Penn Engineering 2021-22 Heilmeier Award Lecture: Ritesh Agarwal

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

"Utilizing Quantum Geometry and Topology for Enabling Integrated Chiral Photonics" Classical and quantum computing devices need to ferry vast amounts of data, and optical interconnects provide a promising approach allowing faster speeds and larger bandwidths. Critical interconnect components are light sources, waveguides and detectors. Currently, the information is encoded in intensity and frequency but other […]

ASSET Seminar: Computational Social Listening for Public Health (Sharath Guntuku, University of Pennsylvania)

Levine 307 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

ABSTRACT: How can A.I.-based methods inform social listening applications during public health crises? The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted the mode and method of human communication and interaction. The magnitude of the pandemic has led to an ‘infodemic’ along with considerable increase in stress and anxiety across communities. At the same time, the use of social […]

2023 Heilmeier Award Lecture: Dr. Dani S. Bassett

Glandt Forum, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

"On Being Curious" What is curiosity? Is it an emotion? A behavior? A cognitive process? Curiosity seems to be an abstract concept — like love, perhaps, or justice — far from the realm of those bits of nature that science can possibly address. However, contrary to intuition, leading theories of curiosity from history, philosophy, and […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Synthesis of Enzyme-Powered Motors using Microfluidics” (Jessica O’Callaghan)

Levine 307 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: This thesis addresses the fundamental questions surrounding the design and functional capabilities of enzyme-powered micromotors synthesized using microfluidic techniques. The research focuses on the development of these motors, made from artificial cell (protocell) scaffolds, and which seek to replicate the motion behavior of biological cells, investigating their propulsion mechanisms, motion directionality, and collective behavior. […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Fabrication of Functional Nanostructured Polymers Based on Thermotropic and Lyotropic Liquid Crystals Derived from Sustainable Resources” (Ruiqi Dong)

Towne 337

Abstract: Nanostructured materials with interconnected nanoscale structures have garnered significant attention due to the ability to precisely regulate molecular transport by tuning molecular-level properties and offering more functional interfaces for interactions compared to bulk systems. Through self-assembly, liquid crystal (LC) mesophases offer a route to achieve nanostructured polymers, a promising alternative to traditional nanostructured inorganic […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “MEMS-Based Electrochemical Power Sources for Extended Operational Duration of Micro Unmanned Vehicles” (Yanghang Huang)

Room 221, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Micro unmanned vehicles, defined as 25-gram to 5-kg in weight, are increasingly being utilized in applications such as search and rescue or agricultural monitoring. Such vehicles are typically powered with lithium-ion batteries. However, vehicle operational efficiency and capability are often compromised by the limited energy density of these batteries, resulting in short operational duration. […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Scaling Mineral Carbonation and Critical Mineral Recovery in Mining Waste: Process Engineering, Techno-Economics, and Public Policy” (Katherine Vaz Gomes)

Room 35, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: The growing need to secure critical minerals for clean energy technologies, alongside the urgency to mitigate climate change, presents a unique opportunity to combine mineral recovery with carbon sequestration. This dissertation explores the potential of mine tailings as a dual-purpose feedstock, enabling both the extraction of critical minerals and the storage of CO₂ through […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Utilization of Atomic Layer Deposition for Heterogeneous Catalysis in Biomass Upgrading Applications” (Mengjie Fan)

Raisler Lounge (Room 225), Towne Building 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: The need for sustainable energy sources has intensified interest in biomass upgrading, where biomass-derived feedstocks are transformed into fuels and valuable chemicals. A major challenge in biomass upgrading is the development of highly active, selective, and stable catalysts for complex reactions. Traditional synthesis methods often result in heterogeneous catalysts with poor dispersion of active […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Engineering Biomolecular Condensates: Insights Into Catalytic Activities and Structural Design” (Muyang Guan)

https://upenn.zoom.us/j/96301746733

Abstract: Eukaryotic cells orchestrate cellular processes through spatiotemporal organization achieved by compartmentalization. Biomolecular condensates, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), serve as vital hubs for enzymatic reactions and mediate cellular functions. To investigate catalytic activities within biomolecular condensates, a light-emitting enzyme (NanoLuc) was incorporated into LAF-1 RGG model condensates. Incorporation into condensates led to a […]