D. R. Paul received a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and then worked for Monsanto. He now holds the Ernest Cockrell, Sr. Chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin where he has been since 1967. His research has involved various aspects of polymer blends, membranes for separation, drug delivery, packaging, processing, and nanocomposites. He is listed by ISI as a Highly Cited Researcher and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Mexican Academy of Sciences. He is Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, published by the American Chemical Society.