Hilda B. Vroman

Advanced Chemist
​ExxonMobil Research and Engineering 

My current research focus is on zeolite discovery and materials optimization in a fundamental science build program within ExxonMobil’s Corporate Strategic Research (CSR).  The research focuses on synthesis fundamentals of zeolite crystallization, including developing robust and repeatable recipes promising to support research efforts in catalysis and separations and providing material characterization to the active materials community.  
A key responsibility is to oversee the high throughput zeolite synthesis workflow.  This system includes robotic equipment for liquid and solids handling, particle recovery, and characterization.  It requires oversight and supervision of multiple technicians and providing a safely operated workflow and high quality data.  I also have a broad range of inorganic synthesis techniques from zeolite synthesis to novel mixed metal oxides and organic synthesis to aid in zeolite discovery templates.
My current assignment also includes a safety component, being a member of the Clinton Safe Operations Team (CSOT). This team reviews the experimental and equipment plans for higher risk lab operations ensuring that the plans effectively mitigate risk.
Accomplishments include co-inventor on over 20 US patents, co-inventor of over 7 new zeolite structures, co-author on at least 6 peer reviewed journal articles, contributed to fundamental inorganic synthesis research that led to a ground breaking hydroprocessing catalyst, Nebula, which was commercially developed with Albemarle.  (2002 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award). 
Awards include 2010 Discovery Award from Active Materials Enterprise (internal technical award), 2014 Characterization Award from Active Materials Enterprise (internal technical award), 2018 Discovery Award from Active Materials Enterprise (internal technical award).