Alumna Elizabeth Biddinger named Rising Star in Energy & Fuel, wins Texnikoi Award
2022 Energy & Fuels Rising Star
Elizabeth J. Biddinger (’10 PhD, chemical engineering) was named a 2022 Energy & Fuels Rising Star in a special virtual issue of Energy & Fuels. Her paper "Modeling Competing Kinetics between Electrochemical Reduction of Furfural on Copper and Homogeneous Side Reactions in Acid" was included in the issue.
The Energy & Fuels Rising Stars program recognizes early- and mid-career researchers, who make up a significant portion of the research workforce and play critical roles in driving knowledge discovery and technological advances in an increasingly globalized research landscape. Energy & Fuels established the annual program to celebrate the achievements of researchers who have made a significant impact on the Energy field early in their careers.
Previously, Biddinger won the 2018 US Department of Energy Early Career Award for investigation of the kinetics and reaction mechanisms for biomass electroreduction and the the 2016-2017 Electrochemical Society - Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship to study switchable electrolytes for battery safety.
***
College of Engineering Texnikoi Award
Biddinger was also among 15 alumni honored at the College of Engineering's 25th Annual Excellence in Engineering and Architecture Awards on September 30, 2022.
The celebration recognizes alumni from across the College of Engineering who have achieved distinction in their fields or through their extraordinary service contributions since graduating from The Ohio State University.
Professor Biddinger was one of five alumni to receive the college’s Texnikoi Outstanding Alumni Award, which recognizes younger alumni for achievements since graduation that exemplify qualities such as leadership, integrity and community participation.
“We are proud to recognize these 15 esteemed College of Engineering alumni who have distinguished themselves as changemakers, leaders, innovators and passionate volunteers,” said Dean Ayanna Howard, the Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean’s Chair. “Their impactful efforts to improve our world are an inspiration.”
Dr. Biddinger, a former member of the Umit S. Ozkan Laboratory for Heterogeneous Catalysis and Electrocatalysis, is an associate professor of chemical engineering at The City College of New York and deputy director of the Center for Decarbonizing Chemical Manufacturing Using Sustainable Electrification. Her research focuses on electrochemical reaction engineering for green chemistry and energy concerns, with expertise in catalysis, electrochemistry, alternative solvents, green chemistry and sustainable engineering. In particular, she is interested in the electrification of chemical processes that transform wastes or renewable resources into valuable materials, chemicals and fuels for decarbonization and sustainability; and the use of ionic liquids and alternative solvents in electrochemical systems for improved performance and safety.
Additional College of Engineering Alumni Award winners
Other College of Engineering alumni were recognized as follows.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership was presented to Colette Pierce Burnette (BS ’80, industrial and systems engineering), who is the first Black female president and CEO of Newfields—home of an art museum, park and garden in Indianapolis. Previously, she was the first female president of Huston-Tillotson University where she achieved significant growth in the university’s endowment, launched pioneering academic programs and established strong partnerships with organizations such as Apple, Tesla and Indeed.
Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal
American Nuclear Society President Steven A. Arndt (BS ’81, engineering physics; MS ’84, PhD ’10, nuclear engineering) was awarded the Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory distinguished scientist led the United States’ support programs to the former Soviet Union following the Chernobyl accident and as part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s response to the Fukushima accident.
Meritorious Service Citation
Meritorious Service Citation recipient Chuck Elgin (BS ’78, industrial and systems engineering) was a technology executive for several of the nation’s largest banks prior to his retirement. The engaged community volunteer’s contributions include helping build 175 handicap access ramps for people in need and serving on the Department of Integrated Systems Engineering Advisory Board for 42 years.
Texnikoi Outstanding Alumni Award.
In addition to Elizabeth Biddinger, four other alumni received the college's Texnikoi Award.
- Ben Gilbert (BS ’11, computer science and engineering) is the co-founder and managing director of Pioneer Square Labs, a startup studio and early-stage venture capital firm in Seattle that has created over 50 venture capital-backed technology companies in the Pacific Northwest. He is also the co-host of Acquired, a podcast with more than 250,000 subscribers that has been ranked the #1 technology show on Apple Podcasts.
- Harry A. Kennedy Jr. (BS ’13, electrical and computer engineering) is the founder and executive director of nonprofit HAKing Innovation, which has impacted over 5,000 students and is building a community of technical talent via its workshops, after-school programs and summer camps for students of all ages. He is also a technical specialist for electronic system design at Altair Engineering.
- Bryan C. Lee Jr. (BS ’06, architecture) is an architect, educator, writer and one of the nation’s leading design justice advocates. He is also the founder and design principal of Colloqate Design, a nonprofit design practice focused on expanding community access to and building power through the design of social, civic and cultural spaces for racial and social equity.
- Theodore Roosevelt Nicholson III (MS ’09, PhD ’11, biomedical engineering) owns medical device consulting firm TRN3 Consulting, which supports sustainable innovation in health care, energy, agriculture, water and housing development for underserved and underrepresented communities. He is also the chief technical officer for IASO Automated Medical Systems, a critical care startup.
Seven alumni received Distinguished Alumni Awards for outstanding professional achievement in three distinct categories.
Distinguished Alumni Award for Academic Excellence
- Kenneth Ray Diller (BS ’66, MS ’67, mechanical engineering) is an experienced leader, accomplished scholar and innovator. A professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, his technology for simple and safe thermal methods helps people get to sleep more effectively and drop their overnight blood pressure without medication.
- Aimee T. Ulstad (BS ’84, mechanical engineering) is an award-winning associate professor of practice in Ohio State’s Department of Integrated Systems Engineering who brings her 30+ years of professional industry experience to the classroom. She was also part of the core team that developed the four-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree program now offered on three regional campuses.
Distinguished Alumni Award for Career Achievement
- Rudolph P. Frizzi (BS ’85, civil engineering) is a managing principal and executive vice president at LANGAN Engineering and Environmental Services. During his 35-plus years in industry, Frizzi has provided civil, geotechnical, expert and forensic engineering consultation on projects located on practically every continent, including skyscrapers, sports arenas and stadiums, vehicular tunnels and deep excavations.
- Bonnie M. Hammersley (BS ’79, ceramic engineering) is a senior advisor to the U.S. Secret Service focused on workforce resiliency and human resource information technology issues. A retired executive of the Department of Defense, she served over 20 years in the Senior Executive Service and is a two-time Presidential Rank Award recipient.
- Christopher Meyers (BS ’94, MS ’96, architecture) is the founding owner and principal architect of Meyers + Associates, a Columbus-based architecture and interior design practice he established in 1999. He leads the nationally recognized firm with innovative design solutions for a wide range of diverse project types.
- Paul Wood (BS ’83, MS ’88, welding engineering) is a senior advisor to First Reserve, a leading energy-focused global private equity firm that has raised over $31 billion in capital and completed 650+ transactions globally. Before his retirement in 2017, he was the CEO and board chair of Brand Industrial Systems.
Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Xi-Yong (Sean) Fu (MS ’00, PhD ’01, materials science and engineering) is a co-founder and the CEO of RVAC Medicines. The international mRNA platform company creates innovative products to treat diseases with unmet medical needs and has raised $170 million in funding. Previously he was group vice president and head of International R&D of Luye Pharma.
