Sibani Lisa Biswal, the William M. McCardell Professor in Chemical Engineering at Rice and a specialist in the study of colloids, surfactants, lipids and polymers, has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), founded in 1899 “to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics.”
The fellowship was created to recognize members who have made advances in physics through original research and publication, or innovative contributions in the application of physics to science and technology. Each year, no more than one half of one percent of APS members are elected by their peers to the status of fellow.
Biswal was recognized for her “fundamental contributions to understanding of the assembly of superparamagnetic colloids in magnetic fields, discovering mechanisms governing multiphase flows in porous media, characterizing molecular transport in lipid membranes, and developing porous silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries.”
“I am deeply honored to be selected to be an APS fellow by the Division of Soft Matter,” she said. “This division includes research covering a wide array of fundamental and complex challenges. Throughout my career I have worked alongside and learned from APS members. They have fostered an environment of collaboration instrumental in my growth as a researcher.”
“Physics,” she added, “provides the fundamental understanding of forces that has allowed me to make advances in new materials, technologies and techniques to solve real-world challenges related to energy and health.”
Biswal also serves as senior associate dean of engineering and has a joint appointment in materials science and nanoengineering. She joined the Rice faculty in 2006 and directs the Soft Matter Engineering Laboratory.
She earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Stanford University in 2004, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research aims to find solutions for a range of technological challenges in the fields of materials and energy.
Biswal will formally receive the honor at the annual meeting of the APS Division of Soft Matter next March in Minneapolis.