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Helen Durand

Biography

Our group's research interests are in the area of process systems engineering and process control. Our objective is to integrate chemical engineering, optimization, mathematics, and nonlinear systems theory to develop cutting-edge solutions to important industrial considerations, including production profitability and the prevention of accidents at chemical plants. We seek to provide engineering solutions but also to mathematically characterize fundamental benefits and limitations of the solutions through rigorous theoretical analysis. Major themes of our current research include enhancing process profitability and operational safety through control design.

Additional information on research can be found at Durand Lab.

Education

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles (2017)
M.S., University of California, Los Angeles (2014)
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles (2011)

Courses Taught

CHE 4200, Product and Process Design

CHE 4600, Process Dynamics and Simulation

Research Interests

plant-wide control of nonlinear systems; centralized and distributed economic model predictive control; operational safety and cybersecurity of closed-loop processes; reduced-order modeling in predictive control