Category: ActiveSite2019

Board room to brush strokes: alum Barney Baxter discovers a new love in retirement

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering alumnus Reginald R. “Barney” Baxter made a career running businesses of his own and helping to manage others. Now, in retirement, he’s embracing the endeavor of creating portrait paintings. It’s a hobby he picked up in retirement. And it’s proof that it’s never too late to start a new … Continue reading Board room to brush strokes: alum Barney Baxter discovers a new love in retirement

Ken Jolls is a: 1. Musician 2. Chemical engineer 3. Advocate of cognitive art (hint: it’s all of the above)

It’s fair to say Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering emeritus professor Ken Jolls has led a double life. It might be more graceful to call him a “renaissance man.” But in a world where science and the arts are strange bedfellows, Jolls has proven that you can successfully embrace both. After falling in love … Continue reading Ken Jolls is a: 1. Musician 2. Chemical engineer 3. Advocate of cognitive art (hint: it’s all of the above)

ISU again bound for nationals in AIChE Chem-E-Car student competition

For the fourth consecutive year, an Iowa State University team will be taking part in the national Chem-E-Car competition with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. CBE entered two teams in the regional Chem-E-Car competition at the AIChE Mid-America Student Regional Conference at Missouri University of Science and Technology, which features student-designed miniature vehicles that … Continue reading ISU again bound for nationals in AIChE Chem-E-Car student competition

Expanded education and horizons – with new financial aid – for Oviedo, Spain lab students

It’s a demanding program. But one many participants describe as the high point of their chemical and biological engineering experience at Iowa State – the Oviedo, Spain Summer Lab Program. Eight students who recently returned from the 2019 Iberian adventure can now add themselves to the long list of students who have benefited from the … Continue reading Expanded education and horizons – with new financial aid – for Oviedo, Spain lab students

From Sweeney Hall classrooms to the corner office: Alumna Lori Ryerkerk is new CEO of Celanese

“A great experience before getting out into the workplace!” Those words about Iowa State’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering curriculum are from alumna Lori J. Ryerkerk (B.S., 1983). Her new workplace is the CEO’s office of Celanese Corporation in Dallas, Texas. Celanese is a Fortune 500 global leader in specialty materials and chemical products … Continue reading From Sweeney Hall classrooms to the corner office: Alumna Lori Ryerkerk is new CEO of Celanese

Professor Eric Cochran named director of Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering professor Eric Cochran has been named director of the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (CB2), which is based at Iowa State University. He had previously served as the center’s deputy director. CB2 serves as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry & University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC), which helps build … Continue reading Professor Eric Cochran named director of Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites

Semiconductor materials power Panthani to NSF CAREER award

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering assistant professor and Herbert L. Stiles Faculty Fellow Matthew Panthani was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award in April 2019. The Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) honor is one of the most sought-after awards for university-level teacher-scholars who are in the early stages of their careers. … Continue reading Semiconductor materials power Panthani to NSF CAREER award

CBE labs and safety are the priority for returning ISU alumna

Sarah Beckman has returned to Iowa State to join the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering as a laboratory supervisor. Beckman graduated from Iowa State in 1999 with a concurrent B.S. in ceramic engineering and M.S. in materials science and engineering. “I’ve enjoyed being back at Iowa State University,” Beckman says. “The energy of the … Continue reading CBE labs and safety are the priority for returning ISU alumna

Robust microbes – with business potential – is the mission in the Jarboe Research Group

To the average outsider looking in at scientific research it’s easy to think that “science is science.” But in reality, especially in today’s world, scientific researchers need a partnership with something else – a good head for business. “At the university level, it’s one thing to do great science, but to help people, you have … Continue reading Robust microbes – with business potential – is the mission in the Jarboe Research Group

New chapter, same mission for Iowa State’s Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC)

There’s one thing Brent Shanks (pictured above) wants you to understand about the future of the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, better known as CBiRC: “We have no intention of going away. We have a different way of looking at biobased chemical problems and how to address them, and there is a big demand for it.” … Continue reading New chapter, same mission for Iowa State’s Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC)

CBE By The Numbers

158 Bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2018 5 Master’s degrees awarded in 2018 10 Ph.D. degrees awarded in 2018 $9.9M in Research Expenditures in 2018 Average funding per faculty member: $469,698 231 undergraduate scholarships worth $465,000 impacting 163 students 7 graduate fellowships worth $120,000 impacting 7 students

Tiny components, big accomplishments for Nanovaccine Institute’s young scientists

The headlines and feature stories have become frequent for the Iowa State University-based Nanovaccine Institute, a multidisciplinary network of scientists devoted to transforming the development and delivery of vaccines and therapeutics that will fight deadly diseases worldwide. Led by Iowa State Chemical and Biological Engineering Anson Marston Distinguished Professor and Vlasta Klima Balloun Faculty Chair … Continue reading Tiny components, big accomplishments for Nanovaccine Institute’s young scientists