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MCSI R ESEARCH P ROGRAM E XPANDS C OHORT OF E NGAGED R ESEARCHERS & F ORGES NEW P ATHWAYS Covestro Circular Economy Program The new Covestro Circular Economy program at Pitt was created in November 2022, led by Drs. Eric Beckman and Melissa Bilec. The program is creating a comprehensive academic initiative focused on training the next generation of engineers and professionals to lead in the circular economy.
Program Highlights • • • •
Embark on a novel cohort-based training program Conduct convergent circular economy research that addresses pressing societal needs Experience a diverse and inclusive training program Prepare them for multiple career pathways through internship opportunities.
Covestro PhD Fellows
First Cohort Starting Fall 2022 Nicole Bell BS Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Pittsburgh Ortiz L. Santiago BS Chemical Engineering University of La Sabana Lakshmi Yasodhara BS Chemical Engineering Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
New Course: DESIGN FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY Created & Taught by Melissa Bilec Offered beginning Fall 2022 The goal of this course is to provide students with a thorough introduction to circular economy, along with integrating design. Through experiential and project-based learning, the students will develop circular economy affinity groups that will tackle a pressing challenge including design for degradation solutions for ocean plastics and design for reuse of construction materials.
Collaboration with Lubrizol Dr. Goetz Veser’s collaboration with Lubrizol Corp. resulted in deployment of two new processes for dispersant production which cut energy demand by ~30%, physical footprint of plant by >90%, and completely removed one major waste stream compared to the existing industrial process. Both modular processes are in full industrial operation now.
