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Student News
Pictured L to R: Elizabeth Aikman, Marisa Pacheco, and Nico Mendez
NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Ph.D. students Elizabeth L. Aikman and Marisa O. Pacheco and alumnus Nico Mendez (UF B.S. ChE ’20) were awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. These fellowships recognize and support outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.
Aikman is pursuing her Ph.D. under the guidance of Whitney L. Stoppel, Ph.D. Aikman joined the Stoppel Lab in fall 2021 after completing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas.
“I feel very fortunate and honored to be awarded the NSF GRFP. As a first year Ph.D. student the application process provided an excellent opportunity to dive right into the content of my Ph.D. project and understand its potential impact. I could not have accomplished this without the support of Dr. Whitney Stoppel and my lab mates. This award will provide me with the support to pursue impactful research to advance my field and help me grow as a researcher and mentor,” Aikman said.
Pacheco is also pursuing her Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Stoppel. Pacheco joined the Stoppel Lab as an REU student during the summer of 2019, and again in fall 2020 after completing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado. She is currently contributing to a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program project on silk particles with lab collaborator, Bruce D Spiess, MD, FAHA, in the UF Department of Anesthesiology.
“I am honored and grateful to be chosen as an NSF graduate research fellow. Going through the application process once as an undergraduate, and again this past year has helped me grow immensely in my skills, presenting research ideas, and advocating for myself. I am so thankful to the many people that helped me shape the application package, both peers and professors from UF and beyond. This recognition opens the door for many future endeavors related to my future career goals in the advancement of research, engineering education, and continued commitment to broader impacts,” Pacheco said.
Mendez is pursuing his Ph.D. under the guidance of Sanat K. Kumar, Ph.D., the Michael Bykhovsky and Charo Gonzalez-Bykhovsky Professor of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. In the Kumar Research Group, Mendez works on the crystallization kinetics and dispersion of semicrystalline polymers. Mendez received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida in 2020. At UF, he worked in the Colina Group in the department of chemistry, studying the adsorption of gases in polymers of intrinsic microporosity using monte carlo and molecular dynamics simulation techniques.
“I was thrilled to find out that I won the NSF GRFP award, and I am very thankful to the faculty at both the University of Florida and Columbia University who supported me in my application,” Mendez said.
Undergraduate students Alex Daves and Shawn Robertson, members of the 2021 UF iGEM Team earned a silver medal for their work addressing antimicrobial resistance by creating alternative selectable markers to antibiotic resistance genes.
The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an international competition for the advancement of synthetic biology. Team members included students from eight departments in five colleges!
Ph.D. student Jason Livesay and undergraduate students Zach Karpinski and R. Craig Singiser conducted microgravity flight experiments on ZERO-G parabolic flight campaigns in December 2021 and May 2022.
Hayden Good was awarded Best Oral Presentation for the NanoDay 2022 NanoPhysics Session.
Sarathy K. Gopalakrishnan was selected by the UF Research Abroad for Doctorates program to do research at the University of Lille, France for a period of four months from April-July 2022. He was also awarded the 2021 AAC Best Student Poster Award
Igin Benny Ignatius was selected as a Chateaubriand Fellow by the French Embassy to visit University of Paris Saclay for a period of four months between March-July 2022.
Julie Jameson recieved the 2022 Graduate Student Mentoring Award and the 2022 Association for Academic Women’s Emerging Scholar Award. Sitong Liu was awarded the Best Nano-particles Poster at NanoDay 2021
Nicolas Macaluso received the 2021-2022 Graduate Student Teaching Award from the UF Graduate School. He also received the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Outstanding Gator Engineer M.S. Scholar Award in 2022.
William O’Brien was selected by NASA to do a summer research internship for 9 weeks in Summer 2022.
Amanda Orta Santana served as captain of the Berlin Heart Division of the Dream Team Engineering organization. She and the team partnered with doctors at UF Health Shands Hospital to design and build interactive models, such as lego hearts and a mini version of the Berlin Heart Device. The educational tools are used to lower the stress of children going through open heart surgery.
Chan-Wen and Jian Sian Li received the thirdplace poster presentation award from the 2022 (FLAVS) Florida Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces and Processing American Vacuum Society.
Brendan Wernisch received the 2022 Attributes of a Gator Engineer Undergraduate Award for Leadership.
GRACE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Students presented to peers at the 23rd Annual Graduate Association of Chemical Engineers (GRACE) Research Symposium, held virtually on Oct. 22, 2021.
Marissa Dockendorf, Ph.D., (UF ChE Ph.D. ’05) Director of Global Digital Analytics & Technologies at Merck, delivered the keynote presentation.
Dr. Dockendorf joined fellow ChE alumni and offered insight into different positions in industrial and academic environments during a professional panel Q&A. The alumni panel included: Varun Aggarwal, Ph.D. (’16), Mark Pepple (’07), Sarah Mena, Ph.D. (’16), Ryan Reeves (’08), and Arthur Dizon, Ph.D. (’18).
The symposium is a one-day research showcase where chemical engineering Ph.D., M.S., and undergraduate students have the opportunity to present their research to peers and a panel of judges. GRACE appreciates the commitment, effort, and dedication of all the participants
Congratulations to the following winners:
Session 1 First Place Student Oral Presentation Award Winners: Ph.D. candidate Alexander Hoffman; Ph.D. student Alexander Jess; and Ph.D. candidate Sitong Liu.
Session 2 First Place Oral Presentation Award Winners: Ph.D. student Samuel Jacobs; Ph.D. student Rachel Martin; and Ph.D. candidate Chen You.
First Place Student Poster Presentation: Master’s student Justin Chan-Wen Chiu; and undergraduate student Irene Chung.
STUDENTS SELECTED AS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS
Seven chemical engineering students were selected as 2022-2023 University Scholars.
The University Scholars Program introduces undergraduate students at the University of Florida to the exciting academic research world. In the program, students work one-on-one with UF faculty on selected research projects.
The University Scholars Program serves as an exceptional capstone to the academic careers of UF students. The program will consist of undertaking an entire research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Only 200 students from all disciplines are selected through a competitive process to participate in this program. Congratulations to the following ChE University Scholars and their faculty mentors:
Sophia de Almeida e C.Cunha Carvalho / Peng Jiang, Ph.D. Joshua Fosen / Ranga Narayanan, Ph.D. Emily Fussell / Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D. Sean Kochanowsky / Yeongseon Jang, Ph.D. Cassidy Simas / Carl Denard, Ph.D. Ethan Slaton / Carl Denard, Ph.D. Brendan Wernisch / Janani Sampath, Ph.D.
STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT THE 27TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY
Pictured clockwise: Samantha Angelina, Chan Wen Chiu, Chen You, and Aniruddha Kulkarni Four Chemical Engineering students were recognized with a certificate for Outstanding Achievement at the 27th Annual International Student Achievement Awards (ISAA) Ceremony on Nov. 16, 2021.
Congratulations to undergraduate student Samantha Angelina; Master’s student Chan Wen Chiu; Ph.D. candidate Aniruddha Kulkarni; and Ph.D. candidate Chen You.
The awards ceremony is celebrated each year in tandem with UF’s International Education Week and is sponsored by the UF International Center.
The International Student Awards recognize students who distinguish themselves not only by their exemplary academic achievements, but also by a wide range of accomplishments and contributions to UF and the community. The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is the biggest home to UF’s international community.
PACHECO SELECTED AN SEC EMERGING SCHOLAR
Marisa O. Pacheco, a Chemical Engineering Ph.D. candidate, was selected as one of five SEC Emerging Scholars Program participants for the 2022-23 academic year. The program provides professional development and networking opportunities for current doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who are considering careers in higher education. Scholars will participate in the career preparation workshop and visit with representatives from all 14 SEC universities at the University of Missouri on September 27-29, 2022.
“Being selected has shown me that I have many support structures available to me at UF. This experience has also shown me the importance of advocating for opportunities and taking risks when it comes to applying to something. I am so thankful to my advisor and friends for always encouraging me to take those risks,” said Pacheco.
Pacheco is currently working under the guidance of Whitney L. Stoppel, Ph.D., an assistant professor and the William P. and Tracy Cirioli Term Professor. Her research focuses on studying the synthesis of silk fibroin hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and their elicited cellular/in vivo response. These nano- and micro- particles have therapeutic potential for use during blood loss or in various blood disorder diseases.
Pacheco graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2020. Her grandfather and father were both teachers and encouraged her to be the first in her family to pursue a degree in engineering. She also credits her family for her interest in becoming a future professor.
An awards ceremony was held on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. Congratulations to all recipients and thanks to our alumni and friends for their generous support that made these awards possible.
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
John C. Biery Scholarship
Alyssa Massais and Vienna Moran
Boyington/Chapnerkar Legacy Scholarship in Chemical Engineering
Zoharia Dreyfuss and Lydia Thies
Cirioli/Exxon Mobil Friends Scholarship
Danielle Geils, Charlene Nguyen, Dylan Pesante, Catalina Pike, Yanchi Song, and Jaime Sukovich
Fahien Endowed Teaching Scholarship Monique Bernier and Emerick Gilliams
John P. O’Connell Scholarship Fund
Jostin Armada, Lincoln Frey, Aaron Harberson, Huston Locht, Mary Lopez Marin, and Emma Vesco
Proctor and Gamble Chemical Engineering Scholarship
Laurence Barnes and Gabrielle Russo
Shroff Family Endowed Scholarship in Chemical Engineering
Noelia Cabezas, Matthew Chertok, Dylan Carman, Paul Dinh, Adam Fernandez, Keyla Fernandez, Owen Gillen, Juan Jimenez, Taskina Zaman Jui, Kayla Kent, Ashley Landry, Molly Lynch, Claire Marc, Kerstin Martinez, Duc Huy Nguyen, Timothy Rigaud, Adam Rosenblum, Anna Wojnar, Alex Weaver, and Brendan Wernisch
Howard W. and Norma J. Smoyer Scholarship/Fellowship in Chemical Engineering
Johnny Brinson, Sean Kochanowsky, Brinsley Hess, and Grace Li
Vazquez Endowed Scholarship
Francisco Correia
Jim Sharp Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Grace Shoemaker
Sophomore & Junior Rising Star Awards
Supported by the Wilson Endowment
Excellence in Research
Asha Rao and Ethan Slaton
2021-2022 undergraduate award winners
Excellence in Leadership
Samuel Sheek and Sophie Williams
Excellence in Service
Axianax Meroni and Jonathan Valentin
Excellence in Practice
Isabela Brunner and Eduardo Landaeta Hidalgo
Senior Awards
Research Achievement
Emma Vesco
Professional Achievement
Huston Locht
Leadership & Service to the Profession
Jostin Armada
Service to the Community
Mary Lopez Marin
GRADUATE AWARDS
Ray W. Fahien Graduate Teaching Award in Chemical Engineering
Hayden Good and Igin Ignatius
These awards are provided through generous gifts to the Fahien Endowed Teaching Scholarship fund.
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Research Excellence Award
Alexander Hoffman, Julie Jameson, Sitong Liu, Long Nguyen, Marisa Pacheco, Xinyi Xia, and Chen You
These awards are provided through generous gifts to the Harold Mills Hawkins Endowed Scholarship funds, the Charles A. and Constance C. Stokes Chemical Engineering Fellowship funds, and Carl Mercer Dow Fellowship funds.
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Leadership and Service Excellence Award
Alexander Jess, Aniruddha Kulkarni, and Ambar Velazquez-Albino
These awards are provided through generous gifts to the Kydonieus Fellowship and Scholarship fund.
Chemical Engineering M.S. Research, Leadership and Service Excellence Award
Nicholas Macaluso and Cong Sun
These awards are provided through generous gifts to the Arnold J. “Red” Morway Memorial Graduate Fellowship fund.
2021-2022 graduate award winners
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Peer Mentors for the 2022-2023 academic year
Hansel Montalvo, Marisa Pacheco, and Jackson Powers
These students applied and were nominated by their Ph.D. Advisors and received an award thanks to a generous gifts from our alumni.
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Dean’s Research Award
Minji Chang, Thomas Corbin, Lauren Eccles, Eric Imhoff, Lawton Long, Jasmine McTyer, and Sage Nelson
Chemical Engineering Excellence Fund
