The Buzz » chemical engineering http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz Just another WordPress site Wed, 01 May 2013 20:46:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Spotlight on Engineering Alumni: Elizabeth Hill http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/12/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-elizabeth-hill/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/12/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-elizabeth-hill/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:27:19 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=5542 Name: Elizabeth Hill
Age: 31
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Education (UR and additional): B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2003; PhD in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007
Current city/state of residence: Eden Prairie, MN
Family:  My husband, Frank and I enjoy hiking and canoeing northern MN with our one year old daughter Lena Rose.  We spend time reading and enjoy the company of our two dogs, and cat.
Community activities:  Pax Christi, SWE, AIChE

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

The University of Rochester gave me a Bausch and Lomb Award in my senior year of high school which sparked my interest.  I recall U of R being “not too big,” but still having a wide range of majors that interested me.   In my case, the generous financial aid package and low interest loan options were also the most financially prudent choice, even as compared to the SUNY system.

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

As a student I played softball for the University of Rochester and was a member of SWE, AICHE and the Newman Community. Lisa Norwood, Assistant Dean of the Hajim School of Engineering, was a SWE faculty leader at the time, and helped me understand the value of a professional network. I also loved the peace and calm at Newman services led by Father Cool and Sister Kathleen. All of these organizations showed me the joy of spending time in service to my community.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I am both a mom and an improvement engineer working on sustainable water and process solutions for the Dow Chemical Company. I enjoy a good challenge and I’d say that’s what led me to this “dual career”.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

Balance truly is an illusion; however, there are choices I have made that allow me to lead both a rich personal and rewarding professional life. Taking time to evaluate and articulate my core values (faithfulness, family, determination, and trust) has helped me.  As example, my values lead my family to sacrifice a bigger home, nicer car, and limit our vacations to trips to see family once our daughter was born. We choose to live off of one income so my husband can stay home with her. Likewise, if something is outside of my control at work (or home), but does not conflict with my personal values, then I try not to worry it. As I reflect on this now, I’m quite happy with my choices thus far, but I also recall how hard they were in the moment – have kids right away, or finish my PhD? I waited; take the job that is closer to family, or take the job that has a higher earning potential? I chose family. There are other choices I can anticipate on the horizon – pursue an expatriate assignment or stay in the US?  Thinking ahead of time, makes it a lot easier in the moment when the choice becomes a tangible option and also allows my values to guide my choices.

What advice do you have for current students?

Be flexible because life changes fast. Anyone who’s received Dr. Amy Lerner’s (Department of Biomedical Engineering) tips on obtaining an internship knows that is the first thing to do, and the second, and then be flexible some more.  Additionally, to guys and girls alike – check out writings on “’The Imposter Syndrome.” It was an enlightening moment the day I learned of this phenomena as well as an empowering one. I’d also encourage all students to become fluent in the business case for diversity because studies (www.catalyst.org) show this a fiscally rewarding endeavor that cannot be undertaken without support from all.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/12/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-elizabeth-hill/feed/ 0 Research Internship Introduced Rochester Junior to German Culture http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/10/research-internship-introduced-rochester-junior-to-german-culture/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/10/research-internship-introduced-rochester-junior-to-german-culture/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:51:47 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=4532 By Jordan Duncan ’14
Intern, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences

Maria Zapata ’14, a chemical engineering major at the University of Rochester, fell in love with Germany when she interned abroad at German national lab, Forschungszentrum Jülich, for four months this past summer.  She participated in the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Research Internships in Science and Engineering (DAAD RISE) program after learning about it through the University’s Center for Study Abroad & Interdepartmental Programs.

Before beginning her research in Jülich, Zapata participated in a month-long German language crash course in Münich.  “I learned more German from listening to my friends, though,” she said.  “They would repeat the same words again and again, so eventually I learned the basics.  I could hold most of this conversation in German right now.”

Throughout the length of the internship, Zapata traveled every weekend.  She visited Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, and Austria during her stay in Germany.  “It was amazing!” she said.  “You get to know another culture.  A lot of American people are afraid to leave the country, but I think it’s important to show that you’re not scared of going to a new place.”

Zapata met her traveling companions at the gym in Jülich, and she spent a lot of her free time with them.  “Everything in Germany is closed on Sundays, so I had a lot of time to myself,” she said.  “We went backpacking, and we learned a lot about different cultures.”

Besides experiencing a new culture, Zapata gained valuable experience in chemical engineering. “Doing research in Germany was great,” she said. “The system of doing research at the German national lab is totally different from our campus.”

The German lab offered her access to many resources that aren’t available on Rochester’s campus.  She learned how to operate new machines that are directly relevant to her field of research, and she learned from the more experienced researchers with whom she worked.

“My supervisor was amazing.  He taught me a lot and he was always helpful.”  Zapata was able to request microscope images from technicians, so she spent more time focusing on her research.  “I had more freedom to do what I think could work,” she said.  “I felt that my ideas were important for the group, and that my voice was heard.”

Zapata was pleased to discover that her peers and co-workers always supported each other and spent time together outside of work.  Everyone in her research group ate lunch together during the week, and after lunch they shared coffee time.  “It was great because we could talk about our different projects there,” she said.

The program provided Zapata with a $6,500 stipend throughout her stay for her work in the research lab.  The lodging was free and the flight was free, so she only paid for food and personal expenses during her time abroad.  “It’s a great way to go and explore Europe, even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money,” she said.

Zapata hopes to return to Germany after she earns her undergraduate degree.  “They told me that I can get a masters degree in engineering in a year and a half,” she said.  “Now, I am sure that I want to do my masters in Germany!”

Read More About Rochester Students Who Traveled Abroad Through Fellowships

Photo courtesy of Maria Zapata.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/10/research-internship-introduced-rochester-junior-to-german-culture/feed/ 0 Spotlight on Natural Sciences Alumni: Laura Posner http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-laura-posner/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-laura-posner/#comments Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:41:54 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=3032 Name: Laura Posner
Age:  23
Occupation  PhD Student
Education (UR and additional):  B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2010; PhD (Chemical Engineering), Carnegie Mellon University, Expected 2015
Current city/state of residence:  Pittsburgh, PA
Family: A very loving adopted Calico cat named Renny
Community activities:  Dog walking volunteer, Animal Rescue League of Western PA

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

The most meaningful activity to me was being treasurer of UR Habitat for Humanity.  After years of dumpster diving in SueB for money from container deposits, we cosponsored a house in Rochester for the first time in UR Habitat’s history.  I always knew I could help people with a degree from UR, but it meant even more that I could help make a difference before graduation.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

In graduate school, you often choose your own hours, so disciplining myself to work regular hours allows me to take time for myself after work and on the weekends.  Walking dogs at the animal shelter helps motivate me because I find it important to give myself something to look forward to each week.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I am a 2nd year PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University studying air quality in the Chemical Engineering department.  I use a 3D chemical transport model to look at sources of particle number over the Eastern US.  Graduate school felt like a natural progression after UR because I felt like I was not yet finished with book learning.

What advice do you have for current students?

Do not be afraid to apply to graduate programs or job postings that are not strictly within your major’s expertise.  Engineering especially is very interdisciplinary.  My research group includes Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical Engineers as well as chemists.  I am taking Mechanical Engineering courses now on the side to pursue my other interests.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I love engineering and French.  Any engineering curriculum is usually strict, but UR’s cluster system allowed me the freedom to choose French classes to fulfill requirements.  I may not have been able to continue with French elsewhere. Plus, the students appeared to be happy (which I later found to be very true). I greatly preferred UR’s atmosphere of students helping each other rather than cutthroat competition.

Who were your mentors while you were on campus? Have you continued those relationships?

I met many great people along the way at UR, but my Chemical Engineering adviser, Ben Ebenhack, and his wife were, and still are, great mentors to me.  I used to stop in to talk and eat lunch with them while I was an undergrad.  We still keep in touch.  Their advice and support are very meaningful to me.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-laura-posner/feed/ 0 Spotlight on Natural Sciences Alumni: Samuel Frommer http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-samuel-frommer/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-samuel-frommer/#comments Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:14:00 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=2742 Name:Samuel Frommer
Age: 28
Occupation: Student
Education (UR and additional): B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2007; M.A. in Urban Planning, CUNY Hunter (in progress)
Current city/state of residence: Brooklyn, NY

When and how did you choose your major?

I started at UR with the intention of studying biomedical engineering, but after the first semester, I switched to chemical engineering because I realized I was more interested in environmental and energy issues rather than medical ones.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

While at UR, I worked on a campaign to make the new engineering building (what is now Goergen Hall) a green building.  It was a really interesting project, and by the time I finished my Take Five, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.  I moved to New York City where I was fortunate enough to get a job as a green building consultant.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

After working in green building for a few years, I came to realize I was more interested in the larger urban fabric rather than just individual buildings.  So, I changed jobs and worked for an NGO that promotes sustainable urban transportation, always knowing that I would need a master’s degree to move ahead.  I am now an urban planning graduate student at CUNY Hunter, specializing in transportation planning.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

Basic engineering skills, like analytical thinking and being able to communicate complicated ideas, are fundamental and translate well to any job.  It may sound simple, but employers are impressed by an engineering degree, especially in fields that engineers don’t normally work in.  Having that education has definitely been an advantage, especially when you come out of college with very little real world experience.

What advice do you have for current students?

Just because you are an engineering student does not mean that you can’t study abroad.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  With some planning and maybe a course overload, it is entirely possible to get the invaluable experience of living in another country, and even learn a new language.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/07/spotlight-on-natural-sciences-alumni-samuel-frommer/feed/ 0 Spotlight on Engineering Alumni: Matt Herron http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/05/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-matt-herron/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/05/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-matt-herron/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 19:13:44 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=1634

Name: Matt Herron
Age: 31
Occupation: Engineer, FBI
Education (UR and additional): B.S. / M.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2002.
Current city/state of residence: Chicago, IL
Community activities: playing sports, going to church, fighting crime, crushing evil.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I thought Chemical Engineering sounded like a good field to get into and the UofR has a well-regarded program.  Additionally, when I visited the campus I liked how friendly it seemed.  Possibly though, it was entirely because I was able to play for the hockey team.

When and how did you choose your major?

Tons of people in my family are engineers, so I came to college figuring I’d try it out.  I loved Chemistry when I was in high school, and I figured Chemical Engineering sounded like a good way to stay in that field.  It wasn’t until after I got to college that I found out that Chemical Engineering is all math and physics.  Surprise!

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

I played on the UofR ice hockey team and made good friends there.  I loved taking the bus around with the team on weekends to play wherever we happened to be going.  I was a TA for a couple of ChE labs and I also was involved in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) where I got to help with some pretty rewarding community outreach with handicapped kids and the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

What resources did you use on campus that you recommend current students use?

The computer lab in Gavett Hall was an amazing resource for wasting lots of time when I should have been working.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I worked for 6 months for the EPA on a contract with an environmental non-profit.  I got into it because it sounded cool and it involved my ChE degree, so I figured I’d get some good experience.  After the contract ended I went back to the UofR to get my Masters

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

Now I work for the FBI and only tangentially do anything with ChE.  I got into it because it’s rewarding and I do things that make me feel useful and that few other people have the opportunity to do.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

The process of thinking that you develop as an engineering student; thinking through problems or experiments and coming up with the next logical step to take. I like to use the fact that I have degrees in Chemical Engineering as a tool to get people to think I’m smarter than I might actually be – but I can only play that card when I know there aren’t people around who actually do engineering.

What advice do you have for current students?

Don’t feel like if you don’t enjoy every detail about your major that it’s not the one for you. Come up with something you’d like to be doing after school because it seems like fun, not because it’s what everyone in your major does.  Even if your studies aren’t the traditional path to it, there’s always a way to relate them.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/05/spotlight-on-engineering-alumni-matt-herron/feed/ 0 Nine Rochester Students Awarded Fellowships for Graduate Research http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/04/nine-rochester-students-awarded-fellowships-for-graduate-research/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/04/nine-rochester-students-awarded-fellowships-for-graduate-research/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:17:27 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=1491 Univ. Communications – Nine University of Rochester students and six alumni have been named recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Additionally, 18 current students and recent alumni also were given honorable mentions by the NSF. The fellowship, which is part of a federally sponsored program, provides up to three years of graduate study support for students pursing doctoral or research-based master’s degrees. Since the program’s inception in 1952, it has supported nearly 50,000 students conducting research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and selected social science disciplines. Of the more than 12,000 applicants, only 2,000 were awarded fellowships and 1,783 were given honorable mentions. The fellowship includes a three-year annual stipend of $30,000, a $10,500 educational allowance to the institution, and international research and professional development opportunities.

The following graduating seniors received fellowships:

  • Emilia Sola-Gracia ’12, bachelor of science in ecology and evolutionary biology
  • David Kaphan ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry
  • Sharese King ’12, bachelor of arts in linguistics, minor in American Sign Language
  • Mark D. Levin ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry, minor in mathematics
  • Susan Pratt ’12, bachelor of arts in mathematics and bachelor of science in physics

The following graduating seniors received honorable mentions:

  • Chad Hunter ’12, bachelor of science in chemical engineering, minor in mathematics
  • Matej Penciak ’12, bachelor of science in physics and bachelor of arts in mathematics
  • Benjamin E.R. Snyder ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry and bachelor of arts in mathematics

The following graduate students received fellowships:

  • Michael Baranello, doctoral degree candidate in chemical engineering
  • Ellie Carrell, doctoral degree candidate in pharmacology and physiology
  • Jason Inzana, doctoral degree candidate in biomedical engineering
  • Vijay Jain, doctoral degree candidate in physics

The following graduate students received honorable mentions:

  • Esteban Buz, doctoral degree candidate in brain and cognitive sciences
  • Dev Crasta, doctoral degree candidate in clinical and social sciences in psychology
  • Adam B. Johnson, doctoral degree candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology
  • Patrick S. Murphy, doctoral degree candidate in microbiology & immunology
  • Ian Perera, doctoral degree candidate in computer science

The following recent alumni, who are currently pursing advanced degrees elsewhere, received fellowships:

  • Molly Boutin ’11, bachelor of science in biomedical engineering
  • Caitlin Hilliard ’10, bachelor of arts in brain and cognitive sciences and American Sign Language
  • Patrick Sheehan ’11, bachelor of science in physics & astronomy and bachelor of arts in mathematics
  • Raisa Trubko ’10, bachelor of arts in physics and bachelor of science in optics
  • David J. Weinberg ’11, bachelor of science in chemistry
  • Hannah (Geswein) Williamson ’08, bachelor of arts in psychology

The following recent alumni, many of whom are currently pursing advanced degrees elsewhere, received honorable mentions:

  • Samuel Anderson ’11, bachelor of science in chemistry
  • Isthier Chaudhury ’11, bachelor of science in chemical engineering and bachelor of arts in interdepartmental programs
  • Emily (Grzybowski) Dennis ’11, bachelor of science in molecular genetics and bachelor of arts in studio arts
  • Aaron Gorenstein ’11, bachelor of science in computer science
  • Seth Kallman ’09, bachelor of science in brain & cognitive sciences
  • Kathleen Mulvaney ’10, bachelor of science in molecular genetics
  • Alison Ossip-Klein ’10, bachelor of science in ecology and evolutionary biology
  • Camillia Redding ’10, bachelor of arts in political science
  • Maria Strangas ’10, bachelor of science in ecology & evolutionary biology
  • Adam Williamson’08, bachelor of science in electrical & computer engineering and bachelor of arts in physics

Article written by Melissa Greco Lopes, editor of The Buzz and student life publicist in University Communications. Photo courtesy of  the NSF website.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2012/04/nine-rochester-students-awarded-fellowships-for-graduate-research/feed/ 0 Isthier Chaudhury ’11 Named Rochester’s Student Employee of the Year http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2011/04/isthier-chaudhury-11-named-rochesters-student-employee-of-the-year/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2011/04/isthier-chaudhury-11-named-rochesters-student-employee-of-the-year/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:51:35 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=265 Univ. Communications – University of Rochester senior Isthier Chaudhury has been named the 2010-2011 University of Rochester Student Employee of the Year. The award, which is given annually by the Student Employment Office, recognizes an outstanding student employee who has made valuable contributions to the department in which he or she works. Chaudhury, who works for University Information Technology as a classroom technology technician and printing support technician, was nominated by his supervisor Carol Amidon, classroom support technician.

As a member of the University IT team, Chaudhury’s responsibilities include the set-up and operation of all technology in the classrooms. He also is responsible for monitoring ink and paper supplies at public computing labs and libraries on campus to ensure they are well-stocked. In a letter nominating Chaudhury for the award, Amidon says a “defining quality for Isthier is his dedication to the job” and that his “consistently high standards of customer service” are only surpassed by his positive attitude.

Chaudhury, who is a chemical engineering and Chinese double major, was recently invited to Washington, D.C., to share his experiences studying abroad in Beijing, China. He studied abroad through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program at Peking University in Beijing as a Gilman Scholar during the 2009-2010 academic year. While in Washington, Chaudhury met First Lady of Michelle Obama and visited area middle schools and high schools to talk about his time abroad.

In celebration of Student Employee Week (April 10 through 16), the Student Employment Office will formally recognize Chaudhury, along with all of this year’s nominees, at a private reception on Tuesday, April 12. As Employee of the Year, Chaudhury will have the opportunity to compete at regional and state levels through the National Student Employee Association’s awards program.

This year, the following 25 students were nominated for the Student Employee of the Year award: Jennifer Alpern ’11, Kelley Beamish ’11, John Boule ’12, Isthier Chaudhury ’11, Oswald Codjoe ’14, Nicole Cragin ’12, Rachel DeAngelis ’11, Angelica Frausto ’13, Joseph Gardella ’11, Christina Gmyr ’11, Shaelom James ’12, Bin Qing Lin ’13, Kenneth Mansfield ’12, Chandler Moran ’12, Gabriella Morris ’12, Jenny Mosier ’11, Caitlin Redmond ’13, Sara Rothenberg ’13, Emily Schroeder ’12, Rachel Simeone ’13, Susan Virgilio ’12, Joseph Wang ’12, Hilary Wermers ’13, Wai Ling Ye ’13, and Shouling Zhang ’13.

]]> http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2011/04/isthier-chaudhury-11-named-rochesters-student-employee-of-the-year/feed/ 0 Students, Alumnus Awarded Fellowships to Study Abroad http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2011/04/u-of-r-students-alumnus-awarded-prestigious-fellowships/ http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/2011/04/u-of-r-students-alumnus-awarded-prestigious-fellowships/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:38:15 +0000 Melissa Greco Lopes http://www.rochester.edu/thebuzz/?p=201 Univ. Communications – At the University of Rochester, April and May mean more than the beginning of spring. It’s also national fellowship selection season, and again this year, some of Rochester’s brightest are learning that they’ve been selected as for prestigious awards. As of today, with more announcements likely in the weeks ahead, two Rochester seniors, Nathaniel Lindsey and Hannah Watkins, and one alumnus, David Liebers, have been named 2011-12 Fulbright Scholars. This highly selective program provides college graduates the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.

David Liebers also was recently selected to receive the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the scholarship provides one to three years of graduate study at the University of Cambridge, England. Liebers is one of the 30 U.S. students, and is the first University of Rochester student or alumnus to receive this award since the program began in 2001.  After careful consideration, Liebers has accepted the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and will pursue a master’s degree in history and philosophy of science.

Read more about the Lindsey and Watkins here. Read more about Liebers here.

Nathaniel Lindsey

Hannah Watkins

David Liebers (Photo Credit: Joey Kolker)

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