CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Bridging Transcription and Signaling to Study c-MYC Function and Regulation in Cancer Cells” (Reshma Kalyan Sundaram)
Abstract: The transcription factor c-MYC (MYC) is a master regulator of gene expression and is frequently deregulated in human cancers. Despite the prevalent role of MYC in cancers, no MYC […]
CBE Seminar: “Redox-responsive Interfaces for Selective Electrochemical Separations” (Xiao Su, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Abstract: Electric fields and electrochemical reactions can unlock new separation pathways. While electrochemical separations have been explored previously for water desalination, their translation to value-added chemical manufacturing or resource recovery […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Designing Solvent-Based Order Parameters for Characterizing Binding of Surfaces with Different Hydrophobicity Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations” (Jun Lu)
Abstract: Life is dependent on water: most self-assembly and binding processes of biomolecules take place in water. Water-mediated interactions are an essential driving force behind these processes, which is largely […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Tailoring MXene Chemistry through Composition and Undercoordination for Applications in Hydrogen Chemistries” (Yamilée Morency)
Abstract: Global transition to clean energy relies on the development of efficient hydrogen storage materials and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts—two primary chemistries investigated in this thesis. MXenes, a family […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Understanding and Modulating Interactions between Polymers and Nanoparticles for Effective Catalyst Design in Polymer Upcycling” (Anirban Majumder)
Abstract: Despite recent advances in catalytic conversion of plastic waste into high-value chemicals, the interactions between the polymers and catalysts, which are highly porous nanomaterials, are not well understood. Fundamental […]
CBE & VIEST Joint Seminar: “Lignin Conversion to Performance-advantaged Fuels, Chemicals, and Polymers” (Gregg Beckham, NREL)
Abstract: Terrestrial plants harbor renewable carbon resources in their cell walls that can directly contribute to decarbonization of the transportation and materials sectors, but the heterogeneous, aromatic lignin polymer found […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “A molecular understanding of the structure-property relationships of model end-linked polymer networks” (Han Zhang)
Abstract: Polymer networks, including thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and gels, are among the most versatile and widely utilized polymeric materials, with applications spanning drug delivery systems, membranes and implantable devices. A […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Engineering Biomolecular Condensates: Insights Into Catalytic Activities and Structural Design” (Muyang Guan)
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 […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Utilization of Atomic Layer Deposition for Heterogeneous Catalysis in Biomass Upgrading Applications” (Mengjie Fan)
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 […]
CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Scaling Mineral Carbonation and Critical Mineral Recovery in Mining Waste: Process Engineering, Techno-Economics, and Public Policy” (Katherine Vaz Gomes)
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. […]