A UT professor received a nationally acclaimed chemical engineering award that will be presented to him in Orlando, Florida in early November.

Chemical engineering professor Hal Alper won the Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress from the American Institute of Chemical Engineering for his work on the uses of cells. He and his team create new molecules and manipulate cells to remediate waste.

“The topic that we explore is really the use of biology to solve sustainability problems,” Alper said. “It is the application of engineering principles to biology.”

Alper and his students work to solve environmental concerns using biochemical technology. For example, he received recognition for the development of enzymes that can degrade plastic.

“It’s something that’s very easy to communicate outside of a scientific community that people very clearly understand the impact of,” said Angela Gordillo Sierra, a chemical engineering graduate student and one of Alper’s mentees.

There is still much ground to cover, Sierra said. However, she said, every breakthrough is a step towards resolving major sustainability issues.

“In everything that we do, we’re uncovering new design principles, new challenges and overcoming those,” Alper said. “We’re excited about the prospect of everything that we do within the lab.”

Beyond his role as a scientist, Alper guides students of all levels, setting them on their academic and professional trajectories, Sierra said. By organizing seminars, helping his students network and giving them more responsibility in the lab, Alper sets up his students for success.

“I got a lot out of when I was mentored as an undergraduate student,” Alper said. “A lot of what drives me is trying to give back, trying to give people that same type of opportunity to learn and explore.”