UTOLEDO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING NEWS - 2017
Profs. Kim and Seo Awarded Patent
October 2017:"Professors Kim and Seo received patent #9,675,717 for the development
of an "Electromagnetic polymer composite material for anti-fouling effect". Congratulations!
Luke Gorbett Named Honors Student of the Week
September 2017: Chemical Engineering Sophomore Honors student Luke Gorbett was named Honors Student
of the Week. Read more about Luke here.
Professor Viamajala Leads Team in Algae Research
September 2017: US Department of Energy to develop cultivation methods for microalgae in high-salinity/alkalinity
environments. He will lead a team of researchers from the University of Toledo, Montana
State University, and the University of North Carolina. Congratulations Professor
Viamajala.
Professor Ponnaiyan Recognized
September 2017: Professor Ponnaiyan received the best poster award for his presentation
on Project Based Science (PBS) at the ASEE Summer School for chemical engineering
faculty. His work will be featured in Chemical Engineering Education, the premier
archival journal for chemical engineering educators. Congratulations Professor Ponnaiyan!
Professor Lapitsky Receives Award
September 2017: Professor Lapitsky is the recipient of a National Science Foundation
PFI Award to develop underwater sealants. He will work with Professors Seo and Liberatore
on the project. Congratulations Professor Lapi
Professor Liberatore Receives Three Awards
September 2017: Professor Liberatore is the recipient of three awards including: 1)
a contract from the US Army Contracting Command -APG-RTP Division to support his work
in the fuel cell membrane area, 2) a National Science Foundation award for integration
of You Tube videos in the classroom, and 3) a grant from the American Chemical Society
Petroleum Research Fund. Congratulations Professor Liberatore!
Dasari Named Vice-President and Treasurer of The Andersons, Inc.
August 2017: World-Grain.com reports that Srikanth Dasari (MS 1995) is the new Vice-President and Treasurer of The Andersons,
Inc. He will provide leadership in finance functions and risk management. Congratulations
Srikanth!
Students Receive AIChE Awards
August 2017: Two undergraduate students have received AIChE awards. Joshua Steiner
received the 2016-2017 Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Academic Excellence Award and Gerrett
Ellett received the 2016-2017 Freshman Recognition Award. Both awards include free
registration at the 2017 AIChE Annual Meeting and $50 for meeting travel expenses.
Doctoral Graduates
May 2017: The department saw three doctoral students receive their degrees this past
weekend. Congratulations Drs. Cai, De Silva, and Miranda!
CHEE Student Advocates for Clean Water
May 2017: The work of sophomore Megan Davidson to promote clean water globally was
featured in the UT News. She visited multiple schools during spring 2017 and hosted a group on campus from
the Natural Science and Technology Center, a Toledo Public Schools Career Tech Program.
Dr. Susan Abu-Absi 2017 Outstanding Department Alumna
April 2017: Congratulations to the Chemical Engineering Department Outstanding Alumna
for 2017 Dr. Susan Abu-Absi! We wish the weather had cooperated and allowed her to
attend the celebration we held Friday April 7. A rain check has been issued!
El Salvador Spring Break Trip
March 2017: 16 students volunteered their spring break to travel to El Salvador where they inspected
and installed water treatment systems in schools and health clinics. This amazing
group who gave so freely to help increase access to clean water included: Emily Briese,
Olivia Calder, Megan Davidson, Gerrett Ellett, Alison Haas, Logan Harmann, Lelia Kerschbaum,
Ashley Lazette-Horn, Stacey Nuveman, Kayla Piezer, Ahana Rahman, Dan Reichenbach,
Alex Ruhe, Grant Rutledge, Connor Shank, and Lisa Young. Please visit the department
Facebook page (Click here) to learn more.
Patent issued for Bio-Based Monomer
Feburary 2017: Congratulations to Professor Coleman for receipt of US Patent 9,527,952 entitled "Amorphous
Polyester from Bio-Based Bis-Furan Assembly" along with her chemistry colleague
Patent issued for Microalgae Conversion To Fatty Acid Alkanolamides
February 2017: Congratulations to Professors Yamamoto, Viamajala, Varanasi and students
Ajith Mudiyanselage and Pramod Poudel for receipt of US Patent 9,562,210 entitled
"Methods for Production of Fatty Acid Alkanolamides (FAAAS) from Microalgae Biomass"!
Patient issued for novel Antibacteral
Febuary 2017: Congratulations to Professors Lapitsky, Seo, and their student Kristopher
Richardson for receipt of US Patent 9,560,849 entitled "Antibacterial Surfactant/Microgel
Formulations, Methods of Making and Methods of Using the Same"!
Prof. Kim recieves Fulbright
January 2017: Professor Dong-Shik Kim has received an award from the J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board. He will work with Dr. Mauri Kostiainen of Aalto University
in Finland on the interaction of enzymes with biomacromolecules. Congratulations Dr.
Kim!