Engineering without Borders: Coppe/UFRJ professor brings Brazilian expertise to unprecedented visting professorship in the USA
Planeta COPPE / Chemical Engineering / News
Date: 14/10/2025

Professor Príamo Melo, from Coppe/UFRJ’s Chemical Engineering Program, has been selected as the first visiting professor of the newly created Darsh Wasan Visting Professorship at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) in Chicago. The appointment represents a milestone in Coppe’s internationalization and reinforces the recognition of scientific excellence and the leading role of Brazilian engineering in cutting-edge research centers.
During the fall 2025 semester, the professor will bring his extensive expertise in mathematical modeling, computational simulation, process control and chemical systems optimization to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) at Illinois Tech, with an emphasis on polymerization, petrochemical and nitrogen-based fertilizer processes—areas in which he is a leading figure in Brazil and abroad. His work will include teaching, courses, student mentoring and the development of scientific partnerships, strengthening the cooperative ties between Coppe and the North American university.
The highlight of the visit will be the annual Darsh Wasan Lecture, which the professor will deliver on October 22nd, 2025, under the theme “Hunger for None: Powered by Chemical Engineering.” The event will be streamed live on YouTube at 5:15 pm (Brasília time) at youtube.com/live/Gh6tu4d4BC4.
In the lecture, the researcher will discuss his research on nitrogen fertilizers, which are essential for crop growth and global food security. “Chemical engineering plays an essential role in fertilizer production, ensuring the design, operation, and optimization of industrial processes that sustain agriculture and help combat world hunger. Participating in the Darsh Wasan Lecture is a great honor and also a responsibility. I hope this collaboration will generate new opportunities for exchange and joint research between our institutions,” he adds.
With Príamo’s presence as chair and the lecture, COPPE reaffirms its commitment to the internationalization of Brazilian science and the global advancement of chemical engineering as an essential tool for meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
