The Poddar Award for Rising Chemical Engineers

Dr. Syamal Poddar is the Founder President of the consulting company, Poddar & Associates. His 40+ year industrial career includes working for two major global companies, Exxon Research & Engineering and Bechtel Corporation, with diversified professional, management and leadership responsibilities. In addition to his industrial career, he maintained his teaching interest as an adjunct faculty, for several years, at University of Houston (Clear Lake & Downtown campuses). As a part of his consulting activities, Dr. Poddar has given, and is continuing to offer, several technical, project & business development and leadership courses nationally and internationally.

With Bachelors and Masters degrees in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Jadavpur University, India,  Dr. Poddar earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He is a PE registered in the state of Texas. In addition to authoring 46 technical papers and 2 US patents, he has made numerous technical and business presentations at national and international conferences and organized & chaired many such conferences, participated and moderated a number of panel discussions on various topics. He is also on the Advisory Board of International Refining and Petrochemical (IRPC) conferences organized by Gulf Publishing.  Over the years he received many national and international awards and recognitions including University Gold Medal for the highest position (First)  for the Masters Degree (MChE).

A veteran volunteer, Syamal  led social and professional organizations with tangible membership growth with value added activities.  He is very active with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Syamal has held practically all leadership roles in the Fuels & Petrochemical Division and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Management Division of the Institute. In addition to the national level, he is very active in the South Texas Section (STS) of the AIChE. He recently completed his elected term as the chair of the STS. During his tenure as the Chair of the STS, Syamal expanded the diversity and inclusion in the leadership of the organization. He is passionately driven to expand the leadership role of young professionals by attracting, retaining and energizing young professionals. He is a member of Board of Trustees of the Foundation of the AIChE.  Based on his continued benevolent activities through the AIChE Foundation, in 2016 November during AIChE’s annual meeting in San Francisco, he was recognized by the AIChE as the Philanthropist of the year.

Dr. Poddar is a Fellow of the AIChE, has been elected a member of the Fellows Council three years ago and is currently the Chair of the Council. He also chairs the AIChE Foundation's Annual Fund to ensure leadership giving participation and educating members-at-large about the Foundation and its philanthropic activities. He enjoys mentoring young professionals. Syamal, along with his wife and partner Susmita, are lifetime supporters of the Institute and passionately believe in the mission of the Foundation to make the world a better and safer place through chemical engineering.