Eleftherios “Terry” Papoutsakis

Class of 2023-24

Unidel Eugene DuPont Chaired Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Professor, Biological Sciences 
University of Delaware 

Considered a pioneer in metabolic engineering, Terry Papoutsakis has discovered ways to manipulate complex cellular processes, leading to new methods for creating fuels, chemicals and therapeutic compounds. He is best known for unraveling the interplay of cellular processes, allowing beneficial breakthroughs from regenerative medicine to industrial biotechnology. 

His current research focuses on molecular biotechnology and synthetic biology for sustainable manufacturing and the development of human therapeutics.

Papoutsakis earned a doctorate in chemical engineering from Purdue University.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society,  the National Academy of Inventors, and the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering. He is a founding fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers.

Honors include the E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, the Alpha Chi Sigma, the William H. Walker, the James E. Bailey and the Daniel I. C. Wang awards of American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Society of Biological Engineering.

He has authored two books and 277 peer-reviewed publications. He holds 20 patents.

Papoutsakis will collaborate with faculty, researchers and students in the College of Engineering.