CBE NewsMagazine2015 02162016

CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR
ENGINEERING NEWS 2015
College of Engineering
College ofOFEngineering
www.che.udel.edu DEPARTMENT
BIOMOLECULAR
CHEMICAL &
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL &
BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Another fixture in the department, who left us program, including roles inside and outside
by retirement at the end of the 2014–15 year, the classroom. While we have for many
is GEORGE WHITMYRE. George spent years prided ourselves on the commitment
more than 40 years with the department, for of all of our faculty to excellence in the
most of that period occupying, and indeed undergraduate program, hiss expertise
defining, the position of laboratory manager. in pedagogical methods will certainly
His responsibilities included the undergraduate enhance the undergraduate experience.
and research labs as well as Colburn Lab
overall, but his most important legacy is the Buttressing our undergraduate teaching is
DEAR FRIENDS culture of lab safety that he was instrumental in critical in view of the continued popularity of
AND COLLEAGUES, developing about 35 years ago. Those of you in the chemical engineering major: our 2014–15
industrial labs are aware of the poor image that freshman class numbered about 150 and we
academic lab safety has in the chemical sciences graduated about 90 seniors. We would like to
In writing to a community of chemical overall, and those of you in academia are aware see these numbers reduced somewhat to ensure
engineers, I probably don’t have to apologize of recent efforts to improve it. Thanks largely the continued high quality of the education
for being a geek, so I can probably safely note to George, we were several decades ahead of the we provide. Of course, larger graduating classes
that preparing this alumni newsletter each curve, although we certainly aren’t complacent. require larger numbers of jobs, and although
year reminds me of the frequency response We are fortunate to have Dr. WEIHUA most of our students manage to navigate this
methods in CHEG 401 (Chemical Process DENG as our new laboratory manager challenge successfully, we would be grateful
Dynamics and Control), a course that I’ve and alumna YAMAIRA GONZALEZ if those of you who hire chemical engineers
taught for the past few years. Our annual D’05 as laboratory safety coordinator. in your own organizations would make such
cycle is marked by the seasons, an academic positions known to us, either through the
year, a fiscal year and other cycles, and, These losses and departures are reminders department or the UD Career Services Center.
although frequency response methods are that, amongst the many mathematical models
based on a cyclic steady state, each year brings that we use in the department, one with a If you’ve managed to read beyond my sad
its own fluctuations, positive and negative. particularly high predictive capability is that frequency response metaphor, you may
That so many of our alumni and friends are of our faculty age distribution. This gives have noticed that I’ve used most of my
sufficiently engaged to care deeply about rise to celebrations—such as ours this year space discussing fluctuations rather than the
the department is exceptionally gratifying of STAN SANDLER’s 75th birthday—as cyclic steady state. It would be misleading to
to us, and it’s our pleasure (and sometimes well as challenges. About a third of our overlook the latter: the students recruited,
our sad responsibility) to keep you up with faculty is likely to turn over in the next classes and labs taught, design projects
the goings on in Colburn Lab and beyond. decade or so, which will necessitate a focus completed, papers published, dissertations
on hiring new and retaining existing faculty defended, proposals written and funded
The 2014–15 year started off on the highest to maintain the high quality of our programs (or not funded). We continue to seek, and
of highs with our Centennial celebrations. and our associated stature in the chemical attain, the Delaware tradition of excellence
Another landmark high was the election later engineering profession. Two gifts reported on to which we have all become accustomed.
in the year of NORM WAGNER to the pages 4 and 5—chairs endowed by ALLAN That excellence is especially well represented
National Academy of Engineering, joining FERGUSON, ’65 and MYRA FERGUSON, in the accomplishments of our alumni,
four other current faculty and emeritus faculty AS’65 and by BILL SEVERNS, D’50—will and we continue to ask you to keep us
in this distinction. Sadly, we also sustained aid this effort. Their exceptional generosity, informed, especially by visiting us in person.
two major losses among the faculty this year and that of others, brings total gifts to the We plan to bring more “round-number”
with the passing of JON H. OLSON in Centennial Campaign well over $10 million. reunion classes back to Newark during the
October and the sudden illness and death In various alumni events, large and small, I’ve campus-wide Alumni Weekend held in early
of RICHARD P. WOOL in March. In his remarked on how proudly we celebrate the June each year. I would especially ask that
more than half-century association with accomplishments of all our alumni and revel you contact me if you are willing to help
the department, Jon established himself as in their ongoing engagement with us. That entrain your classmates in such an effort.
a scholar with an encyclopedic knowledge, such engagement is often complemented by
and perhaps more importantly, as a mentor great generosity is especially gratifying. We are grateful for your continued
and adviser unfailingly dedicated to student interest in the department and
welfare and success. Richard joined us The recruitment of new faculty is indeed your support of its activities.
about 20 years ago, and left his mark as a moving forward, and in the 2015–16 academic
passionate champion of sustainability both year we welcome JOSH ENSZER as our Best wishes,
in his research and popular elective courses. first assistant professor of instruction. Josh’s
responsibilities lie within our undergraduate Abraham Lenhoff
Allan P. Colburn Professor and Chair
2015
Chemical and
Biomolecular
Engineering
News
CHEMICAL AND
BIOMOLECULAR
ENGINEERING
NEWS
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Abraham Lenhoff
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Ann Lewandowski
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS
2015
Megan Argoe
Diane Kukich
Beth Miller
Collette L. O’Neal SECTIONS
Karen B. Roberts
Cinda Younce
04 Centennial Campaign
ART DIRECTOR
Joy Smoker
06 Faculty
DESIGN
American Philanthropic
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
15 Research
Kathy F. Atkinson
Wenbo Fan
Evan Krape 23 Students
Ambre Alexander Payne
Duane Perry
28 Alumni News
PRINTING
University Printing
33 In Memoriam
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[email protected] or
302-831-2543.
34 Support for CBE
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to [email protected]
The University of Delaware is an equal opportunity/

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2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 3

100
Centennial Campaign
Multi-Million Dollar Gifts Create Endowed Chairs
Chemical engineering alumni commit a total of $7.5 million to establish
Allan Ferguson was in too fast, in order to preserve the integrity of the
fragile, human cells.
the first engineering
Or when he managed process engineering for
class taught by the the Domestic Operating Company within
late Jon Olson at the Johnson & Johnson during the energy crisis
of the 1970s and reduced energy costs by 80
University of Delaware. percent by simply turning off a valve.
“He was absolutely brilliant, and here we were, “My professors taught me how to analyze and
these young, malleable minds, ready to learn assess problems, to look at them more broadly,”
the really complex things he would teach us,” Ferguson says.
the 1965 chemical engineering graduate recalls.
“And then he gave the first exam.” In honor of such mentorship, the Fergusons
recently committed $3.5 million to establish
Ferguson flunked, but he wasn’t the only one. the Allan and Myra Ferguson Distinguished
Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular
And yet having his students fail that exam Engineering.
might have been one of the best things to
happen to Olson. As legend has it, he went “I love the smile on his face when he talks
home and told his wife, “They didn’t get it,” to about what he learned from his professors
which she responded, “Maybe you ought to and classmates,” says Myra Ferguson, a 1966
talk in an everyday kind of way.” graduate of UD’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“We want to support professors who are gifted
After hearing Olson’s story, Ferguson held on with the art of teaching, who want to share
Double Dels Allan Ferguson, EG’65, and Myra Ferguson, to the message: keep it simple. their knowledge, who have that desire to
AS’66, committed $3.5 million to establish the Allan and Myra
Ferguson Distinguished Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular
nurture young minds à la Gerster and Olson
Engineering. “I’ve been good at figuring out ways to and Pigford.”
simplify—to make things cheaper, better,
faster; to analyze problems; to not accept the The future of the Department of Chemical and
norm,” he says. Biomolecular Engineering is the ultimate goal
for Ferguson.
Like the time he looked at separators in the
food industry to find more efficient processes “The strength of our faculty is absolutely
for a biotech company that was using a device necessary for the quality of the program to
similar to an ordinary kitchen blender. They continue,” he says. “Chemical engineering is a
needed one that would mix things up, but not star at UD, and we want to keep it that way.” n
4 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

Centennial Campaign Update
The Centennial Campaign was launched in 2014 as part of the events With the two landmark gifts announced on these pages, the Centennial
marking the completion of the first 100 years of chemical engineering Campaign has exceeded $10 million in a period of little more than a
at Delaware. Many of our alumni and friends—this year’s list begins year. These include several new scholarships, and major lead gifts from
on page 44—are generous donors in support of our programs in the KAREN A. FLETCHER ’81 M’82 and RICHARD E. EMMERT
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering or other M’52 D’54 allowed the establishment of the Thomas H. Chilton Fund
programs at UD, and the Centennial Campaign serves as the focus for that is intended to support the Thomas H. Chilton Professorship of
gifts to any purposes within the Department. Practice.
Distinguished Chairs in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
William “Bill” Severns Severns received his PhD from the University
in 1950 and spent many years in industry,
learned from the beginning in the pigments department of
DuPont, where he worked on titanium dioxide
giants of chemical white pigments, before moving on to the
engineering. manufacturing of titanium metal, a strong,
lightweight element that has been referred
to as “the luxury metal of the future.” When
As a University of Delaware doctoral student
his division was sold to Ciba-Geigy, Severns
researching vapor-liquid equilibrium in the late
moved as well, including spending extensive
1940s, he studied under Allan Colburn, Robert
time in Europe.
Pigford, Jack Gerster, and other “outstanding
engineers, brilliant minds.”
Bill and Jacquie Severns are inspirational in
their belief in higher education and what it can
Many of these professors helped build
accomplish in society. They have been long-
UD’s venerated Department of Chemical
time benefactors to the University, creating
Engineering. During his tenure, Colburn
and sustaining the William H. and Jacqueline
brought in additional faculty to serve as
Severns Scholarship, which, since 1992,
adjunct and visiting professors, allowing
has supported more than 150 UD students
individuals widely regarded as leaders in more
enrolled through the Division of Professional
specialized fields to teach specific courses at the
and Continuing Studies.
graduate level.
They also made a gift in memory of Severns’
“Right here in Delaware, I was exposed to top
son, UD alumnus Matthew Severns, to
faculty from all over,” Severns says. “I admired
support construction of the Patrick T. Harker
that.”
Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering William "Bill” Severns ’50, pictured with his wife, Jacqueline,
committed $4 million to establish the William H. Severns Jr.
Laboratory.
To continue this tradition of faculty excellence, Faculty Support Fund and Distinguished Chair in Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering.
he and his wife, Jacqueline, recently committed
Severns credits Colburn and Pigford with his
$4 million to establish the William Severns
considerable professional success, and he says
Jr. Distinguished Chair of Chemical and
the recent gift supporting the distinguished
Biomolecular Engineering.
chair position is his way of honoring their
legacy and nurturing the same kind of talent
An endowed chair is the highest academic
and ambition that the legendary professors
award a university can bestow on a faculty
embodied. n
member, and the Severns’ gift will provide
research support for a faculty member in the
department.

FACULTY
Wagner elected to
National Academy of
Engineering, named
AAAS fellow
NORMAN J. WAGNER, the Center for Systems Biology at the Delaware Wagner was also recently elected a Fellow
Biotechnology Institute (2012); T.W. of the American Association for the
Robert L. Pigford Chaired FRASER RUSSELL, Allan P. Colburn Advancement of Science for distinguished
Professor of Chemical and Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering contributions to the field of soft matter and
Biomolecular Engineering— (1990); and STANLEY SANDLER, H.B. engineering, particularly the fundamentals
du Pont Chair of Chemical Engineering of colloid and particle science and rheology,
who is noted for his (1996). and for academic leadership.
groundbreaking research
in fluid mechanics and “We welcome Norm Wagner’s election to Wagner chaired the department from 2007–
the National Academy of Engineering, a 12, and currently directs the University
molecular thermodynamics— well-deserved honor that recognizes an of Delaware’s Center for Neutron Science
has been elected to the outstanding career that has encompassed (CNS).
prestigious National research, innovation, entrepreneurship and
education,” said Ogunnaike. He leads an active research that
Academy of Engineering. studies the rheology of complex fluids,
ABRAHAM M. LENHOFF, chair neutron scattering, colloid and polymer
Wagner joins four other department
of the department, hailed Wagner for science, applied statistical mechanics,
members and emeritus faculty as members
compiling a “record of accomplishment nanotechnology and particle technology.
of the NAE: MARK BARTEAU, professor
that is appreciable in almost every
emeritus and former chair of the Department
conceivable category of professional activity: Wagner’s research areas include the effects
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
experimental, theoretical and computational of applied flow on the microstructure and
(honored in 2006); BABATUNDE A.
research; scholarship, education and material properties of colloidal suspensions,
OGUNNAIKE, dean of the College of
mentoring; invention and entrepreneurship; polymers, self-assembled surfactant solutions,
Engineering, William L. Friend Chair of
and academic and professional leadership.” and complex fluids in general. n
Chemical Engineering and a professor in the

OGUNNAIKE HONORED BY AICHE AND NAI FOR
PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INNOVATION
Dean of Engineering and William L. extension of engineering education and
Friend Chair of Chemical Engineering encouraging students to develop a global
BABATUNDE A. OGUNNAIKE was mindset.
honored this year by both the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and Ogunnaike leads research in control and
the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). systems theory and in systems biology,
The two national honors—the 2014 MAC considering the development of effective
Eminent Chemical Engineers Award from control techniques with application to complex
AIChE and induction as a Fellow of the industrial processes and also working to
NAI—recognize his leadership and example in understand biological control systems.
fostering a diverse talent pool of engineers and
for advancing innovation and entrepreneurship One of his recent inventions is technology
among engineering students and faculty. for a next generation “regulatory controller”
developed with his graduate student, Kapil
“Good teachers teach well, great teachers Mukati, for which they were granted a patent
inspire,” said Ogunnaike, the son of an in 2007.
educator who understands the power of sharing
his knowledge of others. “I want to inspire “Inspiration comes in many forms, and
students to be catalysts for change.” diversity—of thought, discipline, gender,
culture—are all important to addressing 21st
Today he remains a catalyst for change, century challenges,” says Ogunnaike. n
supporting entrepreneurship as a natural
RAUL LOBO NAMED CLAIRE D.

LECLAIRE PROFESSOR OF CHEMICAL &
BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING
RAUL LOBO, professor and director of the catalytic properties of zeolites by creating new
University of Delaware’s Center for Catalytic reaction sites, understanding their synthesis
Science and Technology (CCST), was and developing applications of these materials
appointed the Claire D. LeClaire Professor of to help solve societal problems such as
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. sustainable energy conversion and pollution
abatement.
Since joining the chemical and biomolecular
engineering faculty in 1995, Lobo has been As director of CCST, he helps to coordinate
instrumental in the research of zeolites and and disseminate the research efforts of
other nanoporous materials. more than a dozen faculty members, with
studies ranging from catalyst discovery, to
Zeolites, porous synthetic minerals with a characterization and modeling of catalysts for
precise crystalline structure, can perform industrial applications, all of which provides
separation of molecules with size differences a rich training ground for students at the
of merely a fraction of an angstrom, making graduate and undergraduate levels.
them useful as molecular sieves for separation
and catalytic processes in the chemical and This named professorship was made possible
petroleum industries. by the endowment of the late Mr. Claire D.
LeClaire, formerly of Dover, in support of
Lobo’s research centers on expanding the chemical engineering efforts at the University. n

FACULTY
Faculty Highlights
ROBERTS PROMOTED, PRASAD DHURJATI, professor of
chemical and biomolecular engineering,
LEADS NEW is now president-elect of the University of
Delaware Faculty Senate for the 2015–16
BIOTECHNOLOGY academic year. Dhurjati’s expertise is in
biotechnology and artificial intelligence,
INITIATIVES with research in the area of systems
biology, systems medicine and modeling
CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS, whose of engineering systems. He also applies
research focuses on the quantitative mathematical models and knowledge-
prediction, design and control of protein based approaches to convert biological and
degradation in solution, and of degradation medical data to useful knowledge. n
of pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical
molecules in amorphous solids (glasses), has
been promoted to professor. The research
in his group has long been distinctive for THOMAS H. EPPS III, Thomas &
being steeped in the fundamentals but Kipp Gutshall Professor of Chemical
being of great interest to colleagues in the Engineering, associate professor, joint
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. professor, Materials Science & Engineering
This characteristic is shared by the research and DuPont Young Professor, was selected
of a significant fraction of the faculty in to attend the 2014 US-Japan Frontiers
the department with research interests in industrial research consortia. Participating of Science Symposium in Tokyo, Japan.
bioengineering, which has grown enormously faculty from the department are: MACIEK The symposium was cosponsored by the
over the past decade with new faculty hires at ANTONIEWICZ, associate professor; National Academy of Sciences at the Japan
both senior and junior levels. WILFRED CHEN, Gore Professor; Society for the Promotion of Sciences. n
DAVID COLBY, assistant professor;
The department’s newfound great strength in PRASAD DHURJATI, professor; ERIC
this area led to the emergence in the past year FURST, professor; APRIL KLOXIN,
ERIC FURST, professor and director,
of multiple new structures, under Roberts’s assistant professor; CHRISTOPHER
Center for Molecular & Engineering
leadership, that reflect the collaborative KLOXIN, assistant professor; KELVIN
Thermodynamics (CMET), was awarded
research and shared resources and facilities to LEE, Gore Professor and director, Delaware
the 2014 NASA Exceptional Scientific
cement the leadership of UD, especially the Biotechnology Institute; ABRAHAM
Achievement Medal. n
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular LENHOFF, Allan P. Colburn Professor;
Engineering, in this critical area for research TUNDE OGUNNAIKE, William L.
and societal impact. The Center for Friend Chair; TERRY PAPOUTSAKIS,
Biomanufacturing Science & Technology Eugene DuPont chair; MILLIE SULLIVAN, E. TERRY PAPOUTSAKIS, the
(CBST) brings together faculty that tackle associate professor; NORMAN WAGNER, Eugene du Pont Chair of Chemical
a wide array of problems and fundamental Robert L. Pigford Chair. Engineering, was elected a fellow of the
challenges in areas including: cell culture American Institute of Chemical Engineers
processes and bioreactors; high-end and Roberts also directs the Biomolecular (AIChE). His research focuses on areas of
scalable purification processes; product Interaction Technologies Center (BITC), systems biology, metabolic engineering,
formulation and stability; drug delivery; which has been operated at the University of experimental and computational genomics
manufacturing; and analytical technologies, New Hampshire for some years but is moving with applications in stem-cell biology and
instrumentation, and algorithms to support to a new home at UD. The center is an prokaryotic biology for the production of
all of these areas. The Center supports academic-industrial consortium that provides biofuels and chemicals from biomass. n
cutting-edge research facilities on campus, advanced research capabilities as well as being
educational activities including seminars, a forum for technology transfer and support
workshops, and short courses, as well as of innovative research in the area. n

Welcome Joshua Enszer
We are delighted to welcome JOSHUA ENSZER, who has joined the
department as assistant professor of instruction, with responsibilities
that cover teaching and academic innovation in the undergraduate
Jiao selected Outstanding Junior program. His goal is to bring knowledge from the scholarship of
teaching and learning to improve opportunities in the department’s
Faculty Member undergraduate courses. He hopes to apply some of his earlier work in the
areas of game-based learning and metacognition to his new position at
FENG JIAO, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular UD. Before starting at UD, Josh was a lecturer in chemical engineering
engineering, was selected as the College of Engineering’s Outstanding at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Prior to that, he was
Junior Faculty Member for 2015. Jiao’s research interests focus on design interim program coordinator for first-year engineering at the University
and synthesis of nanostructured materials for solving critical issues in of Notre Dame. Josh holds undergraduate degrees in chemical
producing solar fuels through artificial photosynthetic systems and engineering and mathematics from Michigan Technological University
developing next generation Li-ion batteries. n and graduate degrees in chemical engineering from Notre Dame. n
FORMER FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Lehigh bestows honorary degree on

Doyle named SEAS dean Denson
FRANCIS J. DOYLE III, professor of chemical engineering at UD COSTEL ‘COS’ DENSON, former UD professor of chemical
from 1997 to 2002, is the new dean of the Harvard School of Engineering engineering, interim dean of engineering and vice provost for research,
and Applied Sciences (SEAS) effective Aug. 1. Most recently, Doyle received an honorary Doctor of Science from Lehigh University as one
was a distinguished scholar in chemical engineering at the University of of the most respected minds in the world in the field of fluid mechanics.
California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), serving as associate dean for research
at UCSB’s College of Engineering, where he instigated a major push into Denson is currently managing member of Costech Technologies, LLC,
bioengineering. As founding associate director in 2003 and more recently a company that advises on environmental issues. He has served on
director of the multicampus Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, numerous advisory boards, more recently including the U.S. Department
Doyle brought together the research and educational efforts of 55 faculty of Defense: Scientific Advisory Board, the U.S. Environmental
spanning 15 departments and the campuses of UCSB, Caltech, and the Protection Agency: Science Advisory Board, and the National Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. n Council: Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicity. n

FACULTY
Antoniewicz receives journal’s

prestigious Daniel I.C. Wang Award
MACIEK R. ANTONIEWICZ, DuPont Young Professor in the
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, received the
2015 Daniel I.C. Wang Award for his contribution of experimental,
computational and analytic techniques that elucidate cell function.
Antoniewicz received the award last spring from the journal Biotechnology
and Bioengineering at the 2015 American Chemical Society National
Meeting in Denver, where he delivered the Daniel I.C. Wang Award
lecture titled “Toward a Holistic Understanding of Cellular Metabolism.”
He studies metabolism in microbial and mammalian cells, working on

problems relevant to the biofuel industry and to health care. “The key
expertise we offer is that we’re able to look at what’s happening inside the
cells,” said Antoniewicz.
“We’re developing techniques that allow us to visualize, using isotope

tracer techniques, how cells take up nutrients and convert them into
useful products,” a field known as metabolic flux analysis, he said. Until recently, the team has been able to study metabolic flux in only
“Essentially what we’re doing is developing a quantitative understanding one species or cell type at a time, but that is changing. “We’ve been able
of how metabolism is regulated.” to extend our technique to study multiple biological systems grown
together—so we can now grow a fungus and a bacterium together and
That understanding can help researchers design more efficient microbial study how they interact with each other.”
cells, or “cell factories,” for biofuel applications, using species like E. coli. It
can also assist in studies of metabolism in cancerous cells. “With cancer, New generations of biofuel applications are being developed that rely
we’re trying to find targets that will stop the growth of cancer cells, but on such combined systems. This type of analysis can also be useful for
not impact healthy cells,” he said. studying diseases like diabetes.
Antoniewicz’s team has developed a software package called Metran, “If we can study how multiple cells interact, we can better visualize the
which researchers can use to study cellular metabolism, and has development and progression of diabetes, with the goal of eventually
distributed it to more than 100 labs worldwide. finding ways to intervene before full-blown diabetes sets in.” n
Antony Beris wins Willem Prins Award

ANTONY BERIS, the Arthur B. Metzner Professor of Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering, received the Willem Prins Lecture Award
from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands for
his contributions in the field of polymer science and engineering.
Beris delivered the lecture, “Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

Modeling of the Flow and Deformation of Complex Materials with
Internal Microstructure,” in July at the 7th International Workshop on
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics.
The award was named to honor Prins, who played a key role in
establishing the tradition of polymer science and engineering at TU
Delft, working on polymer networks and entanglements. The prize is
awarded by the Delft Association for Polymer Technology.

STAFF
George Whitmyre retires

GEORGE WHITMYRE, known to “Whitmyre learned a good deal about Colburn
Laboratory from his work on occupational safety,
everyone who was educated in applying these lessons to the subsequent renovation
Colburn Lab since the 1970s, retired and expansion of the facility. His responsibilities
also included the construction and maintenance of
at the end of June 2015 after 41 countless undergraduate laboratory experiments. The
years of service. name of George Whitmyre became synonymous with
safety and utility in the department. Mike Klein later
George’s official title was Laboratory Manager, and manage recalled: ‘One of the first things I noticed when I left
he did: there isn’t a corner of the building or its individual the University of Delaware to become a dean at Rutgers
labs that he didn’t know in detail, and his institutional University was that no single person had oversight
memory and proactive leadership were instrumental in for the Rutgers chemical engineering laboratories.
maintaining the high quality of our labs. Most importantly, They didn’t have anyone like George Whitmyre. Every
when concerns about lab safety were raised in the late 1970s, department needs a George.’”
George took the lead in developing suitable practices in the
department, in the course of which he became a nationally We would wish George a quiet and restful retirement,
recognized authority on lab safety. The full history of the but know that that is impossible. He’s still as busy as ever
safety effort is recounted in Reggie Blasczyk’s history of the working on new projects in his own shop. n
department published last year, from which the following
extract tells much of the story:
“After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the

Pennsylvania State University in 1967, Whitmyre worked
on a master’s degree in Entomology and Applied Ecology
at the University of Delaware, finishing in June 1973. ‘I
performed all of the machining work for this project in
the Chemical Engineering Machine shop, supervised by
Jackie Hollobaugh,’ Whitmyre later remembered, ‘so I
was acquainted with most of our ChEG Grad Students,
Post-Docs, and some of the Faculty.’ Arthur B. Metzner
hired Whitmyre as a research machinist in October 1973.
He was eventually promoted to the position of master
instrument maker, and then to laboratory coordinator in
1978–79.
“The name of George Whitmyre

became synonymous with safety
and utility in the department. . . .
Every department needs
a George.”

IN MEMORIAM
JON H. OLSON, PROFESSOR

EMERITUS, REMEMBERED FOR
SELFLESS SERVICE TO UD
JON H. OLSON died October 26, 2014, students, and he served as a formal academic
in his cottage at Jenner’s Pond, Pennsylvania, advisor to generations of students and as an
attended by his friends, family, and wife Nancy informal mentor to many more. He guided
Olson; he was 80 years old. He had been to higher levels of accomplishment those who
diagnosed with biliary adenocarcinoma in June were doing well, and helped many who were
2013. not to get back on track. Hundreds of alumni
over a period of decades give credit to Jon for
Jon’s family moved frequently during his their own career successes.
childhood, such that Jon attended 14
schools before college. He graduated from He was honored for his advising attention to
the Lawrenceville School and then earned a undergraduates with a University Excellence in
bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in Academic Advising Award, marked by a named
1955 and a doctorate in chemical engineering brick in the sidewalk at Mentors’ Circle.
from Yale University in 1961.
Jon was the first president of the Faculty Senate
He worked at the Applied Physics Laboratory in the 1970s and active in forming the faculty
at the DuPont Experimental Station in union. During his career at the University
Wilmington for three years. His interactions of Delaware he also served as the associate
He guided to with Robert Pigford, then a consultant at the and acting dean of Engineering, director of
Engineering Research Laboratory of DuPont, the cooperative engineering program with
higher levels of led him to appreciate the creativity that Bob Delaware State College, and director of the
accomplishment those had for engineering science and inspired Jon to
join the University of Delaware faculty.
minority engineering program at UD. He was
honored by the Faculty Senate in 2014 by the
who were doing well, naming for him of the award for service to the
Jon found the intellectual vitality at UD Senate.
and helped many who invigorating. His research focused on
were not to get back chemical kinetics, models for reaction
engineering and transient kinetic processes.
Jon retired from the Chemical Engineering
Department after 40 years, in 2002. He then
on track. Hundreds of He approached these topics experimentally, became an ardent volunteer in the department,
using flash photolysis to study reaction advising undergraduates, coordinating alumni
alumni over a period kinetics, particularly for partial oxidation relations and working on research, until his
of decades give credit of hydrocarbon systems, and used mass
spectrometry to study diffusion in polymers.
health began to decline in 2013.
to Jon for their own However, his expertise extended well beyond Jon had three children with his first wife, Jean
these areas, and his teaching spanned Clift Olson: Eric Jon Olson, Kirsten Ann
career successes. the breadth of the chemical engineering Olson, and Greta Olson, all of whom earned
curriculum. doctoral degrees. He is also survived by his
second wife, Nancy Haldeman Olson, nine
Jon’s unique strength was his concern for grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. n

Professor Richard Wool eulogized as
“remarkable scientist, genuinely good person”
RICHARD PATRICK WOOL, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Among Wool’s professional
professor of chemical and biomolecular Engineering, said, “Richard’s passion for accomplishments were winning the
engineering since 1994 and director of UD’s developing materials from renewable Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge
Affordable Composites from Renewable resources included mentoring the next Award and being elected a fellow of both
Sources (ACRES) laboratory—where generation of green engineers, and made the Royal Society of Chemistry and the
with colleagues and students he created him a highly visible spokesman for the American Physical Society, Division of High
revolutionary industrial materials with area. At UD his elective courses in bio- Polymer Physics.
reduced impact on the environment and based materials and green engineering
human health—died unexpectedly on were enormously popular with students in Contributions can be made to the
March 24, 2015. He was 67. chemical engineering and beyond. We will Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
miss his irrepressibly positive outlook, good Engineering to support the Dr. Richard
“Richard was a remarkable scientist, engineer humor and, of course, his leadership of a Wool Award for Women in Green
and researcher,” said BABATUNDE very important field in our discipline.” Chemistry. Please send contributions to:
OGUNNAIKE, dean of the College of University of Delaware, Gifts Processing,
Engineering and William L. Friend Chaired “Richard was an outstanding teacher, 83 East Main St., Third Floor, Newark, DE
Professor of Chemical Engineering. “But above researcher, adviser and mentor,” said JOHN 19716. Make checks payable to “University
all of that, he was a genuinely good person.” ( JACK) W. GILLESPIE, director of the of Delaware” and include on the memo line
Center for Composite Materials. “He was “in memory of Dr. Richard Wool.” Gifts can
ABRAHAM LENHOFF, Allan P. also founder of Affordable Composites from also be made on the University of Delaware’s
Colburn Professor of Chemical and Renewable Sources, for which he was world secure website, www.udel.edu/makeagift. n
Biomolecular Engineering and chair of the renowned.”

BOOKS, MONOGRAPHS AND JOURNAL
that were highlighted on covers selected from more than
publications by our faculty this past year.
“πάντα ῥει: Everything Flows” “Catch and release: photocleavable “Effect of Homopolymer Matrix “Design of Thiol-ene Photoclick
by Anthony N. Beris and cationic diblock copolymers as a on Diblock Copolymer Grafted Hydrogels Using Facile
A. Jeffrey Giacomin potential platform for nucleic acid Nanoparticle Conformation and Techniques for Cell Culture
delivery” by Matthew D. Green, Potential of Mean Force: Applications” by Lisa A. Sawicki
Abbygail A. Foster, Chad T. A Molecular Simulation Study” and April M. Kloxin
Greco, Raghunath Roy, by Carla E. Estridge and Arthi
Rachel M. Lehr, Thomas H. Epps, Jayaraman
III, and Millicent O. Sullivan
“Enthalpy of Fusion of Poly “Shear Enhances “The Clostridium Sporulation “Using Aspen Plus in
(3-hexylthiophene) by Differential Thrombopoiesis and formation Programs: Diversity and Thermodynamics Instruction:
Scanning Calorimetry” by Roddel of Microparticles That Induce Preservation of Endospore A Step-by-Step Guide”
Remy, Emily Daniels Weiss, Ngoc Megakaryocytic Differntiation Differentiation” by Mohab A. by Sandley I. Sandler
A. Nguyen, Sujun Wei, Luis M. of Stem Cells” by Jinlin Jiang, Al-Hinai, Shawn W. Jones,
Campos, Tomasz Kowalewski, and Donna Woulfe, and Eleftherios T. Papoutsakis
Michael E. Mackay Eleftherios T. Papoutsakis

RESEARCH
ARTICLES
Dhurjati introduces
250 quantitative
modeling approach
to study gut bacterial
link to autism
PRASAD DHURJATI, professor of chemical
and biomolecular engineering with a joint
appointment in mathematical sciences, was
recently featured in the Wilmington News
Journal for developing a computer-simulated
human gut microbiome to advance the search
for the cause of autism.
Dhurjati’s work looks at a possible connection

between autism and the bacteria found in the
digestive system. Many with autism experience
digestive issues. Research now suggests that
issues in bacteria and their genes found in
the human gut may be triggering autism, as
opposed to the earlier assumption that autism
“Dually Click Hydrogels for leads to digestive problems.
Controlled Degradation and
Protein Release” by Prathamesh Dhurjati’s work to develop a systems
M. Kharkar, April M. Kloxin, connectivity model of autism is supported, in
and Kristi L. Kiick
part, by a research grant from the science and
advocacy organization, Autism Speaks. Joined
by three UD researchers, back in 2013, he built
a lab-scale artificial gut reactor to simulate the
microbial dynamics in the gut microbiome
hoping to develop system-level models and
tools for analysis of interactions between the
digestive system and brain. More recently, the
team constructed an artificial autistic genome
made up of microbes implicated in autism.
“The goal is to compare that to a model of

a normal gut to determine what the autistic
microbes are eating, what they are making
and how that changes the intestinal gut
permeability and the blood-brain barrier,” said
Dhurjati. n
Graphic courtesy of a story that appeared

“Layering, melting, and
in the University of Delaware Messenger
recrystallization of a close-packed
micellar crystal under steady and magazine, which can be viewed at
large-amplitude oscillatory shear www.udel.edu/udmessenger
flows” by Carols R. Lopez-Barron,
Norman J. Wagner, and Lionel Porcar

RESEARCH
Papoutsakis team seeks patents on techniques to

produce platelets, engineer bacteria
ELEFTHERIOS “TERRY” PAPOUTSAKIS, Unidel Eugene du and platelet-like particles under shear stress correlates with physiological
Pont Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and his team observations—in healthy adults, both acute and prolonged exercise leads
from the Delaware Biotechnology Institute have two patents pending to elevated platelet counts. Now, these findings can be used to develop
for research that could prove “game changing” for such biomolecular better bioreactor technologies for producing platelets, pre-platelets,
advances as platelet formation and a newly engineered strain of E. coli. platelet-like particles, and megakaryocyte microparticles for transfusion
medicine, using stem cells as starting material.”
The team’s work on paving the way to accelerating and enhancing platelet
production using megakaryocytes, or large stem cells found in bone Reviewers of the paper, titled “Shear Enhances Thrombopoiesis and
marrow, was featured as the cover story of Blood. Formation of Microparticles that Induce Megakaryocytic Differentiation
of Stem Cells,” referred to the findings as “very exciting,” “highly novel,”
“It turns out that biomechanical forces are necessary for biogenesis of and even “game changing.”
all three types of particles that can be generated from megakaryocytes—
pre-platelets, platelet-like particles, and megakaryocyte microparticles. Papoutsakis is hopeful that his team’s discovery can break the vicious
Until recently, these microparticles were viewed as inconsequential cell cycle of diseases that cause reduced platelet count and cause life-
debris,” said Papoutsakis. threatening bleeding.
“We now know that they play a significant biological role in platelet The second patent stemming from Papoutsakis’ research group is for
formation,” he continued. “The enhanced generation of pre-platelets research highlighted in Nature Communications on a new technique to
An immunoflourescent image of a partially disintegrated human polyploidy megakaryocyte, featured on the cover of the journal Blood.

Doctoral student Jinlin Jiang is credited with making the breakthrough finding in research that sheds new light on the mechanism of platelet formation, paving the way to accelerating and enhancing
their production using stem cells found in bone marrow.
create specially engineered E. coli bacteria that will host, recognize and with E. coli, we’re getting a much broader representation of the actual
respond to the genes of numerous other bacterial species. genetic population.”
The paper’s two lead authors are NICHOLAS SANDOVAL, a
postdoctoral researcher, and STEFAN GAIDA, D’13, who is now The researchers found that when they engineered E. coli to produce the
doing postdoctoral work in Germany. RpoD sigma factor from the microbe Lactobacillus plantarum (Lpl), it
allowed E. coli to recognize all gene promoters it encountered, from any
Because so little is known about how they live, researchers still can’t source.
grow most microbes in the laboratory, limiting what can be learned from
them. They had created a strain of bacterium that would be able to transcribe
any fragment of foreign DNA that was still connected to a promoter.
Scientists have sidestepped this problem by creating metagenomic
libraries. They extract the DNA (the metagenome), obtain random bits “It was surprising and really fantastic that the Lpl sigma factor
and pieces of genetic material from many different organisms, and then worked on every library that we tested, and extremely well with the
insert each fragment of DNA into an E. coli bacterium, so that each metagenomic library,” said Sandoval. “We found something that is very
bacterium contains a different fragment, a “volume” from the larger robust in its efficacy. We can now can screen a much larger proportion
library. of the metagenomic or heterologous genomic DNA libraries that were
previously not functional.”
Searching through the functions and products of DNA cultivated this
way, known as a functional screen, lets researchers find new proteins or The authors believe the newly engineered strain of E. coli will have broad
cellular activities without having to pinpoint a specific gene beforehand, use among genomics researchers.
or even know what species it belongs to.
Said Sandoval, “Hopefully this work will greatly enhance the ability to
“The goal of this work was to engineer bacteria that would be able to do functional screens on the metagenome and allow everyone who does
better express a larger variety of genes coming from the metagenome,” these screens to look for interesting health and industrial applications,
said Sandoval, “so that when we do perform these functional screens much more efficiently and much more easily.” n

RESEARCH
Nature Communications
highlights Yan’s organic zeolite
advance
In a landmark paper published in the international scientific journal
Nature Communications, YUSHAN YAN, Distinguished Professor of
Engineering, describes a new approach to creating organic zeolites.
“There is a dream out there to build organic zeolites,” he said. “If you
can create organic zeolites, you can do more and even better catalysis
and better separations. It opens the door for applications previously
thought impossible.”
Traditionally, zeolites have been derived from inorganic materials like

silicon or aluminum. For the past several years, Yan has focused on
combining zeolites with organic polymers whose main components are
carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen.
According to Yan, converting these polymers into a crystalline material

is difficult because it requires reactions that are reversible. But polymers
typically are created when identical molecules (or monomers) react and
form an irreversible bond.
“Think of building a house,” he explained. “If the moment a builder

touches one metal beam to another they become stuck together, it
would make construction very difficult. In the same way, molecules
Yushan Yan has reported a significant advance in the creation of organic zeolites in the journal
don’t always bond perfectly the first time, and they may need to detach, Nature Communications.
adjust and reattach to achieve a desired structure. If the reaction is
irreversible, molecules can get stuck in a non-ideal position.”
Yan’s research team devised a way to slow the polymer’s intrinsic

reactivity down, allowing it to be reversible. At the same time, lowering
the temperature reduced the molecules’ reactivity and lengthened the
reaction time, allowing the molecules to adjust their alignment before
becoming connected.
The result is a crystalline porous material with large pores, a large

surface area (2,346 square meters—the equivalent of nearly half an
American football field—per gram) and excellent thermal stability (530
degrees C).
The technique and the new materials it produces can be immediately

useful in catalysis and separations for chemicals production and
hydrocarbon conversion for energy applications. Yan also sees potential
for organic zeolites to influence energy research, particularly in
membrane development, and fuels cells and battery applications. n

Dion Viachos directs UD’s Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation, which has announced a cooperative research program to explore methods of producing renewable beverage bottles, packaging,
automotive components and fabric from biomass.
CCEI ADVANCES RENEWABLE The work builds on a 2012 CCEI advance that led to a new process for
creating high yield (>90 percent) p-xylene from renewable biomass,
PLASTICS RESEARCH, SIMPLIFIES which is used to produce PET plastics. The program is part of a larger
effort by CCEI to create breakthrough technologies for the production
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS PROCESS of biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.
Two significant innovations have stemmed PTC is a strategic working group consisting of the Coca-Cola Co., Ford
from the University of Delaware’s Catalysis Motor Co., H.J. Heinz Co., Nike Inc., and the Procter and Gamble
Company.
Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI) this year.
Activated Research Company (ARC), a new start-up based in
The first is a research program with the Plant PET Technology Minnesota, is developing the Polyarc QCD technology. Using an
Collaborative (PTC) to explore methods of producing renewable integrated microreactor design, multiple catalytic reactions break
beverage bottles, packaging, automotive components and fabric from down complex chemical mixtures into single compounds, significantly
biomass. The second is the invention of the Quantitative Carbon reducing the time and effort required for characterization analyses.
Detector (QCD), a device that identifies and quantifies chemical Microchannels that surround a built-in heating system allow for high-
compounds in complex mixtures, such as fuels, oils, chemicals, resolution chemical detection, as well as integration of hardware and
pharmaceuticals and food, and will significantly impact the amount of software within existing chemical analysis devices.
time required for chemical analysis.
“A major challenge in any energy and fuels laboratory is identifying the
CCEI is a multi-institutional, UD-led research center comprised chemicals within liquid substances,” said ALEX PAULSEN, CCEI
of 20 principal investigators from nine academic institutions and researcher and co-inventor. “After being identified, each compound must
one national research laboratory. Funded by the U.S. Department be quantified, and this can be a time-consuming procedure for complex
of Energy as part of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) mixtures. By breaking down the mixtures into single compounds, the
program, it also includes an industrial consortium. The center’s QCD simplifies the process so we have more time to focus on research.”
research focuses on discovering new technologies for the production
of renewable fuels and chemicals using lignocellulosic (non-food) “The QCD is really the holy grail of chemical analysis,” said PAUL J.
biomass and such feedstocks. DAUENHAUER, associate professor of chemical engineering and
materials science at the University of Minnesota and co-director of CCEI.
Using renewable materials such as trees and grasses to manufacture plastics “Utilizing this new technology allows us to focus our effort on catalytic
provides companies flexibility in resources, while also addressing the science rather than tedious and expensive chemical calibrations.”
global challenge of discovering new materials for sustainable packaging,
explained DION VLACHOS, CCEI director and Elizabeth Inez Kelley The research was published in the January issue of the journal Lab on a
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Chip, a publication of the Royal Society of Chemistry. n

Ellipsoidal particle films fabricated by directed self-assem-
bly exhibit unique phonon structures that tailor the propa-
gation of acoustic energy. Materials such as these could be
used for acoustic applications and also serve as models for
emerging thermal barrier nanomaterials.
The buckling of a self-assembled column of magnetic

colloids from recent InSPACE studies. The magnetic field is
oriented left to right. The column is about 30 micrometers
in diameter, about a third of the diameter of a human hair.

RESEARCH
FURST PUBLISHES ON BUCKLING

PHENOMENON OBSERVED IN INSPACE
EXPERIMENT, IMAGINES NEXT
GENERATION OF SMART MATERIALS
ERIC FURST has spent the last two decades particles published last fall in the American
studying colloidal particles, most recently Physical Society’s Physical Review Letters.
exploring nano-particles suspended in
magnetorheological (MR) fluids as part of “NASA was interested in developing the
a series of experiments on the International research portfolio of the Space Station,” said
Space Station. But even this veteran researcher Furst. “What kind of experiments can you do
was surprised by an unexpected buckling in space? What kind of ground benefits will
phenomenon first observed as part of research there be? It’s a whole new laboratory, where
supported by NASA through the InSPACE gravity has less power,” he said. “Having [the
(Investigating the Structures of Paramagnetic MR fluids] in microgravity is the key for us to
Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions) project. be able to do these experiments.”
When exposed to magnetic fields, MR fluids— Astronauts aboard the Space Station conduct
tiny magnetic particles in suspension—line up the experiments, and potential projects are
and form chains, so that the mixture becomes vetted carefully based on the benefits they
almost solid. When the magnetic field is might have for the rest of us.
removed, the fluids disassemble and buckle.
Furst and his team expected the disassembling “We’ve learned a lot about the process of self-
noted in their InSPACE experiment, but they assembly, especially in magnetic fields,” he said.
had never seen anything like this buckling in “We apply those principles to materials here on
ground-based experiments. Earth.”
Buckling is seen—and properly designed to “There’s a growing interest in buckling

avoid—in buildings and mechanical devices. phenomena in terms of manipulating, in
However, this property had not been observed particular, soft materials,” said Furst, “Whether
in MR fluids or more generally, in colloidal soft we want to induce buckling or not, I’m not
matter systems, before now. sure. That’s the engineering question we have
in front of us. What can we do with this really
Furst, who is director of UD’s Center for beautiful, physical, fundamental result?”
Molecular and Engineering Thermodynamics
(CMET) and professor of chemical and Furst’s lab is investigating several types of self-
biomolecular engineering, managed to assembled materials that can control, block
replicate the buckling in earthbound MR fluids and direct the flow of different types of energy,
by setting up multiple magnetic fields, bringing leading to technologies such as more efficient
the team another step closer to understanding lighting.
it. Under Earth’s gravity, the magnetic particles
are usually sitting against the bottom of their “We think [self-assembly] will allow us to not
container, and friction may prevent the chains only make new materials with new functions,
from warping the way they do in space. but make them faster and cheaper and more
ubiquitous. They’ll be important components
His team described the phenomenon in an of making whole devices function the way they
article on the propagation of sound waves do.” n
through a field of self-assembling polystyrene

RESEARCH
CBE researchers develop safer

electrolytes
A research team led by THOMAS H. EPPS III, the Thomas and Kipp
Gutshall Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, is designing
novel solid electrolytes using tapered block co-polymers to replace liquid
electrolytes and reduce the risk of spontaneous fires due to failures in
lithium-ion batteries.
In recent years, block co-polymers have received considerable

attention as viable rechargeable conducting and transport membrane
materials, due to their unique combination of thermal, mechanical and
electrochemical stability. Epps and his team have taken the concept
of block co-polymers a step further by tapering the interface—or the
transition region between blocks—so that the properties of the different the technique to evaluate materials for battery applications, we believe
polymer blocks are interspersed. that its unique capabilities make it a powerful tool for the analysis of
nanostructured polymer thin films in applications ranging from energy
A primary challenge in using block co-polymers lies in controlling and storage and generation to surface coatings and nanoscale templates.”
analyzing the location and spatial distribution of the various nanoscale
and atomic-scale components in these self-assembling materials. Any The team’s work was documented in RSC Advances, coauthored by
methods used to evaluate the materials must be able to “see” the structure graduate students WEI-FAN KUAN and RODDEL REMY in
at the nanoscale without causing damage that confuses or otherwise the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and
confounds analysis. MICHAEL MACKAY, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science
and Engineering; and in ACS Nano, coauthored by MING LUO,
In collaboration with researchers at MIT, Epps helped apply a new graduate student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
technique—C60+ depth-profiling x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Engineering and team members from the Massachusetts Institute of
(XPS)—to nanostructured polymers. “Although we’ve successfully applied Technology. n
Silver electrocatalysts Oxygen tanks cannot be shuttled out to

resupply the astronauts, so air must be recycled.
Platinum is the standard, and, currently, it’s
more than $1,000 an ounce.
may aid long-term Current systems are only about 50 percent
efficient at recovering used oxygen from carbon Jiao and his colleagues have figured out how to
space travel dioxide. use a copper alloy as a catalyst instead. “If you
put a little bit of titanium into copper,” he said,
FENG JIAO published two articles in Nature Jiao and NASA scientist Ken Burke are co- “you change the hydrogen binding energy on
Communications this past year, one attracting principal investigators on a $750,000 NASA- the surface, which makes it about right.” The
NASA’s attention for its potential to help funded grant, one of four teams trying to create combination of metals works even better than
astronauts breathe in space, and the other the most efficient oxygen recycling system platinum at a fraction of the cost.
using a copper-titanium mix to more efficiently possible. If their system is one of the two
create hydrogen fuel in an environmentally chosen by NASA for further exploration, they Jiao is also investigating whether a copper-
friendly way. will be granted $2 million to adapt the system titanium mix might also work to drive the
for large-scale use. reverse reaction, and efficiently burn hydrogen
Researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research in a fuel cell. “Eventually we will have a device
Center reached out to Jiao, assistant professor for hydrogen production and another device
of chemical and biomolecular engineering, Green hydrogen fuel
Jiao is also working on a cheaper way to for energy conversion to get that electricity
after reading of his team’s work. The paper back,” said Jiao. “One catalyst can probably do
described a silver electrocatalyst that, due to its produce hydrogen fuel, a promising renewable
energy source that can be made from water. both things.”
carefully designed nanoscale structure, could
convert CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) with Jiao’s work on green hydrogen fuel was
92 percent efficiency, freeing oxygen in the One of the hurdles in making the technology
mainstream, however, is its high cost. featured this past year on newsworks.org for
process. Philadelphia, and his NASA work in the
Producing hydrogen fuel from water requires
precious metal catalysts to drive the reaction. science section of Economic Time, India’s
leading business newspaper. n
STUDENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015!

Kevin Abraham Ryan Gardner Timothy Peterson
Raheel Ahmad Chris Garner Spencer Pontell
Radwan Alalawi Nicholas Gelardo Abdul-Rasheed Rabiu WHERE DID THEY GO?
Joseph Ambrosi Bryan Goldman William Rehrig
William Ballance Joshua Gorton Melanie Rinbrand Graduate School
Justin Beatty Philip Hastings Saul Salonga Carnegie Mellon University
Thomas Benz Erik Hobbs Bryan Schaeffer Columbia University
Aaron Bevenour Alaina Howe Samuel Schenkman North Carolina State University
David Biederman Alexander Jedruszczak Michael Schott Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Adrienne Blevins Jacqueline Johnson Chelsea Shockey Rutgers
David Blickwedel Rachel Kennel Christina Simmons UCLA
Elizabeth Boedeker Kevin Kuttler Stephen Smith UD (Particle Technology Program)
Frank Cheng Paul LaShier Mark Stader University of Colorado, Boulder
Lauren Cordova Alex Lauderback Meredith Steenkamer University of Delaware
James Craig Ian LeBlanc Michael Stevenson University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign
Hailey Cramer Ryan Leimbach Kevin Stone University of Minnesota
Nicole Daly Zhexi Lin Ian Strawser University of Texas at Austin
Ryan Davella Christopher LoPorto Michael Thomas University of Washington
Alexander Delluva Will McCormick Trevor Tougas West Virginia University
Mitchell Dennison Bill McKechnie Yun-Cheng Tsai
Monica Du Samantha Meehan Jiyuan Xiin
Ryan Dudek
Mohamed Eltahir
Chirag Mevawala
Bill Michelsen
Keyi Xu
Jiancheng Yang
Industry
Charles Evans Adam Moyer Jeff Yu Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Gregory Facas Daniel Muna Suli Zhang Applied Control Engineering
Eugene Feeley Joseph Nitsche Yazhou zhou Axens
Carlos Fernandez Andrew O’Connell Erik Zimmerman Braskem
Marianna Fleischman Nicholas Pentimone Jacob Zimmerman Croda
Edward Garcia Eric Peters Deloitte Consulting
Department of Defense
DuPont
Environmental Resources Management
PhD graduates M.Ch.E ExxonMobil
Georgia Power
Daniel J. Blackstock Nima Nikbin Andrew P. Black
Gore
Matthew A. Christiansen Trong Dinh Pham Long Chen
Merck
Timothy D. Courtney Jonathan E. Sutton William Diercxsens
NAVSEA
Amanda Kate Gurnon Kristin N. Valente Stephen M. Edie
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Jinlin Jiang Kathryn A. Whitaker Yun Soo Kim
SABIC
Yannick C. Kimmel Laj Xiong Ryan P. Murphy
Schneider Electric
Nicholas E. Levy Jang Ho Yun William Tytgat
The Dow Chemical Company
Sarah E. Mastroianni Bingzi Zhang UOP/Honeywell
Jacob A. McGill
W.L. Gore & Associates
Andrea N. Naranjo Erazo
West-Ward Pharmaceuticals

STUDENTS
Kloxin group brings

science to public
STUDE
through museum kiosk
and radio show
APRIL KLOXIN thinks science rocks,
and she wants everyone from grade-
GREG BENNETT won the poster
schoolers to grandparents to think that, too.
award at the 2014 ECI Conference.
Her research group is reaching out to the
public through an interactive kiosk at the
Delaware Museum of Natural History, as well JINGSI GAO won 2nd place in the
as through a radio show on the University’s April Kloxin student poster session at the Society
student-run radio station, WVUD. of Rheology’s 86th Annual Meeting.
a guest researcher interview, science news
The Mimicking Nature kiosk, which demonstrates and discussion of today’s latest science issues,
how animals and humans mimic nature, greets interspersed with music ranging from classic STIJN KOSHARI has been
the 75,000 people who visit the museum every rock to folk. awarded the IAR-CIT Master’s
year. The radio show—Science Rocks!—has the thesis award at KU Leuven for
potential to reach thousands more. AMBER HILDERBRAND, his work on characterization of
PRATHAMESH KHARKAR, MATTHEW iysozyme adsorption in cellulosic
Kloxin’s research focuses on the design REHMANN, LISA SAWICKI and chromatographic particles using
of materials that mimic and respond to MEGAN SMITHMYER—all graduate small-angle neutron scattering.
specific biological systems and their use for students with the April Kloxin Lab Group
understanding and directing these systems —take turns broadcasting every Wednesday
to heal the body. The kiosk demystifies these evening on 91.3HD-2 or online at wvud.org
materials through simple explanations, from 6:30–8:00. KALEIGH RENO was chosen
engaging graphics, analogies and photographs. to attend the 2015 Lindau Nobel
“We try to convey the importance of science Laureate Meeting.
“The goal of our work is to develop technologies communication and how people get into
that improve human health, and we want to scientific fields,” said Sawicki. “That’s key to
show science in a positive light,” said Kloxin, bringing science to the general public and KATE GURNON, PhD ’14, below,
who has joint appointments in the departments making it more accessible.” was awarded the 2015 Allan P.
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Colburn Dissertation Prize.
Materials Science and Engineering. Kloxin sees the kiosk and the radio show as a
way to build bridges, both between scientists
The kiosk is supported by a National Science and the public and between research and
Foundation Faculty Early Career Development education “Both of these are great platforms that
Award Kloxin received in 2013. enable us to reach a broad audience,” she said.
The radio show was launched in the fall Funding for Science Rocks! is provided by
of 2013, when several of Kloxin’s students Kloxin’s NSF award and UD’s IGERT program
applied to be DJs on WVUD The Basement. in Systems Biology of Cells in Engineered
The show is divided into segments including Environments. n
www.sciencerocksradio.com
NT Reconigtion
NICHOLAS SANDOVAL, right, postdoctoral research associate, received
an NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellowship proposal entitled, “Transcription
engineering for biosensor-based screening of metagenomic libraries.”
DOUG GODFRIN, center, jointly advised by NORMAN WAGNER

and YUN LIU, was awarded the NIST Sigma Xi Most Outstanding Poster
Presentation Award for Biotechnology, Biology, and Polymers. His poster,
entitled “Cluster Mediated Dynamics and Viscosity in Concentrated Protein
Solutions,” was posted in the NIST Main Admin building for two weeks.
NSF Fellows
UNDERGRADUATE
Lauren Cordova, attending University of Texas
GRADUATE
Lauren Dorsey
Jannatun Nayem
John Ruano-Salguero
Mahlet Woldeyes

STUDENTS
Jonathan Galarraga (right), a chemical and biomolecular engineering major

and McNair Scholar, explains the research he is doing on bone adhesives to
McNair coordinator Matthias Seisay.

Summer Scholars program introduces
undergrads to world of research
When a student moves by more senior members of his research team. exploring ways to use nanotemplates to increase
What he did with those cow bones was part processing power and improve other features of
into research, there’s a of his presentation at the Undergraduate electronic devices opened a whole network of
lot to learn—and not all Research Summer Scholars Poster Session that other resources, Scott said.
drew more than 100 students to the Trabant
of that learning comes University Center earlier this year. “He {Epps} knows all these people at all these
from reading, writing or different universities,” Scott said. “Why don’t
laboratories. Galarraga, who does research in the lab of you check what so-and-so has done? And if you
CHRISTOPHER KLOXIN, assistant contact them, they give you all kinds of ideas.”
UD’s Summer Scholars program offers professor of materials science and chemical and Using nanotemplates makes it possible to
undergraduates a 10-week summer job with a biomolecular engineering, is exploring defects expand capacity without expanding bulk, Scott
faculty researcher, giving them the chance to in cartilage and how to address the cavities that said, an important feature as devices continue
experience the work, learn research protocols undermine that joint-cushioning material. He to shrink.
and develop questions and ideas for senior said his work on Kloxin’s team has given him a
theses. Undergraduates are included in all richer understanding of how synthetic materials The circuitry could be etched into thin
kinds of investigations that could lead to better could contribute to successful treatment for polymer films and aligned as desired, he said. In
strategies for addressing everything from osteoarthritis, a condition that affects about 30 his Summer Scholars poster session, he showed
cholera to storm water management. million people in the United States alone. how the letters “UD” had been etched into one
model to illustrate the custom possibilities.
When McNair Scholar JONATHAN Summer scholar DOUGLAS SCOTT,
GALARRAGA needed bone samples to test a chemical and biomolecular engineering “We’re looking at many properties of these
a new bone adhesive for work on treatment of major, worked on aligning polymer films with films,” he said. “Tech is everything today.”
cartilage defects, he had no idea where to get THOMAS H. EPPS III, the Thomas and
them and felt a bit like the proverbial “mad Kipp Gutshall Associate Professor of Chemical KEVIN BICHOUPAN, a chemical and
scientist” calling the local meat market as advised and Biomolecular Engineering. The experience biomolecular engineering major, works with
JOSHUA ZIDE, professor of materials science
and engineering, in a project that makes
nanocomposites for use in semiconductors.
The process has allowed them to characterize

and investigate new materials, he said.
But the collaborative investigative work does
much more for these young researchers.
“This is a different type of learning,” Bichoupan

said. “In classes, this is the information you
have to know. In research, we don’t know.
You’re building off previous knowledge rather
than learning about stuff that’s already been
done. There’s an uncertainty.”
And that uncertainty is a powerful magnet for

inquiring minds. n
UD students (from left) Dakota Hanemann-Rawlings and Alex Northrop listen as Douglas Scott explains his research in polymer films.

ALUMNI
Alumni News
Send us your updates!
All in the department take great pleasure in hearing what our alumni on visits around the country; for instance, a group of our faculty
are doing, and especially of course hearing of their personal and had dinner with JIM SPEAROT M’70 D’72, BECCY SPEAROT
professional successes. The updates below are based on updates M’71, ERIN FINEHOUT ’00 and SCOTT CROWN D’13 while
sent to us by individuals, news items gleaned from the media in Denver for the ACS National Meeting in March. Please send news
and elsewhere, and information obtained by direct contacts with and updates to Bramie Lenhoff ([email protected]), and also let him
individuals. We have also enjoyed having small get-togethers with know if you’d be interested in a local reunion when one or more of
even a handful of alumni when one of our faculty has the opportunity our faculty are in your area.
1960s LOUIS EDWARDS, M’60, was the 2014 recipient of TAPPI’s Pulp
Manufacture Division Technical Award and Johan C. F. C. Richter
Cepheid, a leading molecular diagnostics company co-founded Prize. Lou spent 50 years as a professor of chemical engineering at the
by THOMAS GUTSHALL, ’60, has received emergency use University of Idaho, and in retirement was honored by the university’s
authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Xpert creation of the Lou Edwards Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering.
Ebola, a molecular diagnostic test for Ebola Zaire virus that delivers In the 1970s, he led the development of a modular computer software
results in less than two hours. Tom served as Cepheid’s first CEO and simulation program that became one of the first technologies of its kind
as chairman of the board from 1996 to 2013. A longstanding member in the pulp and paper industry, later known as GEMS. Today, companies
of the department’s advisory council, he served as co-chair of his 50th around the world use versions of the program to model and design
class reunion giving program in 2010, and is an honorary co-chair of papermaking processes that are more sustainable and energy efficient.
the Centennial Campaign. He and his wife, Kipp, endowed a career
development faculty chair in the department in 2011.
STANLEY L. PAULS, ’65, worked for a year at BF Goodrich Chemical
Co. in Kentucky after graduation and then spent 2 years in the army at
Ft. Gordon and in Korea. He began work for Celanese in Greenville,
SC in 1968 as a process engineer in the PET fiber production plant,
then transferred to the Celanese PET film plant in Greer, SC in 1975
and worked there in the PET bottle resin production unit until he
retired in 2013. This extended period included numerous changes in
ownership, but Stan’s positions progressed consistently to higher levels of
responsibility, from Process Support Engineer to Process Development
Engineer, Senior Production Engineer and Process Manager.
Stan married in 1971 and he and his wife still live in Greer, SC. They
have 3 boys, all married, and 8 grandchildren. Two of the families are in
Charleston, SC, and the other is in Greer. Stan has had an active lifestyle
that has included running, tennis and golf. Since retiring he has started
hiking with a local group and also took up digital photography. He and
Thomas and Kipp Gutshall have endowed a position in the Department of Chemical and Biomo-
lecular Engineering. his wife are spend time at their condo at Edisto Beach, SC, and hope also
to travel abroad over the next few years.

1970s J. GARY MCDANIEL, ’78, became CEO of ABSMaterials, Inc., an
Ohio-based company that makes absorbent materials solutions that
ROLAND HECK, D’75, worked 32 years for Mobil Oil Corporation, remove pollutants from water, in the timeliest of ways. The appointment
about 1/3 in research, 1/3 in engineering and 1/3 in administration and came the same day his previous employer, catalyst technology company
technology planning. While at Mobil he received 21 US patents and Catacel, was acquired by London-based Johnson Matthey. Gary got
authored 22 papers in petroleum processing. One of his more interesting the call to become CEO of ABSMaterials as he was closing the deal to
assignments was his four years in Calgary, Alberta on the front end of an sell Catacel, which no longer required its own CEO. Gary previously
$8 billion Oil Sands Project. While at Mobil he also served part-time as helped turn around UOP, and previous management positions at other
an Adjunct Professor at Penn State and as an ABET evaluator; he is now advanced materials companies include W.R. Grace & Co. and Akzo
an ABET Commissioner. Roland retired in 2000 when Exxon bought Nobel.
Mobil and became an academic, with appreciable interactions with other
UD connections. First, while teaching at Penn State, Roland found
1980s
himself only a few lessons ahead of his students, but long-time chair, the
late LARRY DUDA, M’61 D’63, told him, “The first time you teach
any course you learn a lot. The second time the students learn a lot,
and the third time” he wasn’t sure anybody learned much of anything.
In 2001 Roland became Associate Dean of Engineering and Applied KEVIN MCQUADE, ’80,
Science at Princeton University, where his first dean was James Wei, his has been named CEO of
thesis advisor at UD. Over the next seven years he worked with four Germany-based materials
different deans while helping to steer the engineering school through the supplier Styrolution. Kevin
renovation of more than 90% of its lab and classroom space as well as joined the company in 2011
teaching a course on the roots and principles of engineering, from which and was most recently its
he developed a freshman course on “Technology in America” that he has president of Europe, Middle
been teaching for eight years at UD. East and Africa. Styrolution
is a global styrenics supplier
Since 1968 Roland has enjoyed life with Donna, his wife and high operating production sites
school prom date. They have lived in Chester County, PA, for almost in 10 countries. Kevin
20 years and have three children and nine exceptional (of course) began his career in 1980 at
grandchildren ranging in age from two to fifteen, whom they enjoy Mobil Chemical Company.
watching grow up and spoiling every chance they get.
UD ChE heavily represented

DAVE PRILUTSKI, ‘75, writes that “my education at the University
of Delaware and degree in Chemical Engineering was the foundation for
in awards at ACS BIOT national
my career success. (Although the hours spent playing Star Trek on the meeting
old computers in Colburn basement probably didn’t help a lot).” Dave
only “officially” practiced engineering for two years before moving down UD chemical and biomolecular engineering was a major
a business path, which includes an MBA from Drexel. The first 10 years player in the awards presented as part of the Division of
of his career were spent in the Philadelphia area, but over the next 26 Biochemical Technology (BIOT) programming at the
years he and his family moved 10 times to locations including Dallas, ACS National Meeting in Denver. In addition to Maciek
Los Angeles, Houston and Rotterdam in The Netherlands, along with Antoniewicz’s award noted earlier, MIKE BETENBAUGH,
return trips to the Philadelphia area. Ultimately he was Vice President, D’88, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Global Supply Chain for Lyondell Chemical and later President Europe at Johns Hopkins, won the prestigious Marvin J. Johnson
for Lyondell. Dave left Lyondell in 2008 after they merged with Basell Award, and PETER TESSIER, D’03, associate professor in
to form LyondellBasell and he joined Foamex (renamed FXI) as Chief RPI’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Operating Officer. He left FXI in 2011 and now enjoy semi-retirement won the 2015 BIOT Young Investigator Award. Mike was one
as an adjunct Professor of Management at West Chester University and of the speakers in the department’s Centennial Seminar Series
Adjunct Professor of Decision Sciences at Drexel University. He has and Pete returned to UD to present the Allan P. Colburn
been married to the former Eileen Moran for 36 years. They have two Memorial Lecture in 2012. Rounding out the ACS BIOT
grown daughters. The broader Prilutski family is very much part of the awards, former faculty member Anne Robinson presented the
UD chemical engineering family, with both Dave’s brother, GERARD David Perlman lecture.
PRILUTSKI, ’77 D’84, and his sister, CHRISTY PRILUTSKI
DORRIS, ’98, being alumni; Christy also completed her MBA, at MIT.
Alumni News
ALUMNI
STEVE DAVEY, ’81, vice president of Bio-Based Products & Services

USA for global science-based DSM, helped craft a letter to President
1990s
Obama highlighting the role that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
UDIT BATRA, ’91, who has served as CEO and president of Merck
plays in encouraging investment in the biofuels industry. In part, he
Millipore since 2014, now leads the combined life science business
wrote: “The RFS gives the advanced biofuel industry an opportunity
following Merck’s acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich earlier this year.
to break into a motor fuel supply chain dominated by oil interests. The
Prior to joining Merck in 2011 to head the group’s consumer health
long-range policy certainty created by the RFS—together with your
business, Udit headed global public health and market access for
administration’s commitment to the industry—made it possible for our
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. Karl-Ludwig Kley, chairman of
companies to invest billions of dollars to commercialize our technologies
the Executive Board of Merck, described Udit as “a proven leader who
and build the most innovative refineries in the world.”
has demonstrated his ability to work successfully with his leadership
team to guide large organizations, drive performance and deliver to our
As a high school student, Steve won a chemistry scholarship of $250
customers.”
(which he says he promptly spent on a stereo). But winning it made him
think that if he was good enough to win an award, then maybe he should
be an engineer. He earned his BS in chemical engineering from UD,
which, in a recent interview with Biofuels Digest, he said is “one of the MATTHEW NEUROCK, D’92, was awarded the 2015 Robert
best schools in the northeast in chemical engineering.” Burwell Lectureship in Catalysis, sponsored by the North American
Catalysis Society. Matt is the Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering
and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, where he recently
moved from the University of Virginia. The lectureship recognizes
PETER KIRLIN, D’87, was promoted from president to chief
substantial contributions to one or more areas in the field of catalysis
executive officer of Photronics, Inc., and also serves on the board of
with emphasis on discovery and understanding of catalytic phenomena,
directors for the worldwide manufacturer of photomasks. Peter joined
catalytic reaction mechanisms, and identification and description of
the company in 2008 as a senior vice president for U.S. and Europe, and
catalytic sites and species.
was promoted to president in 2013. He spent the 25 previous years in
leadership positions in the photomask and semiconductor industries, as
vice president of business development at Entegris, chairman and CEO
of DuPont Photomasks and group vice president of ATMI. He was also JESSE GOELLNER, ’95, currently lives in Pittsburgh with his wife,
executive chairman of privately-held Akrion, Inc. Peter was one of the Sonja Kerby (UD A&S ’94), and his 5-year old son Freddy. He leads the
speakers in the department’s Centennial Seminar Series. local office of Booz Allen Hamilton where his primary responsibility
is to leverage his management and engineering experience to assure
quality delivery of energy analysis and planning support from the Booz
Allen team to the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology
RONALD G. FORSYTHE JR., ’89, is president and chief operating
Laboratory and Strategic Petroleum Reserve, occasionally the Tennessee
officer and interim chief information officer of Quality Health Strategies.
Valley Authority, and all of the service branches of the Department of
Ron previously served as vice president for planning, assessment,
Defense.
technology and commercialization, and as chief information officer
with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he established
Before joining Booz Allen, Jesse served as Vice President at Capital
new academic programs, expanded research capabilities, supported
Technologies International, an early-stage firm with venture funding
innovations in renewable energy and pioneered efforts to make the
from Merrill Lynch, where he led a team that performed technology
UMES campus and lower Eastern Shore more eco-friendly in its use
development, market analyses and techno-economic assessments for
of energy. Forsythe brings expertise in strategic and tactical planning,
emerging technologies and to inform investment decisions. His teams
information technology, engineering, renewable energy, economic and
were active in several aspects of the energy arena, with operational
workforce development and healthcare. He was recently appointed to
interests on three continents. Prior to joining CTI, Jesse drove the
the board of directors of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation serving the
growth of Powercast, a leader in the wireless delivery of electrical power,
Delmarva Peninsula
from start-up above a bar to the team that won the Best Emerging
Technology Award at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show. Jesse’s
involvement in Powercast started while he was James R. Swartz
Entrepreneurial Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School
of Business (where he earned an MBA). Prior to this Jesse was at

ExxonMobil Chemical in Baytown, TX, where he started after finishing Stop Worrying and Love the Exciton,” focused on his team’s pioneering
his PhD in catalysis at the University of California at Davis under the work developing transparent photovoltaic and solar concentrator
mentorship of former UD faculty member, Bruce Gates. His graduate materials that are creating new paradigms for building integrated solar
work included a concurrent appointment as a visiting scholar at the harvesting and autonomous mobile electronics.
Technical University of Munich and Ludwig Maximilian University
of Munich, where he applied theoretical chemistry to advance the Article adapted from a Michigan State University press release
understanding of the metal-support interface in catalysts. Photo courtesy of G.L. Kohuth, Michigan State University
SUJATA BHATIA, ’99 M’99, was voted a “favorite professor” by COLLEEN (RODGERS) SNOW, ’05, has been a patent examiner
Harvard’s classes of 2014 and 2015. Sujata is a physician, bioengineer, at the US Patent and Trademark Office since about a month after she
author, professionally licensed chemical engineer and Harvard graduated. Her job is to determine subject matter patentability in the
University professor and received a UD Presidential Citation for area intersecting chemical and electrical engineering, specifically the
Outstanding Achievement in 2006. chemical compositions and processes involved in the formation of
semiconductor devices. Colleen writes that she got married in 2008 to a
wonderful man named Michael Snow, and that they have two children
so far: Keira Rose (born October 2012) and Declan Michael (born
2000s December 2014). They live in Fairfax, VA, and are contemplating a move
to San Antonio, TX, shortly.
RICHARD R. LUNT, ’04, who has been an assistant professor

at Michigan State since 2011, has developed a new type of solar WILLIAM A. TISDALE, ’05, the Charles and Hilda Roddey Career
concentrator that, when placed over a window, creates solar energy Development Professor in Chemical Engineering at MIT, is using
while allowing people to see through the window. This transparent ultrasensitive spectroscopy and other techniques to study how exitons—
luminescent solar concentrator can be used on buildings, cell phones and paired groups of electrons and holes—behave in quantum dots. Will was
any other device that has a clear surface, and was featured on the cover part of the group of MIT researchers who reported the first observation
of a recent issue of the journal Advanced Optical Materials. Richard was of exitons in action in April 2014. “It’s a little bit less common for a lot
one of the speakers in the department’s Centennial Seminar Series. He of these spectroscopy techniques that we’re using to be used in chemical
returned to campus this past spring as a guest speaker in the department’s engineering departments, and that is a role that I am excited to play in
Centennial Seminar Series. His talk, “Unique Opportunities for helping to bring a lot of these advanced spectroscopy techniques to bear
Excitonic Photovoltaics and Solar Concentrators or: How I Learned to on problems that chemical engineers care about,” he said.
YAKOV LAPITSKY, D’06, celebrated his part in internet history on

the tenth anniversary of his filming of what would become the first-ever
video to be uploaded to YouTube back in 2005. Yakov was in San Diego
at the time to present his research, with Eric Kaler, on the interactions
of surfactants with polyelectrolyte at an ACS meeting. While in town,
he met up with a high school buddy at the San Diego Zoo, who asked
Yakov to video him in front of the elephants. That friend was Jawed
Karim, one of the three founders of YouTube. Karim uploaded Yakov’s
18-second clip to the new website on April 23, 2005 and “Me at the
Zoo” became the first YouTube video in what has since become a cultural
phenomenon. Yakov is now an associate professor in the Department of
Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Toledo.
A native of Leningrad in the former Soviet Union, he says he was drawn
to UD for his doctoral work “because it has one of the best chemical
Yimu Zhao, a doctoral student in chemical engineering and materials science ast MSU, and Rich- engineering programs in the country.”
ard Lunt, assistant professor of chemical engineering and materials science at Michigan State and
a UD alumnus, run a test in Lunt’s lab. Lunt and his team have developed a new material that can
be placed over windows and create solar energy.

Alumni News
ALUMNI
AARON CHOCKLA, ’07, was included in Forbes 2015 30 under

30 in energy who are mixing the clean and dirty for what comes next
2010s
in energy. A self-described engineer turned entrepreneur passionate
CAROLYN (SLUSSER) HAMILTON, ’10, started working for
about commercializing cutting-edge technologies, Aaron received the
DuPont about 2 weeks after graduation as a Field Program Engineer.
distinction as co-founder and CEO of Lucelo Technologies, Inc., in
This program has allowed her to be a Process Engineer based in
Austin, TX, where he had previously completed his doctoral degree at
Wilmington, DE on large capital projects all around the world, a
the University of Texas. Lucelo is developing a novel energy harvesting
Manufacturing Technology Engineer in Charleston, SC helping to
platform to provide a renewable and sustainable source of power to run
engineer and improve Kevlar, and soon to be a Process Development
remote or mobile electronics with low power requirements without the
Engineer back in Wilmington, DE at the Experimental station. She
need for batteries or cords to plug into electrical outlets. He also serves
and her husband, David, along with their two dogs are looking forward
as senior consultant for Foresight Science & Technology and is on on-ice
to being back in Delaware, close to family, friends, and UD. Carolyn
official for USA Hockey. Aaron’s next stop is a dual MBA/JD program
writes, “UD holds a special place in our hearts, as we met through
at Northwestern University.
the Engineering department and we hold many fond (and stressful)
memories of our times spent there. I always love meeting engineers
in DuPont who have also graduated from UD and seeing how it has
BRIAN ROSEN, ’08, has been appointed assistant professor of set them up for success in their careers, I even found one down here
meterials science and engineering at Tel Aviv University. Brian did his in Charleston! It’s a special bond we have and I’m looking forward to
graduate work at Illinois under Richard Masel and Paul Kenis. seeing it grow.”
MATTHEW HELGESON, D’09, received the 2015 Northrop JULIE ALBERT, D’11, now an assistant professor of chemical
Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of his engineering at Tulane University, was selected for the Gulf Research
outstanding efforts as an early career undergraduate educator at UC Program Early Career Research Fellowship.
Santa Barbara, where he has been an assistant professor of chemical
engineering since 2012. He researches the structure and flow behavior of
colloids (including nanoparticles, emulsions and proteins) in structured
KELLY SCHULTZ, D’11, now an assistant professor of chemical and
liquids, with the aim of engineering novel gels and particulates for
biomolecular engineering at Lehigh, was named a TA Distinguished
applications in biotechnology, nanomaterials and energy.
Young Rheologist.
JOANNA ADADEVOH ‘12 is in the doctoral program in

“I always love meeting engineers chemical engineering at the University of Virginia, where her advisor
is ROSEANNE (GIVLER) FORD ‘84. Joanna’s project is on
in DuPont who have also bioremediation, using bacteria to clean groundwater by removing
graduated from UD and seeing chemical contaminants. She knows from her childhood in Nigeria that
clean water is a precious resource and that the lack of clean water is a
how it has set them up for major issue in parts of her country and in Africa in general.
success in their careers.”

– CAROLYN (SLUSSER) HAMILTON, ’10

In Memoriam
WILLIAM H. CALKINS, age 96, adjunct DAVID E. FIELD M’58 of New Jersey, died
professor of chemical engineering specializing January 26, 2015. at the age of 83. He started
in fuel sciences until 1999, died in his home in his career at the former Atlantic Richfield
Hockessin on January 24, 2015. refinery in South Philadelphia and worked
as a project design manager at the Savannah
He thrived on sharing his expertise and River nuclear site for United Engineers &
knowledge in chemistry with students, Constructors, retiring in the early 2000s. In
colleagues and family. He loved learning, retirement, he was a high school substitute
as well as teaching, throughout his life, and teacher.
was a frequent attendee and instructor at the
University of Delaware’s Academy of Life Long While a chemical engineer and design manager
Learning. by profession, Field’s first love was making
dulcimers. The New Jersey Folk Festival
Calkins spent his career with the DuPont honored him with a lifetime achievement
Company, where he worked in various research award for his craft, which attracted such
and managerial positions until he retired in 1985. renowned artists as Judy Collins and Doc
Watson.
FREDERICK HUGHES CHAPMAN ’51

passed away October 2, 2014, in Lewes. He JAMES JOHN BEHEN III ’61 of
was 87. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age Williamsburg, Virginia, died October 24,
of 17 and served until the end of World War 2014, after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer.
II. He then finished 12th grade and enrolled He was 75.
at the University of Delaware, where he was a
member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Behan worked briefly for Merck & Co. before
being assigned to the Army’s Chemical Center
He was employed by the DuPont Company, in Maryland for two years. After leaving the
Haveg Industries and the Thiokol Company, Army, he returned to Merck where he served at
and operated his own business, Benchmark manufacturing plants in Rahway, New Jersey;
Technical Sales, through which he sold, Danville, Pennsylvania; and Elkton, Maryland
serviced and produced fine instrument before becoming manager of Merck’s Flint
replacement parts for analytical devices. River plant in Albany, Georgia. In 1982, he
moved to England to serve as the company’s
first managing director of European operations.
He returned to the U.S. in 1987 and was based
at the company’s Whitehouse Station, New
Jersey headquarters.

SUPPORT FOR CBE
Giving Back We have made every effort to ensure

We extend our sincere appreciation to the following accuracy in both gift reporting and the
listing of donors. To report an error,
alumni and friends of Chemical and Biomolecular please contact Barbara Maylath, Director
Engineering who made gifts between July 1, 2014, of Development, at 302-831-7273 or
[email protected].
and June 30, 2015. Contributions from these generous * Indicates gift was designated directly
individuals help us to provide the vital resources that to the Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering.
allow our students, our faculty and our campus to thrive.
** Indicates donor is deceased.
F. Clarke Abbott ‘63M ‘65PhD and Marcia Barry J. ‘78 and M. Therese Verdugo Bentley William G. Burroughs Jr. ‘59 and Elizabeth
Hudson Abbott ‘61 Alan B. Bernath* Ewing Burroughs ‘59
Benjamin F. Adams Jr. ‘51M Ira S. ‘65 and Jo Ann R. Bernstein Allen W. Burton Jr. ‘00PhD*
David C. ‘88 and Mary N. Adams* Michael J. ‘88PhD and Teresa M. Betenbaugh* Brian W. ‘64M ‘66PhD and Virginia P. Bussey
Rakesh Agrawal ‘77M* John T. Bianculli ‘81* Douglas J. and Patricia L. Buttrey*
Radwan Alalawi ‘15* Timothy M. Bishop ‘94 ‘04M and Nichole Dennis R. Cacciola ‘72*
Gregory C. ‘85PhD and Patrice S. Alexander Scherneck Bishop ‘97 ‘04M Robert F. Cairncross ‘85*
Moris Amon ‘82PhD and Terry Perahya Christopher S. Blackwell ‘88 and Kelly William H. Calkins**
Amon ‘82 Costello Blackwell ‘90 Darin M. Campbell ‘98PhD
Erik J. Anderson ‘13* Brian J. Bockrath ‘95 and Karin Wood Erde Can ‘04PhD*
John E. Anderson ‘62M ‘64PhD and Fay Bockrath ‘97 Adam R. Carmichael ‘94 and Laura Krankel
LaGrange Anderson ‘60 Richard E. ‘75 ‘76M and Susan F. Carmichael ‘94
John L. Anderson ‘67 and Patricia Siemen Bockrath ‘96M* Luz E. Caro ‘02
Anderson ‘67 Ricardo J. Bogaert-Alvarez ‘79M ‘86PhD Charles E. ‘66 and Lou Ann Carroll
Melony R. Anderson ‘00 Robert E. ‘60M ‘63PhD and Mary P. Bollinger Robert W. ‘64 and Jane W. Carroll*
Tanner Andrews ‘82* Kenneth M. ‘78 and Claudia M. Boyle Wendel R. Cassel ‘67M and Andrea Maynard
John P. Anerousis ‘71 ‘72* Kevin P. Bradley ‘91 and Tracey Keller Cassel ‘65M
Michael J. ‘81PhD and Carla D. Angelo* Bradley ‘92 Vicki Cassman ‘86M*
Maciek R. Antoniewicz* Joye L. Bramble ‘84 Joseph R. ‘83 and Mary C. Castagna*
Paul J. ‘70M and Susan P. Arruda ‘71M Dennis H. Broderick ‘80PhD* Arup K. Chakraborty ‘89PhD
Michael D. ‘90 and Juliana M. Ashworth Timothy F. and Martha A. Brooks* Lorraine Jurman Chalupa ‘84
Randall C. Atkinson ‘70 Douglas F. Brown ‘76 David R. Chang ‘73PhD*
Anna L. Babcock* George A. Brown ‘50M ‘56PhD* Yi Chen ‘14*
Byron D. Babcock ‘52* Lawrence A. Brown ‘71 ‘72 ‘77M* Edward T. Child ‘54M ‘57PhD and Beverly
Kushalkumar M. Baid ‘73PhD Lee F. ‘55M ‘63PhD and Monica W. Brown* Croft Child ‘56M*
Ivan ‘06 and Kelly Baldychev Nicole F. Brown ‘93PhD* Alan P. Chinnici ‘72 and Anita Jones
Christopher E. Banschbach ‘94* Eugene H. and Lorin D. Buck* Chinnici ‘72 ‘77M
Jonathon D. Bartel ‘05 John H. Buehler ‘68* Minshon J. ‘79PhD and Yuwen C. Chiou*
Doris Lerner Baumgarten ‘56M* William M. Buiting ‘66 Robert and Alice M. Cipolla*
Kathlyn Card Beckles ‘97 and Kevin A. Beckles Christopher L. Burket ‘02 and Heather Katen T. John Claggett ‘65 and Alice Hammond
Thomas W. Beggs ‘69* Burket ‘04 Claggett ‘65*
Corinne A. Behen* John S. ‘52 and Mary C. Burpulis* Douglas M. Clarke Jr. ‘85*
Kenneth J. Bell ‘53M ‘55PhD* Cynthia McDevitt Clarkson ‘89*

Edward F. Colburn ‘63* Thomas J. Dujmovich Jr. ‘74* Andrew P. Full ‘94PhD*
David W. Colby* Arthur E. Jr. ‘65 and Diane R. Dungan* Eric M. Furst and Teresa W. Chang*
Stephen A. Colby ‘77M* James B. Dunson Jr. ‘61M and Jean Parker Edward A. Gadsby ‘52 and Charlotte Hutson
Stephen H. Cole ‘64* Dunson ‘77 Gadsby ‘53
Gerald L. and Irene Collins* Patricia M. Dwyer* John F. Gajda ‘69M ‘73PhD**
Morton ‘58 and Donna K. Collins* John R. Eagle ‘56 and Joyce Blair Eagle ‘56* Gary C. ‘71M and Paula E. Ganzi
Catherine V. Collison ‘11 George L. Eastburn IV ‘90 and Julie Dively Martha E. Garske ‘84
Jeannette Cona-Larock ‘86 and John A. Larock* Eastburn ‘90 Steven M. Geist ‘97 and Danielle Spangler
Dennis A. Conlan ‘63 Robert J. Easton* Geist ‘97
Robert V. Considine ‘85* Carl D. Eben ‘63M ’68PhD and Judith Danek GlaxoSmithKline*
Alvin O. ‘58M ‘61PhD and Merry E. Converse Eben ‘64* Edward F. Gleason III ‘82M
Ashley E. Cooper ‘99 and Rebekah Sadowsky Ian R. Ednie ‘72 ‘83 and Frances Chelosky Laura A. Goetsch ‘83*
Cooper ‘01* Ednie ‘71 ‘73M Lloyd A. ‘67PhD and Grace T. Goettler*
Cawas A. Cooper ‘79PhD* Arthur R. Eglington ‘53* Arthur L. ‘59M and Vida F. Goldstein*
Terry M. ‘73 and Dianne D. Copeland Richard E. Emmert ‘52M ‘54PhD and Marilyn Liezhong Gong ‘99PhD*
Marner Emmert ‘75* Donald A. ‘56 and Nancy S. Goodridge
Lauren T. Cordova ‘15
Robert M. Eng ‘83M Robert W. ‘59 ‘10H and Jane Gore*
Mary L. Corn*
Thomas H. Epps III* Rajeev L. Gorowara ‘01PhD and Christine
W. Andrew Coslett ‘76
William D. ‘78 and Melissa L. Epstein Carrino Gorowara ‘00PhD*
John S. Craven ‘66 and Maria Cicchetti
Craven ‘66 Phil ‘57M and Ruth V. Evans* Robert D. Gotwals II ‘65*
Thomas R. Cristiani ‘13* Gregory G. Facas ‘15* Catherine Smith Gow ‘86*
Nicole C. Neal ‘92 ‘94M James G. Faller ‘62M ‘67PhD and Catherine Brian K. Grafton ‘00 and Heather Hartline-
Eliades Faller ‘58* Grafton ‘99*
Sheldon J. Cytron ‘67PhD*
Brian E. Farrell ‘85 and Patricia Beckert Nathaniel J. Grande ‘14*
Elizabeth M. D’Addio ‘11PhD*
Farrell ‘86 Mark A. Green ‘93
Dady B. Dadyburjor ‘72M ‘76PhD and
A. Robert Faulkner ‘85 and Sheryl Beda Ronald A. ‘72 and Joyce F. Greenberg*
Lou Crago Dadyburjor ‘72*
Faulkner ‘92
Nicole R. Daly ‘15 Douglas A. Greenfield ‘52
James E. Feig ‘66M and Judith Adams Feig ‘61M
G. James Davis ‘58 John E. Greer Jr. ‘68 and Elizabeth Michener
John R. Felten ‘64 Greer ‘67
Heather Hollowell Davis ‘97
Allan R. Ferguson ‘65 and Myra Campbell Albert W. Griffin ‘82M*
Matthew J. Decker ‘06* Ferguson ‘66*
Phillip E. DeDominicis ‘85 Susan M. Grill ‘85M
Hunter H. Ficke ‘73 and Dorothy E.
Thomas F. Jr. ‘77PhD and Anne R. Degnan* Edward G. Grochowski ‘59
Bellhouse*
Edward M. Delate ‘80* Joanne Stallmann Guempel ‘77 and Herbert G.
George L. ‘61M and Patricia J. Fish*
Matthew A. DeSieno ‘06 and Katherine Guempel
A. Gerald Fishbeck ‘74
Miklosz DeSieno ‘06* Franklin J. Gulian ‘83
John W. Fisher ‘83 and Elizabeth Schumacher
Dennis O. Dever ‘80 and Joyce Polecaro Wayne A. Gulian ‘83
Fisher ‘83
Dever ‘80 Henry H. ‘61 ‘72M and Elizabeth D. Gunther
Robert D. Fleck Jr. ‘69 and Mildred Williams
Prasad Dhurjati* Fleck ‘76 Rakesh K. Gupta ‘80PhD*
Desiree K. Di Mauro* John M. Fletcher Jr. ‘63 and Anne Tavani Thomas L. ‘60 and Kipp T. Gutshall*
R. Bertrum Jr. ‘80M ‘99PhD and Elizabeth E. Fletcher ‘64* Stephen A. Gwynn ‘80*
Diemer* Karen A. Fletcher ‘81 ‘82M* Karen A. Haag*
Bernard J. Dillon ‘56M* John V. Flynn Jr. ‘64 and Mary Lou Lobaccaro Charles R. Hahn ‘73 and Valerie Shockley
J. J. DiNorscia ‘72 Flynn ‘64* Hahn ‘75 ‘80
Vincent A. D’Ippolito Jr. ‘91* Sean M. Foster ‘91* Richard C. ‘57 and Janet M. Haines
Teresa Radebach Dober ‘96* Thomas A. Frederick ‘78 and Diane Mery Jeanne C. Haley ‘92*
Christy Prilutski Dorris ‘98 and William P. Frederick ‘79 Benjamin D. Hankins ‘04
Dorris* John H. Frey ‘87PhD and Beth Cooper Michael and Joyce Hanlon*
William L. Dreshfield ‘73* Frey ‘84M* Charles J. Hanna ‘84 and Colleen Kelly
David W. ‘87M and Catherine R. Drew Robert A. and Carol Friedman* Hanna ‘84

SUPPORT FOR CBE
Russell J. Hanna ‘52M David L. Jacoby ‘76 and Esther Kim Jacoby ‘79 Christopher J. and April M. Kloxin*
William T. Harper ‘60M* Victor F. Janas ‘87PhD and Bernadette John W. Koch ‘51 ‘60M and Carolyn Brown
Douglas G. Harrell ‘80 and Michelle Talmo Garchinsky Janas ‘84 Koch ‘58
Harrell ‘84 Rudolph F. Janis Jr. ‘64M* Stijn H. Koshari ‘14M
John H. Harrington Jr. ‘67M* J. James Jariwala ‘98 Mark S. Koskiniemi ‘86 and Toni Brautigan
Kevin J. Harrington ‘83 and Catherine Lennox Ashay D. Javadekar ‘09M ‘12PhD Koskiniemi ‘87
Harrington ‘82* Janine I. Jelks-Seale ‘04 John T. Kramer ‘82 and Brenda Pasapane
Alexander E. Harris ‘00* Rodman Jenkins ‘47M* Kramer ‘83*
Laura Krumwiede Hartwell ‘85 and James A. Douglas C. ‘76 and Anna B. Jennings William A. Krebs Jr. ‘57 and Laurie Bliss
Hartwell Richard H. Jensen ‘72M and Lorraine S. Krebs ‘59*
David J. Hasse ‘87 and Nancy Naden Hasse ‘87 Grimes ‘81 Stewart M. Krug ‘75M
Richard L. Hawthorne ‘67 and Shirley Feng Jiao* Hans J. and Sandra L. Kuehner*
Hitchner Hawthorne ‘67* Manuel R. Jimenez Diaz ‘10 Christopher L. Kulp ‘95 and Kristen Sipics
Malcolm L. Hayes ‘82M Carol Johnson* Kulp ‘95*
Roland H. ‘75PhD and Donna L. Heck* Douglas W. Johnson ‘68 and Joyce Carlton George H. Kumler ‘51
Ernest J. ‘50 and Barbara M. Henley* Johnson ‘68 Joseph LaDana ‘86 ‘91M*
John R. Hepola ‘69M and Susan Leach Dale A. Jolly ‘74 William L. Lafferty Jr. ‘59M*
Hepola ‘67 John F. Jones ‘56M C. Steven Lai ‘79*
D. Charles Herak ‘85 ‘94M* Michael L. Jones ‘69M* Stephen M. Lambert ‘89*
Randall C. Herbein ‘75 Randall A. Jones ‘79 and Barbara McNabb John J. LaScala ‘02PhD and Heather Cohen
Nicholas Hernjak ‘04PhD* Jones ‘79 LaScala ‘98*
Bruce M. Herzog ‘65 Stuart L. Jones ‘58M Paul A. LaShier ‘15
Nathan D. Hess ‘13 William O. Jones Jr. ‘70 ‘74M Alex T. Lauderback ‘15
David S. Hirshfeld ‘59M* Donald E. ‘58 and Ivy S. Jost Vincent F. Lazor ‘12
Teh C. Ho ‘77PhD and Wei Wei Hsu Ho ‘76M* S. Tobias Junker ‘04PhD Ilsoon Lee ‘98M ‘00PhD and Jue Lu ‘04PhD*
Norman N. ‘54M ‘56PhD and Gale R. John A. Jurgensen ‘81 and Cynthia Elliott Kelvin H. Lee*
Hochgraf* Jurgensen ‘81 Richard L. Lehman and Anette M. Karlsson*
Martin F. Hoenigmann ‘79* Marcus E. Kantz ‘73M and Charlotte Berry Sidney D. Lehr ‘79 and Pamela Adams Lehr ‘80
Allen L. Holzman ‘54M Kantz ‘75M Dean E. ‘61M and Dean W. Leib
John W. Hooper ‘56* Lien-Chung Kao ‘81M and Chien-Ping Chai Robert J. Leipold ‘92PhD*
Jack R. ‘64M and Marilyn S. Hopper* Kao ‘81PhD* Abraham M. and Roleen T. Lenhoff*
Craig A. Horak ‘00 and Jessica Bryson Teresa Plumley Karjala ‘92PhD* Lembit U. Lilleleht ‘53
Horak ‘01 James C. Kauer ‘87 Li Lin and Xiao H. Yuan*
James P. Horgan ‘81 and Anne M. Gaffney John P. Kearns ‘95 ‘00M Shiang-Tai Lin ‘01PhD
‘82PhD* Janet Kennedy* Zhexi Lin ‘15*
Robert B. Horne ‘55 and Marilyn Smith Horne Hal ‘61 and Molly Kenton ‘60 Yun Liu*
‘55 Steven M. ‘71 and Sandra K. Kessler* Michele Dickman Lobo ‘06PhD and Raul F.
Steven D. Horton ‘73 and Susan Jingeleski Kevin J. Keyser ‘88* Lobo*
Horton ‘74 Rishi L. Khan ‘00 ‘07PhD and Eileen Paschik Tim P. and Susanna Lodge*
Richard J. Horvath ‘68* Khan ‘02 Lawrence J. Jr. ‘61 and Elaine L. Logan*
Thomas F. Houghton ‘81 and Sarah E. Scott ‘81 Paul H. Kimpel ‘70 William P. Long Jr. ‘66*
William E. Jr. ‘68 and Virginia A. Houle* Michael L. King ‘81PhD* Kyle T. Macasevich ‘10 ‘11M*
Richard F. ‘61 and Laura H. Humphreys* Merritt C. Jr. ‘60 ‘66M and Alberta B. Kirk Steven D. Mack ‘71
Gilbert L. Huppert ‘87* Jeffery B. Klauda ‘03PhD* James J. Mackrell Jr. ‘64 and Carole Kiss
Stephen J. ‘82 ‘14M and Amy J. Hurff* Andrew H. Klausman ‘13* Mackrell ‘64
G. Brinton ‘62 and Lynne D. Ingram Michael T. ‘77 and Elizabeth T. Klein John M. ‘67 and Margaret E. Maerker*
Anna Ivanova* Lothar W. ‘72M and Donna H. Kleiner* Gregory S. Maliken ‘76 and Phyllis Kirkwood
Carolyn Bockius Jackson ‘96 Gerard F. Klinzing ‘77M and Kathryn Baldwin Maliken ‘76*
Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore ‘88 Klinzing ‘75 ‘78M Francis G. ‘73 ‘81M and Linda F. Maloney

Stephen D. ‘90PhD and Leslie A. Maloney* Robert E. Murch ‘70PhD and Jane Stronge
James C. Mankin ‘76 ‘77M Murch ‘66
Samantha J. Mannino ‘14 Luis E. Murillo ‘08PhD and Yamaira I.
SUPPORT
Susan Mantell* Gonzalez ‘05PhD
David J. Marchese ‘86* Grahame Murray*
Duane B. Myers ‘93*
Frank A. Maresca ‘82*
Ravindra K. Mariwala ‘93PhD Heather E. Myers ‘99 CHEMICAL AND
Richard S. ‘64 and Sharon A. Markham* Steven R. Myrick ‘77 and Linda Justice
Chester E. Markwalter ‘12* Myrick ‘77
Michael D. ‘86 and Barbara M. Nagle
BIOMOLECULAR
Carl J. ‘77 and Jane L. Martin*
George R. ‘77M and Jennifer K. Martin* Albert J. and Carroll Nardone*
William S. Neifert ‘05
ENGINEERING
Robert J. and Donna Martin*
Debora Flanagan Massouda ‘76 ‘86PhD and Linda Smiddy Nelson ‘85*
Nabil F. Massouda James R. ‘53 and Catherine S. Nichols*
Paul K. Mattheiss ‘61 and Carol Moore Frank H. Nickel Jr. ‘55* The time has never been better
Mattheiss ‘60 Erin M. O’Dea ‘05 to give back to your alma mater
R. Craig Matthiessen ‘73 and Susan Wright Thomas R. and Linda J. Oeffinger* and pave the way for the next
Matthiessen ‘73* Amod A. ‘86PhD and Varada A. Ogale*
generation of chemical and
Robert J. Mattson ‘55 George E. Oram Jr. ‘70
Christopher W. ‘03 and Cecily McChalicher* Charles J. Orella ‘82M and Annette Murray biomolecular engineers.
Clark A. McCollough ‘68 and Carol Toop Orella ‘83*
McCollough ‘67 Thomas W. Orlando ‘59*
Kim Watts McMillan ‘83* James E. Orr Jr. ‘49* To learn more, visit
John B. McVaugh Jr. ‘71 ‘75M and Brigid Randolph A. Oswald ‘03 ‘09M
Hawk McVaugh ‘74
udel.edu/makeagift
Robert E. Oves ‘71 and Mary de Young Oves ‘72
Nathan A. Mehl ‘89 and Denise Gallick Camelia L. Owens ‘04PhD*
Mehl ‘89 J. David ‘01 and Deborah S. Pajerowski*
Ben W. Melvin Jr. ‘50 Adriano B. Pangelinan ‘91PhD*
Darrin J. Menzo ‘94 Eleftherios T. and Maria C. Papoutsakis*
Jack L. Messman ‘62* Elliot S. ‘66 and Karen W. Parkin*
Carl R. Meyer ‘94 J. Robert ‘64 and Janet B. Parsons*
Jay A. Miers Jr. ‘80 and Kelly Wittmann Daniel Patterson Jr. ‘74 and Joyce Palmer
Miers ‘79 Patterson ‘74
Robert W. ‘58M and Janet B. Miller David J. Paul ‘56*
Norman T. ‘61M and Helen R. Mills James S. Pawloski ‘84 and Barbara Weaver
Lucy J. Minehan ‘87 and Samuel A. Danon Pawloski ‘84
Mark R. ‘92 and Christie J. Mitchell Jessica A. Penetar ‘05
Xiang-Dong Peng ‘85M ‘88PhD
UDconnection
Darrell B. Mobley ‘96 and Dore Gaston
Mobley ‘94 Arthur S. ‘54 and Mary Anne O. Perkins* Alumni Association (UDAA) have collaborated
Stephen P. Monaghan ‘97 and Julie Biter Elizabeth G. Perry ‘04* to bring alumni a vibrant online community—
Monaghan ‘98 Francis P. ‘85PhD and Lisa A. Petrocelli* so register and get active!
John T. Mongan ‘82 and Carol McKenna Robert E. Phelps ‘66*
Mongan ‘81 You can also take advantage of
Robert H. Pigford ‘68 and Patricia Houchin
Paul W. Montigney ‘74 and Deborah networking opportunities and ways to
Pigford ‘66*
get involved with your alma mater!
Bunting Montigney ‘73 John E. Plunkett ‘79M and Holly Kinchley
Patrick J. Moore ‘75* Plunkett ‘78M*
Wilbert Moultrie III ‘92 Timothy A. Poludniak ‘93 and Julie Toms VISIT TODAY!
Patrick J. ‘77M and M. Mulvihill Poludniak ‘92 www.UDconnection.com
Miles Powell Jr. ‘50

SUPPORT FOR CBE
Donna M. Praiss ‘86* Serge Sacharuk ‘56 Monte T. Squire ‘95 and Andrea Everett
Frank J. Precopio ‘82 Eddie M. Sangern ‘14* Squire ‘95
Robin O. Presley and Nancy Gravatt* Ajit V. ‘80PhD and Madhuri A. Sapre Thomas W. Staley ‘89
Carl D. Price ‘65 Robert L. Sassa Sr. ‘83* K. R. O’Brien Stegmann ‘89
Eric M. Pridgen ‘03 and Wenny Lin ‘03 B. Karl Saydlowski Jr. ‘88* Robert L. Stevenson Jr. ‘86 and Donna Nugent
James M. Prober ‘68 ‘72M ‘74PhD and Cheryl Duane S. Scarborough ‘73* Stevenson ‘86
O’Neill Prober ‘70 Samuel A. Schenkman ‘15 Brandon R. Stewart ‘14*
Robert K. Pyle ‘70 Estate of Mr. Henry G. Schilling ‘36** Daniel H. Stewart and Celeste E. Mott*
Amy L. Quach ‘14* Ralph C. Schilly Jr. ‘53M Elaine M. Stewart*
Robert B. Raffa ‘71* Paul H. ‘73 and Denise B. Schipper* Kristin H. Stoeber ‘04
Charles T. ‘71 and Dariece M. Rau* H. Mitchell Schmidt ‘50M* E. Marvin ‘64 and Cynthia B. Stouffer*
James F. and Jana L. Rayfield* Jennifer Colombo Schmitt ‘96 and John J. J. Thomas Sturgis*
John C. Reed ‘54M* Schmitt III John D. Sullivan ‘92PhD and Jennifer Reardon
William M. Rehrig ‘15 Erman Senoz ‘11PhD and Erin Carver Senoz ‘07* Sullivan ‘92M
Christina Picarro Reich ‘03 ‘05M* William H. Jr. ‘50PhD and Jacqueline S. Millicent O. and Kevin M. Sullivan*
Matthew D. Reichert ‘08* Severns Donald C. ‘68M ‘70PhD and Joan H. Sundberg*
Carlonda Russell Reilly ‘92M ‘96PhD Andrew B. Shah ‘13* Chris Horley Susman ‘86
Andrew J. Reim ‘95 Alfred Shaines ‘52M Ronald W. Swanson ‘60M ‘66PhD*
Roger A. ‘73M and Sandra W. Reinicker* Glenn S. Shealy ‘83M ‘85PhD and Suzanne William J. Taylor Jr. ‘83 ‘88M and Jan
L. Philip ‘58 and Sally Q. Reiss* Marra-Shealy ‘82 ‘89M Patterson Taylor ‘83
Kaleigh H. Reno* Harry W. ‘59 and Maureen S. Sherman* John W. Terres ‘58 and Ruth Ann Follett
Earl L. Jr. ‘71 and Terry M. Shiflett Terres ‘62
Terence A. Rensi ‘79M and Jane Phillips
Rensi ‘73 Mark B. Shiflett ‘97M ‘02PhD* Philip G. Thiel ‘76
John R. ‘94PhD and Jean M. Richards* Kenneth L. ‘73 and Nancy J. Shugart* Arthur M. Thomas Jr. ‘56M
Robert L. Richards Jr. ‘50 and Joyce Hilty Allyn M. Shultis ‘05 and Megan McGrath George E. Thomas Jr. ‘81 and Vivian Bonfanti
Richards ‘51 Shultis ‘06* Thomas ‘70*
Joseph M. ‘89PhD ‘91M and Janice Ritter* John Siczka ‘54 and Christine Sundt Siczka ‘59 Levi T. Jr. ‘81 and Maria A. Thompson*
Carol D. Robbins* Jeffrey J. and Sharon A. Siirola* Carolyn Thompson Thoroughgood ‘65*
Christopher J. Roberts ‘94* Linda E. Silowka* Jay S. ‘49 and Elaine P. Thorpe*
E. Jeffrey Roberts ‘75M and Betty J. Hughes Christina M. Simmons ‘15* Steven A. ‘91PhD and Kathrine A. Threefoot
Bruce C. ‘89PhD and Terri A. Robertson Robert H. Simon ‘48 Walter C. Timm ‘57*
Robert W. Robey ‘92 Gordon A. and Kathryn G. Singer* Jack D. Tinkler ‘61M ‘63PhD and Pleasants
Kelsi M. Skeens ‘14 Peirce Tinkler ‘62
Donald G. Robinson ‘59PhD
William H. Jr. ‘64M ‘67PhD and Judith K. Slack* Michael M. ‘73 and Carla A. Todd*
Douglas A. Robinson ‘68
George A. Smith ‘64M and Louise Schoonover Cara R. Touretzky ‘11*
Jerome D. ‘66M ‘68PhD and Sheila K.
Robinson* Smith ‘63 Ethan H. Townsend ‘05*
Michael J. Rohr ‘93 and Denise Rachlin Rohr ‘92 John K. Smith Jr. ‘74 ‘86PhD and Kimberly J. Gregory ‘78 and Andrene H. Townsend
Richard C. ‘56M ‘58PhD and Margaret V. Carrell-Smith ‘81M ‘89PhD Peter M. Train ‘87PhD and Leigh Spayd
Romano Lewis S. Smith ‘64* Train ‘84*
Romano’s Macaroni Grill* Oliver J. Smith IV ‘87* John G. Trexler ‘78 and Maryanne Chippie
Carrie Loehr Smolinski ‘97 Trexler ‘78
James R. Romesberg Jr. ‘01
Charles R. Snyder ‘68 Rajesh Tuli ‘93
Daniel D. Roth ‘07 and Ashley Burdett Roth ‘06*
Ryan C. Snyder ‘01* Robert ‘85 and Rabbit Tullman
Charles F. Rudolph Jr. ‘57
Christa Soltis* Richard A. Tybout ‘43
John D. Rudolph ‘70 and Carolyn Roblou
Rudolph ‘69 Martha J. Sorgen* James S. Ultman ‘67M ‘70PhD and Deena
Shur Ultman ‘67
Sameer P. Rupani ‘95M James A. Spearot ‘70M ‘72PhD and Rebecca
Moore Spearot ‘71M* Lawrence R. Valencourt ‘70*
Mary Jo Kennel Russell ‘84 and William R.
Russell III Dwight S. Springer ‘65* Karel E. Valentine ‘00
T. W. Fraser Russell ‘64PhD ‘10H* Jared S. Sproul ‘62M Robert T. Van Ness ‘50

Haines fund continues to support
women in engineering
When RICHARD HAINES, ’57, graduated with a degree in
chemical engineering, the number of women graduates in engineering
could literally be counted on one hand. Today, one out of every four
engineering undergraduates at UD is a woman, but Haines knew that a
large, permanent base of dollars could help nudge the percentage upward.
In 2013, he and his wife, Janet, gave a $300,000 gift to the College of
Engineering to help advance women in engineering. “The chance to help
make a difference at the University of Delaware now is very satisfying
to both of us,” Haines said. He has fond memories of his time at UD,
including a lifelong friendship with the late ART METZNER, who
Haines calls “a true role model of a professional engineer.”
Last spring, Women in Engineering hosted an engineering career panel

attended by over 75 students, faculty and staff. “The Haines gift has
allowed us to access greater networking opportunities for our students
and to develop ties with more industries across the country, reaching
out to the broadest diversity of speakers, both geographically and
professionally, than we’ve ever had,” said HEATHER DOTY, assistant
professor of mechanical engineering and a faculty adviser to the WIE
graduate student steering committee. Panelists included MELISSA ST.
ARMAND, D’13, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and KELLY
SCHULTZ, D’11, assistant professor at Lehigh University. n
Leland M. Vane ‘87 and Carolyn M. Acheson ‘87 Donald R. Wheatcraft Jr. ‘63 and Jane Weaver Jeffrey W. Wright ‘94 and Linda Hopkins
Raymond J. Vass ‘84 and Dianna Judd Vass ‘84 Wheatcraft ‘62 Wright ‘82 ‘86M
Vincent S. Verneuil Jr. ‘63M ‘65PhD and Mary Robert W. Whetzel ‘81 and Michele Davison Robert W. Wynn ‘54 ‘65M
Ann Pennington Verneuil ‘64 Whetzel ‘84 Bingjun Xu*
Vincent J. Verruto ‘03 and Samantha K. Kwan ‘03 Peter W. Wieck ‘65 and Daiva Rimkus Wieck ‘61 Wendi Xu ‘14*
T. Bruce Vickroy ‘79 and Karen Krippahne Ross P. and Patricia C. Wilcox* Jane T. Yang ‘77M
Vickroy ‘79* Jay J. Williams ‘71* Jiancheng Yang ‘15
Chester A. Vogel ‘70M* Thomas B. Willing ‘72* E. Scott Yawger ‘83 ‘92M and Ellen M. Yurek ‘84
Norman J. and Sabine B. Wagner* Robert S. Windeler ‘90 Mark A. Yocum ‘06
John S. Walker ‘85M* Thomas C. Windley ‘99 ‘01M and Jennifer Albert C. Young ‘88PhD*
Michael A. Walsh ‘71* Orem Windley ‘97 ‘01M Seif M. Yusuf ‘12M
Philip E. Walter ‘68* Robert S. Wojewodzki ‘70 and Catherine Herbert H. Zachow ‘51*
Donghai Wang and Xiuzhi Sun* Willis Wojewodzki ‘70 ‘97M James L. Zawicki ‘59
Haoxiang Wang ‘14 Carl H. Wolf ‘53 Steven J. Zboray ‘13
John H. ‘57 and Rita A. Warren* Herbert O. Wolf ‘58M Chengkun Zhang ‘13PhD*
Scott H. ‘88 and Elisa J. Wasserman* Eugene G. Wollaston ‘57 Erik M. Zimmerman ‘15
Keith D. Watson ‘85 ‘90M and Wen Chao ‘85 Ronald T. Wood Jr. ‘65 ‘75M and Phylis Stone Roger J. Zipfel ‘69M and Joyce Kenyon Zipfel ‘69
Linda H. Weaver* Wood ‘65*
Warren A. Zitlau ‘90
Robert W. Weeden ‘51 Donald E. Woodmansee ‘63 and Phyllis Batten
J. Ted Zolper ‘49
Woodmansee ‘63
John A. Wehner ‘82 and Ann Marshall Kenneth S. Zrebiec ‘94 ‘98M and Barbara
Wehner ‘83 Debra Wool*
Glodek Zrebiec ‘94 ‘04M
Charles E. Weil ‘67* Richard P. Wool**
Robert E. Zumwalt ‘60M ‘66PhD and Doris
David H. West ‘12* Wild Zumwalt ‘59 ‘63M

Department of Chemical
and Biomolecular Engineering
Colburn Laboratory
150 Academy Street
Newark, DE 19716
www.che.udel.edu

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CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR

ENGINEERING NEWS 2015

The University of Delaware is an equal opportunity/

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 3

4 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

Distinguished Chairs in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 5

6 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

RAUL LOBO NAMED CLAIRE D.

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 7

8 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

FORMER FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Lehigh bestows honorary degree on

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 9

Antoniewicz receives journal’s

He studies metabolism in microbial and mammalian cells, working on

“We’re developing techniques that allow us to visualize, using isotope

Antony Beris wins Willem Prins Award

Beris delivered the lecture, “Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

10 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

George Whitmyre retires

“After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the

“The name of George Whitmyre

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 11

JON H. OLSON, PROFESSOR

12 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 13

14 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

Dhurjati’s work looks at a possible connection

“The goal is to compare that to a model of

Graphic courtesy of a story that appeared

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 15

Papoutsakis team seeks patents on techniques to

16 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 17

Traditionally, zeolites have been derived from inorganic materials like

According to Yan, converting these polymers into a crystalline material

“Think of building a house,” he explained. “If the moment a builder

Yan’s research team devised a way to slow the polymer’s intrinsic

The result is a crystalline porous material with large pores, a large

The technique and the new materials it produces can be immediately

18 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 19

The buckling of a self-assembled column of magnetic

20 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

FURST PUBLISHES ON BUCKLING

Buckling is seen—and properly designed to “There’s a growing interest in buckling

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 21

CBE researchers develop safer

In recent years, block co-polymers have received considerable

Silver electrocatalysts Oxygen tanks cannot be shuttled out to

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015!

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 23

Kloxin group brings

DOUG GODFRIN, center, jointly advised by NORMAN WAGNER

2015 UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE | 25

Jonathan Galarraga (right), a chemical and biomolecular engineering major

26 | CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

The process has allowed them to characterize

“This is a different type of learning,” Bichoupan

And that uncertainty is a powerful magnet for