•Outstanding Technical Achievement•

Education:
-Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering – Vanderbilt University
-B.S. in Chemical Engineering – Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá, Colombia)

Born and raised in Cartagena, Colombia, Dr. Juan C. Tuberquia was shaped by a family that valued education and resilience. Today he stands as a distinguished leader in polymer science and materials innovation.  His career blends deep technical expertise with a forward-looking vision for sustainability. With more than 12 years at Dow, he has become a driving force in advancing packaging, specialty plastics, and hydrocarbons, particularly in the areas of polymer design, circularity, and digital transformation.

At Dow, Dr. Tuberquia has progressed from research scientist to Senior R&D Leader, where he now directs the Digital, Circularity, and Polyethylene R&D Labs. In this role, he leads a team of 17, manages $2 million in capital equipment, and oversees a $125 million innovation portfolio — all aimed at advancing Dow’s ambitious goal of commercializing one million metric tons of mechanically recycled polyethylene by 2030. His leadership has already driven an ~80% year-over-year increase in circular product sales, underscoring his impact on both science and business outcomes.

A hallmark of his career has been his ability to translate scientific innovation into commercial success. He has contributed to the conception and scale-up of novel olefin-based elastomers, enabling advances in automotive lightweighting, wire and cable efficiency, and specialty adhesives. His research in hot melt adhesives alone resulted in products generating 12 million pounds per year in sales, while also improving thermal stability and reducing material usage. Beyond product innovation, he spearheaded process improvements that cut production costs by over $40 million and reduced the carbon footprint of 14 NORDEL™ elastomer products.

Dr. Tuberquia’s technical influence extends across the scientific community. He has authored 14 peer-reviewed publications and 66 internal research reports, while holding 13 U.S. patent applications covering innovations in polymer design, adhesives, and cable insulation. His early academic research at Vanderbilt University established new understanding of superhydrophobic surfaces for corrosion protection, earning him the prestigious ACS Arthur K. Doolittle Award in 2010. Later, his postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison advanced lithium-ion battery cathode stabilization, broadening his expertise into energy storage systems. Recognition by the AIChE Minority Affairs Committee with the Eminent Engineers Award in 2022 further affirmed his influence in his field.

Dr. Tuberquia has been and instrumental leader integrating artificial intelligence and digital modeling into product development, accelerating discovery pipelines and reshaping Dow’s R&D strategies. His people-centered approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment, allowing him to mobilize diverse teams toward solving complex scientific and industrial challenges. 

Alongside his professional achievements, Dr. Tuberquia has remained deeply committed to mentoring and advocacy. Within AIChE and LatinXinChE, he has built platforms for underrepresented engineers to network and grow, organizing events that connect hundreds of students and professionals across the Americas. At Dow, he has championed employee well-being and inclusion, recently being appointed Global Inclusion & Diversity Leader for P&SP R&D.

He credits his wife, Angela, and their daughters, Juanita and Mariana, as the “buoyancy” that sustains him through the challenges of leadership and innovation. Their shared journey from Colombia to the United States underscores the perseverance and partnership that have been central to his success.