Faculty & Staff
Dr. J.
Aubrey Sykes
Professor
Chemical Engineering
(616) 526-7188
(616) 526-6086 FAX
asykes@calvin.edu
Office: EB135
Weekly schedule
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Educational background
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, 1968 (Sigma Xi)
Dr. Sykes obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1968 and then took extensive business and management courses at the University of California-Berkley.
Professional experience
Dr. Sykes has a broad set of technology and leadership skills. Much of his career has been dedicated to managing research and development for Shell Oil, Air Products & Chemicals, and AMP Incorporated. In each of these companies, he focused on environmental issues, strategies, and tactics for the development and deployment of technology for business results and personnel recruitment and development.
Dr. Sykes has licensed process technology worldwide. He led the development and deployment of many technology management practices from strategic approaches, to program and project management, to strategic and tactical use of trade secrets and patent estates, and to effective and efficient management of professionals and facilities. He has managed the development and construction of R&D facilities in the UK, in Utrecht (Holland), in Tsukuba (Japan), in Hong Kong (China), in Beijing (China) and around the US. Directly or through his leadership, Dr. Sykes has developed, improved, or produced numerous materials from which we gain daily benefits.
In recent years, Dr. Sykes has been teaching engineering, the physical sciences, material sciences, manufacturing processes, and environmental courses — first at Penn State University and now at Calvin College. In addition to teaching, he is a consultant to businesses in the areas of strategic planning and technology management, as well as a coach to developing business executives.
Dr. Sykes has several patents and many publications and presentations covering several technologies as well as technology management. He was an active supporter of the development of the National Technological University and the Center for Innovation Management Studies at Lehigh University.
Patents
- U.S. 3,463,811 (French 1578578) "Trisodium nitrilotriacetate"
- U.S. 3,965,244 "Selective removal of sulfur compounds from acid gas mixtures containing significant quantities of carbonyl sulfide"
Research interests
- Advanced materials
- Environmental technology and sustainability
- Management of technology and innovation