UToledo chemical engineering news - 2010
Professors Escobar and Lipscomb Help Lead NAMS
December 2010: The UT Newsreports on the leadership provided by Professors Escobar and Lipscomb in the North
American Membrane Society (NAMS). Both have organized multiple national meetings and
served on the Board of Directors. Lipscomb has served as Vice-President and President.
He currently is the Secretary and supervises operations of the office.
OXE Volunteers for Family Promise
December 2010: Omega Chi Epsilon (OXE) volunteers and Professor Coleman helped cook
and host a meal for the Family Promise recently. A big thank you goes out to everyone
that participated!
ACES Champions Again
December 2010: The Awesome Chemical Engineering Squad (ACES) has captured another indoor intramural soccer championship. Pictured in
the team photo are from left to right in the back row: Justin McIntyre, Rick Hausman,
Mike Flanagin, and Nima HakimeElahi from the Chemical Engineering department. From
left to right in the front row are: Azeambeh Atemnkeng (Charles), Timothy Rolik, Xiaoru
Wang, and Jinglong Liu. Jinglong also is from Chemical Engineering.
Professor Viamajala a New Dad!
November 2010: Professor Viamajala and his wife welcomed a daughter, Vidula, to the
world this past Saturday. The Department extends its best wishes to the family.
Dr. Mapkar Wins Award
November 2010: We congratulate Dr. Javed Mapkar (2008 doctoral graduate who worked
with Professor Coleman) and his team at Eaton for receipt of Eaton Vehicle Group's
2009-2010 Outstanding Technology Award. Dr. Mapkar's team introduced a new polymeric
composite material that will increase the lifetime and reduce the maintenance of one
of Eaton's auto components. Great work Javed!
Professor Kim Co-author of Hottest Chemical Engineering Article
Novemmber 2010: Professor Dong-Shik Kim, former graduate student Brett Digman, and
colleague Hyun Soo Joo are authors of one of the "Hottest Articles in Chemical Engineering"
according to Wiley. The most recent list is available here where you will find a link to their article on "Recent progress in gasification/pyrolysis
technologies for biomass conversion to energy".
Department Assists in Cleanup of Noffsinger Farm
November 2010: Faculty, staff, and students from the Chemical Engineering Department
assisted with the cleanup of the family farm of student Renae Noffsinger. The farm
was hard hit by a tornado earlier in the week. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the
family house was spared.
Student Receives Job Offer
October 2010: Doctoral candidate Pingjiao Hao has received a job offer from Membrane
Technology and Research, an industry leader in membrane gas separation technology.
Congratulations Pingjiao!
Dr. Charles Balch Visits Campus
October 2010: Dr. Charles Balch, the son of former faculty member and department chair
Professor Clyde Balch, received the Gold T Award during homecoming. Dr. Balch and
his wife Dr. Carol Balch generously have endowed the Balch scholarship for juniors
and seniors in our department. Dr. Balch is pictured here (right) with John Szczucinski
(middle), the most recent Balch scholar, and Professor Glenn Lipscomb.
AIChE Wins Clean Your Streams Awards
September 2010: AIChE won two awards for their work during the 14th Annual Clean Your
Streams on September 11th. Their amazing efforts led to receipt of the First Place
award for the Collegiate Battle of the Bags AND the First Place award for Collegiate
Awesome Effort. They bagged more trash than any other team (by the slim margin of
a single bag) AND they bagged more per participant than any other team. Way to go
AIChE!
Hessler Receives Best Student Presentation Award
August 2010: Chris Hessler received the Best Student Presentation Award in the "Environmental
Applications and Implications of Nanotechnology" symposium at the annual Fall ACS
Meeting in Boston, MA. Professor Youngwoo Seo is Chris' faculty advisor.
Chemical Engineers Receive 2nd Highest Average Salary Among College Graduates
August 2010: Forbes reports a survey from the National Association of College and Employers finds Chemical
Engineering is the second highest salary major. Moreover, starting salaries increased
slightly from 2009 to 2010 while salaries for most other majors decreased.
Chanda Filipek now Chanda Raine
August 2010: The department wishes Chanda Raine (Filipek) the best upon her recent
marriage and honeymoon. Welcome back!
Richard Hausman Wins Poster Competition Award
August 2010: Rick Hausman was one of the student poster paper competition winners
at the North American Membrane Society Meeting held July 17-22, 2010. Congratulations
Rick!
Professor Viamajala Receives Algae Research Award
July 2010: Professor Sridhar Viamajala and colleagues in collaboration with Ohio University
and numerous industrial partners have received a $3 million grant from the Ohio Third
Frontier Wright Projects Program to construct The Center for Algal Engineering Research
and Commercialization. The Center will house indoor and outdoor ponds for algae growth,
enclosed photobioreactors, and pilot-scale downstream processing equipment to study
the production of fuels and materials from algae. More information is available here.
Plugged-In Receives Emmy
July 2010: Plugged-In, a partnership between The University of Toledo and WGTE Public
Media, received an Emmy Award in the informational/instructional program series or
special category June 19 from the Lower Great Lakes Chapter of the organization. Shaun
McDonald, a chemical engineering undergraduate, co-hosts the show. More information
on the award is available here.
Students Receive Job Offers
July 2010: Doctoral graduate Tilak Gullinkala and Masters candidate Akin Shittu have
received job offers from Hydration Technology Innovations (HTI) and Cargill, respectively.
Congratulations to both!
Professor Escobar Appointed Interim Assistant Dean of Research Development and Outreach
July 2010: Professor Isabel Escobar has been appointed Interim Assistant Dean of Research Development
and Outreach for the Engineering College. Welcome to the 5th floor!
Professor Varanasi Receives $1MM NSF Equipment Grant
June 2010: Professor Sasidhar Varanasi and colleagues have received a $1MM equipment
grant from the National Science Foundation to purchase a state-of-the-art Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer in support of their work on the conversion of
biomass to fuels and materials.
Professor Poling Appointed Alternate Member of 2010-2011 ABET Commission
June 2010: Professor Bruce Poling has been appointed an alternate member of the 2010-2011
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) Engineering Accreditation
Commission in recognition of his accreditation expertise and desire to help maintain
the quality of the accreditation process. Congratulations Professor Poling!
Colleen Gorey Receives NAMS Travel Award
June 2010: Colleen Gorey received a prestigious Travel Award to attend the 2010 meeting
of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS) in Washington, DC and present her work
on membrane modification. Congratulations Colleen!
Professors Schall and Escobar Promoted to Full Professor
June 2010: Professors Connie Schall and Isabel Escobar received notification that
the Board of Trustees has approved their promotion to the rank of Professor. Congratulations
Professors!
Professor Escobar Visits 6th Grade Classroom
May 2010: Professors Isabel Escobar and Thomas Bridgeman (Environmental Sciences)
visited the Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls to discuss water use. Their presentations
were shared via Skype with the Sol Plaatje Primary School in Mmabatho, South Africa.
Read more in an article from the Toledo Blade here.
Sirhan Al-Batty and Steve Westenkirchner Recognized at Graduate Convocation
May 2010: Steve Westenkirchner received the Department Outstanding TA Award and Sirhan
Al-Batty the Department Outstanding Masters Thesis Award at the graduate convocation.
Congratulations Steve and Sirhan!
Professor Schall Receives 2010 Outstanding Researcher Award
May 2010: Professor Connie Schall was named the 2010 College of Engineering Outstanding
Researcher at the undergraduate convocation in recognition of pioneering work and
leadership in the development of fuels and materials from biomass. Congratulations
Professor Schall!
Professor Lapitsky Interviewed by Toledo Blade
May 2010: Professor Yakov Lapitsky was interviewed by the Toledo Blade regarding his
role filming the first video posted on YouTube. Click here to read the article.
Thihal Ponnaiyan Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi
May 2010: Thihal Ponnaiyan was inducted into the prestigious honor society of Phi
Kappa Phi in recognition of his superior scholarship. Congratulations Thihal!
Choltko and Patania First Air Products Scholars
May 2010: Briana Choltko and Michelle Patania were named the first Air Products Scholars.
Each received an award of $4,000. Congratulations Michelle and Briana!
Professor Lapitsky Part of YouTube History
April 2010: April 23 2010 is the 5th anniversary of YouTube. The first video posted
on YouTube was taken by our own Professor Yakov Lapitsky! You may watch the video here.
Professor Jabarin Named Distinguished University Professor
April 2010: Professor Saleh Jabarin was named a 2010-2011 Distinguished Professor
in recognition of his sustained accomplishments in polymer science and engineering,
especially the development of advanced polymeric materials for packaging. Congratulations
Professor Jabarin!
Chemical Engineering Salaries Among the Highest
April 2010: PayScale reports chemical engineers with a Bachelors degree receive the highest median starting
salary ($65,000) and second highest median mid career (salary ($107,000) among the
70+ degrees surveyed.
Joanne Beckwith Receives National Co-op Award
April 2010: Joanne Beckwith received a National Co-op Scholarship to help support
her studies in our CHEE program which has been recognized as one of "The Best of Co-op".
Way to go Joanne!
Chinonso "Best" Agubosim Receives Toledo Muslim Forum's Youth Achievement Award
April 2010: Best Agubosim received the Toledo Muslim Forum's Youth Achievement Award.
The Award was given in recognition of Best's academic performance and community contributions
as a tutor for the Adrian Michigan Boys and Girls Club and as a tutor/mentor for students
in our Department. Read about his work here. Thank you Best for your service and congratulations on the award.
Runk and Agubosim Featured in Co-op Guide
March 2010: The work of Jeremy Runk and Chinonso "Best" Agubosim at the Anderson Development
Company was highlighted in "The Guide to the Best Co-op Colleges and Employers". Both
work under the supervision of Tom Blaine (BSChE 2003). Read the articlehere.
Sleiman Sleiman Receives Tau Beta Fellowship
March 2010: Sleiman Sleiman (BSChE Fall 2009) is the recipient of a Tau Beta Pi Fellowship. He joins a select group of Tau Beta Pi members who were selected based on merit
and need to receive funding for one year of graduate study. Sleiman plans to start
his doctoral studies in Chemical Engineering at The University of Michigan in Fall
2011. Congratulations Sleiman!
Eduardo Diaz Interviewed by Independent Collegian
March 2010: Eduardo Diaz was interviewed about his work as a member of Engineers without
Borders building an irrigation system for the village of Los Sanchez, Honduras. The
complete article is available here.
Mike Pepera - New Faces of Engineering 2010
Febuary 2010: Mike Pepera (BSChE Fall 2002) was named one of the New Faces of Engineering
2010. Click to see the ad in USA Today or the announcement on the E-Week web site. Congratulations Mike!
