April, 2014 Newsletter

1   The  Department  of  Biomedical,  Chemical  and  Environmental  Engineering  

As interim department head, I am pleased to present the second department newsletter of the 2013-2014 year. Since the last newsletter, Chris Bauer has taken on his new role as Business Administrator for the department. Welcome, Chris, to this new position. We are projecting that our research expenditures will reach around $8,000,000 by the end of the fiscal year and this past semester has been an exciting time for innovative research within the department. Dr. Lilit Yeghiazarian received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award for her work entitled “Integrated Research and Education in Stochastic Systems-Based Watershed Management & Water Safety (SWMS).” Dr. Narmoneva’s group work on healing chronic wounds has been

generating positive media attention in many news outlets. Congratulations to all of the faculty for their recent awards. This department’s success also extends to our recent graduates. Moises Carreon, a 2003 Chemical Engineering PhD graduate, received the 2012 Presidential Early Career Award, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their careers. We are also very proud of the accomplishments of our current students, both graduate and undergraduate, who have received many local and national awards. George Sorial Ph.D., Interim Department Head BCEE ************************************************************************************************************************

Dr. Lilit Yeghiazarian Wins Prestigious NSF CAREER award Dr. Lilit Yeghiazarian was recently awarded the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) CAREER award! This prestigious honor is given to junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of their organization’s mission. An assistant professor in Environmental Engineering, Yeghiazarian received the award for her work entitled “Integrated Research and Education in Stochastic Systems-Based Watershed Management & Water Safety (SWMS).” She attributes her success to the support of her colleagues: “I am thrilled to have received this

award; it is indeed a great honor. I must say that it would not have been possible without the support from our department. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues who gave me their words of wisdom, exchanged ideas, shared their proposals, and critically reviewed mine. I am very lucky to work in such a great environment.” ************************************************************************************************************************ Narmoneva’s Team Research on Chronic Wounds Gains News Attention A team of researchers, led by Toloo Taghian (Physics PhD student) and Dr. Daria Narmoneva (Associate Professor of Biomedical Eng) are gaining media attention for their work on chronic wounds. They discovered that externally applied low-amplitude electric fields can help hard-to-heal wounds, like those associated with diabetes, where there is insufficient blood supply and drug treatments are not effective. Electrical stimulation, they found, encourages angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and enhances the growth of the vascular network. As a result, they expect wounds to close and heal more rapidly. The implications of their research are great, as electrical-based therapy would allow for a more targeted, localized treatment of the wound, it could reduce the need for drug-based treatments (which can have many side effects), and the therapy could be applied with a hand-held device without the need to remove the wound dressing. To read more about their work, go to http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-03-range-electrical-frequencies-chronic-wounds.html

April, 2014 Newsletter

2   The  Department  of  Biomedical,  Chemical  and  Environmental  Engineering  

Two BCEE Faculty Nominated for the 2014 Innovation Awards Dr. Mingming Lu, an associate professor of Environmental Engineering and Dr. Anastasios

Angelopoulos, associate professor of Chemical Engineering both were nominated for the 2014 Innovation Awards presented by Business Courier in April 2014. The Innovation Awards celebrate inventive companies and people “that show how new ideas can be developed into fuel for the Tri-State’s economic engine.” Lu and Angelopoulous were both nominated for “Outstanding Emerging Innovation”. The winners will be announced at an event on April 10, 2014 and will also be featured in a Business Courier print article. Congratulations!

************************************************************************************************************************ Carlos Co Named Professor of the Year by Engineering Tribunal Dr. Carlos Co, an associate professor of Chemical Engineering, has been named “Professor of the Year” by the Engineering and Applied Science Tribunal. The Engineering and Applied Science Tribunal serves as the student government entity for the college. They selected Dr. Carlos Co for his commitment to excellent teaching. Congratulations, Dr. Co!

************************************************************************************************************************ Faculty Group Wins Funding for Renewable Energy Project A collaborative group of UC faculty, including several BCEE faulty, was recently awarded over $100,000 in funding for their renewable energy research proposal entitled “Biomass Conversion for Renewable Energy Development: An Integrated Preliminary Research Initiative.” BCEE faculty members Pablo Campo-Moreno, Tim C. Keener, Soon-Jai Khang, Joo-Youp Lee, Mingming Lu and Drew C. McAvoy will collaborate on the project. Dr. Vesselin Shanov was part of a second team who also won an award for their project entitled “Renewable Energy Storage Devices Using Renewable Materials”. These are funded by three entities: the Department of Biomedical, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering, (BCEE), the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (AEEM), and the Mathewson fund. Congratulations on these exciting projects! ************************************************************************************************************************ Linda Moeller Named “Employee of the Semester” for her Commitment to Students Congratulations to Linda Moeller for being named “Employee of the Semester” by the McCormack Award Committee for fall semester 2013. Recognized for her dedication to the students, Moeller has worked as manager of the undergraduate educational programs in the Department of Biomedical, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering since 2003 and she has been a staff member at UC for over 22 years. As undergraduate program manager, she is responsible for the recruitment, admission, advising, and retention of students in the department’s undergraduate programs. From providing career and academic advice to listening to students’ personal struggles, Moeller’s efforts contribute to the success of over 600 undergraduates each year. Moeller received nominations from across the college, but her most glowing praise comes from the students. One student said of Moeller’s guidance: “She has always made time to meet with me to discuss my progress and address my concerns. She keeps me informed in new opportunities to align with my interests, and helps me plan for achieving my future career goals. As a result of Linda’s guidance and advice, I have been propelled forward, with years of research experience as a fourth-year undergraduate student and a deep clarity about my chosen career path.”

April, 2014 Newsletter

3   The  Department  of  Biomedical,  Chemical  and  Environmental  Engineering  

A Kleindiek micro-manipulator (left) and a Hitachi Benchtop Scanning Electron Microscope (right) are just a few of the devices in the new 587 ERC lab.

Nanoworld Opens New Lab, Unveils New Equipment Drs. Vesselin Shanov and Mark Schulz recently introduced a new facility to the Nanoworld Lab Group: the Pilot Microfactory for Nanomedicine Devices, located in Room 587 ERC Building. The purpose of the new lab is to develop biomedical microdevices using raw materials. The Nanoworld Directors debuted the new addition in a grand opening luncheon on November 21, 2013. Following the luncheon, faculty, staff, and students toured the lab and learned about its new state-of-the-art equipment, including micro-manipulators for assembling nanodevices, a micro balance scale for density measurements, a 3D printer for manufacturing parts, three precision microscopes, and a benchtop scanning electron microscope. To optimize image quality, the microscopes are located on a large vibration table. This new lab is the 7th laboratory in the Nanoworld group and was built with help from Engineering Facilities Manager Rick Koch and his staff. ************************************************************************************************************************ Moises Carreon, Recent ChE PhD Graduate, Receives the 2012 Presidential Early Career Award Moises Carreon, a 2003 Chemical Engineering PhD graduate, was awarded the 2012 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers! This award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Carreon, who studied under the guidance of Dr. Vadim Guliants at UC, will receive his award in Washington, D.C. this year. “The impressive achievements of these early-stage scientists and engineers are promising of even greater success ahead,” said President Obama in the official White House press release announcing the winners. Carreon’s research focuses on advanced functional porous materials and shows promising applications in natural gas and flue gas treatment as well as natural gas storage. Carreon currently serves as Associate Professor at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. ************************************************************************************************************************ BCEE Student Awards

Changseok Han, (EnvEng graduate student, advisor: Dr. Dionysios Dionysiou) was awarded the 2014 University of Cincinnati Graduate Student Award for Exemplary Scholarship in the area of Physical Science and Engineering from the Graduate Student Governance Association (GSGA). In recognition of the award, Changseok will receive a monetary prize, a plaque and a certificate at the All University Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Changseok’s research interests include (i) water treatment using advanced oxidation processes, (ii) environmental nanotechnologies, (iii) environmental chemistry, and (iv) sensing/treatment of algal toxins in surface waters. Additionally, he is one of the recipients for the Graduate Dean’s fellowship for a 2013-2014 academic year. To read more, go to http://ceas.uc.edu/news-1314/phd-student-engineering-better-water-.html

April, 2014 Newsletter

4   The  Department  of  Biomedical,  Chemical  and  Environmental  Engineering  

BCEE Student Awards Qingshi Tu (EnvEng graduate student, advisor: Dr. Mingming Lu) was featured on the cover of UC Research Magazine in August for his trap grease to biodiesel work. Moreover, Qingshi Tu (pictured right, in the center) and two students from the College of Business (Ronald Gillespie and Ethan Jacobs) won the first place Odebrecht Award for Sustainable Development and $40,000 for their Bearcat Clean Energy startup business idea called Effluent. Effluent is a waste energy company that extracts fat, oil, and grease from wastewater to produce low-cost biodiesel feedstock. Using technology developed by advisor Mingming Lu, Effluent uses a waste grease extraction process to produce low-cost alternatives to expensive agricultural-based biodiesel feedstock. The group of UC students presented their business idea in Miami, Florida in September and beat out teams from University of California Berkeley and Florida International University. Click here to read more.

Nicholas Kienzle and Timothy Ochmann (ChE undergraduate students) were recognized by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) for their work developing a carbon nanotube cable. Under the direction of Post Doctor Noe Alvarez of the Nanoworld Laboratories (directed by Drs. Vesselin Shanov and Mark Schulz), the three developed a carbon nanotube (CNT) micro-cable for use as electrical wire. Using CNT thread, they designed and manufactured a thin, insulated wire that can be used to power a LED light. Kienzle and Ochmann traveled to San Francisco,

California in early November to showcase their research in the AIChE National Student Paper and Poster Competitions. A panel of three chemical engineers judged the participants. Kienzle placed second in the research paper division and Ochmann placed third in the poster division. Both said they were proud to attend the prestigious competition and represent the Nanoworld Laboratories and the university. Matthew Johnson (BME undergraduate student) has been selected to participate in the NSF Academic-Year Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program being run by Prof. Ghia. The REU program is an educational opportunity that supports undergraduate student research in any of the areas funded by the National Science Foundation. Geshan Zhang (Env Science graduate student, advisor: Dr. Dionysios Dionysiou) was awarded the C. Ellen Gonter Award of the Division of Environmental Chemistry by the American Chemical Society. This award is the highest honor given to students by the Division of Environmental Chemistry. Geshan will present her work during the C. Ellen Gonter graduate student award session in the Fall ACS Meeting in San Francisco. Geshan started her Ph.D. studies at UC in the 2009 and her current research is based on a US-Egypt collaboration project focused on the application and mechanisms of UV-Vis/visible light-activated polymorphic TiO2-based catalysts for the destruction of cyanotoxins in water. She also received the Water for People Project Rebuild Award from the Water for People Organization in 2013. Shijun Wei (ChE graduate student, advisor: Dr. Greg Beaucage) won the 2013 P&G Accelerator Seed Fund, a short-term fellowship award for UC students to conduct materials science-related research. During his fellowship, Wei will work on a project involving “multi-layered gels as a delivery system to carry drugs, fragrance, flavor, and disinfectants,” he said. Wei will present his final work to the corporate Research and Development Division of P&G at the Beckett Ridge Technical Center. “Since I am newly enrolled as a graduate student,” Wei said, “I never expected to be the only winner from 63 competitors.” The hope is that Wei’s results will lead to new projects and subsequent collaboration.

Congratulations to these BCEE students!