Distinguished Professor Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos | |
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Born | 1950 |
Died | October 28, 2019 | (aged 68–69)
Nationality | Greek |
Alma mater | University of Minnesota University of Florida National Technical University of Athens |
Known for | Catalysis, Nanoparticles, Single atom materials |
Awards | Fellow AAAS (2008), National Academy of Engineering (2014) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Chemical Engineer |
Institutions | Tufts University, MIT, JPL |
Doctoral advisor | Lanny D. Schmidt |
External videos | |
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“Inaugural Haber Professorship Lecture” | |
“Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos: Decomposition of nitric oxide over Cu/ZSM-5“ |
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos (1950 - October 28, 2019) was a Greek chemical engineer and, at the time of her death, had been the Robert and Marcy Haber Endowed Professor in Energy Sustainability and a distinguished professor at Tufts University. Flytzani-Stephanopoulos had also been the Raytheon Professor of Pollution Prevention at Tufts. She published more than 160 scientific articles with over 14,000 citations as of April 2018. She was a Fellow of AIChE, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Institute of Chemical Engineers.[1][2][3] She lived in the Greater Boston Area with her husband, Professor Gregory Stephanopoulos of MIT.[4]
Maria Flytzani was born and grew up in Greece. In 1973, she earned her diploma in chemical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. She continued her studies at the University of Florida where she received a master's degree in chemical engineering in 1975. She completed her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1975 with advisor Lanny D. Schmidt on the topic of oscillations in heterogeneous catalysis. Her thesis was published in 1978 with the title, "Surface Morphology of Platinum Catalysts and Oscillations in Ammonia Oxidation on Platinum".[5] During her time in graduate school, Maria prepared X journal publications with her advisor:
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos authored more than 160 journal articles describing significant advances in catalysis, surface chemistry, and single-atom catalysts including:
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos's contributions to research, education and service received numerous awards, many of which highlighted her passion for catalysis and the problems associated with nanoparticle design and catalytic function. In 2008, she was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS).[16]
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos of Tufts University's School of Engineering has been selected as an AAAS Fellow for distinguished contributions to the field of catalysis, particularly for new insights in oxidation reactions on nanoscale metal oxides in fuel conversion and pollutant processes.
— Election, AAAS, 2008[17]
In 2014, she was elected a member of the American National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Her NAE election citation noted:[16]
For contributions to atomically dispersed heterogeneous metal catalysts for efficient production of fuels and chemicals.
— Election Citation, National Academy of Engineering, 2014[18]
Other awards and honors included:[19]