Robert Tilton
Chevron Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Director of Undergraduate Education, Chemical Engineering
A member of the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University since 1992, Robert Tilton holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical Engineering and in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and serves as Director of the Center for Complex Fluids Engineering. He earned a B.Ch.E. from the University of Delaware in 1986, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in 1987 and 1991, respectively. His Ph.D. research was supervised by Alice Gast and Channing Robertson and was recognized by the 1993 Victor K. LaMer Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Colloid and Surface Chemistry from the American Chemical Society. Following his Ph.D. he conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Professor Tilton has served as a regular member of the NIH Nanotechnology Study Section and as Scientific Council to CODIRECT, the Institute Excellence Centre for Controlled Release and Delivery at the Institute for Surface Chemistry in Stockholm. He has held several leadership positions in the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, including Victor K. LaMer Award Committee Chair, symposium committee chair, and division vice-chair, chair-elect and chair. He now serves as councilor. In 2001 and 2015 he co-chaired the ACS Colloid and Surface Science Symposium at Carnegie Mellon University.
Research in Tilton's group addresses problems in complex fluid interfacial phenomena. This entails fundamental investigations of the structure and dynamics of macromolecules, surfactants and composite nanoparticles in suspension or adsorbed at solid or fluid interfaces supports application-driven research in environmental nanotechnology, aerosolized carriers for pulmonary drug delivery, and high efficiency emulsifiers.
Engineering More Efficient Emulsifiers
Creating New Technology Using Complex Fluids
Education
1991 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Stanford University
1987 MS, Chemical Engineering, Stanford University
1986 Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Distinction, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
Nanoparticles to immunize plants against heat stress
CEE’s Greg Lowry and ChemE’s Bob Tilton have created a new type of nanoparticle that may be able to immunize plants against harsh environmental conditions and pathogens.
CMU Engineering
Safety top of mind for Baranowski
As an integral member of the “Rethink the Rink” team, Joanna Baranowski is working to make hockey safer.
Chemical Engineering
Alum creates endowed fund to support complex fluids research
Chemical engineering alumnus Prasad Setty (E ‘1994) and his wife Shoma recently made a $100,000 gift to the Department of Chemical Engineering to create an endowed fund in support of research in complex fluid interfacial phenomena.
Business Insider India
Tilton and Przybycien refine water filtration process that uses sand and plant materials
BME/ChemE’s Bob Tilton and Todd Przybycien's work on the process that converts sand and plant materials into a cheap and effective water filtration tool, called “f-sand,” was discussed in Business Insider India.
CMU Engineering
The seed that could bring clean water to millions
BME/ChemE’s Bob Tilton and Todd Przybycien have refined the requirements of a process that turns easily accessible sand and plant materials into a cheap and effective water filtration tool.
Tilton invited to present at conference
ChemE’s Bob Tilton was invited to present at the 2018 American Coatings Conference.
Bob Tilton appointed to Chevron Chair
ChemE’s Bob Tilton has been appointed to the Chevron Chair.
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Tilton named editor of Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
ChemE’s Bob Tilton has been named editor of Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects.
Tilton receives Procter and Gamble Higher Education Grant
ChemE’s Bob Tilton received a Procter and Gamble Higher Education Grant to develop a new course in Formulation Engineering.
Tilton elected to ACS Executive Committee
ChemE/BME’s Bob Tilton has been elected to serve a three year term (2017-2019) as Member-at-Large of the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry Executive Committee.
CMU Engineering
Department news
The initiatives underway in the College’s departments embody the value we place on progress. Here are some of our current projects and prides.
CMU Engineering
Ubiquitous liquids of the complex kind
Bob Tilton receives NSF grant to explore the forces that cause particles to suspend or aggregate in complex fluids.