COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering Dr. G. Kemble Bennett has named Dr. Jorge Seminario, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, inaugural holder of the Lanatter and Herbert Fox Professorship in Chemical Engineering. Seminario joined the Dwight Look College of Engineering faculty in 2004. His research focuses on nanotechnology, working on the analysis, design and simulation of systems and materials of nanometer dimensions, especially those for the development of molecular electronics. The goal is to design smaller electronic devices and other materials in order to increase their efficiency, speed and energy savings, as well as reduce their costs. "Dr. Seminario performs exciting research in the emerging area of molecular electronics," said Dr. Kenneth R. Hall, head of the chemical engineering department and holder of the Jack E. and Frances Brown Chair in Engineering. "I believe he richly deserves this honor, and that Herb and Lanatter will be delighted by his selection." Seminario also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and is a researcher in the Chemical Engineering Division of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, the engineering research agency of the State of Texas and a member of The Texas A&M University System. Seminario worked as field engineer in broadcasting and nuclear engineering in Peru and has worked for a total of 13 years in quantum chemistry research as a postdoc and research professor in chemistry departments at the University of New Orleans and the University of South Carolina. Seminario is member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, the International Society for Engineering and the International Society of Quantum Biology and Pharmacology. His research was highlighted as success story by the Army Research Office from 2001-2003. Seminario’s work in nanotechnology has a strong connection with his multidisciplinary education. Seminario holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical sciences from the Universidad National de Ingenieria in Peru, and master’s in physics and Ph.D. in molecular science from Southern Illinois University. He was licensed in electronics engineering by the National Board of Engineers of Peru in 1980 and teaches process control for undergraduates and nanotechnology for graduate students. The Fox professorship was established in 2003 by Lanatter and Herb Fox, Texas A&M Class of 1956. Herb is the retired corporate executive vice president of Worldwide Downstream Operations for Murphy Oil Corp. and serves on the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering’s advisory council and the executive forum of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center. Lanatter is a retired elementary school teacher and active with fine arts programs in Arkansas.
