P. SOMASUNDARAN

La von Duddleson Krumb Professor
 Director, IUCRC for Advanced Studies in Novel Surfactants
Director, Langmuir Center for Colloids and Interfaces
Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027
Phone: (212) 854-2926
FAX: (212) 854-8362
E-mail: ps24@columbia.edu

 

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Professional Experience

Miscellaneous
Awards, Appointments, and other Recognitions
Consultancies
Memberships
Reviewing Commitee


Research Interests

Publications

Professional Experience

Professional

Director, National Science Foundation I/UCRC for Advanced Studies in Novel Surfactants, 1997-1999.
Chair, Engineering Foundation Nominating Committee, 1996-1999.
Co-Chair, XX International Mineral Processing Congress, 1996-1999.
Chairman, Symposium on Recent Advances in Particle Science and Technology, April, 1998.
Session Chair, Conference on Novel Surfactants, Royal Society Chemistry Faraday Division, Wexham, UK, September, 1998.                                                 
Co-Chair, Minerals Bioprocessing IV Stockholm, 1999.
Senior Chair, Biobenefication-I, 1999.
Chairman, Department of Chemical Engineering, Material Science and Mining Engineering, until 1997.
Co-Chair, 9th International Conference on Surface and Colloid Science, July, 1997.      
Session Chair, Fundamentals-A, Engineering Foundation Conference on Development on Non-
Renewable Resources: Challenge and Solutions, November, 1997.
Session Chair on Dynamics of Interfaces and Colloids, International Symposium on Sofia, Bulgaria, July, 1997.
Session Chair, Instrumental and On-Line Analysis, XX International Mineral Processing Congress, Aachen, Germany, September, 1997.
Session Chair, 9th International Conference on Surface and Colloid Science, Sofia, Bulgaria, July, 1997
Session Chair, XX International Mineral Processing Congress, Aachen, Germany, September, 1997.
Co-Chairman, XIX International Mineral Processing Conference Committee, 1996.
Session Chair, International Conference on Mineral Processing: Recent Advances in Future Trends, Kanpur, December, 1995.  
Session Chair, 10th Surfactants in Solution Symposium, International Advisory Committee, Caracas, Venezuela, June, 1994.      
Co-Chairman, XIX International Mineral Processing Congress Program Committee, 1993-1994.
Session Chair, “Adsorption and Solubilzation”, American Chemical Society, 1994.
Session Chair, National Meeting, First International Particle Technology Forum, 1994.
Session Chairman, Symposium on Enhanced Oil Recovery, 205th National ACS Meeting, Denver, April, 1993.
Session Chairman, Foundation Conference on “Emerging Separation Technologies for Metals and Fuels”, Florida, March, 1993.
Session Chairman, International Mineral Processing Congress, Dresden, Germany, 1991.                      
Chairman, Peer Committee #11, National Academy of Engineering, 1989-1990.
Chairman, Department of Interior, USBM Research Council of the Generic Mineral Technology Center on Comminution, 1990.
Chairman, Organizing Committee, International Conference on Environmental Issues and Management of Waste in Energy and Minerals Production, New Jersey, 1990.
Chairman, 8th International Symposium on Surfactants in Solution, 1990.
Session Chairman, Impact of Past and Current Practices on the Environment: Assessment of Practices and Problems, International Conference on Environmental Issues and Management of Waste in Energy and Minerals Production, New Jersey, 1990.
Session Chairman, Dispersion and Classification, 2nd World Congress on Particle Technology, Kyoto, Japan, 1990.
Session Chairman, Surface Chemistry of Coal, Engineering Foundation Conference on Fine Coal Cleaning, Palm Coast, Florida, 1990.  
Session Chairman, Innovations in Materials Processing Using Aqueous, Colloid and Surface Chemistry, 118th Annual AIME/SME Meeting, Las Vegas, 1989.
Session Chairman, “Surface and Colloidal Phenomena in Fine Particles Processing- II”, International Symposium on Advances in Fine Particle Processing, Boston, 1989.
Session Chairman, Engineering Foundation Conference on Advances in Coal and Mineral Processing Using Flotation, Palm Coast, 1989.
Hosted International Fine Particle Research Institute’s 10th Annual Meeting, Teaneck, New Jersey, 1989.
Chairman, VII International Processing Symosium Session, Istanbul, September, 1998.
Chairman, Session on Fine Particles and Dispersed Systems, 6th International Conference on Surface and Colloid Science, Hakone, Japan, 1988.
Session Chairman, Flocculation I, International Symposium on Production and Processing of Fine Particles, Montreal, Canada, 1988.
Chairman, American Chemical Society, Symposium on Surfactants in Minerals and Materials Systems, 1988.    
Senior Chairman, International Symposium on Surfactants in Solution, New Delhi, 1987.
Co-Chairman, Advisory Com mittee, Indo-US Seminar on Special Topics in Mineral Processing, Pune, India, 1987-1989.
Session Chairman, Indo-US Seminar on Special Topics in Mineral Processing, 1987.
Session Chairman, Separation of Solids, Engineering Foundation 2nd International Conference on Separation Technology, Schloss Elmau, West Germany, 1987.
Material Science Expert, National Science Foundation Workshop, “Strong Sub-fields of Indian Science and Technology: Advantageous Areas for U.S. collaboration, Arlington, Virginia, 1987.
Senior Chairman, Seminar on Chemistry and Applications of New Reagents for Mineral Benefication, Pune, 1986.
Doctoral Committee, Department of Chemistry, CUNY Brooklyn, 1986-1989.
Vice-Chairman, Program Committee, Society of Mining Engineers, 1986.
Chairman, Organizing Committee AIME, Arbiter Symposium on Advances in Mineral Processing, New Orleans, 1986.
Session Chairman, International Symposium on Flocculation in Biotechnology and Separation Systems, Fine Particle Society Symposium, San Fransisco, 1986.
Co-Chairman, Engineering Foundation Conference on Science and Technology of Processing Fine Coal, Henniker, N. H., 1985.
Chairman, Program Coordination Committee, SME, 1986.
Honorable Consultant, Division of Finer Particle Technology of Chinese Technical Information, People’s Republic of China, 1986.
Co-Supervisor, PhD., Flotation Committee, Central South University of Technology, Changsha, People’s Republic of China, 1986.
Co-Chairman, Engineering Foundation Conference, Flocculation and Sedimentation and
Consolidation, Sea Islands, Georgia, January 27-Feb. 1, 1985.
Session Chairman, Flocculation, ACS Colloid Symposium, Potsdam, 1985.
Chairman, Engineering Foundation Conference Committee, 1984-1995.           
Session Chairman, Sedimentation and Consolidation, Sea Islands, Georgia, January 27, 1985.
National Research Council Panel on Engineering Research Energy, Resources Environment, 1984-1988.
Session Chairman, Reagents in Mineral Industry Conference, Rome, 1984.
Chairman, Subcommittee on Conference Format, Engineering Foundation, 1983
Chairman, General Committee, Mineral Processing Div., Society of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1982-83
Chairman, Mineral Processing Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1982-83
Chairman, Engineering Foundation Conference on "Minerals, Metal and Coal Extraction with Minimum Water Usage and Pollution," Santa Barbara, January 1982
Assoc. Chairman, Min. Proc. Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1981-82
Assoc. Chairman, General Committee, Min. Proc. Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1981-82
Chairman, Program Committee, Mineral Processing Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1981-82
Chairman, XIV Int. Mineral Processing Congress Organizing Committee for Flotation, 1981/82
Vice-Chairman, Program Committee, Mineral Processing Div., Soc. of Min., Met. & Mineral Engineering, 1980-81
1st Regional Vice-Chairman, Mineral Processing Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1980
2nd Regional Vice-Chairman, Mineral Processing Div., Soc. of Mining Engineers/AIME, 1979
Co-Chairman, International Symposium on Resources Engineering and Technology, Bombay, January, 1979
Chairman, International Symposium on Fine Particles Processing, Soc. of Mining Engineers 1978-1980
Chairman, National Science Foundation Workshop: "Beneficiation of Mineral Fines: Problems and Research Needs," Tuxedo, New York, August 1978
Chairman, Mineral Processing Fundamentals Committee, AIME, 1977
Session Chairman, 107th Annual AIME Meeting- Fundamentals General Session, (Mineral Processing Division), General Session, 1978.
Chairman Representative, Henry Krumb School of Mines, 1976.
Chairman, National Science Foundation Workshop: "Research Needs in Mineral Processing," Harriman, New York, August 1975.
Chairman, NSF Workshop “Objective Research for our Mineral Requirements”, 1975
Program Chairman, Flotation and Flocculation Chemistry, Society of Mining Engineers, 1975.
Session Chairman, Mineral Processing Fundamentals, Session I, AIME, 1975.
Co-Chairman, AIChE Symposium, "Application of Interfacial Phenomena in Flotation Research", Salt Lake City, August 1974                                                                          
Chairman, Mineral Processing Fundamentals Session I, AIME, 1974.    
Co-Chairman, Engineering Fundamentals, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1974.
Session Chairman, Minteral Processing Fundamentals, AIME Annual meeting, Dallas, 1974.
Vice-Chairman, Mineral Processing Fundamentals Committee, AIME, 1972-76
Chairman, School of Engineering and Applied Science Research Committee, Columbia University.

Experience

1998 - Present:                       
Director, National Science Foundation: Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Studies in Novel Surfactants
1988 - 1997:    
Chairman Henry Krumb School of Mines, Dept. of Min., Met., & Mnrl. Engg., Columbia University
1987 - Present:           
Director Langmuir Center for Colloids & Interfaces, Columbia University
1983 - Present:           
La von Duddleson Krumb Professor of Mineral Engineering, Columbia University
1978 - 1983:    
Professor of Mineral Engineering, Columbia University
May - July 1977:
Visiting Scientist, University of Melbourne
January - April, 1977:
Visiting Professor/Scientist, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
1970 - 1978:
Associate Professor of Mineral Engineering, Columbia University
May - July 1976:
Acting Chairman, School of Mines, Columbia University
1967 - 1970:
Research Chemist, R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc., Winston_Salem
1965 - 1967:
Senior Research Engineer, Intern. Minerals & Chemical Corp., Libertyville, IL
1961 - 1964:
Teaching and Research Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley
1958 - 1959:
Senior Laboratory Assistant at the National Chemical Laboratory, Poona, India at the University of California, Berkeley
1958-1959:
 Senior Laboratory Assistant at the National Chemical Laboratory, Poona, India