News

Zhou to Lead Clean Energy Engineering Efforts at UConn

Posted on by

Xiao-Dong Zhou We are thrilled to introduce and welcome Professor Xiao-Dong Zhou to our academic family as he takes on a pivotal role in leading our clean energy engineering efforts. As a UConn Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Faculty, Dr. Zhou will also serve as the Director of the UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2), a special advisor on sustainable energies to President Radenka Maric and Vice President for Research Pamir Alpay, the Nicholas E. Madonna Endowed Chair in Sustainability, and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Professor in Sustainable Energy. He will also hold joint appointments in the Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering departments.

Dr. Zhou comes to UConn from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) where he served as the Stuller Endowed Chair in the Chemical Engineering Department and the director of the Institute for Materials Research and Innovations. In 2021, the Electrochemical Society named Zhou a Fellow for his efforts in clean energy innovations. Since 2017, Zhou has secured more than $23 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Energy. Prior to UL Lafayette, Zhou worked as a professor of chemical engineering at the University of South Carolina where he was honored the prestigious J. Bruce Wagner, Jr. Young Investigator Award for demonstrating exceptional promise in the field of high-temperature energy, materials, and processes. 

For an in-depth look at Dr. Zhou’s remarkable journey and his vision for clean energy, check out the full UConn Today article here.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Zhou as he embarks on this exciting chapter of his career. His leadership and dedication will undoubtedly inspire our students and faculty, propelling us to new heights in the pursuit of knowledge and sustainable innovation.

Prof. Dan Burkey and Colleagues Win Himmelblau Award from AIChE

Posted on by

Dan Burkey PhotoProf. Daniel Burkey, Ph.D., M.A.Ed. has been selected as one of the winners of the prestigious David Himmelblau Award for Innovations in Computer-Based Chemical Engineering Education, sponsored by the Computing and Systems Technology Division (CAST) of AIChE.

Together with colleagues Cheryl Bodnar (Rowan University), Daniel Anastasio (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) and Matt Cooper (NC State University), Burkey is being recognized for his contributions to Contents Under Pressure, a digital immersive game that allows students to take on the role of a supervisor at a chemical production facility.

Contents Under Pressure gives students the opportunity to make decisions in a chemical plant that affect things like safety, productivity, and their own reputation and standing with their colleagues at the plant. The ultimate goal of the game is to get students to recognize the complexity of process safety judgements under realistic, real-world constraints and hopefully help them make better decisions as practicing engineers.

Contents Under Pressure was developed by the research team with funding from the National Science Foundation and in collaboration with educational games designer Filament Games. In addition to the Himmelblau award in 2023, Contents Under Pressure was also recognized at the 2022 International Serious Play Awards as a Silver Medalist.

Burkey and the rest of the team will accept the award at the CAST Division Dinner, to be held at the AIChE Annual Meeting in Orlando in November.

In addition to the 2023 Himmelblau Award, Prof. Burkey is also the recipient of the 2021 Corcoran Award from the Chemical Engineering Division of ASEE and the 2020 Award for Innovation in Chemical Engineering Education from the AICHE Education Division. He currently serves as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in the School of Engineering, and is a 2020 Inductee into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and a 2019 University Teaching Fellow.

Ozkan to Lead Engineering Education and Experimental Learning Initiative at UConn

Posted on by

Desen Ozkan recognizes that engineering is traditionally thought of as using math and science to solve problems in the world.

But what is missing from this definition—and the engineering curriculum—she says, are the contexts in which engineers interact in a world of political, social, and economic consequences.

“When engineering is portrayed as a field that encompasses various contexts and is influenced by social and technological factors, it can have a positive impact on the individuals who choose to pursue a career in engineering,” she said. “If engineers fail to consider the social and political aspects surrounding their work, they may unintentionally contribute to existing problems and inequalities.”

Ozkan, a new tenure-track assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering (CBE), will join the University of Connecticut’s School of Engineering next fall. In addition to her own CBE scholarship and instruction, in the future, Ozkan will develop a preliminary curriculum for new initiatives in engineering education and experiential learning.

Read More @ Engineering News

desen ozkan

Celebrating Our Outstanding Graduate Students

Posted on by
The Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department would like to congratulate our graduate students on winning the 2023 Research Excellence, Travel, and Teaching Assistant Awards! Congratultions to all the winners! CBE Travel Award Recipients: Utsav Awasthi, Zahir Aghayev, Heejeong Ryu, Dorian Thompson, Chung-Hao Liu. CBE TA Award Recipients: Steven Tricarico, Dimitri Alston, Hasan Nikkhah. CBE Research Excellence Award Recipients: Heejeong Ryu, Utsav Awasthi, Robert Gottlieb. These students' achievements serve as an inspiration to fellow graduate students and demonstrate the incredible potential of our academic community.

Congratulations to Dr. Burcu Beykal

Posted on by
burcu-beykal
The Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department would like to congratulate CBE faculty member, Dr. Burcu Beykal on being invited to give a keynote speech at the Foundations of Computer Aided Process Design (FOCAPD) 2024 conference, which is one of the leading conference series in the field of chemical process design. For more information on FOCAPD 2024, please click here.

CBE Students Among Clean Energy & Sustainability Innovation Program Finalists

Posted on by
aerial view of UConn's campus
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering students, Hasan Nikkhah and Dev Barochia, in collaboration with Francesco Rouhana from UConn Civil and Environmental Engineering, have been selected as finalists in the Clean Energy & Sustainability Innovation Program. Their project, "Social and technical remedies for sustainable UConn using renewable energy sources", has set them apart as true champions of change! This prestigious program, organized by the UConn School of Engineering CLEANEARTH Laboratory, and sponsored by Eversource Energy and the Eversource Energy Center at UConn, recognizes their exciting idea for advancing clean energy and sustainability. Their project highlights the importance of leveraging renewable energy sources and implementing social and technical solutions for sustainable practices at our institution. The full list of program finalists can be found here.

Celebrating a Phenomenal Graduate

Posted on by
photo of student, Shihao Zhai
As a McNair Scholar and Honors Chemical Engineering student, Shihao Zhai has exemplified the highest standards of scholarship and commitment to the field. Throughout his undergraduate years, Shihao's contributions to our department and the broader community have been invaluable. As he embarks on the next phase of his career, we wish him continued success, growth, and fulfillment. Click here to check out the UConn Today article highlighting this phenomenal graduate.

First SPARK Cohort Reports Significant Advancements

Posted on by
Professor Luyi Sun stands in front of a marker board while presenting at SPARK funding program event
The first cohort to receive the SPARK funding has reported significant advancements in their products and concepts. UConn CBE Professor Luyi Sun, a researcher of high-performance nanocoatings, was among the recipients of this funding. It's inspiring to see how this funding has helped to accelerate the developent of cutting-edge technologies. Congratulations to all recipients! To read more about this funding program, click here.

Dr. Laurencin Leads Charge In Quest to Restore Lost Limbs

Posted on by
Cato Laurencin
World-renowned surgeon and scientist, Dr. Cato Laurencin, has founded a new startup to help humans regrow limbs. With over 30 years of experience in the field of regenerative engineering, Dr. Laurencin is leading the charge in developing cutting-edge technologies to restore lost limbs and enhance the body's natural healing abilities. We are thrilled to see such groundbreaking research taking place right here in the UConn Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department! To read more about this research, please click here.

The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering

Posted on by
Dr. Laurencin speaks at opening of Institute
The University of Connecticut has established The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a new cross-campus institute focused on innovative approaches in medicine, science, engineering, and technology. We are thrilled that this new institute is named in honor of Cato T. Laurnecin, our distinguished professor in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and a leading figure in the field of regnerative engineering. Congratulations to Professor Laurnecin on this exciting new venture! To read more about the institute and Dr. Laurencin's research in regenerative engineering, click here.