Jeffrey Self

“While engineering has a reputation for being dry and rigid, I’ve found that it actually requires incredible creativity and flexibility in thought,” says Jeffrey Self, a new assistant professor of chemical engineering at Arizona State University.

“As society continues to develop, our technological demands grow more and more complex,” Self says. “That’s why my interest hasn’t waned, because engineers always have new and exciting problems to work on!”

Self has been developing an engineering problem-solving mentality throughout his career. While working to earn a doctoral degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, his research efforts won support from the National Science Foundation through a Graduate Research Fellowship. His success helped him become a postdoctoral researcher in the department of chemical engineering and materials science at the University of Minnesota. 

Self was initially impressed with ASU’s strong research output and talented faculty, but says he ultimately chose to join the faculty because of the university’s commitment to accessible, high-quality education. 

“I’m excited to continue the tradition of chemical engineering education with today’s generation of socially and environmentally conscious students as we address the engineering challenges of tomorrow,” Self says. 

As a faculty member in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Self will be teaching CHE211 Introduction to Chemical Processing, which applies chemical engineering analysis and problem-solving to chemical processes and explores energy balance methods and skills.

“As a foundational chemical engineering course, students should be ready for a challenge,” he says. “But it’s a challenge that is deeply rewarding and will be important for their future success in the discipline.”

Beyond his academic pursuits, Self’s interests include reading — with a penchant for science fiction and fantasy — and a love for running, gardening, cooking, gaming and crafting. 

Meet the newest faculty members of the Fulton Schools of Engineering here.

Written by Hayley Hilborn