Chemical Engineering welcomes Rodrigo Reboucas as Bridge to Faculty scholar

Rodrigo Reboucas, the Chemical Engineering Department's new Bridge to Faculty scholar

Rodrigo Reboucas joined UIC’s Chemical Engineering Department this fall as a postdoctoral associate, through the university’s Bridge to Faculty program. The B2F program is a university-led recruitment effort designed to attract underrepresented postdoctoral scholars with the goal of transitioning to a tenure-track junior faculty position after two years.

Reboucas, a mechanical engineer by training, works on the dynamics of complex fluids and interfaces, microhydrodynamics, non-Newtonian fluid dynamics, and flow-induced structuring in particle suspensions.

He has spent the past two years as a postdoctoral associate in the department of engineering sciences and applied mathematics (ESAM) at Northwestern University. He received a PhD in chemical engineering from Yale University, prior to his work at Northwestern.

Reboucas holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Brasilia in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree from Pontifical Catholic University-Rio de Janeiro in mechanical engineering.

“Throughout my education, I was very fortunate to have outstanding mentors who inspired me to pursue a career in academia,” Reboucas said. “A turning point happened while working with Professor Michael Lowenberg of Yale University during my PhD, who taught me how important it is to be a good mentor, a dedicated teacher, and a thoughtful researcher; by the end of my PhD, I was sure that I would like to become a faculty member.”

He noted that the B2F program gives early career scholars the chance to develop an independent research program and eventually transition to a tenure-track position.

“It also provides ways of serving the community and underrepresented minorities,” Reboucas said. “It’s a unique program that offers proper training and a welcoming work environment for B2F postdocs pursuing a successful academic career. I look forward to joining the chemical engineering department at UIC and to making positive contributions to the university community.”