After doing undergraduate work at Michigan State University, and graduate work at Stanford, Dr. Vannice did a post doc at Sun Oil Company before joining Exxon. In 1976 he moved to Pennsylvania State University, where he remains. After holding the M.R. Fenske Professor of Chemical Engineering, he became the W.H. Joyce Chair in Chemical Engineering, which position he holds now.
Dr. Vannice belongs to ACS, AIChE, has served first as Secretary and then as Director of the New York Catalysis Society, and has served on the Board of Directors of, as the Vice-President of, and then as President of the North American Catalysis Society. He spent seven years as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Catalysis, and continues on its Editorial Board.
Dr. Vannice has received numerous honors from his colleagues, including the Emmett Award (North American Catalysis Society), the Humboldt Senior Research Award, and the Senior Fulbright Award.
Dr. Vannice has over 250 publications and 9 patents.