2024 UF Department of Chemical Engineering Magazine
Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D. Department Chair and Dean’s Leadership Professor
Dear alumni, friends and members of the UF ChemE community,
Another year has passed and I am delighted to share with you the news about our students, staff and faculty.
Our faculty continue to lead impactful research and garner peer recognition. Professor Kirk Ziegler, Ph.D., received the UF Doctoral Dissertation Advisor of the Year award for the second time, Distinguished Professor Mark Orazem, Ph.D., was elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Distinguished Professor Ranga Narayanan, Ph.D., was recognized as the 2023-2024 Teacher/Scholar of the Year by the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.
Our faculty continue to lead impactful research. Associate Professor Piyush Jain, Ph.D., is leading a new project to develop an easy-touse at-home test of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) based on gene editing technology he developed at UF, while Assistant Professor Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D., has partnered with the Florida Museum of Natural History and the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity to discover and engineer new and sustainable sources for silk-based materials.
Our graduate students also continue to advance our discipline as they advance their studies. Doctoral degree candidate Victor RiveraLlabres, has overcome personal adversity to pursue his dream of becoming a professor and participated in a prestigious national program that aims to prepare aspiring faculty, while doctoral student Caroline Lubbe participated in the 10-week Talent Development and Innovation Summer Internship Program organized by the National Science Foundation.
Our undergraduate students continue to be leaders on the national stage. The UF Student Chapter of the AIChE was again recognized as an Outstanding Chapter by AIChE National, and our students won several awards, including the First Year Student Recognition Award (Ian Lange), the Donald F. Othmer Second-Year Student Academic Excellence Award (Sarah Flannery), and several first through third place awards in the annual student research poster competition (Jason Hillman, Taskina Jui, Katelyn Meister, Axianax Merone, Sebastian Montero, Asha Rao, Zoe Redecliff )
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Through faculty and staff retreats, we have identified industry relationships, within and beyond the state of Florida, as crucial to better prepare our students and invigorate our faculty. We are building an alumni database to enhance networking opportunities that will result in internships and job placement for our students, as well as industry-inspired and sponsored research opportunities for our faculty. We also seek to identify potential external mentors who can provide unique professional development and career advice for current undergraduate and graduate students. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please contact us.
As you may already know, we secured over $40 million in university and state funds to remodel and renovate the main building (built in the 1960’s) and the Chemical Engineering Student Center. I am excited to report that repairs to the Student Center are on track for completion in Spring 2025. Designs for the remodeled main building are underway and the university has hired a construction management company.
Thanks to support form the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, we have purchased almost $500,000 in new educational equipment to allow us to relocate and modernize our Unit Operations Laboratory while construction in the main building is underway. We anticipate that the abatement, demolition and remodeling of the main building will commence in late Spring 2025, with the goal of finishing the project by mid-2027. This will result in a new home for chemical engineering that reflects the excellence of our faculty and students’ educational and research endeavors.
Now more than ever, support from our alumni and friends is critical to the success of our faculty and students. Once more, I want to thank you for supporting us in the past and express my hope that you will continue to support us in the future.
Sincerely,
Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D.
Forrest J. Masters, Ph.D.
INTERIM DEAN, HERBERT WERTHEIM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND DEAN’S LEADERSHIP PROFESSOR
Advisory Board Members
V.R. Basker, Ph.D.
Zoe M. Baringara
Christopher J. Birdsall
Dane Boyington, Ph.D.
Sheila Boyington
Eric Bretschneider, Ph.D.
Steven L. Carson
Raymond Anthony Cocco, Ph.D.
Albert D. DaCosta
Michael Dickinson
Mary Beth Jakab
Wayne J. Johnson, Ph.D.
Steven Wayne Johnston, Ph.D.
William K. “Billy” McGrane, Ph.D., MBA
Alex Moreno
Jennifer Schutte
Ada Lang
& Communications Specialist and Magazine Editor
Faculty News & Awards 4-10
Department News 11-15
Student News 16-19
KIRK ZEIGLER RECOGNIZED BY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FOR MENTORING FUTURE CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
By: Ada Lang
Professor Kirk Ziegler, Ph.D. , was selected as a Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/ Mentoring Awardee for the academic year 2023-2024 in recognition of his excellence, innovation and effectiveness in doctoral student advising and mentoring.
Additionally, he received the university-level award from former President Ben Sasse in April. This was not the first time Zeigler received these honors. In 2016-2017, he received the same award at both the college and university levels.
Ziegler’s career at the University of Florida began in Fall 2005, and since then, he has supervised the research of 71 graduate students, including serving as the chair or co-chair of 19 Ph.D. graduates, chair of three master’s graduates, and an additional 49 master’s non-thesis students. His current research group consists of three Ph.D. and two master’s students.
Although Ziegler acknowledges that each student may require a slightly different style of mentorship, he follows some basic tenets starting with establishing a holistic learning experience for them, depending on their long-term goals. For example, if their goal is
an academic position, he has them focus on hypothesis-driven research with an emphasis on writing proposals and allowing them time to teach in the classroom. Whereas a student who wants to focus on industrial work may need mentoring in their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Providing a nurturing environment is important to Ziegler. If a student has a question, Ziegler doesn’t just answer it. He asks follow-up questions to lead them to the answer. This requires more time, but he explains that this is how students truly learn the material and this technique helps them understand the logic used to solve problems.
Ziegler knows that life happens outside of class, and he knows students sometimes need a safe environment to talk about their struggles. By sharing his experiences with his lab, the students feel more comfortable opening up, and over time, these relationships build to the point where some of his former students “could be considered some of my best friends.” Empowering leaders is the last area that Ziegler emphasizes with his graduate students. He pushes them to lead projects, allowing his students to gain self-confidence, as well as problem-solving and analyzing skills. He encourages students to focus their projects on topics that excite them while staying in their research.
Ziegler earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Since joining UF, he has been the recipient of other awards including the Charles A. Stokes Endowed Professorship in Chemical Engineering 2021-2024, the Dow Chemical Group Foundation Professorship in Chemical Engineering in 2018, as well as several other UF accolades.
Ziegler and his research group focus on nanoporous membranes, carbon nanotube separation, electrochemistry, biomedical sensors and energy storage. All these shared research projects and goals have led Ziegler to what he says is the best part of his experience is “the continual interaction that I have been able to maintain with my students after they graduate. Many of them continue to engage with our group after graduation — not for the sake of completing work that they were conducting but to ensure that the next generation of students is successful. I have also embraced my role as a lifetime mentor to my former students.”
THOUGHTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS ...
“When I am struggling with what steps to take with a student in the classroom, or in the research lab, I find myself asking ‘What would Dr. Ziegler do?’ Simply put, Dr. Ziegler continues to have a profound impact on my life acting as a mentor and counselor. As I continue to progress in my own career, Dr. Ziegler serves as a model for the type of mentor I strive to be. I am lucky to have him in my life and am privileged to call him a friend.”
Justin G. Clar, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Chemistry, Elon University
““A quality I greatly appreciate is the compassion that he displays when his students are going through hardship. My life as a Ph.D. student was constantly shaken by personal issues that strained my mental stability and focus.
Certainly, it would have been very difficult to earn a Ph.D., with such high productivity, without having an advisor that served as a stabilizing force whenever personal issues threatened to siphon my focus and energy.”
During my initial meeting with him, I was immediately put at ease by his warm and welcoming nature, which was especially comforting as a new international student at UF. We discussed the various ongoing research projects, and he encouraged me to learn more about them by having his Ph.D. students give me a research lab tour.
This experience solidified my decision to join his lab and conduct research on gold nanoparticle sensors. After spending two years as a master’s student, I chose to continue working with him for my doctoral studies as I enjoyed his mentoring style.”
Aniruddha Kulkarni Doctoral Student Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida
Carlos A. Silvera Batista, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Vanderbilt University
MARK ORAZEM INDUCTED AS AAAS LIFETIME FELLOW
By: Ada Lang
Distinguished Professor Mark Orazem, Ph.D. , was recently named a lifetime fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which has been honoring distinguished scientists, engineers and innovators since 1874. Orazem was one of 12 faculty from the University of Florida elected to the newest class of fellows. His appointment as an AAAS Fellow recognizes his “distinguished contributions to the field of electrochemical engineering, particularly establishing a rigorous foundation for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and advancing its application to complex engineering problems.”
The motto of the Orazem Lab is “electrochemical engineering in service to society,” Orazem said. The cathodic protection models developed in the 1990s by his group were used in the remediation of the trans-Alaska pipeline. More recently, his group developed and patented an electrokinetic method to separate clay from water, an approach that could reduce the environmental impact of phosphate mining in Florida. His method to quantify oxide film thickness is used in industry to qualify raw materials. His group developed and patented a contactless impedance sensor to detect corrosion of post-tensioned tendons in segmentally constructed bridges, such as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near Tampa. His group also developed the science behind the impedance and transient response of glucose sensors used by Medtronic for diabetes management.
His current work includes identifying possible mechanisms for localized corrosion of copper-clad steel containers, proposed for storage of spent nuclear fuel rods. Along with Kevin Otto, Ph.D., formerly of the UF department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Orazem is leading an NIH-funded effort to use ultra-microelectrodes for neural stimulation. While these areas seem very diverse, they are connected by an emphasis on electrochemical engineering fundamentals.
“Orazem is known for his work in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. His coauthored book in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is recognized as the standard in the field. Since 2000, he has delivered over 80 short-courses on the subject for industry, universities and professional societies. With Bernard Tribollet, he is writing a new book to be published by Wiley titled, “Problem Solving in Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: Methods, Data Analysis and Case Studies.”
Since coming to UF in 1988, Orazem has directed 34 doctoral students, and he is currently advising three doctoral students, and co-advising two additional students with Joshua Moon, Ph.D., and Kevin Otto, Ph.D. He is a Fellow of both the Electrochemical Society and the International Society of Electrochemistry, and he served as President of the International Society of Electrochemistry. He received the 2021 Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentor Award and was recognized as a University of Florida Foundation Preeminence Professor. Orazem taught at the University of Virginia before joining UF in 1988. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Kansas State University followed by his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley.
Dr. Orazem is a leader in electro-chemical engineering research and education. He established a rigorous foundation for electro chemical impedance spectroscopy and has educated thousands of students and practitioners on how to use it to solve complex engineering problems.”
Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D. ChE Department Chair and 2022 AAAS Fellow
Mark Orazem, Ph.D., prepping students for an upcoming conference.
RANGA NARAYANAN ISN’T SLOWING DOWN AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS AT UF
By: Ada Lang
Distinguished Professor Ranga Narayanan, Ph.D., has been recognized again for his dedication to higher education. He was recently named the 2023-2024 Teacher/Scholar of the Year at the college level.
Narayanan joined UF in 1981 after spending five years conducting industry research at the Amoco Research Center, in Naperville, Illinois. Since that time, he estimates that he has taught “well over a thousand students over 40 years.” Additionally, he has mentored 33 Ph.D. students and about 20 master’s students.
Narayanan said he is proud of the work his research students have done but a couple of research projects in the area of fluid mechanics make him especially proud. In 2009, “against considerable odds” his research lab received funding for a seven-year fluids mechanics research and training grant for the internationalization of graduate students.
The grant and research team involved about 35 students from three departments at two universities and three countries and it was “a life-changing experience for this young generation of scientists and engineers.”
He was assisted by Jason Butler, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, whose mentoring helped in making the program successful.
During the process of the research, Narayanan also hypothesized that “a particular fluid behavior would occur in microgravity.” He had no experimental evidence of this but having a theoretical understanding of fluid behavior drove the research. He explained that “we were excited and pleased when our predictions proved true with careful experiments on the International Space Station done with collaborative research between UF, NASA and the Japanese Space Agency in Fall 2023.”
With over 16 awards and 40 years of teaching experience, another researcher might decide that it was time to hang up his safety glasses and slide rule, but Narayanan has no intention of retiring. In fact, far from it. He has eight research projects underway and several additional projects under consideration by different agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation. Retirement is not an option.
Ranga Narayanan, Ph.D., during a recent class.
FACULTY RESEARCH AWARDS
RICHARD B. DICKINSON, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to carry on studies about “Collaborative Research: Biomechanics of Epithelial Tissue Homeostasis, Collapse and Eversion.”
The knowledge gained from this study will be valuable to fundamentally understand tissue development as well as controlling the structure of cultured organoids. Thus, this project has broad potential impact on advancing human health, as the findings will be directly relevant to establishing the mechanical principles of tissue organization and development. It is also highly relevant to the biomanufacturing of organoids for drug testing, regenerative medicine or models of disease.
WON TAE CHOI, PH.D., is the principal investigator of a new project supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Research titled, “Development of Key Technologies to Improve Carbon Dioxide Conversion Performance Based on Solar Energy.”
This award will enable Choi’s group to design new materials and devices for photoelectrochemical carbon dioxide conversion. His research will focus on developing catalysts and electrodes that improve carbon dioxide reduction while minimizing unwanted side reactions and ensuring material stability in both acidic conditions and intense light environments. The outcomes of this project could provide valuable insights for creating efficient and industrially viable processes for the sustainable conversion of carbon dioxide into green methane.
HENRY C. CHU, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project supported by the American Chemical Society to carry on studies about “Diffusiophoresis of Particles and Drops in Concentrated Electrolytes.”
In this project, Chu and his group will develop computational models and conduct experiments to understand and predict diffusiophoretic colloid motion across low and high electrolyte concentrations, thereby advancing the understanding of natural phenomena and ability to design technological applications.
ANTHONY LADD, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences, to carry on studies about “Understanding the Effects of ion Transport on Mineral Dissolution Rates Through Pore-Scale Simulations and Experiments.” CHU is the co-principal investigator.
Rocks contain a wide range of pore sizes (empty spaces) and much of what happens in the earth’s subsurface is driven by interactions in these pores between minerals (rocks) with the surrounding water. The transport of ions in the subsurface water impacts areas like environmental cleanup, radioactive contamination of soils, etc. Precipitation of carbonates by pumping supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into brine reservoirs is a key strategy in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. This project aims to study how electrokinetic transport couples with surface reactions to drive larger-scale flows.
RANGA NARAYANAN, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project supported by NASA to study, “Dual Use Technology Development for Measurement of key Thermophysical Properties for Additive Manufacturing Using Electrostatic Levitation.”
Narayanan received support from NASA to work on an additional project titled, “Determining Key Properties for Advanced Manufacturing in Space.”
NASA and other major international space agencies recognize the need for efficient manufacturing in space as part of human sustainability in space. For the past eight years, the Narayanan group, in collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, has conducted research on material property measurements that play a crucial role in space manufacturing. Their work has resulted in experiments aboard the International Space Station, specifically in the Japanese “Kibo” laboratory.
The research focuses on analyzing fluid flow patterns in liquid metals to determine surface tension, a crucial property for 3D printing metals in space. In a recently funded study, the Narayanan group aims to expand this research to include the measurement of viscosity in liquid metals, another vital property for manufacturing processes in space.
JANANI SAMPATH, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project supported by the American Chemical Society to study “Post Aging Performance of Polymer Membranes for Gas Separations From Molecular Dynamics Simulations.”
This award will allow Sampath’s group to improve polymer membranes for gas separation applications, especially those used in the petrochemical sector. Her research will make processes such as olefin/paraffin separations more energy-efficient and sustainable.
SERGEY VASENKOV, PH.D., is the principal investigator of a new NSF-supported project studying “Collaborative Research: Rational Design of Ionene + Ionic Liquid Membranes Based on Understanding gas Transport on Different Length Scales.”
This project focuses on quantification and fundamental understanding of gas transport at micrometer and sub-micrometer length scales in gas separation membranes, which are based on advanced polymers with ionic groups. New knowledge developed in the project will allow for the rational design of such membranes to enable challenging gas separations important for industry and the environment in an energyefficient manner.
Vasenkov is also the principal investigator in another new project supported by ExxonMobil titled, “Diffusion of Gas/Liquid Mixtures in Porous Solids at Elevated Pressures and Temperatures.” The project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the diffusion of twocomponent mixtures consisting of gases dissolved in hydrocarbon liquids under the condition of confinement in nanopores. Such understanding is required for the development and optimization of many applications including heterogeneous catalysis, separation and sensor development for gas detection.
JASON F. WEAVER, PH.D., is the principal investigator in a new project funded by NSF titled, “Bifunctionality of Intermetallic Pd-In/Indium-Oxide Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol,” and his co-principal investigator is HELENA HAGELIN-WEAVER, PH.D.
The aim of this project is to advance the fundamental understanding of catalytic chemistry at metal/metal-oxide interfaces and exploit the bifunctionality of these materials for efficiently converting carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol. Developing catalytic processes to efficiently convert CO2 to chemicals and fuels is essential for mitigating CO2 emissions and enabling technologies that utilize renewable energy.
Weaver also received support from the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences titled, “Alkane Oxidation on Clean and Halogen-Substituted IrO2(110) surfaces.” A major topic of the project is to characterize pathways for alkane oxidation on IrO2 surfaces and determine how to manipulate these pathways via halogen modification of the surface to promote selective conversion of small alkanes to value-added products. The results of this project have potential to guide the design of new catalysts to efficiently convert light alkanes to value-added products, an outcome that could have a transformative impact on the chemical industry and the sustainable utilization of hydrocarbon resources.
More Faculty News
PIYUSH JAIN, PH.D., had an article published in Cell Reports Medicine titled, “Engineering Highly Thermostable Cas12b via de Novo Structural Analyses for One-Pot Detection of Nucleic Acids.” Jain’s laboratory reported an engineered Cas12b with improved thermostability that falls within the optimal temperature range of reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). Using de novo structural analyses, they introduced mutations to wild-type BrCas12b to tighten its hydrophobic cores, thereby enhancing thermostability. The one-pot detection assay utilizing the engineered BrCas12b, called SPLENDID (single-pot LAMP-mediated engineered BrCas12b for nucleic acid detection of infectious diseases), exhibited robust trans-cleavage activity up to 67° C in a one-pot setting. They validated SPLENDID clinically in 80 serum samples for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 66 saliva samples for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) with high specificity and accuracy. They obtained results in as little as 20 minutes and with the extraction process, the entire assay was performed within an hour.
YEONGSEON JANG, PH.D., was a 2023-2024 Attributes of a Gator Engineer Award Winner and received the UF Society of Women Engineers’ Outstanding Support for Women in Engineering Award. Jang was also honored by the Journal of Materials Chemistry B as a “rising star of materials chemistry research in 2023.” This honor highlights early career researchers whose innovative work is poised to significantly impact the fields of materials chemistry, biology and medicine. The recipients are selected by leading experts and celebrated for their pioneering contributions and potential to shape future research directions. The award recognized Jang’s work in bioinspired materials design. Her research group develops sophisticated design and engineering strategies, specializing in the innovative bottom-up construction of artificial cells through the self-assembly of fusion proteins. This includes the creation of polypeptide/protein vesicles, where the focus lies on synthesizing fundamental building blocks and modulating their self-assembly processes, paving the way for diverse applications in the field.
JOSHUA MOON, PH.D., received the 2024 North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Young Membrane Scientist Award. This award is presented to outstanding individuals who are starting their professional careers in membrane science and technology. It is open to Membrane Scientists within 5 years after completion of their Ph.D. degree including post docs, faculty and industrial positions who have not previously received a NAMS Young Membrane Scientist award.
CRISPR TECHNOLOGY: THE FUTURE OF HIV TESTING AND ITS LIFE SAVING POTENTIAL
By: Ada Lang
A new, easy-to-use HIV-detection test kit being developed at the University of Florida using advanced CRISPR technology shows promise as an early-warning alarm system that could save millions of lives.
While at-home test kits have become increasingly common for various health screenings, innovations in HIV testing have been limited. Current HIV tests are effective only several weeks after infection, which could lead to unintentional transmission.
Piyush Jain, Ph.D. , and his team are working toward finalizing their HIV infection-detection method. With results in minutes, the test will help patients receive treatment sooner and potentially lower the amount of virus in their bodies to undetectable levels.
“Our goal is to develop a test kit that is not only highly advanced but also user-friendly, like a reliable alarm that detects potential issues before they escalate,” Jain said. “This research is crucial given the staggering global impact of HIV and the critical need for early detection.”
With 1.3 million new cases of HIV and 630,000 HIV-related deaths reported in 2022 by the World Health Organization, improving and simplifying how the virus is discovered in patients can reduce outbreaks and ultimately the number of deaths caused by HIV, Jain said.
The new CRISPR-based test kit aims to detect HIV RNA levels in patients using a small microfluidic device. The palm-size prototype allows someone to quickly check themselves after possible exposure. It can potentially test and detect results in just minutes.
With further refinement, the self-testing kit could be ready for use within five years in homes, doctor’s offices, community clinics, or in the field at places like homeless shelters or outreach sites.
The research is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded over five years. The NIH provided $1.3 million for the initial three years of development, with an additional $1.5 million available for the next two years of clinical testing.
Jain’s preliminary work on HIV testing has shown promising results, and he noted that the newly funded project aligns with the WHO’s ASSURED criteria for testing: affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid and robust, equipment-free and deliverable to end users.
CRISPR, or Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is an innovative genetic technology that enables scientists to selectively alter the DNA of living organisms in laboratory settings. The technology uses naturally occurring genome editing systems found in bacteria.
Jain, whose background is in pharmaceutical sciences and bio-molecular engineering, has been working on improving CRISPR-based diagnostics and applying it to a range of diseases. He and members of his lab have developed the platform for detecting SARS-CoV-2 and their variants, and hepatitis C.
In this project, Jain is collaborating with experts from across UF, including Hugh Fan, Ph.D., a professor of mechanical aerospace engineering; Gary P. Wang, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine; and Robert Cook, M.D., M.P.H., a professor in the department of epidemiology.
Our goal is to develop a test kit that is not only highly advanced but also user-friendly, like a reliable alarm that detects potential issues before they escalate ... This research is crucial given the staggering global impact of HIV and the critical need for early detection.”
Piyush K. Jain, Ph.D.
Piyush K. Jain, Ph.D.
BUILDING
on our Legacy
Student Center to re-open this spring! And the ChemE building renovations are starting soon.
By: Ada Lang
Construction almost always takes longer to complete than it’s scheduled or hoped for, and the renovation of our Student Center is no different.
The ground-floor concrete floor system had to be removed and re-poured due to cracking and settling attributed to clay sub-soil. The second floor office spaces are about to undergo renovation next, with plans to re-open the building in the spring.
Additionally, the nearly $40 million renovation of the main chemical engineering building will be starting soon, and we have relocated staff, faculty, students and labs to different areas on campus. You may not recogize the building when it’s completed. There will be a large glass atrium-style entry on the North side. The remodeled building will provide updated study spaces, research and teaching laboratories and accessible bathrooms. And we will say goodbye to the freight elevator and a brand new one will be installed.
Keep your eyes open for renderings and news about the renovation, which is expected to run 2-3 years. But it’ll be worth the wait.
The newly remodeled Student Center
When Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D., isn’t working as an assistant professor, she loves spending her free time outdoors and tending to her garden. During these moments, she reflects on the intriguing connections between healthcare, medicine and the natural world, particularly plants and insects. Which led her to study the silk materials that come from the cocoons of silkworms.
Now, she has narrowed her research on an agricultural pest, the pantry moth, aka Indian meal moth or Plodia interpunctella. These tiny, winged creatures are known for creating silk sheets that cover the contents of pantry containers. You may have seen them in your own pantry.
Collaborating with the Florida Museum of Natural History and partnering with the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity, Stoppel and her team of engineering Ph.D. students collect cocoons and silk materials from a diverse range of insects, some from unconventional sources like within a grain silo, or even each other’s pantries.
The team studies the mechanical properties of the sheets of silk they gathered, with a focus on exploring their potential applications, such as creating biomaterials or innovative drug delivery devices.
The first documented use of natural materials in medicine dates to ancient civilizations. The Mayans used motherof-pearl for dental implants, while linen found its place in early Egyptian medicine as sutures. Similarly, the Greeks and Romans turned to spider webs as wound dressings, according to a study at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.
“
What’s great about these materials is that they’re very strong and tough, but they’re natural materials, so they’re easily degradable and your body has a ‘non-negative response’ upon implantation, as opposed to plastics.”
Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D.
When thinking about the potential of these silk fibers, researchers at the Stoppel Lab prioritize the well-being of patients and what surgeons and clinicians need in their work. Silkbased polymeric nanomaterials have emerged as a central focus in drug delivery research, thanks to their simple synthesis, tunable characteristics and responsiveness to stimuli.
Currently, Mari Pacheco, a Ph.D. candidate in the Stoppel lab, leads a project toward developing an artificial oxygen carrier where they utilize purified silk protein to stabilize hemoglobin within nanoparticle materials to improve tissue oxygenation following an injury or disease.
Lauren Eccles, a Ph.D. student on the team, has been working on Plodia’s silk material characterization, such as testing its thermal stability and mechanical properties, since Fall 2022. She said that while documenting and handling many of these delicate materials can be daunting, the flexibility and broad range of fields the training and experience brings is what makes them a highly marketable recruit later. She adds that the collaborative work between engineering and entomology groups has further added to her communication and mentorship skills.
“I think one of the best parts of watching them grow is seeing the shift in their competence as a scientist and a researcher, and their ability to run an experiment and then be able to judge their data and make a decision about what to do next on their own,” Stoppel said of her students.
Stoppel feels that at the same time, one of the most important skills students can learn is communication. “Being able to communicate your scientific findings at a high level, but then also being able to break down those scientific findings, to engage the other people in the room to come to solutions when problems exist is critical,” she stressed.
Another student, Bryce Shirk, who was working on his master’s degree in Entomology and Nematology as a research assistant at the McGuire Center, helped establish the population of a Plodia colony at the Stoppel Lab. Upon joining the lab in the spring of 2021 and beginning his Ph.D. studies, he expanded the colony and studied environmental factors that influence silk production — resulting in an accepted publication.
With Eccles’ help, Shirk is now focusing on genetic modification strategies using CRISPR to create novel silk-like proteins. It is these advancements in modifying native
silk fibers into advanced fibers that hold the key to addressing contemporary and future healthcare challenges.
Shirk feels that his experiences at the lab have helped him “appreciate how we as engineers can take the architecture that nature has evolved and apply it to solve various challenges.” Stoppel’s environment encourages them to utilize their creativity as they problem-solve, he adds.
Additionally, Stoppel’s emphasis on communication has “significantly contributed” to Shirk’s growth as a researcher.
He is now considering starting a company that would apply the novel processes and technologies they have developed.
Although the ingredients in tonight’s silkcovered container won’t likely find their way into Stoppel and her team’s dinner plans, their scientific advancements and innovative ideas are poised to transform pesky pantry moths into the unsung heroes of healthcare.
Keep an eye out for the latest updates from the Stoppel Lab – there’s more buzz to come.
Above: Pantry moth larvae in the lab. Their silk can be seen in the lower right corner of the container. Inset: Close-up of the moths.
Stoppel (second from left) and her students
TOP QUALITY LECTURES
DINESH O. SHAH ANNUAL LECTURER IN SURFACE SCIENCE
Mark R. Prausnitz, Ph.D. , Regents’ Professor, J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Director of the Center for Drug Design, Development and Delivery at the Georgia Institute of Technology was the 2023 Dinesh O. Shah Annual Lecturer in Surface Science.
Prausnitz presented, “Translation of Microneedle Technologies from the lab to the Clinic.” He researches biophysical methods of drug delivery using micro-needles, lasers, ionic liquids, and other microdevices for transdermal, ocular and intracellular delivery of drugs and vaccines.
He has published more than 330 journal articles, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and has co-founded eight startup companies including Micron Biomedical and Clearside Biomedical.
The Dinesh O. Shah Annual Lecture in Surface Science was established in the department by Dinesh O. Shah, Ph.D., because of his strong commitment to the university and the field of surface science. Shah retired in 2005 from UF after a distinguished academic career spanning 35 years.
ENDOWED DISTINGUISHED LECTURER IN FLUID MECHANICS
Roberto Zenit, Ph.D. , Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence at Brown University, was the 2024 Endowed Distinguished Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics. He presented, “Hydrodynamic Instabilities as Tools in Modern Artistic Painting.”
Zenit received his Ph.D. from the Mechanical Engineering Department at Caltech in 1998. After a postdoctoral period at Cornell University, he moved to Mexico City in 2000 to become a faculty member at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), eventually becoming a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a researcher at the Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, both at UNAM.
He is now a Professor of Engineering at Brown University. He is a fellow of the APS, a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Engineering of Mexico. His area of expertise is fluid mechanics; he has worked in a wide variety of subjects including multiphase and granular flows, biological flows, rheology, and more recently, the physics of artistic painting.
Roberto Zenit, Ph.D., (left) and Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D.
Mark Prausnitz, Ph.D.
FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES
Travis J. Anderson, Ph.D., joined the department full-time as a professor this summer. He graduated with a Ph.D. from UF ChE in 2008 and spent 16 years in Washington at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory before coming back to UF.
Jill Boswell joined the department in June 2024 as our newest Fiscal Assistant ll. Boswell previously worked for the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences in Citra, Florida.
Christina Formisano joined the department as a Fiscal Assistant II in August 2022. In March 2024, she moved into the Research Administrator l position. Prior to joining the department, she worked at Drummond Community Bank in the deposit operations department.
Amy Helgeson joined the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering development team in December 2023. She is an ‘06 graduate of UF with a bachelor’s in Health Science Education. Previously, Helgeson was a community director for March of Dimes, followed by 12 years at Autism Speaks, culminating as the executive director.
Ada Lang joined the department as the communications specialist in November 2023. She previously worked as the communications specialist at the University of Florida Transportation Institute within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and at Santa Fe College.
After nearly eight years in the department as a research administrator, Sherri McLeran accepted the position of George A. Smathers Libraries as an Accountant III.
CAN PERSONAL STORIES DRIVE ACADEMIC Success?
EXPLORE VICTOR RIVERA-LLABRES’S PATH (AND FIND OUT WHAT HE DOES TO RELAX)
B y: Ada Lang
Victor Rivera-Llabres, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate, was nominated to be part of an elite group of scientific and academic leaders. On the surface, that’s impressive, but if you dig a little deeper, his rocky path to his goal of academia is truly astounding.
The group is called the NextProf Nexus, and they met at the University of Michigan for a three-day conference that’s part of a nationwide effort to strengthen and diversify the next generation of academic leaders in engineering and help prepare participants for faculty positions in academia, according to their website.
Rivera-Llabres was nominated by Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., department chair, not only because of his academic and research successes in the Rinaldi Lab but also because “I think Victor has an inspiring personal story and he is a phenomenal mentor,” RinaldiRamos explained.
Rivera-Llabres is originally from Puerto Rico and is studying the fabrication of aligned physical porosity in biomaterial scaffolds and their effect on cell migration. In other words, it’s like building a tiny scaffold, but instead of metal, it’s made of sponge-like material with holes arranged in specific patterns — such as in rows. If you had some tiny cells that needed to move around and do a job within this scaffold, you’d need to know how the pattern of the holes affects how the cells move. By observing how the cells move within this “sponge” scaffold, researchers can understand if the structure guides cell movement, akin to following a path, or obstructs it, similar to navigating a maze.
Rivera-Llabres was drawn toward a career in academia since before starting his Ph.D., but along the way, he battled imposter syndrome because his career path is one that “involves the process of being judged for your work.” However, he learned that feeling uncomfortable can be a predecessor to growth.
Rivera-Llabres said he found the NextProf Nexus program particularly beneficial because it helped him realize that others are going through similar struggles. The program exposed his cohort to everything from the academic hiring process to the research, teaching and service efforts that are expected from faculty
members. The program brought in speakers who serve in various academic positions to discuss their careers and offer insights.
But the most helpful part was when the coordinators “got real about their careers,” Rivera-Llabres explained, including their best moments and their moments of self-doubt. As a result, the main point he gleaned from the long weekend was that he just needs to “go for it. That I can become faculty.” He added that your selfdoubts don’t define you; they can be overcome. Despite being under-represented, Rivera-Llabres said he can accomplish great things in this field because of his background and unique experiences.
Rivera-Llabres said a strong work-life balance helped him coexist with his passions for the technical, teaching and mentoring. Balancing the personal and professional was a necessity when confronted with a spate of health issues that might have derailed his college plans.
In 2021, he suffered from multiple health issues “that came pretty much out of nowhere.” A month before his proposal defense, he suffered from stress-induced shingles, which is unusual for someone his age. A few months later, he tested positive for COVID. But intense headaches and neck pain followed, and doctors discovered he had two rotated cervical vertebrae, which was dealt with thanks to chiropractic adjustments.
But that was not all. He started losing control of and sight in his right eye, caused by brain swelling. During an MRI, doctors discovered he was having a stroke from a small blood clot and had a ruptured vein in his brain. Yet he showed no symptoms of a stroke. No memory loss. No coordination or speech problems.
Medicine and months of physical therapy have helped him gain back strength, but due to the brain swelling and pressing on his eyes and optic nerves, he suffered cell death and permanent optic nerve damage. “I lost part of my vision, and there is no cure for it now,” he said.
The experience changed both his mental and physical life. He has had to learn new ways to utilize computers, the phone and other
everyday digital tools. He has had to become adept and comfortable with driving with limited vision.
Despite his struggles, Rivera-Llabres was determined not to let these setbacks define him or prevent him from achieving his goals. To guide his forward movement through life, he adopted three key thoughts:
“I embrace failures and the uncertainty that comes with life.”
“If you know your ‘why’ it does not matter ‘how’ you accomplish it.”
“Understand that sometimes you will not be motivated, but you will have to be self-disciplined to continue to grow and progress toward your goals and ambitions.”
Focusing on these phrases has kept him progressing in his academic career, publishing a journal article and a book chapter. He also focused more on helping others and has mentored 11 undergraduate students, as well as one high school student.
The desire to mentor is one of the key reasons that Rivera-Llabres was attracted to a career in academia, and he feels that mentoring through research is “a way I can contribute to society by shaping the minds of the future as well as providing guidance, experience and help to students who are still developing who they want to be.”
Rivera-Llabres has mastered the slow and steady approach needed to tackle setbacks and obstacles and he is close to achieving his goal of graduation this coming year.
The same approach serves him in his spare time because he also practices the Japanese art of bonsai. This ancient art form involves the cultivation of miniature trees and requires years of patience by pruning and helping shape the branches with wires and encouraging them to grow in a particular way. He has over 30 plants ranging from seedlings to 10-year-old+ plants.
So, it almost sounds like he is referring to his mentees when he says, “I love to see the tree grow in response to how I shape it.”
SPECIMENS FROM VICTOR’S BONSAI COLLECTION
Parrot’s Beak
Juniper
Photos provided by Victor Rivera-Llabres
Juniper
A SUMMER OF OPPORTUNITY
PH.D. STUDENT MAKES THE MOST
OF HER NSF SUMMER INTERNSHIP
Doctoral student, Caroline Lubbe, earned a prestigious internship opportunity at the National Science Foundation (NSF) this summer. Lubbe is supervised by Assistant Professor Sindia RiveraJimenez, Ph.D., from the Department of Engineering Education, who is also an affiliate faculty in ChE. She helped Lubbe navigate through the Talent Development and Innovation in Sciences (TDIS) Summer Internship Program application process and supported her over the summer.
Lubbe’s internship was a 10-week experience that ran from late May through early August of this year. The internship was mostly remote but had an in-person orientation in Washington in May and final presentations there again in August.
During the internship, Lubbe worked with Catalina Achim, a staff associate in the NSF Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS.) “My project for the summer was to analyze the impacts of past MPS funding opportunities aiming to roaden participation in STEM. This project’s goal was similar to my research, which focuses on broadening participation in engineering via the community college transfer pathway,” she said.
During her internship, Lubbe gained insight into government career options for scientists and engineers. She met with employees in the Engineering and STEM Education Dictorates of NSF and discussed career options with them. As a result, “I am
definitely more interested in pursuing a career in policy and government,” she explained.
“These opportunities are crucial for students in my lab as they define their future career steps and identity as disciplinary engineering education researchers,” Rivera-Jimenez said. “I believe this internship with NSF is a compelling testament to the substantial impact our UF engineering graduates can make in research, education and public policy.”
According to the Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network, TDIS is designed to complement students’ academic learning with summer experiences to develop them professionally while instilling an appreciation for innovation in STEM-related programs, NSF-funded projects and STEM careers. It increases student awareness of circumstances that prevent minority students from receiving a quality STEM education. Additionally, it allows them to conduct research to familiarize themselves with NSF programs and strategies to address issues related to underrepresentation in STEM.
“As her academic mentor, I will be supporting Caroline throughout her internship and academic year,” Rivera-Jimenez said. “This involves participating in orientation and final presentations, offering feedback on research reports, and discussing progress and concerns with senior NSF staff.”
By: Brady Budke and Ada Lang
“These opportunities are crucial for students in my lab as they define their future career steps and identity as disciplinary engineering education researchers.
I believe this internship with NSF is a compelling testament to the substantial impact our UF engineering graduates can make in research, education and public policy.”
Sindia Rivera-Jimenez, Ph.D.
OTHER STUDENT NEWS
Third-year Ph.D. candidate, Cynthia Ezah, originally from Nigeria, received UF’s International Student Achievement Award, recognizing her exemplary academic achievements. She was nominated by her Ph.D. mentor, Mark Orazem, Ph.D. Her research focuses on optimizing the performance of microelectrodes and ultramicroelectrodes for brain stimulation, using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique (EIS). She hopes her research will improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals afflicted by brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
Ph.D. candidate, Hsiao-Hsuan (Renee) Wan, her mentor, Fan Ren, Ph.D., as well as researchers at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, in Taiwan, had their paper “High Sensitivity Saliva-Based Biosensor in Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarkers: HER2 and CA15-3” selected as an Editor’s Choice Paper and were published in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. Their hand-held biosensor can detect tiny breast cancer biomarkers from a drop of saliva. Their design is revolutionary due to its simplicity (glucose testing strips and speed of results — in under five seconds.
Caroline Lubbe (left) and Sindia Rivera-Jimenez, Ph.D.
SUCCESS AT AICHE
AIChE Fast Facts:
Orlando, Florida
November 2023
- We received the Outstanding Student Chapter Award.
- We had one of the largest number (57) of undergraduate students attending the Annual Student Conference.
- The ChemE Cube team qualified for the National competition.
ChemE Cube is an AIChE competition (launched in 2020) where undergraduate students design, build and demonstrate a one-cubic foot chemical plant. This year was the second time we participated in the competition and the first time we qualified for the nationals.
2023
AIChE
Undergraduate Student Awards
First Year Student Recognition
Ian Lange
Donald F. Othmer Second Year Student Academic Excellence
Sarah Flannery
LatinXinChe Travel Award and Oral Presentation
Hannah Bagnis (Stoppel Lab)
2023 AIChE Graduate Student Awards
Area 1J Student and Postdoc Poster
Siddharth Sambamoorthy (Dr. Chu)
2023 Women in Engineering Travel
Cynthia Ezah
2023 MAC Eminent Engineers, Poster Competition
Jasmine McTyer, First place
Fluid Mechanics (1J) Poster Competition
Siddharth Sambamoorthy, Third place
2023 Bionanotechnology Graduate Student, Oral
Bo Yu, Third place
Undergraduate Student Awards
Poster CompetitionChemical Engineering Students
Food, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology IV
Axianax Merone, First place
Food, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology X Katelyn Meister, Second place
Materials Engineering and Sciences II
Taskina Jui, Second place
Materials Engineering and Sciences V
Sebastian Montero, Third place
Materials Engineering and Sciences VII
Asha Rao, Third place
Materials Engineering and Sciences XII
Jason Hillman, First place
Separations II
Zoe Reddecliff, Third place
Non-Chemical Engineering Students Doing Research in ChemE Labs
Food, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology IV
Attisun Blackwell (High-school student, Stoppel Lab), Third place
Food, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology IX
Zoe Fang (Microbiology student, Jain Lab), Third place
Excellence in Research (Sophomore/Junior): Katelyn Meister and Lydia Thies. Excellence in Leadership (Sophomore/Junior): Benton Berger and Jason Hillman. Excellence in Service (Sophomore/Junior): Sarah Flannery and Hannah Bagnis. Excellence in Practice (Sophomore/Junior): Irene Chung and Catalina Pike. Fahien Teaching Award: Julia Lopez and Owen Gillen. Biery Scholarship: Joseph Mancini and Patrick O’Sullivan. Research Achievement (Senior): Katelyn Meister. Professional Achievement (Senior): Zoe Reddecliff. Service to the Community (Senior): Irene Chung. Leadership and Service to the Profession (Senior): Alexander Weaver.
Graduate Student Awards
NextProf Nexus 2024 participant: Hansel Montalvo-Castro. Fahien Teaching Award: Calvin Fai and Igin Ignatius. Peer Mentoring Award: Cynthia Ezah, Marisa Pacheo, Taofeek Tejuosho and Conor Waldt. Ph.D. Leadership and Service Excellence Award: Hayden Good and Samantha Martinusen. Ph.D. Research Excellence Award: Jian-Sian Li, Hansel Montalvo-Castro, Santosh Rananaware and Victor Rivera-Llabres. Grace Symposium Oral Presentation Winner: Jooyong Shin and Igin Ignatius. Grace Symposium Poster Presentation Winner: Nikki Kragt, Bornita Deb and Victor Rivera-Llabres. MS Research, Leadership and Service Excellence Award: Manan Rathod and Haochen Zhu.
Just a few of our students at AIChE in Orlando, Florida.
CHE HOSTS OUTSTANDING INVITED SEMINAR SPEAKERS
This year, as part of our invited seminar speakers we featured many of our UF faculty during the Fall 2023 term to expose faculty and students at UF to the breadth of chemical engineering research. External invited speakers were featured in our Spring term seminar series.
FALL 2023 SPEAKERS
Jason E. Butler, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Henry C. W. Chu, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Carl Denard, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Richard Dickinson, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
L. Funkenbusch Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Piyush K. Jain, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
F. Merida, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Hadi Mohammadigoushki, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Josh Moon, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Mark E. Orazem, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Sergey Vasenkov, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Jason Weaver, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
SPRING 2024 SPEAKERS
Kevin Buettner, Ph.D. Exxonmobil
Sujit Datta, Ph.D. Princeton University
Maribella Domenech, Ph.D. University of Puerto Rico
Russell F. Dunn, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University
Geoff Geise, Ph.D. University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Yeongseon Jang, Ph.D. UF Chemical Engineering
Marianthi Lerapetritou, Ph.D. University of Delaware
Tagbo H.R. Niepa, Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University
Mark Prausnitz, Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology
Kevin Soloman, Ph.D. University of Delaware
Ian Wheeldon, Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
Sarah Wilson, Ph.D. University of Kentucky
Roberto Zenit, Ph.D. Brown University
Farzam Zoueshtiagh, Ph.D. University of Virginia
TO THE DEPARTMENT Gifts
We are thankful to all of our donors in July 2023-June 2024. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference and helps advance and improve student experiences at ChE. Your gifts to the Chemical Engineering Excellence Fund support scholarships, fellowships, faculty, and unrestricted support for the department.
We especially want to recognize our major donors (gifts at $500 and above) this year:
Gary Allen
Juan and Zoe Barinaga
Varadharajan Basker
Christopher Birdsall
Eric Bretschneider
Nicole Bristow
Robert Brugman
Steven Carson
Jau-Jiun Chen
William and Tracy Cirioli
Gabino Cuevas
Albert DaCosta
Chand Deepak
Michael Dickinson
Dianne Dlouhy
Madhav Durbha
Frederick Edie
Georgia-Pacific Corp.
Robert Goodmark
George Hayden
Robert Heinle
Lynn Houm
Mary & Scott Jakab
Wayne Johnson
Jatinder Jolly
James Ligon
Nick Katzaras
James Keener
Tyler & Amber Koutney
Agis Kydonieus
Nathan Lee
William McGrane
Thomas Moore
Alex Moreno
William Mounfield III
John O’Connell
Charles Revette
Suresh & Brigitte Pahwa
Kimberley Patterson
Aparna Peethambaram
Kent Probst
Matt Pytosh
James Sandy III
Jay & Yogini Shroff & Family
Jennifer Schutte
Douglas White
CDM Smith
Elizabeth Whitby
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Looking at the accomplishments, progress, and future of the University of Florida Department of Chemical Engineering there is an immense feeling of pride, honor, and inspiration among our students, faculty, staff and alumni. This would not be possible without the generous contributions of our donors fueling the future for our engineers through support of students, programming, student organizations, and faculty.
Being a University of Florida graduate, my blood runs orange and blue much like the Chemical Engineering alumni I meet every day. As a Development Director at the University of Florida, I am honored to learn from alumni what brought them to UF, memorable moments on campus, professors and advisors that left lasting impressions, and how their UF journey shaped and prepared them for their future careers. I have the unique lens of seeing firsthand how philanthropic support of the department impacted them and generations of UF Chemical Engineers.
Every year there is a great need for support, large and small. We are so grateful for the major donors listed above and those who gave throughout the year, especially on Giving Day. Giving back starts with connecting back to UF. Use this annual magazine as the spark to reach out to me and start a conversation about how your giving could impact the department today or leave a lasting legacy for the future.
Amy C. Helgeson (BSHE ‘06) Director of Development
YOU CAN HELP POWER THE NEW ENGINEER! Make an online gift today at che.ufl.edu or use the QR code.
NEWS ALUMNI
Kevin E. Buettner, Ph.D.
In Other News
TWO ALUMNI WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY FORUM (PTF) , PART OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
By: Ada Lang
Kevin E. Buettner, Ph.D., (Ph.D. ‘18)
Kevin E. Buettner, Ph.D., was awarded the SABIC Young Professional Award for outstanding contributions in experimentation, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Discrete Element Method modeling, and industrial scale-up of fluid-particle processes. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 2013 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from UF in 2018. After graduating, he joined the ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co. in a computational role. Currently, he is a lead pilot plant engineer within the Process Innovation and Scale-Up department and oversees a team of over 30 people.
Since joining the company, he has made significant contributions to the process development and scale-up of “new-to-the-world” process technologies focused on complex fluidization systems. This has required the development and expansion of fluidization modeling capabilities to impact reactor design, and the operation of a new pilot plant to validate the reaction and hydrodynamic models required for novel process scale-up.
He currently serves as the co-chair for the PTF’s Area 3B, has over 10 peer-reviewed journal publications, and is an active referee for the AIChE Journal, Chemical Engineering Science and the Powder Technology Forum. Buettner recently presented a seminar at UF titled, “An Industrial Perspective on Lab Safety,” where he discussed strategies ExxonMobil uses in building a safety culture to provide information that is relatable and applicable to current students.
Jihyun Kim, Ph.D., (Ph.D. ‘03) was selected to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK, class of 2024.) Previously, Kim was a student of Fan Ren, Ph.D. He is currently a professor in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at Seoul National University, a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society and a member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea.
After graduation, he interned at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies and did his post-doc work at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, D.C., and was a professor at Korea University.
Jihyun Kim, Ph.D.
Raymond Cocco, Ph.D., (BS ‘82)
Raymond Cocco, Ph.D., was honored with the Elsevier Lifetime Achievement Award for “his innovative technology development focusing on multiphase fluid dynamics and for his outstanding mentorship and service to Particle Technology Forum.”
Cocco gave a talk during the forum titled, “Evolution and Prospects of Scale-Up Tools for Fluidized Bed Technology,” that explored the history and future of fluidized bed technology, which has gained attention for its versatility, efficient heat transfer, and ability to move particles in place. He discussed the evolution of tools for scaling up fluidized bed applications, covering advancements and challenges, as well as tracing their expansion into the chemical, energy, pharmaceutical and materials industries. Finally, he examined the development of scale-up methods, from basic to advanced computational and artificial intelligence approaches.
Cocco earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida in 1982 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Auburn University in 1989. After graduating, he worked at the Dow Chemical Co. for 17 years, where he led research and development efforts in numerous particle technology platforms. That was followed by 16 years as president and CEO of Particulate Solid Research Inc. (PSRI), an international consortium of companies focused on the advancement of technology in multiphase flows with granular and granular-fluid systems.
Cocco is currently the president of Particles in Motion, LLC, a consulting company that focuses on complex granular-fluid hydrodynamics in commercial applications such as fluidized catalytic cracking, biomass gasification, methane and biomass pyrolysis, chemical looping combustion and chemistry, oxychlorination and more.
We’d love to hear how you are doing! New job? New research? New grants? New promotion? New blog? Ace a news interview? Let us know and send photos, too. You can email them to: info@che.ufl.edu. We can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to and boast about it!
