Dr. Robert C. Brown
Dr. Robert C. Brown was born in Baltimore, MD in 1954. He received a B.S. degree in physics and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Missouri-Columbia 1976 and a M.S. degree (1977) and a Ph.D. degree (1980) in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He worked at General Dynamics Corporation as a Senior Engineer in Advanced Design for three years before joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University in 1983. He currently holds the rank of Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Dr. Brown has been the Director of the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies since 1996. He also was appointed the Director of the Office of Biorenewables Programs at ISU in 2002 (now the Bioeconomogy Institute).
Research Interests
Dr. Brown is an expert in thermochemical processing of biomass into energy, fuels, and chemicals. His research in biomass gasification includes studies of carbon conversion, tar measurement and control, hot gas clean-up (particulate matter and inorganic contaminants), hydrogen production, and synthesis of renewable fuels and other biobased products using catalytic and biocatalytic processes. His research in fast pyrolysis includes studies on the evolution and transport of pyrolysis vapors and aerosols, selective condensation of pyrolysis liquids, catalytic and biocatalytic conversion of pyrolysis liquids into fuels, utilization of char byproduct as soil amendment and carbon sequestration agent, and power systems based on pyrolysis liquids. Dr. Brown is also well known for his techno-economic analysis of bioenergy and biofuel systems. He recently published "Biorenewable Resources: Engineering New Products from Agriculture", a textbook for students interested in the Bioeconomy.
Awards & Recognitions
Dr. Brown was named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2002 and a Distinguished Iowa Scientist in 2006. He held the first Bergles Professorship in Thermal Sciences at ISU (2003-2008). He received the David R. Boylan Eminent Faculty Award for Research from the ISU College of Engineering in 2002 and the Young Engineering Faculty Research Award from ISU in 1991. He received an R&D 100 Award from Research and Development Magazine in 1997.
