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1) Bioengineering | Biotechnology | Membranes
Faculty Bios
Bioengineering & Biotechnology are broad terms that involve the application of engineering principles to biological processes.
Research in CBE covers a broad range of relevant topics, including:
a. Biomaterials (Cooper, Palmer, Swindle-Reilly, Winter);
b. Cell and tissue culture (Chalmers, Liu, Winter, Wood, Yang);
c. Drug delivery (Liu, Palmer, Swindle-Reilly, Watkins, Winter, Wood);
d. Imaging (Reátegui, Winter);
e. Medical diagnostics and therapies (Lee, Liu, Palmer, Reátegui, Watkins, Winter, Wood);
f. Separations (Chalmers, Ho, Liu, Reátegui, Winter, Wood).
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2) Colloids | Aerosols | Particle Technology
Faculty Bios
Understanding the behavior of colloids, aerosols, and small particles is important in both natural and industrial settings.
Research in CBE includes:
a. Fundamental studies of particle nucleation from the vapor phase (Kusaka, Wyslouzil);
b. The growth, structure and freezing of nanodroplets (Wyslouzil);
c. Self-assembly of block copolymer micelles in the liquid phase (Hall, Watkins, Winter, Wyslouzil);
d. Development of reactors based on fluidization of small particles (Fan).
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3) Fluid Mechanics \ Multiphase Flow
Faculty Bios
Fluid mechanics and multiphase flow are fundamental research areas that support the chemical process industry.
Currently, focus is largely on the complex multiphase flows (Fan) that characterize fluidized bed reactors.
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4) Molecular Thermodynamics | Molecular Simulation
Faculty Bios
A strong understanding of molecular thermodynamics is critical to our ability to predict the behavior of matter.
Furthermore, the ability to simulate the properties of materials accurately can lead to significant insight into the underlying phenomena and, ultimately, the design of novel materials.
Research in CBE within this focus area extends from experimental work (Tomasko) to theory/simulation (Asthagiri, Hall, Kusaka, Rathman, Wyslouzil).
Research is driven by problems in the fields of:
a. Catalysis and energy related materials (Asthagiri, Paulson);
b. Polymers (Hall, Tomasko);
c. Dynamics of phase transitions (Kusaka, Hall, Wyslouzil);
d. Chemical toxicity (Rathman).
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5) Polymers | Nanomaterials
Faculty Bios
The department has had a long history of research in the area of polymers and nanomaterials.
Current focus is largely in the following areas:
a. Biomaterials and biological arena (Cooper, Lee, Swindle-Reilly, Winter);
b. Polymer membranes and nanoporous materials (Ho);
c. Polymer theory/simulation (Hall);
d. Liquid crystals and liquid crystalline polymers (Wang);
e. Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly (Watkins);
f. Polymer electrolytes and polymer dynamics at interfaces (Sangoro).
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6) Reaction Engineering | Catalysis
Faculty Bios
Led by senior faculty members Fan, Feinberg, Ho, and Ozkan, reaction engineering and catalysis have long been strong focal points in the department.
With the addition of Asthagiri and Brunelli, this area gained depth both experimentally (Brunelli) and computationally (Asthagiri).
Topics of interest are largely focused on energy and environmental problems, and include the development of heterogeneous catalysts and reactors for:
a. Biomass conversion (Brunelli, Fan, Ozkan);
b. Wastewater treatment (Ozkan, Ho);
c. Fuel cells (Asthagiri, Ozkan, Ho);
d. Efficient conversion of coal and natural gas (Asthagiri, Ozkan, Brunelli, Fan).
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7) Sustainability | Energy | Environment | Process Engineering
Faculty Bios
Meeting human needs while addressing and adapting to challenges posed by environmental change, resource depletion, and ecological deterioration is among the grand challenges facing humanity.
Research in CBE:
a. Directly addresses technological problems related to using or creating energy effectively (Asthagiri, Fan, Ho, Ozkan, Paulson, Sangoro);
b. Investigates problems related to environmental issues (Ozkan, Wyslouzil);
c. Considers the broader problems of process engineering and sustainability (Bakshi, Paulson);
d. Investigates energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves (Wang).
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