor Zavala (‘08) gave keynote addresses at the 46th Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association Research Symposium.
Cho earns Computing & Systems Technology presentation award at AIChE
ChemE Ph.D. student Seolhee Cho received the 2nd place Computing and Systems Technology Division (CAST) Director's Student Presentation Award at the 2024 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting.
Chemical Engineering
Alum spotlight: Vipul Jain
To become an expert in mortgage-backed securities, Vipul Jain (‘99) followed a process he learned at Carnegie Mellon.
Universidad Nacional del Sur (in Spanish)
Grossmann receives honorary doctorate from Argentina’s Universidad Nacional del Sur
ChemE’s Ignacio Grossmann received an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Nacional del Sur in recognition of his 30+ years of collaboration with that institution.
Chemical Engineering
Grossmann returns as Fulbright Scholar in Argentina
At the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ignacio Grossmann is teaching a graduate course, giving seminars, and collaborating with faculty on research problems related to energy systems.
Chemical Engineering
Alum spotlight: Cristiana Lara
Cristiana Lara (’19) is optimizing Amazon’s transport network infrastructure. Her work was recognized with the INFORMS Early Career Practitioner Award.
Chemical Engineering
Grossmann honored as 2024 AIChE Prausnitz Institute Lecturer
Ignacio Grossmann will deliver the 76th annual John M. Prausnitz AIChE Institute Lecture in October.
Grossmann selected as John M. Prausnitz AIChE Institute Lecturer for 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Ignacio Grossmann was selected as the John M. Prausnitz AIChE Institute Lecturer for the 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting.
Grossmann receives INFORMS award for paper on hybrid MILP/CP models
Ignacio Grossmann received the INFORMS Journal of Computing Test of Time Paper Award for his work on solving problems through hybrid MILP/CP models.