Faculty

Water Research Foundation Awards Top Honor to McCutcheon

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The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has honored Professor Jeff McCutcheon with its top recognition: the Paul L. Busch Award. Dr. McCutcheon and his lab have developed a groundbreaking additive manufacturing approach to produce thin-film water treatment membranes. This method, based on electrohydrodynamic spray processing, enables customization of membrane chemistry and performance—capabilities that traditional manufacturing techniques cannot achieve.

The Paul L. Busch Award celebrates individuals conducting innovative research in water quality and the water environment, focusing on those who transform discoveries into practical solutions. Dr. McCutcheon’s work represents a bold step forward in addressing complex water contamination challenges through tailored, next-generation membrane technology.

Read more on UConn Today and the Water Research Foundation Press Release.

 

Laurencin Presents at Dreyfus Foundation’s 2024 Teacher-Scholar Symposium

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We are thrilled to celebrate Professor Cato Laurencin, who presented a lecture on regenerative engineering at the Dreyfus Foundation’s 2024 Teacher-Scholar Symposium. As a pioneer of this field, Dr. Laurencin holds the unique distinction of being the first surgeon-scientist elected to all four National Academies: Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and Inventors.

He is an expert in biomaterials science, stem cell technology and nanotechnology and was named one of the 100 Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He received the Founder’s Award (highest award) from the Society for Biomaterials, the Von Hippel Award (highest award) from the Materials Research Society and the James Bailey Award (highest award) from the Society for Biological Engineering. He received the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, NIH’s highest and most prestigious research award, for his new field of Regenerative Engineering and the National Science Foundation’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Grant Award. Dr. Laurencin is the Editor-in-Chief of Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine and is the Founder of the Regenerative Engineering Society. He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, a Fellow of the Materials Research Society and a AAAS Fellow. The American Association for the Advancement of Science awarded Dr. Laurencin the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize given ‘for signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States’.

Read more about Dr. Laurencin’s talk on UConn Today.

Burkey Elected as American Institute of Chemical Engineers Fellow

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Congratulations to Professor Dan Burkey on being elected as an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Fellow — AIChE’s highest grade of membership, achieved only through election by the AIChE Board of Directors. This prestigious recognition highlights Dr. Burkey’s long-term excellence in chemical engineering, impactful service to the profession, and dedication to advancing education and diversity.

Over the years, Dr. Burkey has made remarkable contributions, including:

  • Research: Innovating in game-based education for process safety and engineering ethics, with 50+ publications and numerous awards, including the 2020 AIChE Education Division Innovation Award, the 2022 William H. Corcoran Award from the Chemical Engineering Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and the 2023 David Himmelblau Award for Innovations in Computer-Based Chemical Engineering Education of the AIChE Computing & Systems Technology Division.
  • Education Leadership: Growing UConn College of Engineering enrollment to nearly 4,000 students, tripling female enrollment, and developing transformative programs like the Undergraduate Teaching, Mentoring, and Leadership Program and a new Ph.D. in Engineering Education. 
  • Service: Spearheading the AIChE Education Division’s Future Faculty Mentoring Program, which has supported 200+ mentees and placed alumni in faculty roles at over 50 institutions worldwide.

Dr. Burkey’s leadership and commitment to engineering education have made a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the chemical engineering profession. We are honored to celebrate this incredible achievement and thanking Dr. Burkey for his continued efforts to inspire and elevate the next generation of engineers.

Read more on UConn Today.

Burke Appointed Head of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department

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Kelly Burke '05 (ENG)Congratulations to Professor Kelly Burke on their appointment as our new Head of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department!

Prof. Burke brings a wealth of experience and vision to this role, aiming to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and continue advancing our department’s legacy of excellence in research and education.

We look forward to seeing how her leadership shapes the future of our field and inspires the next generation of chemical engineers.

Read more about Prof. Burke’s journey at UConn Today.

Cho Awarded $500,000 for Groundbreaking Neurodegenerative Disease Research at Tauopathy Challenge Workshop

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Young ChoWe’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.

Valla Accepts Two New Positions with UConn and the USDA

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Ioulia A. VallaCongratulations 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

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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

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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.

Laurencin Inducted at the Plastics Hall of Fame Ceremony

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Warmest congratulations to Professor Cato Laurencin on his remarkable achievement of being inducted into the prestigious Plastics Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes his pioneering contributions to the field of regenerative engineering, where he has revolutionized the use of polymeric materials in developing cutting-edge medical devices, biologics, and pharmaceuticals. Prof. Laurencin’s groundbreaking work has transcended traditional boundaries, improving the lives of countless individuals worldwide.

Prof. Laurencin’s remarkable achievements have garnered significant acclaim, including the prestigious National Institute of Health Director’s Pioneer Research Grant Award and the National Science Foundation’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Award. His innovative use of polymeric materials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and other medical applications has established him as a leader in the field. Prof. Laurencin is also the first engineer-scientist-surgeon to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Read more on UConn Today.

McCutcheon Awarded the Inaugural North American Membrane Society Permeance Prize

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Warmest congratulations to Professor Jeffrey McCutcheon for being selected as the recipient of the inaugural North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Permeance Prize! This prestigious award recognizes mid-career faculty for their exceptional contributions to the field of membrane science and technology. 

Read more on Professor McCutcheon’s journey on UConn Today.