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Jennifer Sinclair Curtis
Dean Curtis Portraits 005 (22389770845).jpg
Curtis in 2015
Born
Jennifer Lynn Doloresco

(1960-12-25) December 25, 1960 (age 64)
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Education BSChE, chemical engineering, Purdue University
MSChE, PhD, Princeton University, Princeton University
Spouse(s)
Barry Allan Curtis (m. 2002)

Gavin Sinclair
(m. 1981; died 2000)
Scientific career
Institutions University of California, Davis
University of Florida
Purdue University
Carnegie Mellon University
Thesis Vertical transport of gas and solids with radial solid density variations (1989)

Jennifer Lynn Sinclair Curtis, born on December 25, 1960, is an amazing American engineer. She led the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis as its Dean from 2015 to 2020. She is also recognized as a 'Fellow' by several important science and engineering groups. These include the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Being a Fellow means she is highly respected for her work.

Becoming an Engineer

Jennifer Lynn Doloresco was born in Cincinnati on December 25, 1960. When she was in high school, her counselor suggested she look into engineering. This led her to study chemical engineering at Purdue University. She then earned her PhD in the same field from Princeton University. While at Purdue, she met Gavin Sinclair, and they got married in 1981. During one summer, she even worked at the "Folgers" Group at Procter & Gamble.

Her Engineering Journey

Jennifer Sinclair and her first husband, Gavin, started their teaching careers at Carnegie Mellon University. Jennifer was known for creating new courses. People described her as a very strong and popular teacher. In 1997, they both moved to Purdue University, which was Jennifer's old school.

After her husband passed away in 2000, Jennifer was promoted to a Full professor. She also became an associate dean, helping to guide students in their first year of engineering. She stayed at Purdue and later married Barry Allan Curtis in 2002.

In 2002, Jennifer Sinclair Curtis became the associate dean for undergraduate education. She is famous for creating special computer models. These models help us understand how tiny particles flow, like sand or dust. Her work has been used in many computer programs that simulate fluids. She was also the first to work with ANSYS Fluent. This helped expand how their software could simulate different phases, like gas and solids mixing. A few years later, she moved to the University of Florida.

Leading at the University of Florida

Jennifer Sinclair Curtis joined the University of Florida in 2003. While there, she received a special scholarship called the Fulbright Senior Research Scholarship from 2010 to 2011. This scholarship allowed her to do important research. She was also chosen as a Fellow by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In 2012, she became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This was for her important discoveries about how particles and gas-solid mixtures move.

Becoming a Dean at UC Davis

UC Davis Intel-82 (27759887932)
Curtis (middle) at the headquarters of Intel in Santa Clara in May 2016

In 2015, Jennifer Sinclair Curtis moved from the University of Florida to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). She made history there by becoming the first woman Dean of the College of Engineering. In the same year, she received the F.J. & Dorothy Van Antwerpen Award. This award celebrates engineers who have made great contributions to chemical engineering. She also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer Sinclair Curtis decided to step down as Dean. However, she continued to teach as a distinguished professor of chemical engineering. She also received the Benjamin G. Lamme Award for her excellent work in engineering education. In October, she was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. This was for her work on how fluids move.

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