Journal of Water Technology and Treatment Methods

Somasundaran P

Designation: Professor

Department: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering

Institution: Columbia University

Country: United States

Dr. Somasundaran received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. After 5 years with the International Minerals and Chemical Corporation and Reynolds Industries, he was invited by Columbia University in 1970 to join the faculty of the prestigious Henry Krumb School of Mines. In 1983 he was invested as the first La von Duddleson Krumb Professor, in 1987 he became the first Director of the Langmuir Center for Colloids & Interfaces, and in 1998 he assumed the directorship of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Center for Advanced Studies in Novel Surfactants. He was also elected Chairperson of the Henry Krumb School in 1988 and 1991, Chairperson of Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Material Science & Mineral Engineering in 1992 and 1995. More recently he was awarded 2015, NSF Alex Schwarzkopf award for Technical innovation and the Columbia University “World-class Scholarly Achievement Award” from Deepak and Neera Raj Center of School of International and public affairs. He has received many prestigious honors and awards in the field of engineering. He is the author/editor of 15 books and over 700 scientific publications and patents. He has served on the Piermont (NY) village Planning Board and Board of Appeals, and on many international professional committees. Somasundaran is one of the world's foremost experts in surfactants, the essential ingredient in dispersants.