Everything flows toward student success
Matthew Liberatore, Professor and Department Chair
Trine University - Allen School of Engineering & Computing
McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
B.S. University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
M.S. and Ph.D. University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
260.665.4223 | email
I joined the McKetta Department in summer 2024 as professor and department chair. I previous was a professor at the University of Toledo and Colorado School of Mines. I enjoy all parts of being a chemical engineering professor and helping students grow and learn.
I am curious about new ways to help students learn engineering, which has led me to author some of the first interactive textbooks in chemical engineering. Using new technologies also leads to engineering education research in the areas of active and self-directed learning, problems that reverse engineer YouTube videos, and learning analytics.
I am also a rheologist - a person who studies viscosity and how things flow. Engineering new materials by understanding their changes under flow serves as the central research theme of my rheology research. Specifically, we have explored fluids for oil&gas applications, biofuels, polishing wafers to make computer chips, food additives, plastic/polymer composites, and more. Rheologists even know how to walk on water...
Finally, I was born and raised in the Chicago metro area. My hobbies include working out, following my favorite sports teams, camping, home improvements, and baking - usually with my wife and four children.