The University of Kentucky American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapters recently attended the AIChE Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA (October 27 – November 2). Thirty undergraduates from Lexington attended this meeting and participated in a wide variety of conference events. Sixteen students representing the Paducah chapter also attended.
UK Paducah sophomore William Croft won 1st place in Environmental Science and Engineering II for his poster titled, “A Renewable Process for Producing Low-Cost Biofuel and Biochar for Rural West Africa.”
The Lexington UK AIChE student chapter had eight students participate in the undergraduate student poster session and competition, along with three students from the Paducah campus student chapter. The competition required students to present their research in poster format. The specifics of the presentations are given below:
Landon Mills, “Microalgae Cultivation in Closed-Loop Photobioreactors: Biofilm Characterization, Prevention and Removal” (Dr. Crocker, research advisor)
Ashley McClean, “Protein Diffusion Through Oriented Thin Film Silica Membranes” (Drs. Knutson and Rankin, research advisors)
Jaime Shoup, “Conversion of Triglycerides and Fatty Acids to Hydrocarbons Using Supported Nickel Catalysts” (Dr. Crocker, research advisor)
Lindsay Gray, “An Improved in Vitro Model for the Study of Endothelial Cells Using Micropatterned Surfaces” (Drs. Anderson and Eitel, research advisors)
David Spencer, “Multiple Macromer Hydrogels for Multiphase Drug Release” (Drs. Hilt and Puleo, research advisors)
Alex Tsoras, “The Development of Three-Dimensional Lung Multicellular Spheroids in Air and Liquid Interface Culture for the Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Therapeutics” (Drs. Anderson and Hilt, research advisors)
Adrianne Shearer, “Characterization of Liposomal Nanoparticles for in Vivo Conjugation to Adoptive Transferred T-Cells” (Dr. Irvine, research advisor from MIT REU Program)
Nick Winquist, “Light Sensitive Block Copolymer Cross Linked Nanoassemblies for Drug Delivery” (Dr. Bae, research advisor)
Maxwell Croft, “A Project Developing a Process for Sustainable Low Cost Biofuel and Biochar for Rural West Africa”(Dr. Seay, research advisor, Paducah program)
William Croft, “A Renewable Process for Producing Low-Cost Biofuel and Biochar for Rural West Africa” (Dr. Seay, research advisor, Paducah program)
Landon Mott, “Inductive Methods of Teaching Batch Distillation through Simulation” (Drs. Silverstein and Seay, research advisors, Paducah program)
Four Lexington students were recognized with prestigious poster awards: Lindsay Gray, 1st Place Poster Award for the Materials Engineering and Sciences Section; Ashley McClean, 2nd Place Poster Award for the Separations Section; David Spencer, 3rd Place Poster Award for the Materials Engineering and Sciences Section; and Alex Tsoras, 2nd Place Poster Award for the Food, Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnology Section.
Two Paducah students were also recognized with poster awards: William Croft, 1st Place Poster Award for the Sustainability Section; and Landon Mott, 3rd Place Poster Award for the General Engineering and Engineering Education Section.
Both of the UK AIChE student chapters were honored as outstanding chapters. Each year, only about 10% of student chapters receive that designation. The Lexington Chapter received special recognition for winning this national award for a record 25th year in a row. The Paducah Chapter received this award for the 11th consecutive year.
UK AIChE student chapter officers are: David Spencer, President; Adam Lyvers, Vice President; Adrianne Shearer, Secretary; and Jaime Shoup, Treasurer. Dr. Zach Hilt is the chapter advisor.
UK Paducah AIChE student chapter officers are: Landon Mott, President; Neil Trammell, Vice President; Amber Deming, Secretary; and Christina Willett, Treasurer. Dr. David Silverstein is the chapter advisor.