Daniel Shantz Appointed as Associate Dean for Research and PhD Programs

Daniel Shantz, PhD Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering was appointed Associate Dean for Research and PhD Programs, effective October 1, 2024.

Dean Rajan is excited to announce that Professor Daniel Shantz, PhD has been appointed Associate Dean for Research and PhD Programs at Tulane’s School of Science and Engineering, effective October 1.

As Associate Dean for Research and PhD Programs, Professor Shantz will focus on several key priorities. One priority is to increase research activity, especially with an eye to larger interdisciplinary efforts, while maintaining the high level of scholarship for which SSE is widely recognized. Dr. Shantz also plans to build on the existing excellence of the doctoral programs in SSE, developing new programming to facilitate student development.  Raising an awareness of the world-class research in SSE will also be a priority.

“We are excited to have Dr. Shantz leading our research and PhD programs at SSE. His proven leadership in managing the large U.S.–Israel Energy Center for Fossil Energy as well as his leadership role in the $160 Million NSF Engines demonstrates his exceptional organizational skills and expertise,” shared Dean Rajan. “Dr. Shantz has also excelled in previous roles at other universities, particularly at Texas A&M, bringing a well-rounded and unique perspective to this important associate dean role.”

In his decade at Tulane, Dr. Shantz’s lab has been active in developing new materials that have relevance in biofuel production, environmental emissions abatement, and catalytic upgrading of waste plastics.  He is persistently working to find new materials to address the very timely challenges we face in energy and sustainability.

Shantz was previously Department Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from 2018 to 2024 and oversaw several major changes during that tenure.  He worked to grow the faculty and was involved with hiring three junior faculty in life sciences. Also of note is that he led an effort around graduate program activities, and expanded donor support for the department.  During his tenure the CBE faculty significantly contributed to the growth of SSE’s collaborative research portfolio by securing several large multi-PI grants.  Finally, he was proactive in creating transparency in faculty workload assignments. 

Dr. Shantz joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tulane in July of 2014 as the Entergy Chair in Clean Energy Engineering. Over the past decade, Dr. Shantz has served as Director of the GoMed Consortium (U.S. – Israel Energy Center for Fossil Energy) and as Interim Director of Use Inspired R&D of NSF Regional Innovation Engine, Fuel for Louisiana. He also serves the greater Tulane community on the University Conflict of Interest Committee. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).  His lab is internationally recognized for its work in zeolite nucleation, biomimetic materials, and hybrid materials for catalysis and separations.

Dr. Shantz earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 1995. He received a PhD. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2000. After postdoctoral work in Germany, he joined the faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department at Texas A&M, starting as an assistant professor and ultimately holding the Ray Nesbitt Professorship and the rank of full professor.  He then spent two years at SABIC, first as a Chief Scientist and then as a Senior Manager in SABIC’s Corporate Research and Innovation Future Feedstocks group.

The School of Science & Engineering is grateful for Dr. Shantz’s leadership and is excited to see what future successes are coming Tulane’s way!