Our alumni Michael Jones, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Scientific Achievement Award by the International System Safety Society (ISSS). This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to system safety through research and development.
Mike has been recognized for his work on the design and development of novel passive propagation resistant (PPR) lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, the integration of PPR Li-ion batteries with Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), and integration of PPR Li-ion powered UUVs with U.S. submarine platforms. This award underscores the global impact of Mike’s work. Last year, the award went to a team of engineers at the Large Hadron Collider in Europe. This year, Mike is being honored as an individual, reflecting his substantial contributions to advancing system safety.
Mike is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rhode Island (URI) while working as an Engineering Task Lead at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport (NUWC). His research is supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is part of the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT), a collaborative effort involving URI, University of Connecticut, the Navy, and other partners.
We are incredibly proud of Mike and the contributions he continues to make in this field. His work is a powerful reminder of how knowledge and innovation can drive real-world impact.
Author: Beykal, Burcu
Assistant Professor in Residence Opportunity
We Are Hiring! The Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering invites applications for a non-tenure track position of Assistant Professor in Residence at the Storrs campus. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact by teaching in both undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as contributing to departmental initiatives.
We are looking for candidates with:
- Established record of accomplishment in teaching
- Expertise in core courses such as thermodynamics, kinetics, and/or transport phenomena
- Familiarity with computation and theory within chemical engineering
- A strong commitment to professional service and outreach
If you’re passionate about fostering a dynamic, inclusive learning environment and advancing chemical engineering education, we encourage you to apply!
To learn more and apply, visit: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/967/cw/en-us/job/498708/assistant-professor-in-residence
Cho Awarded $500,000 for Groundbreaking Neurodegenerative Disease Research at Tauopathy Challenge Workshop
We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Yongku Cho and his collaborator Dr. Jesse Rinehart from Yale University School of Medicine have been awarded $500,000 at the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop to investigate post-translational modifications in tau protein aggregates. These chemical changes, found in patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Frontotemporal Dementias (FTDs), may increase tau aggregation and toxicity, both of which are critical contributors to these neurodegenerative diseases.
Funded by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, CurePSP, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Aging Mind Foundation, the workshop took place in Chicago, bringing together leading neuroscience researchers from around the world to address critical knowledge gaps in tau pathology and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. With no current treatments available for PSP and FTDs—both of which severely impact quality of life—collaborative research like this is essential in advancing our understanding and treatment of these conditions.
Dr. Cho and Dr. Rinehart’s research will explore whether specific chemical changes in tau proteins make them more prone to aggregation and toxicity, a hypothesis that has yet to be conclusively tested. If successful, their findings could open new avenues for treatments, offering hope to those affected by these debilitating diseases.
Read more on the Rainwater Charitable Foundation.
Adjunct Faculty Opportunity Spring 2025 – Heat and Mass Transfer Course
We Are Hiring! The Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at University of Connecticut is seeking a qualified instructor to join us as Adjunct Faculty for Spring 2025! We are looking for an instructor to teach CHEG 3124: Heat and Mass Transfer (3 credits) at our Storrs campus. This is a great opportunity to share your expertise with our undergraduate students. If you’re passionate about teaching and fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, we encourage you to apply!
To apply and learn more, visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/adjunct-faculty-opportunities/
Nicole Beauregard Awarded the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Graduate Student Fellowship
We are thrilled to announce that our graduate student, Nicole Beauregard, has been awarded the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Graduate Student Fellowship. She will be working on integrating machine learning with evolutionary algorithms for the rapid discovery of high-performing metal-organic frameworks for gas adsorption.
Nicole also recently won the Faculty Choice Award for Best Student Talk at the 4th Women in STEM Frontiers in Research Expo (WiSFiRE) at University of Connecticut.
We are incredibly proud of Nicole’s achievements and look forward to seeing the impact of her work.
Read more on the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium.
2024 Teaching Fellow Announced
We are proud to announce Britney Russell as the 2024 Teaching Fellow of our Department! She will have the exciting opportunity to develop innovative teaching materials and course formats that will enhance our undergraduate core curriculum.
We are confident that her accomplishment marks the beginning of a journey filled with even greater achievements ahead.
2024 Research Excellence Awards Announced
We are proud to announce Hasan Nikkhah, Laron Burrows, and Henry Sokol as the winners of the 2024 Research Excellence Awards! Their pioneering research and unwavering commitment to scientific advancement have earned them this well-deserved recognition.
Well done to our graduate students, whose accomplishments mark the beginning of a journey filled with even greater achievements ahead.
Valla Accepts Two New Positions with UConn and the USDA
Congratulations to Professor Julia Valla on accepting two new positions!
Prof. Valla has joined USDA-NIFA as a Special Advisor Panel Manager and UConn College of Engineering as the Director of Graduate Studies Programs. In her new roles, she will facilitate the review panels for Partnership, SEED, and Standard proposals and enhance graduate student recruitment and engagement. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will bring to these roles.
Read more on UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering News.
Bollas Appointed as the New Associate Dean of Research for the College of Engineering
Warmest congratulations to Professor George Bollas on his appointment as the next Associate Dean of Research for the College of Engineering. Dr. Bollas currently serves as the Pratt & Whitney Endowed Chair Professor in Advanced Systems Engineering and the Director of the Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering at UConn.
Dr. Bollas earned his BS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. His research spans energy technology, process systems engineering, and model-based systems engineering, focusing on optimizing cyber-physical systems crucial for the energy, chemical, and aerospace industries.
Under his leadership, the Pratt & Whitney Institute secured over $60M in research funding and doubled industry partner participation, enhancing educational programs that blend academic rigor with practical applications. His accolades include the NSF CAREER Award and the ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award, and he was elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2020.
We are confident that Dr. Bollas’s forward-thinking approach and established leadership will significantly boost our research capabilities and academic achievements.
Shor Appointed as the New Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Warmest congratulations to Professor Leslie Shor on her appointment as the next Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Shor, a Centennial Term Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has been a valued member of the UConn community for nearly 15 years. She will be joining the Provost’s Office from the College of Engineering, where she has served for five years as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. In this role, Dr. Shor has significantly increased PhD applications and external research funding while expanding professional development opportunities and support for graduate students and faculty.
Dr. Shor earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Chemistry from the University of Virginia. Her leadership has been pivotal in creating initiatives that bridge various disciplines, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances both educational quality and research innovation.
We look forward to the continued growth and success of our graduate programs under Dr. Shor’s leadership.
Read the Official Announcement from the Office of the Provost.