Samir F. Castilla Acevedo

Assistant Professor

Contact information

Education

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2026
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad del Valle (Colombia), 2019
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad del Valle (Colombia), 2015

Professional experience

Samir F. Castilla Acevedo joined the Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering after graduating with his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas in 2026. He earned his master’s in chemical engineering from the Universidad del Valle in 2019 and his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the Universidad del Atlantico, both in Colombia, in 2015.

Castilla teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in chemical engineering, as well as mentors students in the department. Prior to his work as a graduate research assistant at the University of Kansas, Castilla worked as an assistant professor and research director at the Universidad de la Costa in Colombia.

Research

Castilla’s research interests include: environmental catalysis, hetereogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, green chemistry, wastewater treatment, waste-to-value conversion pathways and environmentally beneficial chemical manufacturing.

Academic highlights

An accomplished researcher and educator, his academic career is defined by strong institutional support, leadership in green chemistry and a commitment to mentorship. His grant funding history includes major international research support, such as the "Young Investigators for Peace" grants in Colombia, as well as a competitive $25,000 ACS Graduate Student Success Grant. Beyond academic performance, he has earned distinction for leadership and student guidance, receiving the ACS Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Excellence for Mentoring honor.

His research contributions in catalysis and sustainable engineering are widely recognized across professional societies. A frequent recipient of competitive awards, he earned the Best Oral Presentation honor at the Great Plains Catalysis Society Symposium and was selected for the prestigious ACS Green Chemistry Summer School on Green Chemistry and Sustainable Energy. His ongoing presentation of research at premier conferences has been supported by multiple travel grants from the Organic Reactions Catalysis Society (ORCS), the ACS Green Chemistry Institute and the University of Kansas School of Engineering.