Edward J. Maginn, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Notre Dame, is the recipient of the inaugural American Institute of Chemical Engineers CoMSEF (Computational Molecular Science and Engineering Forum) award for outstanding research.
Maginn was cited for his “development of algorithms to use molecular simulation to study fundamental thermodynamics and transport behavior and his specific contributions to the understanding of nanoporous materials and ionic liquids.”
Nominees for the CoMSEF Early Career Award, which is being presented for the first time this year, may hold positions in academia, industry or a national laboratory and must be in the early stages of their professional careers, which is defined as being within 15 years of completion of the highest degree.
Maginn’s research focuses on computational statistical thermodynamics, in which atomistic-level computational methods are developed and utilized to obtain a fundamental understanding of the link between the physical properties of materials and their chemical constitution. Much of his work is devoted to environmental and energy-related applications.
He has been principal investigator or co-principal investigator for more than 35 externally funded grants totaling approximately $14 million. He holds two patents and is the author or co-author of more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and five book chapters. He currently is on the editorial board of the journal Fluid Phase Equilibria.
Maginn has won a number of teaching and research awards, including the BP Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Engineering, two Kaneb Awards, two AIChE student chapter teaching awards, the American Society for Engineering Education New Faculty Award and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award.
A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 1995, Maginn also serves as associate dean for academic programs for the University’s Graduate School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University and his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley.