Gerardine Botte is a professor and the Whitacre Department Chair in Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University, with over 23 years of experience in the development of electrochemical processes and advanced water treatment systems. She is a visionary and a recognized leader in electrochemical science and technology. She has served in leadership roles for the Electrochemical Society and is currently the third vice president of the Electrochemical Society and past chair of the Electrochemical Processes Engineering and Technology Division of the International Society of Electrochemistry. She is also the editor in chief of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry.

In 2014, she was named a fellow of the Electrochemical Society for her contributions and innovation in electrochemical processes and engineering. She became a chapter fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012. In 2010, she was named a fellow of the World Technology Network for her contributions on the development of sustainable and environmental technologies.

Botte previously served as University Distinguished Professor and Russ Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Ohio University, the founder and director of Ohio University’s Center for Electrochemical Engineering Research, and the founder and director of the Consortium for Electrochemical Processes and Technology, an Industry University Cooperative Research Center. Botte has 198 publications, including peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and 59 granted patents. Botte and members of her research group are working on the foundation of applying electrochemical engineering principles for advanced and sustainable manufacturing, process intensification, food/energy/water sustainability, and nanomaterials with expertise in electro-synthesis, batteries, electrolyzers, sensors, fuel cells, mathematical modeling, and electro-catalysis.

Example projects include: electrochemical extraction of/and recovery of rare earth elements from solid fuels and produced water, hydrogen production from ammonia, biomass, urea, coal, and pet-coke, synthesis of carbon nanotubes and graphene, water remediation and disinfection, selective catalytic reduction, ammonia synthesis, electrochemical conversion of CO2 to high value products, novel electrolytes for thermal batteries, advanced electrowinning, and electrochemical microbial sensors. Botte is also an entrepreneur, she has been involved in the commercialization of technologies and has founded and co-founded companies.

She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Botte worked as a process engineer in a petrochemical plant; she was involved in the production of fertilizers and polymers. Botte earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Universidad de Carabobo.