SPRING 2008 COLUMNS CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING A. JAMES CLARK SCHOOL of ENGINEERING

www.chbe.umd.edu

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the Department of ChBE Welcomes 3 New Faculty Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland. The Department of Chemical and Genetics at the University of California, Los Biomolecular Engineering is pleased to Angeles (UCLA), where he was involved with welcome its newest faculty members: Drs. metabolic investigations of glycerol kinase Jeffery Klauda, Ganesh Sriram, and deficiency, an inherited human disease. His Chunsheng Wang. All three have been primary research interests are in systems biology IN this issue: appointed as assistant professors. Klauda and and metabolic engineering, including metabolic Wang joined the Clark School in Fall 2007, networks, regulatory networks, and fuel 2 CHAIR’S Message while Sriram joined us in Spring 2008. production from biorenewable resources. 3 EDUCATION Professor and Chair F. Joseph Schork Wang was previously an assistant News is excited about the faculty’s growth. “These professor at the Center for Manufacturing 4 Faculty News hires will allow the department to address Research, part of the some of the critical research areas in chemical Department of Chemical 6 rESEArch Feature and biomolecular engineering today: Engineering at Tennessee biomolecular engineering, nanotechnology, Technological University. He 7 STUDENT NEWS and energy.” received his Ph.D. in materials 9 Alumni News Klauda received his Ph.D. in chemical science and engineering from engineering from the University of Delaware Zhejiang University, China, 11 rECENT Dissertations in 2003. Before coming to Maryland, he in 1995. His research interests was an Intramural Research Training Award include energy conversion 12 great Expectations (IRTA) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Laboratory for fuel cells; energy storage JEFFERY KLAUDA of Computational Biology at the National systems such as rechargeable Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National batteries, supercapacitors Institutes of Health (NIH), where he studied and hydrogen storage; lipid forcefield improvements and dynamical sensors; electrochemistry; and behavior of membranes; transport of sugars nanostructured materials. Dr. through the cell membrane via proteins, and Wang is also a member of the enhanced sampling of beta-haripin protein University of Maryland Energy folding. His research interests include cell Research Center (UMERC),

membrane biophysics, thermodynamics, and a multidisciplinary initiative GANESH SRIRAM molecular simulations. dedicated to advancing the Sriram received his Ph.D. in chemical frontiers of energy science and engineering from Iowa State University in technology, with a special focus 2004, then held a postdoctoral position on forward-looking approaches with the Departments of Chemical and for alternative energy Biomolecular Engineering and Human generation and storage.

CHUNSHENG WANG chair’sMESSAGE Last year in this column, with new graduate oped an experiment I said that 2006-07 was a students, writing based on a fuel cell. In significant year for The proposals and teaching his short time here he Department of Chemical a course in statistics and has already secured and Biomolecular experimental design. outside funding for Engineering at The his research work, and University of Maryland. Dr. Ganesh Sriram joined organized a workshop us in January after a on Soldier-Portable It was my first year here, and it postdoc at UCLA with Power Systems for the seemed like things were changing Professors James Liao and F. JOSEPH SCHORK Army Research Office. so very fast. More likely, all years in Katrina M. Dipple. His Ph.D. the life of an academic department is in chemical engineering from Iowa As I reported last year, we are very are significant. Certainly 2007-08 State, where he worked with Professor excited that T.K. “Patrick” Sung was for ChBE. Things are still Jacqueline V. Shanks. We successfully (M.S. ’69 and Ph.D. ’72, chemical changing fast, perhaps even faster competed with a number of other engineering) and his wife, Marguerite than last year. Or maybe I’m just universities in order to recruit him to (B.S. ’70, mathematics), have getting older! UMD. Their loss is our gain! His research pledged $1.5 million to the Clark work is in the area of metabolic School to establish two endowed I have gotten over the feeling of engineering. He is in the midst of professorships in chemical and walking in on the middle of the setting up his laboratory and working biomolecular engineering, “The Patrick movie. I have learned most of the with new graduate students , and and Marguerite Sung Professorship procedures, and know who to will begin teaching next Fall. in Chemical Engineering” and contact and when. I have definitely “The Patrick and Marguerite Sung stopped saying, “Well at Georgia Dr. Klauda, Dr. Sriram and I were hired Distinguished Professorship in Tech we…” My heartfelt thanks to to replace those of our colleagues Chemical Engineering.” The first will our faculty and staff for training me. who left for the newly-formed Fis- be fully funded in early 2009, and chell Department of Bioengineering. we will soon establish a committee So what is new this year in ChBE and Our last new faculty member came to to select who will hold the position. the Clark School of Engineering? us via another route. The University Current thinking is that the first 2 Dean Nariman Farvardin is now and particularly The Clark School are Professorship will be awarded Provost Farvardin, and we are in establishing the University of Maryland internally, while the second will be the midst of a search for a new Energy Research Center (UMERC). used for an outside hire. dean. While we all miss Nariman’s This center will build on existing incredible energy and vision, we are strengths at UMD in energy-related One of the things we are most proud glad he is able to put these gifts to fields, and position us to tackle the of is our recent track record in placing work for the University as a whole. problems facing the world as we seek our Ph.D.s in academic positions. Each Meanwhile, Professor Herb Rabin new and cleaner sources of energy. year over the past nine years, at least is serving as interim dean for the At its founding, the Center had four one of our former Ph.D.s has entered second time in his career. openings for new faculty, two at the a tenure-track academic position. This senior level, and two at the junior level. is a remarkable achievement for a The big news in the Department A college-wide search committee has department of our size. is that we have hired three new been formed to fill these openings. I assistant professors. You can read am very happy to report that the first After a year and a half at UMD, about them in our cover story, but I hire for UMERC is our third new pro- I am even more excited about have to say more about them here fessor, Dr. Chunsheng Wang. Dr. Wang our prospects. We have a great because I am so very excited that received his Ph.D. in materials science department in a really great college. If we were able to recruit them. Dr. and engineering from Zhejiang Uni- we can leverage the momentum of the Jeffery Klauda joined us in August versity, one of the foremost Chinese Clark School, we can be even better in after a postdoc at The National universities in science and engineer- the future. Please help in any way you Institutes of Health. His Ph.D. is in ing. He has a reputation for significant can or consider a donation to the Great chemical engineering with Professor contributions in the area of electro- Expectations campaign (see p. 12). Stan Sandler at The University of chemical engineering, and specifically Delaware. We were able to convince in fuel cell and battery applications. I would love to hear from you. him to choose UMD over other He comes to us from a faculty position opportunities. His research work will at Tennessee Technological University focus on molecular and mesoscale in Cookeville, Tennessee. Since join- simulation as it relates to both cell ing the faculty in August, he has been busy setting up his research laboratory biophysics, and energy production Joe and storage. He is busy building and teaching the Chemical Engineer- his computational cluster, working ing Laboratory course, where he devel-

COLUMNS  Spring 2008 educationNEWS

ChBE Undergraduate Engineering Analysis) will be moved Processes Curriculum Changes to the second semester, renumbered as III, currently CHBE101, and renamed Introduction offered in Kyu Yong Choi, Professor and Associate Chair, to Chemical and Biomolecular the first Undergraduate Program Engineering. semester) will be exchanged. The ChBE undergraduate curriculum will be • Sophomore Year: ENCH300 (Chemical A technical modernized and realigned beginning in Fall Process Thermodynamics) will be elective will 2009. The curriculum changes are motivated renumbered as CHBE301 and moved to KYU YONG CHOI the first semester. ENCH400 (Chemical be required in the by the significant movement of the chemical second semester. engineering profession into the realm of Engineering Thermodynamics) will be biological science and engineering. Chemical renumbered as CHBE302 and moved to • Senior Year: ENCH442 (Chemical the second semester. Course names will Engineering Systems Analysis) will be engineering has been traditionally based on change slightly. moved to the first semester. chemistry, physics, and mathematics, but biology is rapidly becoming a core science • Junior Year: CHEM482 (Physical A transition plan has been developed for Chemistry II) will be removed as a for the field. The new ChBE curriculum will moving to the new curriculum starting requirement and become a senior better prepare our students for the scientific in Fall 2009. Freshmen in Fall 2009 will elective. BCHM463 (Biochemistry and technological challenges of the future. enter under the new curriculum, while of Physiology) or BCHM461 Highlights of the proposed curriculum sophomores, juniors and seniors in Fall 2009 (Biochemistry I) will be added as a changes are as follows: will continue on the current curriculum to requirement and removed from the list graduation. Sophomores may petition to • The name of the undergraduate degree of electives. BCHM462 (Biochemistry awarded by the Department will be II) will be a required elective for those join the new curriculum, subject to all of its changed from Chemical Engineering opting to take BCHM461. Students requirements. During the transition, some to Chemical and Biomolecular may choose to take ENMA300 courses will be offered twice during one year. Engineering (Requires Campus Senate (Introduction to Materials and Any students–incoming or current– 3 approval). Their Applications) or ENMA425 who have questions about the transition may contact Professor Kyu Yong Choi • The code for course listings will be (Introduction to Biomaterials; also ([email protected]), Professor Richard V. changed from ENCH to CHBE. offered as BIOE453). The order of ENCH440 (Chemical Engineering Calabrese ([email protected]), or Professor and • Freshman Year: ENES102 (Statics) will Kinetics, currently offered in the second Chair F. Joseph Schork ([email protected]). be replaced with BIOE120 (Biology semester) and ENCH426 (Transport for Engineers). ENCH215 (Chemical

University, Clark School The Clark School is ranked No. 6 among public universities in its listing of top continue Strong showing among The Princeton Review’s first listing of graduate engineering schools in the U.S. in Rankings the Top 20 Graduate Engineering Programs. for 2009. Programs were ranked using a combination The Clark School maintained its The University of Maryland jumped of quantitative criteria, including GRE place as 13th among engineering schools from No. 111 to No. 79 in a ranking of scores, undergraduate GPA, percentage of worldwide according to the Institute of universities around the world published by applicants accepted and percentage of top Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong The Times Higher Education Supplement. undergraduates applying. The Princeton University in China. In The Times Higher QS World University Review also named the University of Rankings 2007, the campus is ranked No. Maryland a “Best Value College.” 7 among U.S. flagship campuses, No. 11 U.S. News & World Report ranked the among U.S. public colleges and No. 30 Clark School 17th in the nation and 11th among all U.S. colleges.

A. James Clark School of Engineering  Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology facultyNEWS

Sengers Tours Europe as High-shear mixing, which produces and chemical process operators—he and Invited Lecturer, Visiting emulsions (mixtures of usually unblendable his colleagues have spent years developing Professor substances) and dispersions (evenly- computational fluid dynamics software and distributed particles within a medium), methodologies that mixing vendors and Distinguished University Professor is used to create many products we end users can use optimize their equipment, Emeritus Jan V. Sengers spent his Fall use every day, including salad dressing, production and products at any scale. If 2007 semester in Europe as a visiting paint, cosmetics, butter, and toothpaste. successful, the group’s work will result in professor and invited lecturer. Sengers Although all of these items have long been reductions of the time, consumption of stayed in Madrid, Spain, where he served manufactured commercially, there has been materials, and equipment wear typically as a Visiting Professor in Applied Physics less understanding of how to control the associated with the repeated testing a high- at the Complutense University of Madrid mixing process and predict the outcome. shear mixing system can require. So far, until the end of the year. Throughout the Complex material behavior and interactions, Calabrese told CEP, the results are promising. semester he traveled throughout Spain, numerous variables, and inconsistent results The consortium is currently developing new France, and Germany for invited lectures, when scaling a project from a lab to a factory experimental techniques for measuring flow including “Critical Dynamics in Polymer setting make repeated testing a necessity and fields and droplet sizes that will allow it to Solutions” at the Annual Meeting of lead engineers and operators to rely validate its models. the Royal Spanish Physical Society, in on experience and Granada, Spain; “Mesoscopic Fluctuations instinct. Quantifying in Nonequilibrium Fluids” at a conference a result that on Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics reflects the more in Sevilla, Spain; “Computer Simulations subjective qualities of Critical Dynamics” at a symposium at of a product, such the University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain; as “creaminess” or “Thermal Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium “spreadability”, can Thermodynamics” at a workshop on 4 be a challenge. Statistical Physics of Systems out of In the CEP Equilibrium at the Institut Henri Poincaré, article, Calabrese Paris, France; and “Computer Simulations describes these of Critical Dynamics in Fluids” at a issues, as well as Symposium in memory of UMD Professor his research group’s Richard A. Ferrell on Strongly Interacting efforts to address Systems: Past, Present, and Future, at the them by creating Max-Planck Institut für Physik Komplexer mathematical Systeme in Dresden, Germany. models that can Calabrese Group Featured in accurately predict CEP High-Shear Mixing Story the behavior of materials processed Department of Chemical and Biomolecular by high-shear Engineering Professor Richard Calabrese mixing equipment. was one of several high-shear mixing As the director One of Calabrese’s models. Velocity vectors (red=highest; experts consulted for a feature story in blue=lowest) are shown in a rotor and stator slot (a) of the university’s the November 2007 issue of Chemical measured in a turbulent water flow, via 2-D Particle High Shear Image Velocimetry, as the rotor passes the stator. The Engineering Progress (CEP), the flagship stator slot flow field contains an outwardly directed Mixing Research publication of the American Institute of discharge jet that forms when the rotor drags fluid Program—a toward the downstream stator tooth. This induces low Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He discussed pressure which results in fluid re-entrainment near the 15-member his work in advanced simulation of rotor- upstream stator tooth (b, c, d). Tangential velocities consortium in the rotor slot are high relative to those in the stator mixers, including the development of recirculation region of the stator slot (c). The resulting including equipment the computational fluid dynamics software velocity gradients create a shear layer with deformation manufacturers, rates that are more than twice the nominal shear rate that drives it. reported by vendors. Thus, fluid does not need to pass software developers, through the gap between the rotor and stator teeth to experience high shear. Within the shear layer, an opening vortex forms (b, c) and eventually merges with a rotor

tip vortex (d). COLUMNS  Spring 2008 Denny Ross, 75, Nuclear the University System of Maryland (USM); dilemma when they see one, and how to Engineering Lecturer training postdoctoral associates to teach think through it. In some ways ethics is like new ethics courses within the USM and at engineering design…many people are given The Department is sad to report the passing colleges around the world; and offering an the same problem, criteria and boundaries, of Dr. Denny Ross on Sept. 18, 2007. annual Research Integrity Bowl. but you get multiple results. With ethics, Ross had been a lecturer in the nuclear Greer and her colleagues are currently some don’t even realize there is a problem engineering program at the university since developing two new courses for graduate to begin with. Maybe they’re most surprised 1990. He received a B.S. degree from Texas students and postdoctoral associates, by the fact that there are no hard and fast Western College, a M.S. degree in nuclear designed to accommodate students from answers to some of these things—engineers engineering from Southern Methodist different disciplines: Research Ethics, a are not used to ambiguity! University, a M.S. in mathematics from graduate version of existing undergraduate “I think the students come out [of the Texas Christian University and a Ph.D. in courses, will include readings, roleplaying, undergraduate class] having their awareness Engineering from Catholic University. He proper handling of data to avoid bias, raised about these kinds of issues,” says Greer. had a long and distinguished career with attribution and citation, plagiarism, “I get letters back—mostly from students the Atomic Energy Commission and the engineering practice, intellectual property, who go into industry—saying it was one of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), under-represented groups in the sciences, the most valuable things they ever did, that including many years in senior management mentoring and the philosophy of value these things come up all the time in their positions in the NRC Safety Research Office systems. Advanced Research Ethics, offered lives, and that because of the class they have and the Office of Analysis and Evaluation to postdoctoral associates and graduate some basis on which to think about them.” of Operational Data. He retired from the students seeking a Graduate Certificate in NRC in 1998. He loved teaching and Wang Wins Faculty Service Research Ethics (a program also currently working with students, and in addition to Award under development), will address ethics the many years as a lecturer with the nuclear training in various settings, and prepare ChBE Associate Professor Nam Sun Wang engineering program on the UMCP campus, them to teach. The team has also developed was the 2007 recipient of the Clark School he also taught mathematics at Montgomery a one-day workshop for new science and Faculty Service Award, which was presented 5 College from 1968-1990. engineering faculty members. to him at the Clark School’s 2007 spring Greer Receives NSF Funding for For Greer, the path to the NSF grant commencement ceremony. Ethics Courses began in 1994, when, noticing a lack of The Faculty Service Award is given to classroom discussion and textbooks on ethics a faculty member whose service to his or Professor Sandra Greer (Departments of in the sciences, she designed and taught an her department, to the Clark School, and to Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering undergraduate course on the topic for the the university has been judged outstanding and Chemistry and Biochemistry), along Department of Chemistry. Called “Ethics in in terms of esprit de corps, innovation, with co-PIs Professor Robert Dooling Science and Engineering,” it has been cross- committee and advising work, community (Department of Psychology) and Professor listed with the Department of Chemical activities and additional factors. Dr. Wang Art Popper (Department of Biology), have and Biomolecular Engineering since 1995. serves as the main faculty advisor for the won a NSF grant to support the expansion of Although offered by these two specific Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering a program that will develop a series of ethics departments, it may be taken as a CORE Society graduate student organization. courses and workshops for graduate students, elective, and has been popular with students He has also served as advisor for the postdoctoral associates and new faculty to from all engineering majors. American Institute of Chemical Engineers provide training on research integrity and to Only two other science-oriented student chapter, on the Undergraduate teach them to mentor others in ethics issues. ethics courses have been offered on Studies Committee and as a liaison to the The proposal, titled “Maryland campus, including one offered by Greer’s Professional Masters Program. Dr. Wang was Initiative on Research Ethics,” outlines a co-PIs, professors Dooling and Popper, ChBE’s director for undergraduate studies for three-year plan that includes developing for students in CLFS and BSOS, and a 10 years as well. He has devoted more than additional ethics courses and course sections recently introduced course in the Fischell 10 years to K-12 outreach—one colleague throughout the Clark School, the College Department of Bioengineering. remarks he has spent “untold hours” talking of Chemical and Life Sciences (CLFS), and Greer’s undergraduate course, she about engineering at middle schools and the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences explains, “is not to teach students about right high schools. Colleagues note he is an eager (BSOS); extending the program throughout and wrong, but how to recognize an ethical volunteer whenever help is needed.

A. James Clark School of Engineering  Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology A B facultyNEWS continued

C D Anisimov Wins Clark School Faculty Teaching Award

Professor Mikhail Anisimov was the recipient of the 2007 Poole and Kent Company Senior Faculty Teaching Award, E which was presented to him at the Clark School’s spring 2007 commencement ceremony. Former Clark School Dean (now UMD

A: TEM image of a nanofiber inside a silica nanotube reactor. Provost) B: SEM image of the homemade membrane; pore diameter = 60nm. Nariman C: SEM image–Detail of B. D: SEM image–nanofibers emerging from pores, top view. Farvardin E: SEM image–cross-sectional view of the pores, sidE view. cited Anisimov’s commitment FEATURE and research dedication to teaching, Polymer Nanofibrils Inside a Glass Tube enthusiasm in A new catalytic polymerization reactor called the silica nanotube the classroom, reactor (SNTR) has been developed as the result of a collaboration availability to between the research groups of Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering professor Kyu Yong Choi and Department MIKHAIL ANISIMOV students, and of Chemistry and Biochemistry professor Sang Bok Lee. key role in 6 The project originally focused on the manufacture syndiotactic the revision polystyrene (sPS) nanofibers—a strong, lightweight, heat-resistant and improvement of the undergraduate material that could be developed for use in electronics and other high-temperature processes—using a high activity metallocene thermodynamics curriculum as factors in his catalyst, supported on a silica coated, porous anodized alumina film selection for the award. as a template. Each pore in the film serves as a tiny, rod-shaped Anisimov, who holds joint appoint- reactor that extrudes a semicrystalline syndiotactic polystyrene nanofibril as it forms. ments with the Institute for Physical Science & Technology (IPST) and the Chemical As work progressed the project produced three significant results: First, that the SNTR is highly effective in customizing polymer Physics Program, specializes in mesoscopic properties; second, the discovery by Ph.D. student Joong Jin and nanoscale thermodynamics, critical phe- Han (advised by Choi) that the sPS nanofibers synthesized in the nomena, and phase transitions in soft matter. reactor have an unusually high molecular weight, which should greatly enhance their strength and thermal resistance; and third, a He is an Elected Fellow of the International means of isolating the silica tubes from the film substrate and using Academy of Refrigeration, the American transmission electron microscopy to observe of the growth of the Association for the Advancement of Science, polymer nanofibrils inside the catalyst channels—the first time this has been accomplished. and the American Physical Society; and is The findings grew out of Choi and Lee’s exploration of new an Elected Member techniques for polymer synthesis, the development of new polymers of the New York using nanotechnology and catalytic reaction engineering, and Academy of ANDENIRAN their desire to develop a better understanding of polymer growth mechanisms and structural properties. Sciences. In 2006 he The professors plan to continue their collaboration. According to Choi, was recognized for the next step is to produce enough of the sPS nanofibers to test and outstanding volun- define their physical, mechanical, and rheological properties. Currently teer service to the the fibers are produced under very sensitive and controlled conditions, he adds, so if they show promise for industry, the next challenge will be American Institute to devise a way to easily mass-produce them. of Chemical A paper about the research, “Syndiotactic Polystyrene Nanofibrils in Engineers (AIChE). Silica Nanotube Reactors: Understanding of Synthesis with Ultrahigh Molecular Weight” was recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008, 130(12): 3920-3286. studentNEWS

Anisimov Group Makes Its Mark “The research is important because in order to attempt it will hopefully show that dynamic light the Ph.D.” Throughout 2007, students from the scattering can be another analytic tool to Fuentevilla and research group of ChBE professor Mikhail observe conformational changes of polymers Anisimov attended Anisimov were recognized for their research and other materials,” Adeniran explains. “It two international with funding and opportunities to present also may help make dynamic light scattering thermodynamic their work in dynamic light scattering become a more standard analytical tool.” conferences: the and supercooled water at conferences and Graduate student Kirt Linegar attended 11th International AYAN GHOSH symposia. Anisimov, who holds a joint the Gordon Conference on Liquid Crystals Conference on appointment with the Institute for Physical in New London, NH, a trip sponsored by Properties and Phase Equilibrium, held Science and Technology (IPST), focuses the Department. Linegar presented a poster in Hersonissos, Crete; and the 16th his research on nanoscale thermodynamics, titled “Dynamic Modes in Liquid Crystal International Conference on Chemical critical phenomena and phase transitions Solutions of Cromolyn.” The project, which Thermodynamics, held in Suzdal, Russia. in fluids, fluid mixtures, liquid crystals, is also rooted in the use of DLS, seeks to Fuentevilla presented a poster in Crete and surfactant and polymer solutions, and other quantify the significant fluctuations in the a talk in Russia, both related to her Masters soft condensed matter systems. density of liquid crystal particles encountered thesis, “A Scaled Equation of State for a Undergraduate research student at the nanoscale, and how long they last. Liquid-Liquid Critical Point in Supercooled Adedayo Adeniran won third place for her Understanding this behavior could help Water.” The work, which examines the presentation at the First Annual Louis Stokes engineers developing nanoscale technology unusual behavior of liquid water at near- Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) for use in products such as flat panel freezing and lower temperatures, provides a Undergraduate Research Symposium, where televisions and handheld devices. thermodynamic perspective on the theory she discussed the results of the research in “It was a big privilege for a first year grad that there may be a low temperature critical which she was involved throughout the student to be able to attend such a prestigious point at which water shifts from its typical previous academic year. conference,” Linegar says of the experience. liquid phase into two liquid phases of a Her project involved using dynamic “The presentation was very successful, and it different density before freezing. Fuentevilla 7 light scattering (DLS) to discover whether was great to represent Maryland.” and Anisimov have published the results of the change in the particle size of a polymer Graduate student Daphne Fuentevilla, this work in Physical Review Letters, one of could be observed. DLS is a technique who also works for the United States Navy as a the most prestigious among international in which a light source with a known civilian engineer, won a Department of Defense research journals. frequency—often a laser, as in Anisimov’s SMART Scholarship, which provides support lab—is used to measure particle or droplet Ghosh Wins Wells Fellowship for science, technology, engineering, and for polymer electrolyte Work size and distribution at the nanometer or mathematics students in exchange for civilian micron scale. When the light passes through service with the DOD after graduation. ChBE graduate student Ayan Ghosh has a liquid in which particles are suspended, it SMART scholars receive full tuition, a $1000/ been awarded the Harry K. Wells Endowed diffracts (bends, or scatters), resulting in a year book stipend, a stipend up to $41,000 Fellowship, which provides annual support for change of its frequency. Researchers are then (based on prior experience and academic Clark School graduate students working on able to correlate these changes with specific degree), and employment with the DOD. energy engineering and alternative energy particle properties. Fuentevilla, who completed her sources in conjunction with the University Masters degree in August 2007 and of Maryland Energy Research Center. FUENTEVILLA LINEGAR is now pursuing a doctorate in the Ghosh, who is advised by Fischell Department, is very happy about the Department of Bioengineering Professor arrangement, telling us, “I am very Peter Kofinas, works with polymers that thankful for my scholarship because could be used as electrolytes in new, flexible it allows me to maintain my full- batteries that will be both lighter and safer time employee status with my job, than the ones we use today. something that is very important for “If you cut open a battery,” he me for my future career plans, while explains, “or if it leaks, it spontaneously also giving me more time to spend on my research, something I felt I needed continues next page studentNEWS continued

Ghosh, continued from page 7

combusts or the electrolyte forms corrosive mentoring practicum, and takes 3-5 semesters Choi Takes 4th byproducts when it comes into contact to complete. Participants are known as Future in SAMSUNG with air or moisture. The idea is to replace Faculty Fellows, and receive a supplementary Competition this electrolyte with a polymer, something stipend of up to $10,000 over the course ChBE graduate that when exposed to air and moisture of the program. One half of the funds are student and Ph.D. simply crumbles.” The flexibility and solid reserved for travel to attend professional candidate Jonghoon SILICON NANOPARTICLES nature of the polymer has great design conferences. Choi, advised by potential for electronics: “Unlike a liquid “I applied to the FFP because I thought Professor Nam electrolyte it doesn’t need to be encased in it was a great opportunity to learn more about Sun Wang, has won 4th place in the annual a bulky container,” says Ghosh. “Suddenly a possible career as a professor,” says Gordon. SAMSUNG Electronics Human-Tech Thesis your device is no longer constrained by the “This program is special because it allows Prize competition. His paper, titled “Study on size and shape of your battery. Your device graduate students to really know what they the New, Biocompatible Fluorescent Nano coating itself could be the battery!” might be getting into—and more importantly, Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Professor Kofinas, who along with ChBE should they choose a position in academia, Bio Application of Silicon Nanoparticles,” Professor and Chair F. Joseph Schork nomi- they’ll have a greater sense of what it means to competed with over 900 entries submitted nated Ghosh for the award, believes it is well be a professor.” by researchers from around the world. Choi deserved. “Ayan is one of my best students,” received a cash prize of $1000 and a trip to he says. “His performance is outstanding. He’s Student Awards 2007-2008 Korea for the award ceremony. made a flexible polymer electrolyte with supe- Congratulations to the following students, Founded in 1994, the Human-Tech rior properties, and is about to submit a paper who were recognized at the Clark School’s Thesis Prize competition has three goals: to to the top polymer journal, Macromolecules, 2007-2008 Honors and Awards Ceremony search for creative young students who have with his research results.” and at a Department ceremony held the potential to become the future scientific 8 Gordon Selected for Future this spring. They have all demonstrated leaders of Korea, to encourage research at the Faculty Program outstanding academic and research collegiate level, and to emphasize the integral performance, and have made contributions role technology plays in modern society. Please join us in extending our to the Department and field. The competition is open to high school, congratulations to graduate student Brad undergraduate, and graduate students in Gordon (advised by Associate Professor • Leigh Quang: David Arthur Berman Korea and abroad. Sheryl Ehrman), who was chosen to Memorial Award Choi’s paper focused on nanoparticles participate in this year’s Future Faculty • Jeff Fox: Chairman’s Graduating with unexpected but potentially useful Program (FFP). Gordon will be part of the Senior Award properties. Bulk silicon is unable to emit program’s second cohort of students. fluorescence. However, it has been reported • Nicholas Levy: Outstanding The program, launched in 2007, was that nano-structured silicon can be fluorescent Junior Award created to prepare students for academic when properly excited. Silicon nanocrystals careers in top-50 engineering schools by • Marina Feric: Outstanding have received attention not only because helping them hone their skills in areas such Sophomore Award scientists do not know exactly why they are as technical and grant writing, curriculum • Nicole Dupuy: Outstanding capable of fluorescing, but also because of development, teaching, research, oral Sophomore Award their advantages over fluorescent dyes. Choi’s paper summarizes his studies on the synthesis, presentations, • Elliot Jones: AIChE Student and Chapter Award characterization and bio-applications of interviewing. fluorescent silicon nanocrystals. and describes • Keran Lu: Finalist in UM’s $50K The program many potential bio- and optoelectric Business Plan Competition includes applications of new, biocompatible, and seminars, fluorescent silicon nanoparticles. BR AD G OR D ON a teaching practicum, and a research

COLUMNS  Spring 2008 alumniNEWS

Alumni Excel in Academia, to do so, and the company he has created, and crabs. Chitosan is biocompatible, anti- Research OpX Biotechnologies, focuses on biofuels microbial, and able to stop bleeding. and biorefining. In 2007, Gill was one of 12 The first product, a dressing for chronic Three ChBE alumni and former members recipients nationwide of the DuPont Young wounds such as ulcers and burns, works of Fischell Department of Bioengineering Professor Award, which will provide 3 years by packaging growth factors (proteins (formerly ChBE) Professor and Chair of funding to support his research. that stimulate cell proliferation) and William Bentley’s research group have all Hu is a full professor at National other therapeutics into nano-containers recently been recognized as talented young Tsing Hua University, one of the most (liposomes) anchored to a biocompatible professors and researchers. Matthew DeLisa prestigious in Taiwan, where he studies matrix (chitosan) by naturally occurring self- (Ph.D. ’00, who was also advised by ChBE gene therapy, tissue and cell engineering, assembly. The resulting device can deliver Professor William Weigand for his M.S.), vaccine development, and biomaterials. various bioactive compounds for wound Ryan Gill (Ph.D. ’99), and Andy Hu In May of 2007, Hu won one of Taiwan’s healing. The second product is meant to (Ph.D. ’99) have all earned faculty positions Top Ten Young Persons Awards, conferred stop bleeding under conditions in which at major universities as well as international by the Taiwanese Parliament on ten sutures won’t work or can’t be administered. awards for their achievements. exceptional citizens working in a variety of Chitosan, while known for its blood-clotting DeLisa is an assistant professor at Cornell disciplines. Hu’s award was for achievement ability, becomes saturated and ceases to University’s Department of Chemical and in technology advancement. He was adhere to tissue after only 30 minutes. Biomolecular Engineering, where his research recognized for his work in developing a Remedium is developing a modified chitosan group engineers bacteria for the discovery, virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine for “sponge” capable of functioning for several design and manufacture of therapeutic the enterovirus 71 (EV71), which can cause hours. The same modified chitosan could proteins, and for the reprogramming of neurological complications and death in also be used in a surgical spray. Both products cellular physiology. His “designer bacteria” children; and for demonstrating the use have the potential to reduce healing time, and “reconfigurable protein machine systems” of baculovirus-mediated gene therapy in pain, and costs for patients and hospitals. could solve a variety of problems in biology facilitating cartilage and bone engineering. Currently, Remedium is in its startup and medicine. DeLisa’s work as a scientist phase as its members work on securing 9 and educator has earned him almost a dozen ChBE/BIOE TEAM Creates wound- funding and continuing the research while honors and awards since 2004, including care products, takes 2nd PLACE still working on their degrees. Animal studies in Business Plan Competition a National Science Foundation CAREER on the products are being conducted at the Award (2005), a National Academy of Remedium Technologies University of Maryland School of Medicine. Sciences “Frontiers of Science” award (2005), Startup company , which includes alumnus Bani H. Cipriano Remedium’s other founding members a listing as one of Technology Review’s Top are Matthew Dowling and Peter Thomas 35 Innovators Under Age 35 (2005), a (Ph.D. ’07), ChBE Associate Professor Srinivasa Raghavan (Fischell Department of Bioengineering), National Academy of Engineering “Frontiers , and ChBE research Oluwatosin Ogunsola and Dr. Akinola Dosunmu, CFA, CPA. of Engineering” award (2006), several Young associates and Chao Zhu Investigator awards, and Cornell’s Mr. & Mrs. took second place in the 2007 James P. Byers, B.S. ’84 Richard F. Tucker ’50 Excellence in Teaching $50K Business Plan Competition. The James P. Byers Award (2007). competition, conducted by the Maryland ChBE alumnus (B.S. ’84) Gill is the managing director of the Technology Enterprise Institute (MTECH), died September 27, 2007 at the age of 46 Colorado Center for Biorefining and encourages the University of Maryland’s in Toledo, Ohio. Byers was an associate Biofuels and an endowed Patten Assistant entrepreneurial thinkers to build their best professor of pharmacology at the University Professor in the Department of Chemical ideas into a company over the course of a of Toledo, where he had been on the faculty and Biological Engineering at the University semester. Winners receive funding to help for eight years. He was known for his work of Colorado. Currently, his research group them launch their businesses. in pharmacokinetics, the study of how develops and applies new genomics and Remedium Technologies is developing the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, evolutionary tools to engineering microbes two nanotechnology-based active wound care and excretes drugs; and also his research for more efficient production of biofuels and products for the chronic and acute wound on diabetes and gene therapy. Byers was biochemicals. Though always interested in a and burn healing markets. Both are based considered a demanding but exceptional career in academia, he says, he also wanted on a modification of chitosan, a bipolymer teacher by his colleagues and students. to try building a startup company. Being which can be easily and economically derived faculty has given him the flexibility he needs from the shells of crustaceans such as shrimp

A. James Clark School of Engineering  Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology alumniNEWS cont’d

Wang Becomes Faculty at cable television networks , Duong Profiled in Newsweek Tianjin University and Boomerang, along with their on-line businesses, and the digital enterprises ChBE alumna Anh Duong (B.S. ’82) was ChBE alumnus Dr. Jingtao Wang (Ph.D. GameTap and . recently featured in Newsweek magazine’s ‘06) has been appointed to an associate Freeman, a veteran brand marketing column The Last Word, written by Pulitzer professorship in the School of Chemical and promotion executive, previously served Prize-winning author George F. Will. The Engineering at Tianjin University, China. as the senior vice president of integrated column, titled “Anh Duong, Out Of Debt” Established in 1895, Tianjin University is marketing and promotions for Nickelodeon describes her desire to give back to her adopted China’s oldest institution of higher learning, and MTVN Kids and Family Group, where country by helping to fight the War on Terror. one of China’s 16 National Key Universities, she oversaw development and execution Duong’s family fled South Vietnam in and one of the largest interdisciplinary of all promotions marketing efforts for 1975 and eventually settled in Maryland, engineering schools in the country. Nickelodeon channels and publications. She where she attended high school and later Wang’s research focus is on has also been the vice president of affiliate earned a degree in chemical engineering thermodynamics in water phenomena and marketing for MTV Networks, president from the University of Maryland. She crystallization. He is also currently working of consumer marketing for VH1, director knew exactly how she wanted to apply her on a project involving numerical calculation of marketing and special events for ABC knowledge and skills. “I wanted to work for in industrial process integration. Radio Networks, and has held product the Defense Department,” she tells Will in While at the University of Maryland, development management, financial and the article, “because I wanted to pay back Wang was advised by Professor Mikhail marketing positions with Frito-Lay, Pepsi- the guys who protected us all those years.” Anisimov and worked in Anisimov’s joint Cola, and Mobil Oil. Will’s column highlights the deep impression research group with Professor Emeritus Jan Freeman also holds an M.B.A. in the kindness of American strangers—both Sengers. His dissertation was titled “The marketing and finance from the University military and civilian—made on Duong, Nature of Asymmetry of Fluid Criticality.” of Maryland and is a board member of which led her into public service. Wang explained his goal was to become Women in Cable and Television (WICT). In 2001, Duong was designing Navy 10 a professor, and thanks Anisimov and munitions and explosives. After the attacks Sengers for being instrumental in helping Rosenberg Named President of on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, him prepare for and supportive during the Wireless Company she became part of a team of scientists tasked application process. with designing a bomb capable of penetrating ChBE alumnus Alan Rosenberg (B.S. ’83) the caves in Afghanistan in which members Cornish- has been hired by Business Only Broadband, of Al-Qaeda and other enemy forces hid. Freeman a carrier-class wireless provider for the Sending troops into the caves would result is New financial sector and other large enterprise Marketing in significant losses, but existing weapons clients. Rosenberg will serve as the company’s Officer for did not have the power to go deep enough TBS president as it expands into the New to reach entrenched forces. To solve the York City market. He was selected for the problem, her team designed a thermobaric ChBE alumna position for his extensive experience in start- bomb whose heat and blast were delivered and Clark School up, global sales, and developing financial more slowly, giving them a longer “reach.” Women In extranets for Fortune 1000 companies in Her current mission is to design portable Engineering (WIE) the brokerage, healthcare, pharmaceutical, forensic labs for use in Iraq that will help Advisory Board market data, and manufacturing sectors. identify individuals who build improvised member Brenda Previously, Rosenberg worked at Global explosives used against U.S. forces. Cornish-Freeman Crossing, a communications company BRENDA CORNISH-FREEMAN CHBE ALUMNUS May Have the (B.S. ’87) has been providing internet, multimedia, voice and data Next YouTube Photo: BUSINESS WIRE named to the newly services; and AT&T, where he was the global created position of chief marketing officer sales director of IT outsourcing. He also holds Alumnus Rama Sreenivasan (Ph.D. ’07) has for Turner Animation, Young Adults & a M.S. in telecommunications engineering partnered with two other engineering alumni Kids Media, part of the Turner Broadcasting from the Stevens Institute of Technology and to create a web site they hope could be the System. She will provide overall vision and has completed studies in advanced business YouTube of how-to . leadership to all areas of marketing, on-air education at the London Business School and and trade creative services that support the Carnegie Mellon University.

COLUMNS  Spring 2008 SEND US YOUR NEWS! We are very proud of our alumni and encourage everyone to keep in touch! Please send your alumni news to [email protected]. You can keep your contact information with the Clark School and the University of Maryland up-to-date by visiting www.eng.umd.edu/alumni.

Their site, doFlick (www.doflick.com), hosts instructional videos on a variety of topics, from how to bend a tube for a science lab project to making guacamole to demonstrating a drum and bass groove. Users can submit their videos to doFlick and watch those submitted by others at no cost. Advertising sales will support the site. Sreenivasan’s doFlick partners are Shiva Pandit (M.Eng ’07) and Luis Corzo (M.Eng.’05). They met in an recentDISSERTATIONS entrepreneurship class offered by the Clark School’s Professional Master of Engineering 2007 Ph.D. Graduates program and Maryland Technology MAY Enterprise Institute (MTECH), each looking Mahnaz Chaychian: Radiation-Induced Dechlorization of PCBS and to create a business they could get excited Chlorinated Pesticides and the Destruction of the Hazardous Organic about and that could benefit people. Their Solvents in Waste Water experiences as engineers had shown them Bhaskar Dutta: Time-Series Transcriptomic Analysis of a that a lot of lab equipment lacks instructions. Systematically Perturbed Plant System—A Systems Biology Perspective They thought could help in labs and other places where seeing how something is Juchen Guo: Spectroscopic Study of Diffusion In a Glassy Polymer done is better than reading about it. Using Harin Kanani: High-Throughput Time Series Metabolomic Analysis of borrowed cameras, they created doFlick’s first a Systematically Perturbed Plant System how-to offerings by working with professors Jun Li: Systematic Investigation of Quorum Sensing in E. Coli and students at UMD, then gradually added 11 David Small: Comparison of Toxicogenomic Effects of Sodium other kinds of content. Hypochloirte Hydrogen Peroxide and Peracetic Acid on The DoFlick team is currently spreading Pseudomonas Aeruginosa the word about the site and talking to Ramaswamy Sreenivasan: Combinatorial Experiments Using a investors. The Chronicle of Higher Education Spatially Programmable Chemical Vapor Deposition System recently featured doFlick in its column The Yechun Wang: Flow and Interfacial Dynamics in Vascular Vessels and Wired Campus. Microfluidics AUGUST Wise Becomes Manager for Biotech/Pharma Compliance Linden Bolisay: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Recognition of Tobacco Viruses Company Xin Fang: Impact of Stochasticity on Gene Regulation Networks Bennett Wise (B.S. ’97) has been appointed Angela Lewandowski: Assembly of Quorum Sensing Pathway to the position of Manager of South East Enzymes onto Patterned Microfabricated Devices Operations at JM Hyde Consulting, Inc. The Chen-Yu Tsao: Rewiring Quorum Sensing Circuitry for Enhancing Boulder, Co. company provides engineering, Recombinant Protein Production in E. Coli compliance and validation services to Shih-Huang Tung: Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Molecules in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical Organic Liquids manufacturers. Wise specializes in DECEMBER biotechnology process engineering, GMP facility design, and project management; and Bani Cipriano: Structure of Properties of Nanocomposites Containing Anisotropic Nanoparticles is known for implementing cost- and time- saving solutions that still maintain a high Heekyong Kim: Analysis of Drug Delivery in the Eye Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging level of compliance. Yuesheng Ye: Studies on the Step Growth Polymerization of Aromatic Polycarbonates

A. James Clark School of Engineering  Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology The GREAT EXPECTATIONS greatEXPECTATIONS campaign You can help support our mis- Ghosh Wins Wells Fellowship Great Expectations even sion to transform lives through greater! exceptional education and ChBE graduate student Ayan Ghosh has research opportunities with a gift of any amount! Contributions been awarded the Harry K. Wells Endowed The Clark School has raised more than $100 can benefit Chemical and Fellowship. The award was established million of its $185 million Great Expectations Biomolecular engineering initia- tives such as undergraduate schol- to provide annual fellowships for Clark campaign goal. Donations provide arships, graduate fellowships, and School graduate students working on energy funding for scholarships, fellowships, new named professorships. Please con- tact Stu Stabley at (301) 405-8289 engineering and alternative energy sources in research programs, professorships, teaching or [email protected]; or visit conjunction with the University of Maryland programs, and new facilities. The Patrick www.greatexpectations.umd.edu to learn more. Energy Research Center (UMERC). and Marguerite Sung Professorship and The Wells gift to start the fellowship also Distinguished Professorship in Chemical Gifts may be made by check to “University of Maryland College Park benefited the Great Expectations campaign. Engineering, announced in our last issue, Foundation (UMCPF).” Please designate is only one of many gifts that support our “The department of chemical and For the full story behind Ghosh’s work on biomolecular engineering” in the faculty and students. Other recent donations memo line, and mail to: creating polymers for use as electrolytes in include funding for the UMD Solar thinner, safer, and flexible batteries, see F. Joseph Schork, Professor & Chair Decathlon team, programs and endowments Chemical and Biomolecular Eng. pp. 7-8. for women in engineering, excellence in core 2113 Chemical & Nuclear Eng. Building University of Maryland engineering education, and nanoscale research. College Park, MD 20742

COLUMNS is published for alumni and friends of The Department of Chemical ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE and Biomolecular Engineering at the The blue image used on the covers was taken with a A. James Clark School of Engineering. scanning electron microscope (SEM) and shows a polymer Your alumni news and comments are particle that contains small micron-sizeD particles welcome. Please send them to: produced heterogeneously inside of it by precipitation Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering polymerization. Yunju Jung (Ph.D. student, Advisor: Prof. K. 2113 Chemical & Nuclear Eng. Building Y. Choi) is developing a novel polymerization technique to College Park, MD 20742 synthesize multihollow polymer particles that can be used Or call: (301) 405-1935 in electronics and energy applications. Or e-mail: [email protected] For more on the choi group’s recent research, see p. 6. Department Chair: Dr. F. Joseph Schork Editor: Faye Levine

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