UToledo Chemical Engineering in the news
But Zickes, a second-generation Rocket who’s on track to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in December 2025, has also been conscientious about exploring opportunities beyond UToledo’s College of Engineering. It’s a key reason he opted to spend the summer not in a classroom, laboratory, or office, but on a military base in Brunssum, Netherlands. Read more about Gregory Zicke's summer experience in the UToledo News.
Alumnus Engineer Nets Third Undergraduate Research Co-Authorship
When Wes Hatem was considering his options for a co-op in the College of Engineering, he knew he wanted something to feed his burgeoning interest in thermodynamics.
A few after-class conversations with the professor whose course had piqued that interest, Dr. Constance Schall, led him to Dr. Yakov Lapitsky, another professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Hatem recalled that Lapitsky generously answered his questions about his research into polyelectrolyte-based materials, including opportunities for Hatem to assist as an undergraduate researcher in Lapitsky’s laboratory.
That conversation led to a research co-op, which in turn kicked off an undergraduate research career that’s now netted three co-authorships in peer-reviewed journals. The most recent, in Langmuir, a journal of the American Chemical Society, came in late May.
“I feel so proud to have three co-authorships compiled from my time as an undergrad,” said Hatem, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in December 2022 and began working as associate engineer in material development at First Solar. “It was very encouraging and inspiring to have faculty see promise in my work and graciously bring me into their projects. It makes me feel that my work and conclusions are taken seriously and that I am contributing to the movement of advancing science research, even if the projects are small.” Read more in the UToledo News.
UToledo Researchers Support Cutting-Edge Repair Technique at Soo Locks
May 2024: When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers replaced an arrestor arm in one of two active locks recently in Sault-Sainte Marie, Michigan, not a single freighter was re-routed or delayed — no small achievement at this major transit point for domestic iron ore, where the Department of Homeland Security predicted an unanticipated closure would be “catastrophic for the nation” in a study released in 2015.
So how did the corps manage this formidable task?
The 12-foot metal arrestor arm is the largest civil works infrastructure component ever produced by 3D printing in the United States, and it was made possible in part by research completed at The University of Toledo.
“UToledo’s collaboration with Eaton Corporation and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center on a research project focused on civil works infrastructure played a key role in evaluating the material used for large-format wire arc additive manufacturing to replace a mechanical component on the Poe Lock,” said Dr. Joseph Lawrence, principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UToledo. “It’s exciting to now see the real-world applications of the work we’ve done in the lab.” Read more in the UToledo News.
Student Success and AIChE Regional Conference
April 2024: UToledo AIChE participated in the AIChE Student Regional Conference at
The Ohio State University. Morgan Schuld took 1st place in Student Research Presentations, earning her a spot in the national
competition in San Diego. The ChemE Car Team took 2nd place by stopping just 9.8 cm from the line. An outstanding performance that qualifies
the team for the international competition this fall in San Diego. The 2nd place may seem disappointing to the students' ongoing dynasty, however, the
performance was truly exceptional.
CHEE Faculty Receives College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Researcher Award
March 2024: Dr. Joseph Lawrence was presented with the 2024 College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Researcher Award at the College of Engineering Honors and Order of the Engineer Ring Ceremony on Friday, March 22. Dr. Lawrence has established the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization as a thriving interdisciplinary research instrumentation facility that is used extensively in the College, University, and external academic and research communities. His work has garnered over $2.5 million in funding for CMSC and $4 million as PI and Co-PI, leading to 35 publications and strong industry collaborations. Dr. Lawrence's achievements reflect his commitment to excellence.
UToledo Faculty Receives MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success
March 2024: The Mid-American Conference has awarded Dr. Glenn Lipscomb 1 of 12 institutional winners of the Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. Dr. Glenn Lipscomb has been a vibrant presence at The University of Toledo since joining as an assistant professor in 1994. Progressing through the ranks to become a professor and chairing the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering from 2004 to 2019, he has left an indelible mark on his students, the campus, and the local community. As a testament to his impact, students praise Dr. Lipscomb's exceptional teaching, emphasizing his generous, personal attention and commitment to their success. Read more about Dr. Lipscomb's recognition in the MAC News.
Chemical Engineering Graduate Excels in Academics and Athletics
February 2024: A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is an achievement to celebrate. Riley Mohr went further and graduated last fall with minors in cosmetic science, business administration and chemistry. As a student-athlete, Mohr received All-MAC honors during the 2023 softball season, primarily at first base, and earned academic honors from the College Sports Communicators on its 2023 Academic All-District Softball Teams. Read more about Riley's accomplishments in the UToledo News.
Co-Op Program Helped Fortify Chemical Engineering Graduate's Future
December 2023: With an interest in chemistry and math, a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering was a natural pursuit for Skyler Parker. She chose to earn that degree at The University of Toledo because of the College of Engineering’s co-op program.
“Due to the requirement of at least three co-ops/internships, I knew I would graduate with at least a year’s worth of job experience,” said Parker, who is graduating Saturday, Dec. 16. “Throughout my time here, I was able to take advantage of the co-op program by completing five internships with Marathon Petroleum.” Read more about Skyler's experience in the UToledo News.
Chemical Engineering Graduate Proud of Opportunities as a Rocket
December 2023: Graduate Payton Kamer was featured in the UToledo News where she shared with readers the rewarding experience she has had as a Rocket Engineer.
"UToledo’s College of Engineering has given me an affordable, enriching and comprehensive education, but my experience has been so much more than just earning a degree in chemical engineering. Thanks to the Presidential Scholarship and co-op, I’m graduating debt free. And because of student organizations, I’ll be leaving UToledo with many mentors and countless friendships, as well as a plethora of professional and personal skills that are sure to serve me throughout the rest of my life. Students considering becoming a Rocket Engineer should know that no matter your interests, there are opportunities for you to find community and grow as an engineer at UToledo." Read more about Payton's experience in the UToledo News.
UToledo Chemical Engineering Student Places 2nd at National Competition
November 2023: Samie Kummar placed 2nd at the National AIChE Student Technical Research Competition in Orlando Florida for her research on rheological characterization of xanthan solutions as a drag reducer for geothermal pipelines titled "Effect of temperature and salt on viscosity scaling of xanthan gum in semi-dilute and concentrated regime." Samie worked on this project for her honors thesis with the support of Dr. Liberatore, Noah Dull, and Sedi Helpser.
UToledo Chemical Engineering Faculty Receives Fulbright Global Scholar Award
September 2023: Dr. Dong Shik Kim, a professor of chemical engineering in the College of Engineering at The University of Toledo, received a Fulbright Global Scholar Award for his research on DNA origami nanostructures for medical diagnosis. Kim traveled to Turkey from April through June to work in collaboration with Dr. Erol Seker, a professor and chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at Izmir Institute of Technology, and Dr. Ayben Top, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Izmir Institute of Technology, at the Izmir Institute of Technology in Izmir. Kim, whose research focuses on a novel technology for diabetes diagnosis and monitoring, is using aptamer technology to measure fluctuations of glycation of hemoglobin, which shows damage to red blood cells. Read more about Dr. Kim's research and trip to Turkey in the UToledo News.
UToledo Chemical Engineering Students Place 1st and 3rd at Regional Conference
April 2023: Samie Kummar (left) placed 1st and Morgan Schuld (right) placed 3rd in the Student Technical Presentation Competition at the Regional North Central AIChE conference at the University of Illinois Chicago on April 1, 2023. Samie’s presentation was titled “Effect of temperature and salt on viscosity scaling of xanthan gum in semi-dilute and concentrated regime.” The goal of her research was to characterize solutions made with xanthan gum, a common food additive, for the application as a potential drag reducer in geothermal pipelines. This was done by analyzing the effect of temperature, varying concentration regimes, and salt addition on the solution’s flow behavior and properties. This research was completed alongside undergraduate student Noah Dull, Ph.D. student Sedi Helsper, and Professor Matthew Liberatore. By placing first she will now go on to represent the North Central region at the national AIChE conference in Orlando, Florida in the fall. Morgan’s research was on how crosslinked concentration and membrane thickness affect the properties of crosslinked membranes for anion exchange applications. She concluded that their patented, simple, and scalable synthesis created membranes with desirable electrochemical and mechanical properties.
UToledo Chem-E Car Team Comes in 1st Place in the North Central Regional Championship
April 2023: The UToledo Chem-E Car Team came in 1st place with their car ‘The Toledo Torpedo’ in the North Central Regional Championship at The University of Illinois Chicago. Team Co-Captain Jonathan Bonkoski shared: “On the last run of the entire competition, we slid up the leaderboard from fourth to first, clenching the North Central Regional Championship. The Toledo Torpedo successfully stopped just 7 inches from the target distance of 19.82m.” The team will be traveling to Orlando in November to defend their back-to-back international victories.
Volunteer Lab Assistant Wins Superior Rating at the Ohio Academy of Science District 2 Competition
March 2023: Volunteer lab assistant Nivrithi Varghese won a Superior rating at the Ohio Academy of Science District 2 competition. Varghese, a junior at Sylvania Northview High School, volunteered in Professor Yakov Lapitsky’s laboratory. There, she worked with graduate student Umberto Kober to complete her research project as part of a course offered by her school. The project, entitled “Harnessing associative phase separation for the facile sensing of food freshness,” explores a new application for one of the materials investigated in Dr. Lapitsky’s lab. In addition to the high Superior rating, Varghese’s project won the Mercy College of Ohio Award for Outstanding Project in Biology, Chemistry or Medicine and the College of Arts & Sciences BGSU Science Day Scholarship for the Best Project in Science or Mathematics. Varghese’s project also qualifies for the Ohio Academy of Science State competition on April 6th.