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TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING engineering.tamu.edu

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FALL MAGAZINE 2015

ARTIE McFERRIN DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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Dear Friends,

Albert Camus said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” The department is indeed changing, flourishing in its second wave of growth this year. Spring was full of anticipation for the five new faculty members that joined our department this summer. Now they are here and will journey with us to even greater heights. This season we also welcomed the entry-level undergraduate class to our program: committed sophomores who performed well as freshmen to claim a place in the class of 2018. We celebrate a snapshot of all our students in this publication. This edition also contains research stories that feature computational chemical engineering in the areas of biomedicine, fuel cell research, catalysis and safety. And there is so much more to read about.

We empower our students with access to the best experts in their respective fields. Thirty tenure/tenure-track faculty and six non-tenure track members lead the students who will change the world one day. As the leaves change, know that we stay committed to that which never changes for us: student development, cutting-edge research and sustainability in every pursuit we undertake.

Truly,

Dr. M. Nazmul KarimProfessor | T. Michael O’Connor Chair II

[email protected]

LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD

Fact Sheet 3

Faculty Index 4

Faculty News 5

Computational Cures 6 Dr. Tamamis | Biomedicine

Computational Catalysis 7Dr. Balbuena | Carbon nanotube catalysis

Computational Crusades 8Dr. Pistikopoulos | Fuel cell research

Runaway Reactions 9 Dr. Mannan | Containing chemical reactions

Cover Feature 10Six students consider a bright future

ChEGSA Officers 2015-2016 14

Former Student Spotlight 15Greg Garland, CEO of Phillips 66

Upcoming Events 16

Advisory Council Directory 17

Table of Contents

Kidron B Vestal Communications [email protected]

created by

Texas A&M Engineering Communications 2015

Fact SheetFACILITIESLocated in the 205,000 square-foot Jack. E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building, the department provides its students and faculty members access to the latest resources, including 88 research and teaching facilities, six general classrooms, 13 conference rooms and four computer laboratories. Also housed in the seven-story building is a 600 square-foot computer cluster room.

STUDENTSENROLLMENT (FALL 2015)• Undergraduate (Sophomore-Senior): 609• Graduate: 232• Total: 841

DEGREES AWARDED/PROJECTED (2015)• Bachelor’s – 112• Master’s – 19 (Chemical Eng.: 6 | Other: 13)• Ph.D. – 16

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT (FALL 2015)• Average SAT Score: 1330• Average GRE Score (Master’s): 319 (Q-166, V-153)• Average GRE Score (Ph.D.): 320 (Q-166, V-154)

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS (FALL 2015)Sophomores (Entry Class): 25

FACULTY• 16 Professors• 8 Associate Professors• 6 Assistant Professors• 5 Lecturers/Senior Lecturers• 1 Research Assistant Professor• 1 Professor of Practice• 3 Endowed Chair Holders• 8 Endowed Professorships• 1 Regents Professor• 2 Endowed Faculty Fellows

AREAS OF STUDY• Biomedicine | Biomolecules• Biofuels• Biotechnology• Complex Fluids• Computational Chemical Engineering• Energy• Environment | Sustainability• Materials• Microelectronics• Microfluidics• Multiscale Systems Engineering• Nanotechnology• Process Safety• Process Systems Engineering• Reaction Engineering• Thermodynamics

RESEARCH• Direct Research Expenditures: $9M (FY 2015)• Research Awards: $16.2M (FY 2015)• Refereed Journal Publications: 8 per tenure/tenure-track faculty (avg.)• Patents: 7 (CY 2014)

UNDERGRADUATE RANKINGU.S. News & World Report• 14 (Public)• 21 (Overall)

SCHOLARSHIPSUndergraduate students received 304 scholarships in 2015 totaling $306,000.

GRADUATE RANKINGU.S. News & World Report• 16 (Public)• 26 (Overall)In

2014

tenure/tenure-track faculty


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FALL MAGAZINE 2015Mustafa B. akBulutPh.D., University of California – Santa Barbara, 2007, Associate Professor Nanotechnology, thermal interface materials, enhanced oil recoveryPerla B. BalBuenaPh.D., The University of Texas – Austin, 1996, ProfessorGPSA Professor | First-principles simulation and design of materials Catalysis, interfacial phenomena and thermodynamicsDragoMir B. BukurPh.D., University of Minnesota, 1974, Professor [Texas A&M Qatar]Joe M. Nesbitt Professorship | Applied catalysis, chemical reaction engineering and synthetic fuelsZhengDong ChengPh.D., Princeton University, 1999, Associate Professor Complex fluids, soft matter and bio-encapsulation MahMouD M. el-halwagiPh.D., University of California – Los Angeles, 1990, Professor McFerrin ProfessorManaging Director, TEES Gas and Fuels Research CenterProcess integration, design, and optimization, sustainability and hydrocarbon processingYossef a. elaBDPh.D., Johns Hopkins University, 2001, ProfessorPolymer synthesis for clean energy and waterElectrochemical processes, ion and molecular transport/thermodynamicsChristoDoulos a. flouDasPh.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1986, ProfessorDirector, Texas A&M Energy InstituteErle Nye ‘59 Chair Professor for Engineering ExcellenceMember, National Academy of EngineeringTIAS Faculty Fellow and Eminent Scholar Multiscale energy systems engineering, and interface of chemical engineering, applied mathematics, operations research, computer science and computational biologyCharles J. gloverPh.D., Rice University, 1975, ProfessorAssociate Department Head | Asphalt materials rheological properties, binder oxidation on pavementsMiCah J. greenPh.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007, Associate Professor Nancy and Dan Zivney ‘73 Faculty FellowProcessing and applications of dispersed nanomaterialsJaMes e. harrisPh.D., The University of Texas – Austin, 1981, Professor of PracticeCareer in chemical and polymer industriesM. M. faruque hasanPh.D., National University of Singapore, 2010, Assistant Professor Multiscale systems engineering for energy/environment, modeling and optimizationJaMes C. holstePh.D., Iowa State University, 1973, ProfessorMeasurement and correlation of thermodynamic fluid properties at high pressuresMark t. holtZaPPlePh.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1981, ProfessorBiochemical engineering, sustainable technologies, food and feed processing, biofuels and waterCharles e. isDaleSenior Lecturer | Unit operations lab, career in industryarul JaYaraManPh.D., University of California – Irvine, 1998, ProfessorAssociate Department Head | Ray Nesbitt ProfessorDirector of Graduate ProgramSystems biology and molecular systems biotechnologyhae-kwon JeongPh.D., University of Minnesota, 2004, Associate ProfessorSeparation membranes and nanomaterials development katY C. kaoPh.D., University of California – Los Angeles, 2005, Associate Professor Genomics, systems biology and biotechnology M. naZMul kariMPh.D., University of Manchester (U.K.), 1977, ProfessorDepartment Head | T. Michael O’Connor Chair II Biofuels and biotechnology, advanced process control and system design, optimization

hoMa khosravianPh.D., University of Illinois – Chicago, 2013, Research Asst. ProfessorNanotechnology, environment and sustainabilityCostas kravarisPh.D., California Institute of Technology, 1984, Professor Nonlinear process control, state estimation, dynamic model reductionYue kuoPh.D., Columbia University, 1979, Professor | Dow Professor Nano and microelectronics, semiconductors and thin filmssang-ii kwonPh.D., University of California – Los Angeles, 2015, Assistant ProfessorModeling, simulation and control of multiscale processesPushkar P. lelePh.D., University of Delaware, 2010, Assistant ProfessorMicrobial cell mechanics and biomolecular engineering JoDie l. lutkenhausPh.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007, Associate ProfessorWilliam & Ruth Neely Faculty Fellowship Polymers, thin films and energy storageM. saM MannanPh.D., University of Oklahoma, 1986, Regents Professor T. Michael O’Connor Chair IDirector, Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety CenterProcess safety and aerosol researchChaD v. MashugaPh.D., Michigan Technological University, 1999, Assistant Professor Process safety: Calorimetry, flammability, explosion hazardsraY a. MentZerPh.D., Purdue University, 1980, Senior LecturerChemical process safety, industrial safety and health, oil and petroleum processing, career in oil and gas industryefstratios n. (stratos) PistikoPoulosPh.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1988, ProfessorAssociate Director, Texas A&M Energy InstituteTEES Distinguished Research ProfessorFellow, Royal Academy of Engineering (U.K.)Process systems engineering, multiparametric programming, model predictive control, modelling, design and optimization under uncertainty, sustainable energy systems, smart manufacturing and personalized healthcare engineeringwilliaM J. rogersPh.D., The Ohio State University, 1976, Lecturer Research Scientist, Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety CenterPredictive models and applications of quantum chemistryJorge M. seMinarioPh.D., Southern Illinois University, 1988, ProfessorLanatter & Herbert Fox ProfessorshipNanotechnology, molecular simulation and computational chemistryPhanourios taMaMisPh.D., University of Cyprus, 2010, Assistant ProfessorComputational methods in protein structure prediction, de novo protein design and the development of novel frameworksviCtor M. ugaZPh.D., Northwestern University, 1999, ProfessorCharles D. Holland ‘53 Professor | Thaman ProfessorAssociate Department Head | Director of Undergraduate ProgramChair, TAMU Professional Program in Biotechnology (PPiB)Microfabricatied bioseparation systemssreeraM vaDDiraJuPh.D., University of Louisville, 2006, Associate Professor Organic and inorganic semiconductors, nanostructures, mass production, large-scale assembly of nanomaterials, device fabrication, thermoelectrics and solar cellsJ. Doug whiteSenior Lecturer, Departmental Safety OfficerUnit operations lab, career in industryBenJaMin a. wilhitePh.D., University of Notre Dame, 2003, Associate Professor Reaction engineering, chemical kinetics, transport processes and multilayer catalyticsChristin M. wilsonPh.D., The Ohio State University, 2012, LecturerTechnical writing, socio-historical linguistics and language processinghung-Jen wuPh.D., Texas A&M University, 2006, Assistant Professor Biosensors, nanotechnology, infectious disease screening and novel materials

FACULTY INDEX FACULTY UPDATE

Dr. ZhengDong Cheng’s research in nanoencapsulation of phase change material was published in the fifth volume of Scientific Reports (2015). The paper describes powerful nanoplate surfactants that are utilized to make sub-micron capsules of phase changing materials with promising applications in micro-channel coolants, solar energy storage media, building temperature regulators and thermal transfer fabrics. Dr. Yossef elaBD was named a second vice-chair of the materials engineering and sciences division (MESD) of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The commitment spans four years, transitioning through other positions of first vice-chair, chair and past chair. Dr. ChristoDoulos flouDas was named a Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher for the second year in a row, an honor bestowed for research that is among the top 1 percent most cited for the subject field and year of publication. Dr. MiCah green received the Nancy and Dan Zivney ‘73 Faculty Fellowship. Additionally, students from his group and Dr. Mustafa akBulut’s group won the prestigious SEC Student Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition for their innovative work on 3-D printing and prosthetic devices. The cash prize was $10,000. Dr. JiM holste anD Dr. kenneth hall co-advised graduate student Martin Gomez who made a presentation at the 19th Thermophysical Properties Symposium in Boulder, Colorado, this summer, describing their work on a new equation of state for fluids. The presentation was selected by the organizing committee as one of five (out of about 600) papers to be presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting as a highlight of the symposium. Equations of state are the foundations of the computer-aided techniques to design all chemical processes.Dr. arul JaYaraMan received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop novel therapies for treating inflammatory diseases. Using molecules that line the gastrointestinal tract, he performs metabolomics research to create a therapeutic drug discovery pipeline to fight inflammation. Dr. M. naZMul kariM and his graduate student, Jonathon Raftery, were awarded “Outstanding Presentation Award in the Fuels and Petrochemicals Division of AIChE.” Dr. Yue kuo delivered the keynote: “Principles and Possible System-on-Wafer Applications of SSI-LEDs,” ‘15 AMFPD (Active Matrix Flat Panel Displays and Devices), Avanti Kyoto Hall, Kyoto, Japan (2015). Dr. JoDie lutkenhaus’ paper detailing a highly flexible battery cathode material was recently published in the fifth volume of Scientific Reports (2015). This research was also highlighted in C&EN News. NAE’s Frontiers of Engineering spotlighted her as an alum. She has been named a finalist in the energy category of the World Technology Network’s 2015 Awards. Dr. efstratios PistikoPoulos delivered the Zandmer Distinguished Lecture for the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary on Oct. 8. He presented a research talk on multiscale systems engineering. Dr. viCtor ugaZ was named a Thaman Professor, a University Professorship for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence (UPUTE).

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engineering.tamu.edu

Caption: An MD simulation snapshot of serine in complex with protein Tsr. Dr. Phanourios Tamamis’ work is in collaboration with Dr. Arul Jayaraman and Dr. Michael Manson, professor in the Department of Biology.

Dr. Phanourios Tamamis, assistant professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, attempts to understand and treat diseases through computational biophysical chemistry and engineering principles.

Computational methods, including molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, free energy calculations and in silico design frameworks, are becoming increasingly powerful tools in the fields of protein structure prediction and the discovery of novel biomolecules. This equates to new insight into the biomolecular complexes associated with diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and familial amyloid polyneuropathy. To this end, Tamamis’ group is designing new molecules for the development of potential therapies.

Computational cures

“We are introducing novel strategies so that we may ultimately aid in treating specific diseases,” he said.

Tamamis’ group also aims to provide insight into the structures of key self-assembling peptides for advanced medical or technological applications. Experimental methods traditionally “rely upon intuition and experimental insight in order to design functional biomaterials,” he said. Tamamis, however, considers that the computational route can pave the way for the design of multifunctional peptide-self assembling biomaterials. Advanced computer algorithms can be introduced to design novel, innovative biomaterials with multifunctional properties that can be applied in tissue engineering.

“In order to deal with complex problems in complex diseases, we need innovative computational strategies,” said Tamamis. “My students will be involved in introducing these strategies in order to provide solutions to biomedical problems with a high degree of complexity.”

His group performs computational research at the Texas A&M Supercomputing Facility.

Her research group then designs catalysts in such a way so as to minimize the amount of the materials needed, while optimizing the desired reaction rate and the desired products.

Carbon nanotubes are used in nano and microelectronics, biomedicine and more, depending upon the novel materials used in achieving desired engineering applications. In a recently renewed Department of Energy project, her team works to elucidate the growth of carbon nanotubes on nanocatalysts, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “Our techniques provide a wide perspective of any given process. Understanding molecular-level processes we can interpret the macroscopic experiments—that’s our advantage,” said Balbuena. “We can elucidate both the chemistry and the detailed reaction mechanisms. We are discovering things at the microscopic level that cannot be identified with state-of-the-art experiments.”

She said her favorite aspects of these studies include “the possibility of discovering new reaction mechanisms and new materials that are less expensive and produce less contamination.” As an example of far-reaching environmental benefits, metallic nanocatalysts can be engineered to convert harmful carbon dioxide into useful products.

Dr. Perla Balbuena, GPSA Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, employs supercomputers to carry out her research in the analysis and design of catalysts.

“Reactions are the core of many chemical engineering processes because we want to transform natural materials and undesired toxic subproducts of chemical transformations into specific valuables that are convenient for applications and use,” said Balbuena. “In order to have efficient chemical reaction processes, many times we need materials that are able to accelerate the reaction and those materials are called catalysts. Industry spends millions of dollars in this area.”

Traditional approaches to selecting a proper catalyst consist of lengthy procedures that do not always work, however. Instead of investing copious amounts of fiscal resources and time in developing catalysts by trial and error—which even if successful, the results may not be optimal—Balbuena relies foremost on first principles computational methods.

Computational catalysis

Caption: Illustration of electron density mapping, including the catalyst (gold spheres) and the growing carbon structure (grey atoms).

The color scale goes from a very low density (red) to a high density (pink) which identifies regions where the reaction will develop faster and most efficiently.



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The engineering revolution in computational sciences crosses multiple fields of study. One early pioneer of this approach is Dr. Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos, TEES Distinguished Research Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Computational crusades

His interests rest in process systems engineering (PSE) with sustainable energy applications in smart manufacturing and PSE applications to personalized medicine. A fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (U.K.), Pistikopoulos uses mathematical modeling in his “quest to learn…to capture the knowledge produced from past experiments” and use it as a building block. Instead of creating new physical trials, he uses the collected data to perform virtual experiments that then lead to tangible realties. The range of decisions to be made is wide as precious resources are spared.

Diverse, descript-type choices emerge when engaging complex systems, especially in circumstances of combination and conversion of raw materials to final products. When he approaches such decision making in a virtual environment, overall costs and energy consumption are reduced. Risk analysis is optimized and the environmental impact is lessened.

Since 1990, Pistikopoulos has developed software tools and advance control technologies that perform his computational experiments. In approaching this science, he puts forth the question, “How can I control the system and why would I like to [control the system]?” In studying the underlying systems that yield products ranging from pharmaceuticals to petrochemicals, he uses high-fidelity models to pursue conceptual understanding of the physical and chemical nature behind a given energy system and its myriad influences, including separation.

Pistikopoulos is the associate director of the Texas A&M Energy Institute. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he served as a professor at the Imperial College London for 25 years before joining the Texas A&M faculty in 2014.

Fuel Cell Vehicle Architecture Empowered by Multi-Parametric Controller

stressors lead to runaway reactions. The goal is to safely understand both the soft and hard science of this pursuit. Controlled combustion exercises simulate what would otherwise be uncontrolled outside of a research setting. Thus the data comes without the consequential side effects produced by way of accidents. Ultimately, findings from the lab are used to prevent catastrophes in the field.

“This information we produce is gold for industry,” said Mannan. His group performs modeling in the area of quantitative structure property relationships.

“Since experiments can be very expensive and time-consuming, we look at chemical properties at the molecular level and identify relationships in order to predict behavior at the larger scale,” said Olga Reyes, a Ph.D. materials science and engineering student.

Chemical reactions know how to run, sometimes advancing perpetually with Olympic strides — save a matching force of inhibition that is wielded under the right conditions. Prevention in this way may appear elusive, but the know-how of Dr. M. Sam Mannan, Regents Professor and T. Michael O’Connor Chair I in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, is a resounding voice for all things safety.

Mannan is an industrialist-turned-professor who has studied safety for the entirety of his career, influencing legislative and industrial mandates along the way. His congressional testimonies also point back to real-world disasters such as the West, Texas explosion of 2013. Quantum chemistry, experimental data and computational findings are at the center of his group’s effort to predict how the combination of various chemicals and the influence of

Runaway reactions

Zhe Han, a Ph.D. student in the group, studies ammonium nitrate (i.e., fertilizer) with the hope of it one day being engineered so that it is stripped of its explosive potential but maintains its fertilizing utility. If she is able to contribute to this effort, she said she will be both proud and happy.

Mannan hopes to use safety education to inspire cultural change in his work as director of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center.


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Within the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, students from around the world inherit a wealth of engaged pedagogy and research wit. This fall, 40 percent of the entry-level sophomore class is female. Simultaneously, the department has the largest graduate program enrollment in its history. Sophomores through Ph.D. candidates — all 841 of them — are ready to be successful in the most competitive discipline within the Dwight Look College of Engineering. In the student profiles that follow, glimpses of dedication and personal responsibility are complemented by anecdotal visions of these students’ great future.


Six young minds daily walk the halls of the Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building, an iconic glass structure that punctuates the skyline of College Station.

ChemiCal engineering students

to watCh out for in the workforCe

Sandra Fomete, 21, is a senior from Cameroon, West Africa. She believes that the success of the department correlates to its determination to see the rise of all students. “From the academic advisors who are always readily available…to the renowned faculty who—besides their great teaching—are equally, heavily involved in groundbreaking research,” Fomete said she is inspired. She also added that the department provides cutting-edge resources, such as a great study environment, computer labs and scholarships and that industry offers alumni a nod with “extremely-high hiring rates.”

Fomete chose to pursue a degree in chemical engineering because of her passion for chemistry and problem solving. Another compelling motivation is the fact that chemical engineers have a wide-range of employability, reaching into almost every industry. After graduate school, she expects to be employed in the chemical industry, have weighty responsibilities and seek out leadership positions. Having previously interned at a chemical plant, she desires one day to help develop local communities in third-world countries by designing and building chemical plants that draw upon local resources.

He uses his burgeoning background in chemical engineering studies to stabilize “standards of living around the globe.” Increased efficiency in sectors ranging from farming to factories is paramount in elevating the human condition, he said. When Peabody is not reflecting on these greater hurdles for mankind, he re-searches DNA and E. coli. He credits past chemical engineering break-throughs, such as Next Generation Sequencing, as having “[sparked] incredible advances in understanding the biological world in which we live.”

He is at the place in his academic career in which the ceiling starts to lift. Research successes lead to more independent opportunities. “I have been working hard on constructing an E. coli strain that is capable of more rapid adaptation to the adverse environments often encountered in industrial settings,” Peabody said. The future he envisions is riddled with plans to pursue funding for new projects and ideas he may have developed. After he obtains his doctorate, Peabody intends to enter a postdoctoral path.

George Peabody, 25, is a third-year graduate student from Annapolis, Md.

FALL MAGAZINE 2015

TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING engineering.tamu.eduARTIE McFERRIN DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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FALL MAGAZINE 2015Tejasvi Jaladi, 24, is a second-year graduate student from Sunnyvale, California. Her work requires delicate care. Microbial organisms inform her biological studies in the areas of cell growth, metabolomics and other concentrations. Since society is continually dependent on energy sources, she believes mankind will always seek new innovations in harvesting energy. Communicating advancements in alternative energy sources requires speaking to both the scientific mind and the layman. “I think it’s important to treat technical writing as an art,” Jaladi said.

“I hope that my career allows me to keep learning, even if it leads me outside of an educational setting. My greatest challenge in industry will be to find a niche that incorporates my strengths, my interests and the challenges that face society.” She credits the department with casting a wide net over an array of topics in chemical engineering with an approach that is very passionate and creative. “Everyone—whether they are a student, staff member or professor is committed to producing their best work,” she said.

Dariya Reid, 27, is a fifth-year graduate student from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She performs research in the area of polymers. After she obtains her doctorate, she has industrial interests in process and product development for

new applications and industries. Outside of academia, Reid predicts she will be constantly thinking about the bottom line and the financial aspects of projects as compared to her time as a graduate student in which she has been afforded more license to explore for the sake of the science.

The department’s curriculum and research focus is heavily informed by the needs of industry, Reid observed. When she is not in the lab, Reid has held

leadership roles in the department’s active graduate student organization, ChEGSA. The annual Graduate

Research Symposium was an initiative she helped lead, credited in her portfolio as a significant contribution. In addition to providing speaker and poster sessions, the event connects students with industry contacts for future hiring possibilities.

Cassio Ahumada, 24, is a second-year graduate student from Vila Velha, Brazil. His research is in the area of process safety.

Using his approaches, he expects companies to enhance safety measures during the design of a new facility. After

he completes his degree, Ahumada plans to enter industry, continue to grow, lead and impact change.

One area of interest is in the development of technologies that obtain energy from renewable sources. “I believe these technologies provide a substantial benefit to our health, economy and environment,” he said.

Over time, he has learned the importance of solid work skills within a group and places

high value on social tolerance at all times. Ahumada believes the graduate program’s success

is multilayered. “Ultimately, it was not just the magnitude of the department’s building that impressed

me the most, but also the commitment from the faculty to the students,” he said.

Katherine Wiatrek, 21, is a senior from Katy, Texas. “I have always loved problem solving and science,” she said. “Chemical engineering allows me to combine the two and take raw materials and develop them into practical products for numerous industries.” As a freshman in the department, Wiatrek performed undergraduate research in the area of biofuels. For a class project as a sophomore, she helped advise the city government in its redesign of prominent water fountains. “I felt like this class truly gave me a view of what industry work will be like—balancing problem solving, design requirements, and knowing when to ask for help from others with more expertise in particular areas,” she said. She has set her sights beyond the local community, however.

Wiatrek prioritizes advancements in food safety and nutrition as a global need. “As a chemical engineer, we would be able to research and create new techniques for [purifying] the ingredients in our food,” she said. She plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration upon graduation in May 2016.


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ChEGSA Officers 2015-2016

“ChEGSA’s vision is to continue to improve the professional education of

graduate students at the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering by expanding interactions with the

department and industry representatives through high-impact events,” said

Yanpu Zhang, association president (second from left).

President – Yanpu ZhangVice President, Internal – Robert BrowneVice President, External – Pilar Constanza Suarez-MartinezFinance Chair – Wen ZhuSocial Chair – Susmitha Purnima KotuMedia Chair – Syeda Zohra HalimPublicity Chair – Nikhil MayadeoExecutive Chair – Monica HwangEvent Coordinator – Shaoyang WangEvent Coordinator – Pritishma LakheWebmaster – Dushyant Madhav Chaudhari

Greg C. Garland, CEO of Phillips 66

Greg C. Garland received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1980 from Texas A&M University. Ever since, he has worked in technical and executive roles within the oil,

natural gas and chemicals industries. Today, Garland serves as chairman and CEO of Phillips 66.

Garland is one of only three graduates of Texas A&M University who currently serves as CEO of a Fortune 100 company.

“I have benefited greatly from my educational experiences at Texas A&M,” said Garland. “Without question, the building blocks of a strong fundamental education in chemical engineering prepared me well to enter into the workforce and contribute to the success of organizations for which I have worked.”

Other companies in which he has served include ConocoPhillips, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Chevron Phillips and Phillips Petroleum Company. He is the director of the American Chemistry Council, Inc., and has been an active member in the Dwight Look College of Engineering Advisory Council and the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Advisory Council at Texas A&M. He serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, leading experiential and entrepreneurial learning opportunities for youth.

“I have had the pleasure to know and work with Greg over the past decade,” said Dennis Seith, CEO of INEOS Olefins and Polymers USA. “He is the model of integrity and positive approaches in leadership that represent A&M’s core values. He has truly left every organization he has led better off than when he entered the role as its leader. I am proud of the relationship we have built not only in the industries we both work in, but also as friends and alumni of Texas A&M.”

“Greg has always been a very comfortable person to be around,” said Artie McFerrin, president of KMCO. “He has a positive attitude and a great deal of self confidence. It’s easy to see why he is such a respected CEO and why so many think so much of Greg.”

Garland looks to the university’s core values as a key to his success. “They have resonated with me and defined a leadership model which has helped me to excel in leadership positions by understanding the importance and confidence that comes from being grounded in one’s values, helping others to be successful and by making a positive difference in others,” Garland said.

TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING engineering.tamu.eduARTIE McFERRIN DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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FALL MAGAZINE 2015

We would like to recognize and thank all the members of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering’s Advisory Council. Their leadership and vision continue to make the department one of the best programs in the country.

Dr. Jerry A. Bullin President Bryan Research & Engineering

Stephen J. Butler Manager Texas Research & DevelopmentEastman Chemical Company

Raymond F. Carr IVGulf Coast CO/SGAir Products

Allison Drobniak Department ManagerWood Group Mustang, Inc.

Greg Garland Chairman/CEO Phillips 66

Stephanie HertzogVice President, Sales & Marketing Exterran

Ron HydenCompletions Manager, New VenturesSouthwestern Energy

Wes Lohec Vice President Health, Environment & SafetyChevron

Dr. Joseph E. McAdams Shell Downstream Inc. (Ret.)

Michael R. McAtee Sr. Vice President Engineering & MaintenanceBASF

Phil McDivittPresidentNylon BusinessAscend Performance Materials

Arthur “Artie” R. McFerrinCEO/Founder KMCO

Jeffrey McFerrinPresidentKMCO

John R. MillerArea Sales DirectorAspen Technology

Brock NelsonPresident Spring Creek Capital

T. Michael O’Connor President O’Connor Ventures

Tara ParkerProduction Projects ManagerExxonMobil Production Company

Cordelia PriceRohm & Haas (Ret.)

Dr. Joe PowellChief Scientist, Chemical Engineering Shell Global

Lori RiethmillerNational Distribution Sales Manager3M

Aleida RiosVice President of OperationsBP Gulf of Mexico

Dr. John B. RoddenVice President & TreasurerTribune Company

Glen “David” Sanders Vice President and General Manager Valero Energy Corp.

Dennis J. SeithPresident/CEOINEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, LLC

Steve SkarkeExecutive Vice PresidentKaneka

James D. SlaughterVice PresidentS&B Engineers and Contstructors, Ltd.

Dr. Lee TillmanPresident and CEOMarathon Oil Corporation

James Turner Executive Director Process Technology & EngineeringFluor Corporation

Mike WalzelTechnology & External ManufacturingThe Dow Chemical Company

Lynn E. WeaverEnterprise Products

Events Advisory CouncilLindsay Lecture Series (Fall 2015) September 23 | Dr. Selen CremaschiOn Tactical and Strategic Decision Making for Chemical and Energy Systems Under UncertaintyAssociate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator , The University of Tulsa

September 30 | Dr. Virgina Davis (ADVANCE Speaker)Nanocylinders: New Materials Meet 125 Years of Liquid Crystal Science and Engineering Professor, Auburn University

October 7 | Dr. Lydia Contreras Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Parsing Large-Scale Data to Define Regulatory Networks for Strain EngineeringAssistant Professor , The University of Texas at AustinChevron Centenniel Teaching Fellow in Chemical Engineering

October 14 | Dr. Ayman Karim (Exchange Speaker)A View from the Inside: Combining in situ Characterization and Kinetic Modeling for the Design of Colloidal Pd Nanoparticles Associate Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

October 21 | Dr. John SiirolaDeveloping Practical Stochastic Programming Approaches to Power Grid Operations and Planning Principal R&D Member of Technical Staff, Analytics Department Sandia National Laboratories, Discrete Math & Optimization

November 4 | Dr. Rod Priestley Confined Glassy Properties and Constrained Volume Processing of Polymer Nanoparticles Associate Professor, Princeton Univers

December 2 | Dr. Fengqi You Sustainable Design and Synthesis of Energy Systems: Computational Optimization Models and Algorithms Assistant Professor, Northwestern University

Lindsay Lecture Series Spotlight: Dr. Virginia Davis, ADVANCE Speaker

“I had an excellent visit at Texas A&M. I was very honored to be invited to give both a research talk and a diversity talk. Both my presentations had the theme of ongoing progress in science and engineering...I described how the field of liquid crystalline science has resulted in new scientific ad-vancements and real world applications for the last 125 years; this includes everything from liquid crystal displays to Kevlar fibers. It is clear that many wonderful things are happening at Texas A&M, both with the ADVANCE pro-gram and in engineering research.” Dr. Virginia Davis is an alumni professor and graduate program chair at Auburn University.

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Scholarship BanquetHilton | College StationOctober 29

Advisory Council MeetingDepartment | Suite 247October 30

AIChE Annual MeetingCocktails & DinnerSalt Lake City, UtahNovember 9 | By Invitation


FALL MAGAZINE 2015NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDCOLLEGE STATIONTEXAS 77843PERMIT NO. 215

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[email protected] | giving.tamu.edu

“Thank you to all our donors who have made a difference.”

– Dr. M. Nazmul Karim, Head and T. Michael O’Connor Chair II

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