Dr. Paul E. Sojka

Class of 1972
Career Pathway: Engineering/Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

At GHS, Paul Sojka played football and was on the ski team.

He then attended Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in physics and mechanical engineering and a master of science and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.

Dr. Sojka joined the Purdue University faculty in 1983 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1989 and to full professor in 1999. He is currently chair of the school's mechanical engineer research committee and co-director of the Purdue Center for Bio-Sprays.

During the last 20 years, Professor Sojka has worked on a variety of spray-related topics with applications ranging from detergents, paints and coal-water fuels to more complicated substances that include consumer products and pharmaceuticals/medicinals. He has also designed sprayers for 13 companies and consulted with an additional seven. He has given ten invited lectures at five universities in the U.S. and two in Germany. Since 1983, he has taught nearly 60 courses to over 2,700 students. Dr. Sojka was awarded the Harry L. Solberg Award as the mechanical engineering department's outstanding teacher in 1991 and was the recipient of an Associated Western Universities faculty fellowship that summer.

Dr. Sojka's mother, Barbara (Borchers) Sojka, brother Christopher and sister Tanya are GHS alumni. He and his wife Karole have three children.