2010 - Chemical & Biomedical Engineering - University of South ...

Kudos
Undergraduates
• Nicole Hupalo (advisor Dr. Alcantar) and Shana Williams (advisor: Dr. VanAuker) won
awards in the Engineering and Biomedical Science section of the 2009 USF
undergraduates research symposium.
• Judith Landis was a winner for the 2009 Green Expo Undergraduate Student Poster
Competition for her poster titled “Simplified Extraction Process for Cactus Mucilage.”
2009 AIChE Scholarship Winner:
• Philip Thomley
Other Scholarships:
• Violeta Kukenska received the William Miasel Scholarship– This scholarship is
awarded periodically in memory of William (Bill) Miasel, an active member of the
local section and past section Chair. It is awarded to a student who is supporting a
family while working their way through school.
• The Engineering Alumni Society presented Conference Presentation Grants ($400
each) to the following ChemE Students: Pabitra Choudhury, Sanchari Chowdhury,
Bradley Ridder, Nianthrini Balakrishnan, Nicole Hupalo and Harry Helmich.
Graduate Students:
• Cecil Coutinho (advisor: Dr. Gupta) earned an honorable mention in the materials
Science Section at the March 2009 Annual Joint Symposium of Florida Chapter of the
AVS Science and Technology Society and Florida Society of Microscopy in Orlando
(FL)
• Pabitra Choudhury (advisor: Dr. Bhethanabotla) was selected by the faculty for the
outstanding RA (Research Assistant) of the year award 2008/2009.
• Audrey Buttice was named TA (Teacher Assistant) of the year in April 2009.
• Ala’A Kababji received the top prize at the Power Up 2009 Energy Conference &
Expo Steering Committee, for his research with cobalt silica-supported catalysts for
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
• Syed Ali Gardezi was a winner for the 2009 Green Expo Graduate Student Poster
Competition for his poster titled “Metal/ Support interaction effects in Fischer-
Tropsch synthesis: Significance of catalyst preparation for biomass to liquid
conversion using Thermo-chemical process.”
Faculty and Staff
• Dr. Babu Joseph stepped down as chair of the department and Dr. Venkat
Bhethanabotla is named the new chair of the department of Chemical and
Biomedical Engineering.
• Dr. Vinay Gupta is one of the two faculty members at USF to be honored with the
Jerome Krivanek Distinguished Teacher Award.
• Dr. Babu Joseph was named Professor of the Year by the graduating seniors of
Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
• Dr. Venkat Bhethanabotla received the Outstanding Research Achievement Award
for 2009.
• Ed VanEtten was awarded the Quiet Quality Award.
• Dr. Carlos Smith’s textbook “Principles and Practice of Automatic Process Control”
was recently translated into Spanish and Portuguese, as it is the most used controls
book in Latin America and Portugal.
• Six faculty members were inducted into USF’s Academy of Inventors, October 5:
Venkat Bhethanabotla, Richard Gilbert, Yogi Goswami, Vinay Gupta, Mark
Jaroszeski , and Aydin Sunol.
Karen Bray
New Office
Staff Member
Karen Bray is the new ASA (Academic
Services Administrator) in the
Chemical & Biomedical Engineering department.
Most recently she comes
from another SUS where she worked in
Engineering Student Affairs. Her work
involved coordinating programs and
services for the undergraduate engineering
student population. Her duties
included recruitment and outreach, academic
advisement, first-year retention
programs, a transfer transition program,
networking with student engineering
societies and employers, and
assisting with student graduation
awards, as well as, the undergraduate
engineering commencement ceremony.
Prior to this, Karen worked seven
years in Student Affairs. Functional
areas she facilitated included orientation,
disability services, career services,
Veteran Affairs, student government
and clubs/organizations. She also spent
ten years at both public and private universities
employed in Housing & Residence
Life.
Karen originally comes from western
New York State and enjoys Big East
Basketball, having spent time in the
‘Cuse with the Syracuse Orangemen!
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