PhD

PhD student wins prestigious Teets fellowship

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:43:19 +0000

PhD student wins prestigious Teets fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/09/2024 - 08:43

Arkava Ganguly, a third-year PhD student in the Gupta research group, also known as the Laboratory of Interface, Flow and Electrokinetics (LIFE), has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Teets Family Endowed Doctoral Fellowship. This highly sought-after fellowship, providing $15,000 over a two-year period, is intended to support students engaged in research within the field of nanotechnology.

"The Teets fellowship gives me the independence to work on some exciting research ideas through which I hope to gain a deeper understanding of surface interactions at the colloidal scale to develop effective sequestration technologies,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly's research utilizes a combination of theoretical and computational tools to unravel the intricacies of micro- and nanoparticle motion. His specific focus lies in investigating how various factors, such as particle shape, surface heterogeneities and interactions impact not only particle movement but also their interactions with the surrounding environment and other particles.

Actively controlled micro- and nanoparticles hold vast potential in diverse fields like biomedicine and environmental remediation, said Assistant Professor Ankur Gupta, Ganguly's advisor. Ongoing developments in this domain underscore the importance of comprehending the physics behind particle propulsion and their interactions with the environment. This understanding can help engineer particles capable of navigating complex environments, with applications ranging from targeted drug delivery to fine-tuning surface properties for efficiently sequestering plastics from water sources, he added.

“I am proud of Arkava for his commitment to his research as he has made contributions to several different topics in our group," Gupta said. "This award underscores his excellent progress to date.”

After completing his PhD, Ganguly envisions a career leveraging his expertise in fluid mechanics, transport phenomena and surface science. He aspires to focus on projects centered around sustainability and environmental remediation, aligning his skills with real-world applications.

“I would like to thank the Teets family and the College of Engineering and Applied Science for their generous support," Ganguly said. "I would also like to thank Professor Gupta for his mentorship and guidance. Finally, I want to thank my lab members for their help with my work and unwavering encouragement."

Arkava Ganguly, a third-year PhD student in the Gupta research group, has been honored with a 2024 Teets Family Endowed Doctoral Fellowship. The fellowship provides $15,000 over two-years and supports students engaged in nanotechnology research.

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Gesse Roure — Outstanding Dissertation Award

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 22:38:56 +0000

Gesse Roure — Outstanding Dissertation Award Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/06/2023 - 15:38

Susan Glairon

PhD, Chemical Engineering, 2023

Dissertation Name: Microhydrodynamics of Droplets and Particles: Applications in Microfluidics and Agglomeration

Defended: July, 2023

Associated lab: Davis Group

Advisors: Distinguished Professor Robert H. Davis and Alexander Zinchenko, senior research associate

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Missouri

College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Dissertation Award
This award recognizes the best dissertation (excellence of research, topical importance and presentation in the written dissertation) among students completing PhD degree requirements during a calendar year.

As a student from Brazil, how did you choose CU Boulder for your graduate studies?
Multiple factors influenced my decision to come to CU. Firstly, having already completed a master's in a related field, I was familiar with the previous works of Rob (Davis) and Alex (Zinchenko), and that was my primary motivation for choosing CU for my graduate studies. Besides that, the high-quality research conducted across various departments, particularly in Chemical and Biological Engineering, closely matched my academic interests. The appealing town atmosphere, as confirmed during my time in Boulder, solidified my decision, making it an easy choice.

What does receiving this award mean to you?
I am deeply honored to receive this outstanding dissertation award, which, for me, is the culmination of several years of hard work and diligence, as it not only represents the acknowledgement of my previous work, but also serves as a source of motivation for my future academic pursuits.

Tell me more about your research.
My dissertation explores the fascinating world of tiny-scale flows in science and engineering, especially focusing on two key challenges. First, we examined a sustainable method for capturing small particles in fluids using special droplets that slowly grow over time. The study reveals that the swelling of these droplets significantly improves particle capture efficiency, which is very useful for filtration, waste treatment and mineral recovery. In the second portion of the dissertation, the research focuses on the movement of tiny droplets in microchannels, which has applications ranging from medical diagnostic devices to targeted drug delivery. The findings include innovative approaches for shaping droplets and inducing effective mixing in microreactors, showcasing the potential for advancements in diverse microfluidic technologies. Overall, this work offers valuable insights into small-scale phenomena with broad applications across various scientific and engineering fields.

Why does this research topic interest you?
One thing that has always caught my attention is the ubiquitousness of fluids in nature. From the motion of hurricanes to the cytoplasm inside of a bacterium, there is always something flowing. The broad applications and interdisciplinary nature of fluid dynamics research are what specifically sparked my interest in this subject, as it offers a diverse range of opportunities to explore and understand various phenomena, making it an exciting and dynamic field.

Image above: Transport inside a droplet in a microfluidic trap subjected to an external tri-axial extensional flow.

Gesse Roure (PhD ChemEngr'23) received the CEAS Oustanding Dissertation Award; his research explores tiny-scale flows, with applications in waste treatment, mineral recovery, medical diagnostics and targeted drug delivery.

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Sanchez-Moran's enzyme immobilization research takes top prize at biologics summit

Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:21:24 +0000

Sanchez-Moran's enzyme immobilization research takes top prize at biologics summit Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/26/2023 - 10:21

Susan Glairon

Surpassing more than 300 participants, chemical engineering PhD student Hector Sanchez-Moran took home first prize at the PEGS Essential Protein and Antibody Engineering Summit poster presentation competition. The summit took place from May 15-19 in Boston.

Sanchez-Moran's said his poster explored significant advancements in the field of enzyme immobilization and its applications.

"This award signifies recognition for my years of research in the Kaar and Schwartz labs," said Sanchez-Moran, who is co-advised by Professor Daniel Schwartz and Associate Professor Joel Kaar. "The award, along with the enthusiastic responses from individuals I engaged with regarding my poster, demonstrates the value the biotechnology community places on our work, highlighting the significant implications of efficient enzyme immobilization."

The summit bills itself as "the leading biologics event," with comprehensive programming covering biologic drug development, including in-depth presentations on protein and antibody engineering, immunotherapy, oncology, expression, analytics and immunogenicity.

Enzyme immobilization has been extensively employed by protein engineers for a variety of applications, including bioremediation, biosensors and industrial biocatalysts. However, the precise understanding of how enzyme immobilization and its applications interact is not yet well understood, Sanchez-Moran said. His poster shed light on the complex nanoscale stabilizing interactions that lead to the remarkable stabilization of important enzymes used in detergent production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and the food industry. While these enzymes are barely stable above body temperature, Sanchez-Moran's immobilization technique demonstrated the ability to maintain their functionality up to boiling temperatures, thereby enhancing their utility in industrial settings.

Sanchez-Moran said it was his first experience attending a conference with significant industry participation.

"It was interesting to present my poster alongside representatives from leading biotech companies and engage in conversations about their own technologies," he said. "It's fascinating to observe the delicate balance these companies maintain, walking the fine line between disseminating their findings while protecting crucial information regarding their intellectual property."

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Three chemical engineering PhD students earn Department of Defense fellowships

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2023 22:08:16 +0000

Three chemical engineering PhD students earn Department of Defense fellowships Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/25/2023 - 16:08

Susan Glairon

Three University of Colorado chemical engineering PhD students have earned 2023 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships (NDSEG).

Evan Flitz, Collin Sindt and and Noah Mulherin Smith each received the Department of Defense (DoD) award, which recognizes and supports promising young scientists and engineers. The award includes a three-year monthly stipend and full coverage of tuition, fees and insurance, along with a travel budget for professional development.

This year the DoD awarded 165 individuals at 68 institutions nationwide, including nine from CU Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The NDSEG Fellowship program was established in 1989 by direction of congress as an approach to increasing the number of U.S. citizens receiving doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines of military importance. The DoD's objective through the NDSEG Fellowship and its mentorship program initiatives is "to propel talented individuals to the forefront of many discoveries and innovations relevant to the DoD; promote the growth of scientists/engineers within relevant DoD research disciplines; and support DoD science, engineering and technology innovations now and in the future."

You can read more about the students' research below.

Evan Flitz, Collin Sindt and and Noah Smith have received 2023 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships (NDSEG), a prestigious Department of Defense award that recognizes and supports promising young scientists and engineers.

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PhD student honored for shape-changing “smart” materials research

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:42:02 +0000

PhD student honored for shape-changing “smart” materials research Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/13/2023 - 10:42

Susan Glairon

PhD Student Albert Velasco Abadia was awarded the prestigious Materials Research Society (MRS) Graduate Student Gold Award for his research in using biological catalysts — also known as enzymes — for triggering shape reconfigurations in liquid crystal network "smart" materials.

These materials change shape in response to heat or light, with the movement used for actuation of robotics.

Velasco Abadia, who is advised by Associate Professor Joel Kaar and Professor Dan Schwartz, was first chosen as a finalist for the MRS Graduate Student Award and then invited to present his research at the society’s spring conference in San Francisco on April 13. He was awarded the highest graduate student honor on the basis of his talk.

"This award means a lot to me," Velasco Abadia said. "It recognizes the teamwork of Dan (Schwartz) and Joel (Kaar), and the work we are doing in cooperation with Tim White. It shows collaboration within the department really works."

Schwartz said Velasco Abadia initiated and led an entirely new project in his lab, collaborating with the White Group to immobilize enzymes within liquid crystal networks and creating a new class of responsive materials. While previous liquid crystal networks had been designed to respond to simple chemical cues, such as acids or bases, Velasco Abadia created shape- and color-changing materials that react to diverse and specific biochemical signals, directly relevant to biomedical and environmental applications.

Velasco Abadia said the research could be potentially applicable in tissue engineering, such as coronary stents that automatically expand on encountering fatty plaque, or in drug delivery, with the materials "knowing" the amount of glucose in a diabetic person's body and then releasing insulin when needed.

Because this project intersected biomolecular and materials science research, Velasco Abadia was required to develop wide-ranging expertise in modifying and expressing proteins, synthesizing liquid crystal materials, designing shape-changing constructs and characterizing the chemical, mechanical and catalytic properties of the resulting materials and constructs, Schwartz said.

"Albert has been an incredibly creative and productive researcher," he said. "He deserves full credit for his success, frequently bringing new ideas and interpretations to his research. I can’t recall another student who brought the same level of chemical sophistication and initiative. In many ways, supervising Albert has felt more like a collaboration with a peer than mentoring a student."

Velasco Abadia also recently won an American Chemical Society (ACS) award for excellence in graduate polymer research and was invited to give a talk at the ACS spring meeting. He plans to complete his PhD in biological engineering in June.

"I want to thank both my advisors — they have always supported me — and my labmates and my collaborators in the R+PM Lab," Velasco Abadia said. "No one had put enzymes in these materials before us. There was a lot of skepticism whether it would work, but we showed we could make this work.”

PhD Student Albert Velasco Abadia was awarded the prestigious Materials Research Society Graduate Student Gold Award for his research in using biological catalysts — also known as enzymes — for triggering shape reconfigurations in "smart" materials known as liquid crystal networks.

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