Dr. Theo Tsotsis

Professor

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Biography

Professor Tsotsis received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1978. He joined the University of Southern California (USC) and currently holds the title of Robert E. Vivian Professor of Energy Resources in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, where he has served as the department's inaugural Chair since 2005. Professor Tsotsis’ research interests encompass transport phenomena, adsorption, reaction in complex porous media, reaction engineering, reactor design, and membrane separations. He has authored 280 technical papers and book chapters, and holds eight U.S. and European patents. He co-founded and was an executive board member of USC’s NSF/IGERT Center for Environmental Engineering, and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). His research includes work on reaction engineering and membrane separation processes, sorption transport phenomena, reactor engineering applications involving biomass and renewable energy sources, and environmental reaction engineering focused on landfill site remediation. He employs both experimental and theoretical approaches, utilizing continuum and molecular simulation techniques.

Research Interests

Awards

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WPI 2017 Ed Ma Lectureship

2017-01-01
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OCEC President's Award

2011-01-01
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AIChE Fellow

2009-01-01
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NAMS Technical Co-Chair Meeting

2002-01-01
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ISCRE Technical Co-Chair

1998-01-01
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UOP Invitational Lectureship

1992-01-01
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Chevron Visiting Professor

1986-01-01
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USC Research Scholar

1983-01-01
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Welch Foundation Fellow

1983-01-01
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Chevron Young Faculty Award

1981-01-01
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Oak Ridge Associated Universities Fellowship

1980-01-01
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National Student Award

1974-01-01

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.