Utilizing Biorenewable Materials for the Production of Bio-Based Products in Sustainable Ways: Learning Its Opportunities and Challenges

Justinus A. Satrio, Ph.D.

Biomass Resources & Conversion Technologies Laboratory

and Department of Chemical Engineering

Presented at

Faculty of Agricultural Technologies Brawijaya University

Malang, Indonesia, April 24th 2014

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Lecture Outline

1. Introduction – About Villanova University

2. Graduate studies in the U.S.

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Joined Villanova in 2010 – My 15 Minutes of Fame

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Publication Opportunity

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http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/apbi

About Villanova University

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Where is Villanova University at ?

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• Villanova is located in a suburban community 12 miles (20 km) west of Philadelphia, easily accessible by train.

• Philadelphia is the first capital of USA and the 5th largest city in the country.

• Two hours drive south of New York City and north of Washington D.C.

• Large Indonesian community (about 5000) in South Philadelphia

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Indonesian Communities in Philadelphia

• Villanova University, founded in 1842, is the oldest and largest Catholic university in the State of Pennsylvania.

• Over 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, take part in a wide variety of degree programs throughout the University's five colleges – 1) College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2) College of Engineering, 2) College of Nursing, 4) School of Business and 5) Villanova School of Law.

• Villanova has 583 full-time faculty, nearly 90% of whom hold the highest degree in their fields.

• Endowment: US $ 425 millions (2013)

• Motto: Veritas, Unitas, Caritas (Truth, Unity, Love)

About Villanova University

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Academic Quality • #1 University (Regional Universities—North), U.S.News & World

Report • Top U.S. Producer of Fulbright Students (Master’s Institutions), The

Chronicle of Higher Education • Villanova School of Business: #7 Nationwide, Best Undergraduate

Business Schools, Bloomberg Businessweek • College of Engineering: #9 Nationwide, Best Undergraduate

Engineering Programs (Bachelor’s/Master’s Category), U.S.News & World Report

• College of Nursing: Designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing

About Villanova University

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Student Life Villanova students actively participate in charitable and philanthropic activities and organizations: • Special Olympics – Largest student run event in the world • Habitat for Humanity • Engineers Without Borders - non-profit organization that focuses

on helping to improve the living conditions of communities worldwide

• Rays of Sunshine – Caring for the elderly, sick and disabled people • Campus Ministry & Service – Integrating personal faith into the

academic and social environment of the university

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Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering • Faculty members: 12 and growing • Size of undergraduate classes: 50-60 • Increasing enrollments of graduate

students pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees

• Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Designs

• Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering

Faculty Research Areas

• Supercritical Fluid Applications

• Heterogeneous catalysis

• Biomass Resources and Conversion Technologies

• Industrial Wastewater Treatment Processes

• Nanomaterials

• Sustainability/Alternative Energy

Biomass Resources and Conversion Technologies

BRCT Laboratory

http://www3.villanova.edu/biomass/

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Graduate Studies in U.S.A.

• Graduate school in the U.S. provide strong background for those

who are becoming university teachers. • A big portion of program include graduate level courses • Research is a partial requirement in graduate program

• MS Degree: - 36 course credits, including 6-18 credit from research - Completed in 2 years

• PhD degree : 72 course credits, including 30-36 credits from research - 72 course credits, including 30-36 credit from research - Completed in 3-5 years

Why Graduate School in the U.S.

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• Study in the U.S.A. is expensive, but most graduate schools

provide financial aids for selected students. • Research and development is a very important role for

universities. • Graduate students are employed to work with faculty on

various research projects. • Tuition scholarship • Full scholarship - pay for tuition and monthly stipend • Stipend ranges from $1,500 to $2,500 monthly

How about the Cost?

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• Most universities admit new graduate students based on the

number of scholarships that they can provide yearly • Funding comes from yearly allocation from university and

from external grants obtained from individual faculty members

• Very competitive, but chances are good.

• High percentage of the number of graduate students in the U.S.A. are foreign students (> 50% in many places)

• Large number of graduate foreign graduate students are from China and India.

• Opportunities for university teachers in Indonesia to pursue advanced degrees.

• Occupation as university faculty distinguish you from other applicants.

What are the Chances of Getting Assistantships?

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• Find out what are your interests in research • You will spend 2-5 years doing research. • You better like the research!

• Do research to find universities and faculty researchers

who do research that you are interested in. • Ask around through your network connections. • Find out from journal articles

• Primary authors and their affiliation • Find their contact information,

• Do internet search • Check out university websites

I am thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in the U.S. Where should I start?

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• What to look for about individual faculty researchers: • Research area • Years of graduation, • Where they are in professorships:

• Assistant professor • Associate professor • Professor • Emeritus professor

• Publications • Size of their research groups

• Do research thoroughly.

I am thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in the U.S. Where should I start?

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• Contact the individual faculty members directly.

• Many university professors have research projects with grant money and need researchers to work on their projects.

• Write a brief E-mail explaining your interest in doing research with the faculty members: • Letter should be professional, i.e. concise and to the point:

• Introduce yourself and background • Where/how your find out about them and their

research • Why you are interested to work for them

• Make sure to use proper English grammar • Check and re-check the letter to make sure it is free of

grammatical errors and/or spelling.

I am thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in the U.S. Where should I start?

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• Write a brief E-mail … (Cont’d) : • Attached a 2-page resume . • In the letter, invite the faculty researcher to review

your resume. • Your 2-page Resume :

• Should be brief and concise and professional. • Interests, educational background, work experiences,

publications, skills and knowledge, awards received • Show of your accomplishments. Don’t exagerate, but

don’t be bashful either. • Do not provide personal information. This includes

your photograph of you, date of birth, and gender information

I am thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in the U.S. Where should I start?

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• You may/may not get a response from the faculty researchers • They may not be interested in you • They may not have funding support • When they respond they are likely:

• Want to know more about you if they have funding support

• Will respond by telling you to submit application forward your E-mail to the Graduate Program Director

• Start preparing your applications. • Prepare yourself for taking GRE and TOEFL • Sharpen your English language skills and knowledge, in

both speaking and writing.

I am thinking of pursuing a graduate degree in the U.S. Where should I start?

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• Content:

• Completed application • Application fee (varies) • Resume (can be longer than 2 pages) • Official transcripts of previous degrees • Test scores (GRE and TOEFL) • Reference letters (typically 3) • Personal statement (500-700 words) • Financial aid application

• Successful application: • Show evidence that applicant is a distinguish individual • Demonstrate that the interests of the applicant match the

program the applicant is applying to. • Not contain obvious mistakes or exaggeration • Easily readable.

Typical Application Package

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• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

• Standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers used by most U.S. universities for evaluating foreign student applicants.

• Tests: Internet Based Test (IBT) and Paper Based Test (PBT) • Knowledge/skills tested: Reading, Listening, Speaking and

Writing • Scoring/grading:

• IBT: 0 – 30 for each of the 4 sections. Total: 0-120 • PBT: 310 – 677 (Listening, structure and reading). Writing: 0- 6

• Minimum score requirement varies for different universities. • At Villanova University: 80 for IBT or 550 for PBT

• Scores valid for 2 years

GRE and TOEFL Tests

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• GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

• Standardized test used by most graduate schools in the U.S. • Tests: Internet Based Test (IBT) and Paper Based Test (PBT) • Knowledge/skills tested: Analytical writing, quantitative

reasoning, and verbal reasoning • Minimum score requirement varies for different universities. • Scores valid for 5 years

• When to take TOEFL and GRE? • Ideally 6-12 months before application to make sure the best

scores are submitted for the application. • Can take TOEFL and GRE after application is submitted, but this

is risky.

GRE and TOEFL Tests

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http://www3.villanova.edu/biomass/

Biomass Resources and Conversion Technologies BRCT Laboratory

Thank you for Listening!

Questions/Comments?

Contact: Dr. Justinus A. Satrio, Ph.D.

Villanova University Dept of Chemical Engineering

800 E. Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085

E-mail: justinus.satrio@villanova.edu Phone: 610-519-6658