The 20th annual Chemical Engineering Research Forum at Michigan State University highlighted trends and some of the current challenges that are shaping science and academics in 2024.
Research updates ranged from batteries to 3D printing of functional materials, along with hydrogen stored at room temperature, cancer cell viability, and computational modeling and simulations.
University Distinguished Professor Christina Chan, who is chairperson of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (ChEMS), said talent and developing technology are on display each year.
"This annual ChEMS's event showcases exciting and innovative research of our faculty and students to the broader research community, our external advisory board, and industrial partners,” Chan said. “The Research Forum continues its success through the dedication of the students, faculty, and staff."
The forum attracted 130 registered participants who came to hear the latest research on energy, sustainability, nanotechnology and materials, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering.
ChEMS Associate Professor Wei Lai served as the event coordinator.
“We had a mix of MSU faculty speakers, student talks, and student posters to present the latest departmental research,” Lai said. “We also invited external industrial and academic speakers to provide students and faculty with different perspectives on the related research areas.
“We hope to attract more industrial participants next year to initiate discussions between the department and industry,” he added.
Presenting the keynote address was Stephen LeBeau, president of nanoMAG, a medical device startup company located in Livonia, Michigan. He explained his company’s development of magnesium-based alloys for implantable orthopedic medical devices.
This year’s Research Forum also included 31 poster presentations, four invited speakers, six student talks, two poster sessions, and an exhibitor table from the MSU Innovation Center. The event was hosted in MSUFCU Club in Spartan Stadium on Aug. 23, 2004.
"One of the highlights of the Research Forum,” Chan added, “is the poster session with many exciting research projects of the ChEMS graduate students.”
Some of the student research topics were:
- pioneering targeted therapy for neuroblastoma.
- enabling fast charging lithium metal batteries by stepwise charging protocols.
- effect of cold deformation on the mechanical and barrier performance of semicrystalline polymers.
- electrochemically regenerated cofactors for cell-free biosynthesis.
- bridging performance of simple yield stress fluids for additive manufacturing.
- volumetric illumination through scattering optical fibers
- tunable resolution in near-infrared thermal stereolithography for high-performance polymer-derived ceramics.
Written by Patricia Mroczek.
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