28 Facts About Neal Amundson

Neal Russell Amundson was an American chemical engineer and applied mathematician.

Neal Amundson was the chair of the department of chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota for over 25 years.

Neal Amundson was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the only child of a pipefitter and a housewife who struggled to survive the Great Depression.

Neal Amundson graduated from St Paul Central High School in 1933 and was sixth in his class of 658 students.

Neal Amundson was awarded a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1937 and was first in his class of 52 students that year from the University of Minnesota.

Neal Amundson was employed as a process engineer with Standard Oil of New Jersey at a plant in Louisiana.

Neal Amundson then returned to Minnesota where he met his wife, Shirley Dimond in 1941, and had three children.

Neal Amundson entered graduate school at the University of Minnesota and earned his master's degree in chemical engineering in 1941; and his PhD in mathematics in 1945.

Neal Amundson taught in the mathematics department until 1947 and joined the University of Minnesota's chemical engineering department, where he served as Chair from 1949 until 1977.

Neal Amundson served as UH Provost from 1987 to 1989.

Neal Amundson is known internationally for his pioneering work applying mathematical modeling and analysis to the solution of chemical engineering problems.

Neal Amundson was one of the main architects of the analytical methodology practiced by chemical engineers today.

Neal Amundson wrote more than 200 technical articles as well as several books.

Neal Amundson chaired the US National Research Council committee that wrote the influential "Frontiers in Chemical Engineering" report.

Neal Amundson was the US editor of Chemical Engineering Science from 1955 to 1972.

Neal Amundson was elected a member of National Academy of Engineering in 1970 and the National Academy of Sciences in 1992.

Neal Amundson was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992.

In 1996, Neal Amundson was the first recipient of the International Symposia on Chemical Reaction Engineering award for excellence, an award that is named for him.

Neal Amundson received numerous professional awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society, International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering, and American Society for Engineering Education.

Neal Amundson received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Pennsylvania, Guadalajara, and Northwestern University.

Neal Amundson received the highest faculty honors given by the Universities of Minnesota and Houston.

Neal Amundson has authored numerous journal articles describing significant advances in chemical reaction engineering and chemical engineering which includes but is not limited to:.

Neal Amundson's vision was to combine modern advances in science together with elegant yet practical mathematical methods.

Neal Amundson encouraged young faculty to explore new topics in chemical engineering such as biological systems and focused on broadening the discipline to include materials science and engineering.

Neal Amundson acknowledged the importance of emerging fields and had a goal of attracting young faculty in topics such as microbiology and polymers.

Neal Amundson has been called the "father of modern chemical engineering" to recognize his invigoration of chemical engineering with mathematics and emerging research fields.

Neal Amundson's work has impacted multiple generations of students, including his mentoring of 52 PhD students throughout his career.

Neal Amundson died on February 16,2011, at the age of 95.