CATALYST FALL 2017
BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIONS IN HEALTH, ENERGY, & THE ENVIRONMENT Multidisciplinary research and entrepreneurship creates lasting impact for science, business, and people’s lives.
1 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
CHAIR’S WELCOME It is a great pleasure to present our annual newsletter,
This is indeed an exciting time to be part of the UB CBE family!
The Catalyst, and share with you the exciting developments
The enthusiastic and collaborative spirit that imbues our
that have been taking place at UB CBE. For several years
research culture is also infusing the approach of our students,
now, our department has been on a trajectory of remarkable
who are full of energy and intellectual curiosity. Please read
growth, optimism, and achievement as we implement our vision of excellence through collaboration that places us at the forefront of chemical and biological engineering research, education, and socioeconomic impact in the region and the world. Along this path, three new stellar faculty members joined us this fall and are featured in the following pages (Professors Thundat, Courtmanche, and Lupion). Overall, we added ten faculty members to our roster in the past four years, expanding our collective expertise in the areas of energy and the environment, big data, and biomedical science and engineering. In the coming year, we will add additional
on as we share their achievements and awards in the pages that follow. Our alumni contribute greatly to our progress and enthusiasm as they continue to engage with us, sharing their time and resources to ensure that our culture of excellence through collaboration endures for years to come. On behalf of the UB CBE family, I thank all of you, colleagues, alumni and friends, for your continued support. As always, we love to hear from you, whether it be through social media, during one of our visits to your area, or one of your visits to UB. Please stay in touch!
faculty that complement our strengths in the areas of systems biology and computational bioengineering, further expanding our research and educational scope and impact. As we invest in human capital, we are also building shared
Stelios T. Andreadis
instrumentation facilities for promoting interdisciplinary
Chair, Chemical and Biological Engineering
research. We recently launched our new BioDesign Core facility, enabling acquisition of high-throughput experimental data. The core hosts state-of-the-art flow cytometry and mass spectrometry facilities, among others, that complement existing Genomics, Proteomics, and Materials Characterization core labs already in place. This investment has fueled an unprecedented level of collaborative research activities among our students and faculty that has resulted in a number of high impact publications, significant entrepreneurial activity (four startup companies founded by our faculty and students), and a more than 50% increase in research expenditures in one year. Most notably, we saw a 2.5 fold boost in funding from new awards this year, which will no doubt have a positive impact on scholarly activity.
2 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS PROFESSOR ED FURLANI AWARDED $1 MILLION NSF AWARD of UB researchers, Ed Furlani has
PROFESSOR SRIRAM NEELAMEGHAM RECEIVED $2.2 MILLION FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
received $1 million from the National
Sriram Neelamegham received grants
Working with an interdisciplinary team
Science Foundation to develop smart wearable technology to advance health monitoring and disease diagnosis. He also received a UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Teacher of the Year Award.
to fund research focused on developing a systems level understanding of cellular glycosylation processes, using a combination of mathematical modeling methods and experiments. Such work is important since glycans, or carbohydrates expressed on cells, either
2.5x
more new research funding over 2015/16
absolutely control or finely tune a number of biological processes in humans during health and disease. The studies being pursued are thus important for biotechnology and medical research. Collaborators on the awards include Profs. Jun Qu (Pharmaceutical Sciences), Michael Buck (Biochemistry), G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen (Chemistry) and
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR GANG WU AWARDED OVER $2 MILLION FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Gang Wu received three grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Advanced Research Projects AgencyEnergy (ARPA-e) Office is funding his development of highperformance catalysts to decompose NH3 at an economically favorable low temperature (<450oC) and the catalysts for electrochemically reducing N2 to synthesize NH3 using renewable energy-generated electricity. The Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office provided two additional awards, the first of which is for work on advanced fuel cell catalyst supports. Dr. Wu is developing
Lara Mahal (Chemistry, New York University).
PROFESSOR STELIOS ANDREADIS AWARDED $3.7 MILLION IN TWO GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH The first award was from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to study reprogramming of skin cells into neural crest stem cells and their derivatives including neurons, and Schwann cells. Dr. Fraser Sim (UB, Pharmacology and Toxicology) and Dr. Marianne Bonner (Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech) are co-investigators.
a new type of high-surface-area and large size nitrogen-
The second was a multi-PI R01 with Dr. Olga Baker
doped graphene tubes (NGTs), which will be used as an
(University of Utah) from the National Institute of Dental
advanced carbon support to boost Pt cathode performance
and Craniofacial Research. The work aims to develop
for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The second EERE
functionalized biomaterials to promote salivary gland
award is for fuel cell catalyst research, for which Dr. Wu is one
regeneration for treatment of debilitating diseases
of the leading researchers in the field. He and his group will be
that cause salivary gland dysfunction, such as SjĂśgrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
responsible for developing high-performance platinum group
syndrome, ectodermal dysplasia, and y-irradiation
metal (PGM)-free catalysts by using earth abundant elements
therapies for head and neck cancers.
(Fe, Co, or Mn) to replace expensive and scarce Pt in future fuel cells. These new catalyst technologies hold great promise to realize large-scale fuel cell commercialization for transportation and stationary applications with an affordable price.
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 3
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHONG CHENG RECEIVED A NEW $420,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JOHANNES HACHMANN ORGANIZED AND RAN NSF WORKSHOP ON FRAMING THE ROLE OF BIG DATA AND MODERN DATA SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY
In collaboration with Yun Wu from UB Biomedical Engineering, Chong Cheng has received an award from the Biomaterials program of NSF to develop a novel drug-gene co-delivery system with potential applications in cancer treatment.
Johannes Hachmann organized and ran the workshop in Arlington, VA, this April (together with colleagues from Iowa State and Vanderbilt University). It was sponsored through
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR NATESH PARASHURAMA IS A CSTEP AWARDEE
an NSF grant and was based on the notion that there is
The University at Buffalo Collegiate
has been recognized by the NSF in its recent Dear Colleagues
Science and Technology Entry Program
Letter on Data-Driven Discovery Science in Chemistry (D3SC)
(CSTEP) Distinguished Research Mentor
as well as other high-profile programs such as the White
Award recognizes faculty research
House Materials Genome Initiative (MGI). Despite some
now a growing agreement in the community on the value of incorporating modern data science—the 4th pillar of science— into chemical research. The importance of this development
mentors who embody the qualities found in an outstanding
impressive pioneering work, there is still a distinct disconnect
research mentor. CSTEP research interns nominated faculty
between the promise of this approach and the realities
who embody the essence of a mentor-mentee relationship
of everyday research in the community, where data-driven
that trains and provides support to students in STEM and
work does not yet play a significant role. The purpose of
the licensed professions.
Dr. Hachmann’s workshop was to chart a path that will allow
BLAINE PFEIFER PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF PROFESSOR According to Stelios Andreadis, department chair and professor,
the community to bridge this disconnect, to support and guide the activities of researchers, to offer these insights to funding agencies, and to ultimately advance and shape this emerging field as a focus area. Its long-term objective is to help pioneer a fundamental transformation of the chemical research process.
“Blaine has done an outstanding job as a researcher, scholar, mentor (and more recently also entrepreneur), and his promotion reflects his outstanding record of scholarship and contributions to teaching and service in our department and UB. In addition to his academic credentials, those of us who have worked with him on scientific projects and various department committees know
375
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
that Blaine is a wonderful colleague with an enthusiastic, can-do attitude who has contributed and enhanced the collegial environment that we are fortunate to enjoy in CBE”.
172 4 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
GRADUATE STUDENTS
UB CBE ADDING THREE NEW FACULTY Welcome to Dr. Thomas Thundat,
In addition, UB CBE has added
who is joining the department
two teaching faculty to enhance
as a member of the distinguished
undergraduate education,
research faculty in the UB RENEW
experiential learning,
program. He was formerly
and career development.
Canada Excellence Research
Dr. Monica Lupion received her
Chair professor at the University of
PhD in Chemical Engineering
Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and is
from the University of Seville,
a Distinguished Professor (hon.) at Dr. Thomas Thundat
Spain, and since then, has
the Indian Institute of Technology,
had a diverse and rich working
Madras, and Centenary Professor
at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He is the author of over 380 publications in refereed journals, 45 book chapters, and 40 patents. Dr. Thundat is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), the Electrochemical Society (ECS), the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the SPIE, and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Dr. Thundatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research is currently focused on novel physical, chemical, and biological detection using micro and nano mechanical sensors and electrical power delivery using single wire concept.
experience in academia Dr. Monica Lupion
(Associate Professor & Senior researcher, University of
Seville, Spain), government (European Commission Expert Evaluator), and industry. Most recently, Dr. Lupion worked at the MIT Energy Initiative, where she led multi-disciplinary sponsored research efforts into energy systems and low carbon technologies. In addition to teaching, she will also be developing a new co-op program as part of our longterm plan to offer students more opportunities for industrial experience, and to enhance their connections. Dr. David Courtemanche obtained his PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana
2017
Champaign and he has since
2016
where his work focused on
had a long and successful career in industry (DuPont), Process Safety Management and Process Hazard Analysis. For the past seven years
2015
Dr. Courtemanche has brought Dr. David Courtemanche
2014
his significant knowledge of manufacturing and process
safety at DuPont to students in CE 408 Plant Design as an adjunct lecturer. Now full time, he will focus on teaching more of this course and others, including CE 407 Separations,
10 NEW FACULTY
as well as accreditation.
IN 4 YEARS Catalyst Fall 2017 | 5
CONTINUING ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS FROM OUR RECENT GRADUATES PIONEERING AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Figure 1
Angiograft, LLC aims to provide innovative solutions in regenerative medicine approaches for treatment of cardiovascular disease. Its product is a self-cellularizing artificial blood vessel, available off the shelf, and capable of regenerating with the
Figure 2
Figure 3
patient’s own cells and tissue once implanted. The acellular Sindhu Row (PhD 2016) and Angiograft, LLC
technology employs covalent chemistry to fortify collagenous
grafts with anti-clotting factors, as well as growth factors, which attract the patient’s own cells to the graft site. This enables manufacture of A-TEV (acellular tissue engineered vessel) within
Figure 1. Schematic showing self-endothelialization. Figure 2. Angiogram showing patency of implanted grafts in ovine carotid. Figure 3. Endothelial marker e-NOS (red) stained in lumen, counterstained with DAPI (blue).
just one day, whereas other competitors apply cell-based technologies, which depend on a bioreactor culture resulting in a time-consuming (7–10 weeks) and expensive fabrication process. The principal advantage of the product is the unique
SMARTER VACCINES FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES
cell-free technology that imparts biological function,
Abcombi Biosciences, piloted by
while still being cost-effective and available off the shelf.
Charles Jones, is entering a new
Sindhu Row is one of the founders of Angiograft, LLC, and she
growth phase as it refines its
has worked together for eight years researching cell-based
offerings and relocates business
and acellular technologies for vascular tissue engineering
exclusively to Buffalo. In the past
with Daniel Swartz, who has years of experience in vascular
year, the company graduated
biology with a focus on translational applications, and Stelios
from the Johnson & Johnson
Andreadis, who brings extensive experience in stem cell
Incubator (JLABs) after executing
technology and tissue engineering with a focus on vascular
a partnership with a Fortune
applications. Dr. Row brings the skills required for the
Charles Jones (PhD 2016) and Abcombi Biosciences
manufacture, testing, and optimization of the grafts.
will consist of treatment strategies against familiar suspects,
Angiograft, LLC was a semifinalist in the Onestart competition in 2016 and the final round of the UB Panasci technology
100 company. Its new pipeline
such as influenza and Staphylococcus aureus, along with new entries in water treatment using biological agents.
competition in 2016. Angiograft has also been awarded two
Since its foundation, Abcombi Sciences has participated in
SBIR Phase I grants from the NHLBI (National Heart, Lung
a fruitful relationship with the University at Buffalo, resulting
and Blood Institute), and NIH (National Institutes of Health).
in publications in leading journals and funding surpassing
The pre-clinical studies will enable several applications
$1 million. In particular, Blaine Pfeifer’s research group has
of the artificial blood vessel or A-TEV, including its utility
been instrumental in the support of current and emerging
as replacement grafts in the young (congenital defects)
research. In the coming year, the company intends to further
and cardiovascular ailments in the elderly.
strengthen this relationship as it bridges the gap from ideation to commercialization.
6 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
DESIGNING MATERIALS TO ENABLE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS CBE researchers are taking an integrative, team-based approach to address multiple facets of sustainable energy systems, including energy harvesting, conversion, and storage technologies. Advances in all of these areas hinge on the development of new materials that enable improved performance or the development of entirely new devices. For example, new precious-metal-free electrocatalysts
The Wu group leads collaborative efforts in development
enable lower-cost higher-performance fuel cells, batteries,
of new electrocatalysts that reduce or eliminate the use
and water electrolyzers. New nanocomposite membrane
of precious metals to significantly reduce the cost of clean
materials allow energy-efficient separation of CO from
energy technologies. Energy conversion and storage via
other gases to limit CO2 emissions. New semiconductor
the direct electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
nanostructures for use in thin-film solar cells can decrease
and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are among the most
2
the cost and energy input required for production of photovoltaics. In each of these cases, the new materials must be integrated into devices, which requires a coordinated
Solar Cells
experimental and modeling approach that addresses
Water Splitting
molecular to device scales. The Gang Wu group leads efforts
H2
in electrocatalysis and electrochemical energy storage, while the Haiqing Lin group focuses on membrane-based processes with energy applications. The Mark Swihart group synthesizes
Green Energy
Fuel Cells
new nanomaterials used in collaborative projects with these groups and others. The Johannes Hachmann group contributes to these and other collaborative efforts through computational and data-driven studies that provide guidance and additional insights
Fossil Fuels
CO2 Capture
Batteries
e-
to the experimental efforts. The Ed Furlani group is collaborating on several of these projects to provide continuum-scale multi-physics simulations, particularly at the device and process scales.
Schematic illustration of the relationships among sustainable energy technologies being advanced in UB CBE. Blue and red lines indicate flows of electricity and hydrogen, respectively.
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 7
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
[DESIGNING MATERIALS TO ENABLE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS]
important emerging energy technologies. Their applications
from the Department of Energy, a team led by Lin and
include proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs),
Swihart is investigating mixed matrix materials (MMMs)
metal (Li or Zn)-air batteries, and water electrolyzers. These
containing palladium (Pd) nanoparticles in polymers, which
technologies offer many advantages over traditional fossil
have strong affinity toward H2 and thus exhibit extremely
fuel combustion, such as improved overall efficiency, high
high H2/CO2 solubility selectivity. This approach differs
energy density, and significant reduction of CO2 and other
dramatically from conventional approaches, which are
emissions. In particular, PEMFCs are highly efficient chemical-
focused on designing rigid polymers with strong size sieving
to-electrical energy conversion devices that can be used
ability achieving high H2/CO2 diffusivity selectivity. Loading
as power sources in electric vehicles, and portable and
of the polymer membrane with Pd nanoparticles (<10 nm
stationary applications. Several new catalyst approaches
diameter) dramatically increases H2 solubility and H2/
have been developed to finely tune catalyst nanostructures,
CO2 solubility selectivity in the membrane, resulting in a
morphologies, and heteroatom doping to achieve maximum
significant increase in H2 permeability and H2/CO2 selectivity.
catalyst performance. These include novel template methods,
The team is also computationally modeling gas transport
transition metal or heteroatom doping, and innovative
in these nanocomposites to elucidate the mechanisms of
solution reaction and high temperature strategies. This
facilitated H2 transport in the membranes and identify
research thrust includes collaborations with the Swihart group
the most important parameters governing it. This project
on nanomaterial synthesis and the Furlani group on device-
also employs sophisticated electron microscopy and
scale modeling.
3D-reconstruction methods to visualize the microstructure
The Lin group leads efforts in clean energy projects related to energy-efficient membrane-based separation processes. For example, polymeric membranes have been widely
of the nanocomposites and provide a unified view of H2 and CO2 transport in the nanocomposites through an integrated experimental and simulation approach.
explored for energy-efficient and low-cost H2 purification
The Swihart group has developed nanomaterials for
and CO2 capture in integrated gasification combined
generation of hydrogen from water. These address a key
cycle (IGCC) power generation processes. With support
challenge to utilization of hydrogen for PEMFCs: the storage
Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction (HOR)
Fuel Cell
H2
-2
e-
+
2H +
O2
Electro Catalysis ~$1000/oz Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)
-
+
2H
e +2
H2
H +4
2H
2
e
+4
O-
-
4e -
2O 2H
$520/oz
O
2
Water Electrolyzer
Figure 2. Sustainable electrochemical energy technologies relying on high-performance platinum-group metal (PGM)-free catalysts
8 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Metal-Air Battery
Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR)
~$1000/oz
+4
H+ Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER)
Membrane H2/CO2 separation facilitated by Palladium nanoparticles
[DESIGNING MATERIALS TO ENABLE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS]
and efficient transportation of hydrogen. These materials, including boron and silicon nanoparticles, react with water
CO2
to form oxides and release hydrogen, which can be directly used in a fuel cell like those being developed in the Wu group. The combination of water-reactive materials with a fuel cell can provide a very high energy density source of electricity for portable applications such as unmanned aerial, ground, or underwater vehicles. Other efforts in the Swihart group include the production of multicomponent semiconductor nanoparticle inks for solution-phase processing of thin-film photovoltaics, particularly copper-zinc-tin-sulfide/selenide materials.
H2
New semiconductor nanostructures are opening up exciting possibilities in thin-film solar cells. Such devices can be much lighter and lower cost than conventional silicon photovoltaics, and require much less energy input for production. In collaboration with Qiaoqiang Gan in UBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electrical Engineering department, they are investigating combinations of novel light-trapping strategies with lead-free perovskites and other emerging light-absorbing materials.
Figure 3. Membrane H2 /CO2 separation facilitated by Palladium nanoparticles
Ultimately, as illustrated in the schematic at the beginning of this article, these technological advances will be integrated with many others to help shape the sustainable energy systems of the future. In the projects described above, and others, our UB CBE students and faculty will continue to make important research contributions that help to ensure the sustainable future of global energy supplies.
Figure 4. Prototype solar cell testing: Cross-sectional electron micrograph of a perovskite solar cell and photographs of the solar simulator and test fixtures
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 9
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
CATALYTIC TRANSFORMATION OF NATURAL GAS Natural gas has been widely used
For that purpose, nanofiber structured strontium (Sr)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
in homes, power plants, factories,
lanthanum oxide (La2O3) catalysts, are precisely synthesized
and transportation due to its low cost
by Yuhan Mei, a MSc student in the group, by varying the
and large domestic reserves.
temperature and acidity during the synthesis. These catalysts
A 50% rise in global natural gas consumption is
are capable of transforming methane to Nitrous Oxide
6%
Fluorinated gases
2%
expected between
innovative catalysts are needed for enhancing the transformation of methane, the dominant component of natural gas as well as a greenhouse gas (see figure) directly into more useful chemicals. The Eleni Kyriakidou research
plastics, surfactants, and pharmaceuticals). Making useful chemicals directly from
Methane
16%
Carbon Dioxide forestry and other land use
11%
methane in an energy efficient manner will Carbon Dioxide fossil fuel and industrial use
65%
present a distinct economic advantage with long-term potential impact. The project has been successfully funded through a sub-award from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Yuhan Mei has been recently awarded with the Mark
group investigates the synthesis of novel
Diamond Research Fund (MDRF) grant for
catalysts with controlled shapes that actively
research expenses related to her thesis.
convert methane. They seek to establish the catalystâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structure/activity relationship.
that can be further utilized as intermediates for industrial products formation (e.g.,
2010 and 2035 according to the U. S. Energy Information Administration. Therefore,
useful products such as ethylene and ethane
Global greenhouse gas emissions (US Environmental Protection Agency).
10 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
HIGH PERFORMANCE SENSORS
information. These sensors with wireless data transfer will be powered by the single wire, single contact electricity delivery method. High selectivity detection is critical in many areas such as processing plants, manufacturing factories, environmental stewardship, treatment plants, mining, and long-term medical implants, as well as in emerging areas such as Internet of Things, Smart Cities, Smart Cars, Smart Houses, Smart Factories, and Wearables. These high performance sensor arrays will primarily employ a nano and
Sensors play a critical role in a
micro-electro-mechanical systems platform,
modern society, touching every aspect
and will rely on molecularly engineered interfaces as well as
of our daily lives with applications
the interaction of interfaces with electromagnetics
ranging from manufacturing and
for achieving high sensitivity and selectivity. In addition,
health care to personal and consumer
Dr. Thundatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research will include fundamental studies to
electronics. At present, most sensors
gain basic understanding of molecular interactions at
are designed to provide single
solid-fluid interfaces. His research program with UB Chemical
information and are not suitable
and Biological Engineering and the RENEW program will
for providing a complete, coherent,
involve collaboration with the University at Buffaloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
and collective map of the target information. Dr. Thomas
leading-edge researchers in nanotechnology, biomedical
Thundatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research will focus on developing integrated
engineering, information and communications technologies,
sensor systems that are capable of providing multi target
and energy resource management.
High performance nanomechanical sensor arrays for physical, chemical, and biological detection
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 11
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
GREEN PROCESSING OF A RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCE TOWARD USEFUL PRODUCTS Organic solvents, potentially harmful to the environment, are
The concerted experimental and modeling efforts by
often used in the pretreatment and processing of cellulosic
the UB team improve our understanding of the solvent
biomass. A rational selection of solvents and processing
characteristics affecting cellulose dissolution, and inform
conditions would be beneficial to the environment, both from
the selection of environment-friendly solvents and
the point of efficient solvent utilization and that of renewable
the design of efficient pretreatment processes for a global
resource valorization, cellulose being an abundant and
optimization of biorefinery operations.
carbon-neutral feedstock for the production of valuable products such as fuels, chemicals, and polymers. However, fundamental information is lacking on the interplay between nano-scale solvent-cellulose interactions and large-scale biomass solvent processing. Recent PhD graduate Mohammad Ghasemi working together with Associate Professor Marina Tsianou and UB Distinguished Professor Paschalis Alexandridis have been addressing this problem with support from the National Science Foundation. Marina Tsianou
In a series of recent publications (AIChE Journal 2017, 63, 1368-1383, DOI: 10.1002/aic.15615; Cellulose 2017, 24, 571-590, DOI: 10.1007/s10570016-1145-1; Bioresource Technol.
0.4–1.0 mm
1–3mm
3–6mm
2017, 228, 330-338; DOI: 10.1016/j. biortech.2016.12.049) the UB team has predicted the dissolution kinetics of cellulose for various solvent Paschalis Alexandridis
and particle properties, using a new phenomenological model that
captures the relevant molecular and transport phenomena. The relative ability of solvents toward decrystallization and disentanglement has been quantified on the basis of the aforementioned model and experimental data collected by master’s student Luz V. Vargas-Aponte. In ongoing work, the dissolution of polydisperse biomass particles is investigated with a population ensemble model at conditions that emulate large-scale processing.
12 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Processing for efficient biomass valorization
> 6 mm
BRINGING DATA-DRIVEN DISCOVERY AND RATIONAL DESIGN TO CHEMICAL RESEARCH
Chemical and materials research is currently undergoing a significant transformation that promises to open new paths to complex discovery and design problems. Modeling and simulation are now at a stage where they can make accurate predictions for systems that are both realistic and relevant. The guidance that computational studies provides can significantly boost the efficiency of research projects and uncover promising targets for the more time- and resourceintensive investigations in the lab. They can also provide unique insights beyond the scope of empirical observation and thus contribute a solid foundation that underpins new findings. More recently, data-driven approaches have arisen that combine modeling with virtual high-throughput screening and informatics. The computational screening allows for the rapid assessment of massive candidate libraries, and machine learning is employed on the resulting data sets to develop an understanding of the hidden structure-property relationships that determine the behavior of chemical and materials systems. Such an understanding is a prerequisite for rational design and inverse engineering capability. The Johannes Hachmann group develops the methods and tools for this emerging approach and applies them as part of several collaborative research efforts. Ongoing projects include searches for new high-refractive index polymers with the Chong Cheng group, deep eutectic solvents for supercapacitors with Technology Holding LLC (sponsored by an Army SBIR grant), graphene-based anode materials for lithium ion batteries with the Gang Wu and Cheng groups (sponsored by an NSF grant), catalysts for solar water splitting or fuel cells, and biodegradable polymers for medical applications with the Cheng group and Healthcare Hub (sponsored by a CMI grantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;CMI is the Center for Materials Informatics, a New York State funded center that leverages UBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cutting edge materials science, big data analytics, and advanced manufacturing expertise to drive critical R&D activities that directly impact private sector growth).
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 13
HEALTH
DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTIC ELECTRICAL STIMULATION TECHNOLOGY Professor Edward Furlani is collaborating with Garwood
mobility while simultaneously decreasing the need
Medical Devices LLC (GMD), a local medical device startup
for clinician intervention. Dr. Furlani and his team will leverage
company, to develop electrical stimulation technology for
UB’s comprehensive expertise in modeling and design (see
biomedical applications. A total $1.48 million in funding has
figure), prototype fabrication and characterization, software
been awarded to support this collaboration from the Buffalo
communications, and high performance computing and
Institute for Genomics and Data Analytics (BIG). BIG is a
bioinformatics to guide and accelerate the commercialization
UB program and key component of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s
of GMD’s ES device.
$100-million initiative to transform New York State into a national center for genomic medicine research. Professor Furlani is leading an interdisciplinary team of UB faculty and students to develop GMD’s technology. This includes fundamental studies of electrode-induced electromagnetic and electrochemical interactions in tissue and development of next-generation programmable electrical stimulation devices with integrated sensor and communications technologies to enable unprecedented treatment for chronic wounds, bone regeneration, and peri-prosthetic (implant) infections. This new smart ES device technology will greatly enhance a patient’s quality of life by accelerating healing and increasing patient
FUNCTIONAL POLYLACTIDES FOR DRUG/GENE DELIVERY
3D computational model showing electrical stimulation and induced current in tissue for healing an incision on anatomical forearm
and biomedical assessment showed that these PDCs can be employed as nano-therapeutics for cancer treatment. Third, novel cationic PLAs (CPLAs) and PEGylated CPLAs (i.e., PEG-b-CPLAs) were prepared, and exhibited low cytotoxicity and high efficiency as carriers of plasma DNA (pDNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) via nanoplex formation. Finally, unique CPLA-based nano-systems enabling
Polylactides (PLAs) are important
both drug and gene delivery have also been formulated. These
biodegradable polymers that have
studies laid a solid foundation for the further development of
been approved by the FDA for in vivo
functional PLA-based therapeutics for comprehensive in vivo
applications. However, the applications
investigations and potential clinical applications. With recent
of conventional PLAs are significantly
funding from the National Science Foundation and the National
limited because of their lack of
Institutes of Health, the Cheng group is in collaboration with
functionalities. To this end, the Chong
the Yun Wu group
Cheng laboratory has made substantial efforts to synthesize
(UB Department
functional PLAs and to study their applications in therapeutic
of Biomedical
delivery. Based on interdisciplinary collaborations, a series
Engineering) to
of research accomplishments have been achieved. First, the
develop novel
approaches for the preparation of a variety of functional PLAs
functional PLA-
carrying alkene, alkyne, aldehyde, amine, and other groups
based drug-
were developed based on polymer synthesis using functional
gene co-delivery
monomers and click functionalization of polymers. Second,
systems and
novel brush-like polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs) and PDC-
zwitterionic
based nanoparticles with PLA-based backbone carrying
PLA-based drug
anti-cancer drug moieties via labile linkages were synthesized,
delivery systems.
14 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Schematic illustration of drug/gene delivery using functional PLAs
FROM SKIN TO BRAIN: STEM CELLS WITHOUT GENETIC MODIFICATION The Stelios Andreadis laboratory
The work was recently published in the journal Stem Cells
discovered that epidermal cells from
(35:1402-1415) and received a R01 grant from the National
the skin (keratinocytes, KC) can be
Institutes of Health to delve into the mechanisms driving
reprogrammed into a special type
KC-to-NC reprogramming and to employ KC-NC for treating
of stem cell, neural crest (NC) stem
the Parkinson’s-like symptoms in a mouse model of a
cell, using a defined chemical cocktail
hypomyelinating disease (in collaboration with Dr. Fraser
and without genetic modification.
Sim (UB) and Dr. Marianne Bronner (Caltech)).
Genome-wide transcriptome analyses and lineage tracing experiments—where the reprogrammed cells (KC-NC) were implanted in chicken embryos—showed that KC-NC acted just as native neural crest cells. What is more, these cells could be coaxed to differentiate into smooth muscle cells, melanocytes, Schwann cells, and neurons. These findings have significant implications for cellular therapies and regenerative medicine. Unlike the brain or spinal cord, it is easy to obtain a skin biopsy, isolate KC, grow them to large numbers and reprogram them into KC-NC, providing an unlimited source of autologous (from the patient) cells for the treatment of devastating neurogenic diseases. The process can also be used to study disease mechanisms. KC-NC derived from a person with a genetic disease of the nervous system can be coaxed to differentiate into the appropriate cell type e.g. neuron or Schwann cell, thereby enabling researchers to study the disease in a dish, with no need for genetic manipulation or reprogramming to the pluripotent state.
The top four images, from left to right, show Keratinocyte-derived neural crest stem cells turning into neurons as shown by typical neuronal morphology. The larger image, directly above, is a close-up of the far right image.
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 15
HEALTH
TARGETING CELLULAR THERAPEUTICS IN A PRE-CLINICAL MODEL OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION The blockage of the arteries that feed blood to the heart results in heart attacks, also known as myocardial infarctions. This injury causes heart tissue death, and it negatively impacts patient survival and long-term quality of life. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach to restore heart function since these cells promote tissue repair and may reduce heart muscle damage. The major challenge here lies in the targeting of the stem cell therapy specifically to the compromised area of the heart that can benefit from regenerative medicine. This is complex, since the infarcted region itself is poorly perfused, and direct stem cell injection into this region would simply result in cell death. Thus, we need to target the large compromised region surrounding the infarct. In this project, supported by the American Heart Association, the Neelamegham laboratory works on glycoengineering stem cells with a unique carbohydrate recognition motif called “sialyl Lewis-X” in the context of specific glycoproteins. Decorating the stem cells with this sugar structure enhances the homing of mesenchymal and cardiosphere-derived stem cells to the blood vessels of the injured heart, which express adhesion molecules called “selectins” at the sites of inflammation. Testing cell homing in large animal swine models is part of this project, and these are conducted in collaboration with Professor John M. Canty Jr., Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Successful completion of this work will result in new technologies to improve stem cell therapy for an array of cardiovascular diseases.
Fluorescent image showing slex on the stem cell surface
16 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
UB ENGINEERING BIODESIGN CORE FACILITY The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is opening a new BioDesign Core facility that will host various resources for Systems Bioengineering research. The focus of the facility is on enabling the collection of high-throughput experimental data that can be used for the the analysis of entire biological systems at the cell, tissue, and/or whole organism level. Such large scale data collection will also enable computational modeling and provide an inroad to Big Data research endeavors at UB CBE. In addition to technical expertise, the BioDesign core also hosts a high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer for the analysis of complex protein and metabolomics samples, and a 14-color flow cytometer for the spectral analysis of complex mixtures of cells.
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 17
UB CBE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM INCREASES BREADTH AND DEPTH The past year has seen exciting developments in
Capping this off, UB CBEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique Spiral Learning Initiative has
undergraduate affairs. We successfully transitioned to the new
truly transformed the undergraduate experience. Students are
SUNY Seamless Transfer curriculum, which introduced small
introduced to and subsequently revisit the scientific themes
but substantive changes to required courses, with the broad
that will support their senior plant
benefit that students from other campuses now have an easier
design project throughout their
time transferring here. A significant component is the new
undergraduate experience.
course CE 220 Biotechnology Principles taught by Dr. Natesh
By the time they start the project,
Parashurama, which is tailored for our students and was first
they are well-versed in these
offered this past spring.
necessary tools for a successful
We are also particularly happy to introduce new Teaching
project outcome.
Assistant Professors Dr. David Courtemanche and
Johannes Nitsche, Director
Dr. Monica Lupion starting this coming fall. (see pg 5)
of Undergraduate Studies
CONGRATULATIONS to four UB CBE Undergraduate students who presented posters at the 2017 UB Celebration of Academic Excellence, sponsored by CURCA (Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities)
ABDUL-MALIK DAVIES
BARITUZIGA BANUNA
JINGYUN WANG AND HANGUANG ZHANG
Synthesis of Yolk-Shell
Applications Towards Kidney
Atomic Iron-Dispersed Electrocatalysts
Structured Silicon-
Stone Growth Prevention:
Germanium Anode Materials
An Investigation of Additive
for Lithium-ion Batteries
Effects on Calcium Oxalate
Crystal Morphology
18 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Derived from Metal-Organic Framework for Oxygen Reduction in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells J. Wang left, H. Zhang, right
UB INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING: UB CBE STUDENTS TEAM UP WITH MECHANICAL AND CIVIL STUDENT ENGINEERS The outcome of a distillation column design (from our
by the shell of the distillation column. The group then gave
separations class) is a specification of height and width. The
a formal presentation to the UB CBE Plant Design students late
actual mechanical design is done by mechanical and civil
in the semester, for which they received a long ovation from
engineers, who figure out how thick the wall of the column
all the chemical engineering students.
needs to be. They return this parameter to the chemical engineers, who can then estimate the capital cost, because this cost is based on the thickness.
On the whole, this interdisciplinary project gave all the CBE, MAE and CSEE students involved direct experience with a crucial aspect of real world practice—the back-and-forth
UB CBE Plant Design students received a great introduction
between various branches of engineering needed to achieve
to this real-world interplay between engineering disciplines
a design goal.
this past spring, thanks to Dr. Andrew Olewnik, Director of Experiential Learning Programs in the School of Engineering. He organized an interdisciplinary design project for four Mechanical and Civil Engineering sophomores (Gavin Amos, Shivron Sugrim, Anthony Tintera, and Gaurav Zawar), to determine the required shell thickness for the distillation column designed by one of the UB CBE Plant Design class groups (group members: Alexander Bacher, Cody Chatterton, Anna Clements, and Matthew Smith) as part of their bioethanol production project. The MAE/CSEE group was advised on a day-to-day basis by CBE graduate student Aditya Sonpal, introduced to distillation by CE 408 instructor Johannes Nitsche and—most important— mentored by Robert G. Harrison, P.E., Vice President of Engineering and Construction, Transmission Developers, Inc., and member of the School of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council. With his guidance, they learned the necessary ASME code, and wrote a Matlab program that estimates the
Robert G. Harrison (center) and Andrew Olewnik (leftmost) discuss distillation column design with students working on an interdisciplinary design project.
thickness needed to withstand all the mechanical loads borne
MAKE A CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
Your support is vital to UB CBE’s success, providing the difference between funding what is necessary and what is possible. Donors to our annual fund allow bright, hardworking students to fulfill their dreams and complete their degrees through scholarships and fellowships. They advance the profession by funding groundbreaking research, and they provide resources to furnish facilities and purchase the latest technologies for faculty and students. A gift from you in any amount helps UB CBE make critical investments and recruit and retain the best students and faculty. To make a gift, simply go online to www.cbe.buffalo.edu/donate or call us at 716.645.1174.
THANK YOU! Catalyst Fall 2017 | 19
UB CBE GRADUATE PROGRAM UPDATE The graduate program at UB CBE continues to grow with the
of new fellowships, including the UB Presidential fellowship,
expansion of the department and its significant breakthroughs
that allow us to provide the most competitive and financially
in chemical and biological engineering research. Currently
rewarding packages to qualified students. Together, CBE offers
there are 172 students in our PhD and master programs, who
a forward-looking vision and environment to train the next
tackle and solve the most pressing challenges of our time
generation of leaders in the field.
in renewable energy, smart materials, and nanomedicine. The students can choose from a large number of graduate courses available (19 for the year 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2017) designed to support and reinforce their experiential learning in the lab. In addition to interacting with the core CBE faculty in the classrooms and labs, the students also benefit from synergy with other related graduate programs at UB on materials, big data, and genomics. Our students are dedicated and driven, as evidenced by their frequent publications in high ranking journals, and they find excellent careers in their respective fields upon graduation. Recent years have also seen students apply their ingenuity to launch private ventures based on their studies. To sustain our continued growth, the university, the engineering school, and the department are making concerted efforts to recruit the best available talent, through a number
Sheldon, Park, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
EMMANUEL NSENGIYUMVA IS A 2017-18 WNY PROSPERITY FELLOWSHIP WINNER
As an undergraduate student, he analyzed household products
The Prosperity fellowships, made
in the presence of high salinity water in order to reduce
possible through support from the Prentice Family Foundation, are awarded to college and graduate students with an entrepreneurial drive who want to make a difference in Western New York, and who are actively preparing for careers that further economic development and growth in the region. Emmanuel came to Buffalo from a Congolese refugee camp in Rwanda in 2010. He is a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree candidate in the UB Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, having earned his BS in chemical engineering in 2016.
20 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
and examined their mechanical properties. He also reviewed the applications of surfactants and polymers in personal care products and drug delivery. Currently, Emmanuel is conducting research in the Paschalis Alexandridis Lab for Interfaces and Self-Assembly, where his work focuses on the water-soluble polymers that are involved in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas. He is interested in polymers that can be utilized the use of fresh water. This research will prove beneficial to the environment and energy resources. He is interested in protecting the Western New York environment with a strong focus on water quality. His future plans include completing his PhD in chemical engineering and starting his own chemical company that focuses on designing and manufacturing formulated products in the Western New York area.
UB CBE GRADUATE STUDENT PROFILE
MOHAMMAD ATIF FAIZ AFZAL BRIGHT BUFFALO AWARD WINNER AND ENTREPRENEUR
for Students in the Computational Sciences, an event aimed at providing UB graduate students with first-hand insights into research outside of academia. The symposium comprises a series of lectures by industry leaders who discuss their experiences in finding jobs in the industry, their transition from university into the job market, and their insights into the R&D landscape. For his contributions to various organizations and initiatives at UB, he was awarded the prestigious Professor Emeritus Howard Strauss Memorial Scholarship for Leaders in Excellence, as part of the UB Engineering Alumni Association.
Mohammad Atif Faiz Afzal is a PhD candidate in the Johannes Hachmann computational research group. His research interests include the discovery and design of nextgeneration molecular materials using first-principles quantum Atif at the alumni awards ceremony fall 2016
chemistry, molecular modeling, virtual high-throughput screening,
and machine learning. Atif’s thesis project focuses on applying these techniques to the search for new organic polymers with advanced optical properties that could outperform materials that are currently used in optical devices. This project is in collaboration with the group of Professor Chong Cheng. He has presented his work at numerous conferences and his achievements have been recognized on many occasions.
Atif, Frans Johansson (keynote speaker at the event), Tamera Knight (team member), Norma J. Nowak, Executive Director—UB Center Of Excellence In Bioinformatics & Sciences and Professor, Biochemistry and Biomedical Informatics, and Scott Friedman, Chairman and CEO of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP at Bright Buffalo awards
In 2016 alone, he received the 1st Poster Prize of the Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference, the American Physical Society Distinguished Student Travel Award, and an Honorable Mention for the Ovshinsky Student Travel Award of the APS Division of Materials Physics, and he was selected as the UB CBE Graduate Student Seminar Speaker. He also won the UB Hackathon and received a Graduate Student Grant from the Mark Diamond Research Fund. Atif also secured travel grants from the National Science Foundation Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics and the Telluride School for Theoretical Chemistry. Atif’s academic performance at UB has been outstanding as well, and he has received a Dean’s Fellowship. Atif founded the Computational Sciences Club in 2015
During the 2016 UB Hackathon, Atif led a team that developed software that uses machine learning to track parking availability and display real-time parking stats to app users. His team won the first prize and has since formed a company called SweetSpot. The team was a finalist in the WNY Student2-Biz and New York State Business Plan competitions. On June 28, SweetSpot received the People’s Choice Award of the Bright Buffalo Niagara Entrepreneur Expo. Atif is currently participating in UB’s Student Sandbox Business Incubator Program where he is coached by distinguished entrepreneurs from the Western New York region. The team is also seeking venture capital funding to launch the SweetSpot app.
and currently serves as its president. The Club brings together
Most recently, Atif has
students from diverse research backgrounds who perform
won the UB Blackstone
computational work at UB. It is a platform for graduate
Launchpad’s Student
students to share their research perspectives, organize
Sandbox Competition
seminars/workshops, and promote collaborations in an
for Business
effort to maximize the resources and tools available at UB.
and Entrepreneur
Atif also served as the President of the CBE graduate student association in 2014-2015.
Atif at the Sandbox competition with Tamera Knight
partnerships.
Since 2015, Atif has spearheaded the organization of the Annual Symposium on Job and Career Perspectives
Catalyst Fall 2017 | 21
PARHAM ROHANI WON TWO BUSINESS COMPETITIONS IN 2017 Parham led a team
MILAD YAVARI RECEIVED AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (A&WMA) STUDENT AWARD (2017)
that took first place on
The (A&WMA) recognizes outstanding students who are
April 12 in UB’s Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition (Panasci Parham Rohani in the lab
TEC) for a technology that
pursuing courses of study and research leading to careers in air quality, waste management, environmental management/ policy/law, and sustainability with respect to air quality and waste management. Milad Yavari presenting his research at the 2016 UB CBE Graduate Research Symposium
generates hydrogen gas
from water. He and S. Bruce Kohrn, business strategist, will receive $25,000 in startup capital and in-kind services valued at $27,000 for their company, NanoHydroChem. NanoHydro also won $10,000 at the seventh annual New York Business Plan Competition. The company is developing technology that induces a chemical reaction between inorganic nanomaterials and water to liberate hydrogen as a fuel source to be used in unmanned vehicles and other products that typically run on batteries.
UB CBE GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
KRISTI ANSETH, 2017 RUCKENSTEIN LECTURER UB CBE was proud to welcome Dr. Kristi Anseth, Distinguished
The UB CBE 20th annual Graduate Research Symposium took
Professor, Tisone Professor, and
place on Friday, September 22. The symposium is a showcase
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
for the excellence that we strive for in our scholarship and
Investigator at the University
graduate education, and we look forward to many more years of this celebration of our research accomplishments.
at Colorado, Boulder, to the
This year’s event featured 87 research posters from our graduate students.
April. Dr. Anseth’s talk was entitled
Dr. Samir Mitragotri, Harvard School of Engineering, was the keynote speaker. His talk was titled “Understanding
UB Center for the Arts this past
Stelios Andreadis and Kristi Anseth
“Hydrogels as synthetic ECM analogs through bio-click reactions”. The Ruckenstein Lecture Series
and Overcoming Biological Barriers for Drug Delivery.”
honors Eli Ruckenstein, a prolific researcher who has made
He was preceded by presentations by two PhD candidate
(and continues to make) contributions in almost every subfield
student speakers.
of chemical engineering. The series is supported by the Akshara Goyal, PhD student in the David Kofke lab, presents her research to visiting Professor Richard Wheatley from the University of Nottingham.
The afternoon included a poster contest, along with drinks and hors d’oeuvres for guests and judges. The posters were evaluated based on student presenter communications skills, and showcased the high quality, multidisciplinary research that is conducted in our department, and spanned diverse areas such as molecular engineering of novel materials, nanotechnology, bioengineering, and molecular modeling. 22 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Ruckenstein Endowment Fund. Each year the Series brings to our campus a distinguished scholar in chemical engineering, to speak about research activities in his or her laboratory, trends in the field, and larger problems in society that chemical engineers can address.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PIONEER
and SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus ELI RUCKENSTEIN Celebrates a Milestone Congratulations to Chemical Engineering pioneer
with the Creativity Award from the National Science
Eli Ruckenstein, who turned 90 last year. Eli joined
Foundation. He has presented two Berkeley Lectures
the faculty of the University at Buffalo in 1973. He
in Chemical Engineering and is a winner of the
spent his formative years behind the Iron Curtain,
Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal from SUNY
in Romania, where—with a combination of native
Buffalo. He is a fellow of the AIChE and the American
intellect, genuine scientific curiosity, and sheer
Nano Society.
strength of will—he began what would become a professional lifetime of achievement in engineering and science, receiving the George Spacu Award for Research in Surface Phenomena from the Romanian Academy of Science, as well as awards from the Romanian Department of Education for teaching, for research in turbulent heat and mass transfer, and for research in distillation. In 1969, he escaped to the West, where his prolific and imaginative research has advanced almost every area of interest to chemical engineering. He has received the Alpha Chi Sigma Award for his work in transport phenomena, the Walker Award for his work in catalysis, the Founders Award for his overall contributions to science from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Kendall Award for his research in colloids and interfaces, the Langmuir Lecture Award for his contributions to macromolecules, the Schoellkopf Medal for his work in supported metal catalysts, and the Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry from the American Chemical Society. His work in biomolecules was recognized
“Eli Ruckenstein is the closest to being a genius in our profession.” John Prausnitz, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley
Eli Ruckenstein was elected to the U. S. National Academy of Engineering in 1990, and in 2004, he was chosen to receive the Academy’s Founders Award. He has also been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he has received the Humboldt Award from Germany for his work in surfactants. The Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute named him one of their inaugural Pioneers of Science awardees. His seminal contributions across such a broad range of disciplines were further recognized when the President of the United States awarded him the National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony in 1999. His impact upon the development of the chemical engineering profession resulted in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers designating him as one of 50 Eminent Chemical Engineers of the Foundation age. Several of Dr. Ruckenstein’s papers have been republished in four volumes, two on thermodynamics of multicomponent solutions and nanodispersion by Springer, one on catalysis by Wiley, and the most recent on nucleation by CRC-Press.
”What I have seen in Ruckenstein’s research from the first time I knew him is an amazing ability to make subtle, unobvious leaps and connections that others don’t think of. His insights about physical phenomena spring from a rock-solid foundation
”He is my intellectual father and I consider myself a very lucky
of understanding and insight. His recall of the literature is
man because I met, worked and learned from him.”
beyond belief. He sees things in ways others don’t. He jumps
Peter Smirniotis, Professor, University of Cincinnati Chemical Engineering
to new interpretations by quantum-mechanical tunneling. His mind flies past the conventional interpretations—he always knows them—to grapple with new ones. He is a tiger in a cage;
“There is virtually no aspect of modern chemical engineering that has not been profoundly influenced by Eli Ruckenstein. The depth and breadth of his contributions in catalysis, transport phenomena, nucleation theory, interfacial science and polymer science are unparalleled.” Pablo Debenedetti, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Dean for Research, Princeton University
his imagination won’t turn off, and before he has gotten the newest story together he is working on countless others.” Bruce C. Gates, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis
FROM ONE ERA TO THE NEXT, STUDENT FAVORITE TOM WEBER CHECKS IN Many alumni we talk to remember classes with UB CBE Professor Emeritus Tom Weber—his name comes up in conversation often. Tom stopped in to Furnas Hall recently, shared some memories, and gave us an update on what he’s been up to since retirement. “When I retired from teaching in the spring of 2000,
interested in Process Control, taking all of my courses in
department chair Carl Lund reported that it was an end of
that area. Near the end of his program, he helped me with
an era. I was the last of the founding fathers to retire.
the completion of the book I was writing, An Introduction
And now, seventeen years later, I am one of the few still here.
to Process Dynamics and Control. He was also involved in
We graduated our first class in 1965, a little more than a year
the GEMS-Net program.
after I arrived. All of the original classes were housed in the old
What am I doing in my retirement since 2000? My son and
Parker Engineering Building on the South Campus. The dean,
daughter provided my wife and me with golf clubs. I spent
Art Trabant, and his assistants were housed in two or three
about five hard years trying to learn the sport, but in spite of
small offices at the north end of the building.
spending a substantial amount of time and money on this,
In 1966, we finally got our own building, a pre-fabricated, metal-walled “Butler” that was set up between Acheson and Parker. It housed our departmental offices and a huge
I concluded that for me, golf was not going to work. However, I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and being involved in the governance in my retirement community.
open-bay area in the center for the Unit Operations Lab.
I began swimming at UB in 1981 and have continued to
Along with this building, we added four new faculty, namely
be active in this sport ever since. I joined the U. S. Masters
Ken Kiser, Harry Cullinan, Bob Good, and shortly thereafter,
Swimming Team. For many years, I continued swimming five
Sol Weller. Together, I believe that our work in control,
days a week, but now it’s more like two or three days.
hydraulics, paper chemistry, colloids, and catalysis not
I’m spending the other days working out with other retirees.”
only helped the department move forward by establishing the curriculum, but truly shaped the chemical engineering
Tom Weber
profession for the next generation. Professor Good’s innovations in the areas of interfacial wetting adhesion and contact angle were recognized by the ACS Kendall Award, and similarly, Sol Weller’s advancements of catalysis led to the ACS Murphee Award. In the fall of 1970, the GEMS-Net began transmitting engineering courses from Parker Engineering to remote
We graduated our first class in
1965
locations within a 25-mile radius. I presented my course in Process Control to students at Hooker Chemical Corporation on Grand Island. We had two-way audio and one-way video
In the fall of 1970,
so we never could attach a face to a voice coming from Hooker.
the GEMS-Net began transmitting engineering courses from Parker Engineering to remote locations within a 25-mile radius
We always wondered what those people looked like! At the end of the semester, the Grand Island people invited us to visit their facility. I was fortunate to serve as Research Advisor to Mohan Bhalodia in the early 1970s. He came from India and became
24 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
ALUMNI CONNECTION Keeping in touch with your friends at UB CBE is simple, and we always love to hear from you. There’s a special place in our hearts for graduates who’ve made their way in the world, and we hope you’ll be willing to give back with advice and input. Here are a few of the ways our students can use your help:
”The best years of my student life were the years between 1971 and 1973 as a graduate student at UB. I was young and ambitious but also very lucky to have met Dr. Thomas Weber. He became not only my process control teacher and thesis adviser,
GIVE SOME ADVICE. Our new website (look for it in the next few weeks!) contains a section for students to turn for advice from alums. Share what you wish you knew when you were a student.
but also my classmate and best friend. I always
T ell students what a typical day in your career as a cheme is like.
remember him as a witty man with a smile. I owe
U pdate your listing in our alumni directory
him a lot for his contribution to my professional life. I am proud to have been his student at UB, and
Send us your faces of CBE profile
I wish him happiness and health.”
G ive a lecture to the AIChE student chapter
Mehmet Bedii Okyay, MS 1973
Connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook
“Beyond what Dr. Weber taught in class, the way he interacted with his students—with an open mind, kindness, and a willingness to listen and help— left a lasting impression on me.” Mohan Bhalodia, PhD 1973
CONTACT US ANYTIME: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering 303 Furnas Hall, University at Buffalo, North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260-4300 Phone: 716-645-2909 | Email: cbe@buffalo.edu
FOR MORE INFORMATION on how to make any of these connections, go to www.cbe.buffalo.edu, and thanks. Tom Weber teaching a class at the GEMS-Net studio in Parker Hall. Catalyst Fall 2017 | 25
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS Ken Tye Yong (BS 2001, PhD 2006), who studied at UB CBE in the Mark Swihart lab, is the winner of the Beilby Medal and Prize 2017. Yong is an associate professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and is also the director in the Centre for Bio Devices and Signal Analysis (VALENS). He has led research in nanomaterials and biophotonics to improve state-of-art Professor Neal (Tai-Shung) Chung (PhD 1981), an alumnus from Emeritus Professor Michael Ryan’s research group and currently Provost’s Chair professor at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore, is a world-renowned membrane scientist. This past fall, he was named Outstanding Professional in Water Reuse and Conservation Distinction by The International Desalination Association. He is also one of the
healthcare and medical diagnostics applications. The Beilby Medal and Prize is awarded annually by SCI’s Materials Chemistry Group, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and carries a prize of £1,000. The award recognizes work of exceptional practical significance in chemical engineering, applied materials science, energy efficiency, or a related field.
Most Cited Researchers as developed for Shanghai Ranking’s
Associate Professor Yong’s work has led to the engineering
Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2016. Professor Chung
of various types of bioconjugated quantum dots and metal
had worked for U.S. industries for 15 years before joining NUS in
nanoparticles to specifically target, image, and treat cancer cells
1995. He is a subject editor of Chemical Engineering Research
and the HIV virus. He has made significant advances related
and Design and an editorial board member of 15 different
to the integration of nanotechnology with medical imaging
scientific journals. He was an inventor of Hyflux Kristal™ 600
and gene therapy. He has also undertaken pioneering work
ultrafiltration membranes. He received the IES (Institution
regarding quantum dot toxicity and pharmacokinetics in non-
of Engineers, Singapore) Prestigious Engineering Achievement
human primates, a study that served to dampen some of the
Award, the Hyflux-SNIC (Singapore National Institute of
fears over the toxicity of quantum dots intended for applications
Chemistry) Award in Environmental Chemistry in 2010, and
in humans. It indicated that the acute toxicity of quantum dots
the Research Leadership Award at NUS in 2011. He became
in vivo can be minimal, for appropriate formulations and doses.
a Fellow in the Academy of Engineering Singapore in 2012 and received the 2014 Underwood Medal for Exceptional Research in Separations from IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers, U.K.). ”Professor Neal Chung is a very dedicated and conscientious researcher. He is a scientist of the highest integrity and has utmost concern for his large family of graduate students. His many accomplishments and international recognition are testimony to his productivity and expertise. I am very proud to have been associated with Neal as one of my early PhD students at the University at Buffalo.”
Over the years, he has prepared alternative quantum dots for theranostics applications, including sentinel lymph node mapping, in vitro targeted cancer imaging, targeted gene delivery therapy, therapy of HIV-associated encephalopathy, and multimodal imaging of tumors in vivo. Numerous evaluations of these low- or non-toxic quantum dots on in vitro and in vivo models will facilitate the adoption of these nanocrystals by mainstream biomedical researchers and, ultimately, the clinicians. “Ken-Tye is one of the hardest-working, most determined students I have encountered, and I am delighted to see his ambition and perseverance being rewarded with this prize,
Michael Ryan, Emeritus Professor, Associate Dean
his promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, and other
for Undergraduate Education, and Director of University
well-deserved recognitions.”
Accreditation
Mark Swihart, UB Distinguished Professor and Director of the NYS Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics
26 | University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS Zhiyong Gu (PhD 2004),
Andrew Bodratti
was advised by UB
(BS 2010, MS 2012, PhD
Distinguished Professor
candidate 2018), and
Paschalis Alexandridis, and is
Master Technician Mark
currently an Associate Professor
Stahlman won the Product
in the Department of Chemical
Innovation Award for 2016
Engineering at the University
from Unifrax, where
of Massachusetts Lowell
he is currently employed
(UMass Lowell), and has been
as a Senior Development
promoted to Full Professor,
Engineer. He is currently
starting from September 1, 2017.
working in the Paschalis
He also serves as the associate
Alexandridis lab group.
chair for Graduate Studies in the department. His research
His team developed and commercialized a new composite
involves the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanowires and
that provides mechanical, high temperature insulating (up to
their applications for nanoscale electronics assembly and
850 °C), and gas barrier properties for catalytic converters
packaging, sensors/biosensors, and nanocatalysts for energy
in automotive exhaust systems. In addition to protecting the
and environment. He received the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty
fragile converter, the material’s insulating properties allow
Award, Department Teaching Excellence Award, and the EPA
the device to heat up faster and stay hot, thereby promoting
P3 Award (PI of the winning team). He currently serves as
catalysis during engine warm-up where catalytic efficiency is
an Associate Editor for the Journal of Nanoparticle Research
typically lower. A key feature is the product’s use of engineered
and Journal of Electronic Materials. “Zhiyong Gu was a self-motivated, dedicated, and hard-working PhD student. He addressed fundamental research problems methodically and with great scientific rigor. It’s been very rewarding for me to see Zhiyong rise up the ranks of academia.”
low bio-persistence (LBP) ceramic fibers, which have enhanced in vitro solubility compared with typical man-made insulating fibers, thus providing a green solution to the industry which meets new, more stringent regulations and harsher operating conditions.
Paschalis Alexandridis, UB Distinguished Professor
Dr. Guojian Zhang, a postdoctoral associate in the Blaine Pfeifer group, has been appointed as an associate professor at Ocean University of China School of Medicine and Pharmacy, effective 2018. His work will be focused on natural product discovery and biosynthesis of therapeutic compounds. This appointment is also supported by Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, which is China’s first national-level lab for marine science and technology. He is pictured here at the 9th Annual UB Postdoctoral Scholars Research Symposium held in June at the Center for the Arts. He took third place out of 100 posters. Catalyst Fall 2017 | 27
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UB CBE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
RANJIT CHAKRAVORTI, PHD 1973 Since graduation, Ranjit Chakravorti has worked on environmental projects for internationally known engineering and construction firms including Bechtel and Dravo Corporations. He evaluated processes for water and wastewater (desalination), air pollution (removal of hydrogen sulfide from geothermal fluids for power generation), and municipal solid waste-to-energy projects. He found his work interesting and challenging, and served in several industrial sectors as an engineer, project manager, business development manager, and ultimately entrepreneur, establishing TRS Consultants, Inc. in 1987 and serving as CEO for the next 23 years. The company provided engineering and construction management services, and was sold in 2013 upon Dr. Chakravorti’s retirement. In his spare time as a philanthropist and Rotarian, Ranjit has developed, arranged funds for, and implemented worldwide humanitarian projects for water and wastewater, sanitation, health, hunger, and education. “I am indebted to Professor Harry Cullinan, Jr., then Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department (1968) for offering me an assistantship, and to Professor Thomas Weber, my mentor, who guided my research work at UB. The current research program at UB CBE offers a vast array of challenging scientific engineering projects in health, energy, and the environment, and I am proud to support the UB CBE annual fund. To students at UB CBE—work to get the best education possible and serve humankind after your graduation. The world needs you.” –Ranjit