Prof Eva Sorensen appointed Interim Head of Department at UCL Chemical Engineering

We are delighted to announce that Professor Eva Sorensen has been appointed the new Interim Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. She becomes the first female Head of Chemical Engineering in UCL since opening nearly 100 years ago.

Prof Eva Sorensen will be taking on the position with effect from 1st January 2020 whilst Professor Marc-Olivier Coppens takes a well-deserved one-year sabbatical, after a seven-year run at the helm from August 2012. 

Prof Coppens welcomed the news:  

““I know the department will be in excellent hands during my sabbatical. Ours is a fantastic department, in the quality of the work and, especially, the people themselves - a tremendous privilege to lead. Eva fully realises this, and will ensure continuity and new perspectives to move us to further successes over the next year.” 

Departmental Manager, Katy Le Lion stated: 

“‘I am thrilled to be working alongside, our first-ever female Head of Department, Eva and very much look forward to supporting her in making this a year to remember!’ 

Prof Sorensen has previously held the position of Deputy Head (Education) and has been a valued member of UCL staff for over two decades. Her highlighted achievements include winning the UCL Faculty of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award in 2002, becoming an ExxonMobil Teaching Fellow in 2013, winning the PROSE Award for Chemistry & Physics in 2015, as well as winning the IChemE's Frank Morton Medal in 2017 and a SEFI Fellowship Award in 2018. 

Prof Sorensen had this to say about her appointment:  

““It is a great honour to be asked to act as caretaker whilst Marc-Olivier is away, but with such an enthusiastic and supportive group of people within our department I am sure it will be a very interesting and enjoyable experience. I very much look forward to starting the role in January.” 

Further information: 

• Professor Eva Sorensen Academic Profile 

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