Fengqi You is the 2026 Recipient of the David Himmelblau Award for Innovations in Computer-Based Chemical Engineering Education

Fengqi You is the Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at Cornell University. His research and teaching focus on process systems engineering, computational optimization, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy systems, and systems analytics. He received his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University and his B.Eng. from Tsinghua University. Fengqi has made significant contributions to computer-based chemical engineering education through the development of open educational resources, including online open textbooks on computational optimization and chemical process design. These resources have reached students, educators, researchers, and professionals worldwide. At Cornell, he has also developed innovative courses in deep learning, industrial big data analytics and machine learning, AI for sustainability, AI for energy systems, AI for digital agriculture, and AI for science. His educational contributions have helped broaden access to advanced computational methods and prepare students for emerging challenges in chemical engineering and related fields.

The award recognizes an individual or group making new and novel contributions to computer aids for chemical engineering education, is funded by colleagues and family of Dr. David Himmelblau and the CACHE Corporation, and is administered by the AIChE CAST Division.