ChBE Department Updates - Highlights 2016

A generous gift from Jim and Janet Gallogly and family in 2016 is funding a new endowed professorship in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering to attract another high-caliber faculty member.

The $2.5 million Gallogly gift also established the Robert H. Davis Endowed Chair in Discovery Learning, a new position named in honor of the college's outgoing dean. In recognition of these gifts, the Discovery Learning Center has been named the Gallogly Discovery Learning Center.

The past year held dual leadership shifts for our department and college. In July, Professor Charles Musgrave stepped in as department chair, taking the reins from Professor Dan Schwartz. And the new dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Bobby Braun, arrived on campus in October and officially started his term Jan. 3.

Meanwhile, outgoing Dean Robert H. Davis accepted an honorary Key to the College at December's graduation ceremony. We are eagerly anticipating his return to teaching and service in the department.

Related:

• Read Chair Charles Musgrave's year-end message

Professor Chris Bowman has been elected to the National Academy of Inventors, joining Professor Kristi Anseth one year after her induction. NAI Fellows are academic inventors who have demonstrated "a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and welfare of society."

Professor Bowman's election to the NAI is another example that recognizes his many extraordinary contributions over the past two decades through his remarkable leadership in research, teaching and service.

Related:

• Alum wins PECASE Award, honored at White House
• Professor Andrew Goodwin invited to prestigious symposium
• Students win big at AIChE Annual Meeting
• Graduate students earn NSF honorable mentions

Research findings from Professors Anushree Chatterjee and Prashant Nagpal drew widespread attention in 2016. Their labs identified new light-activated therapeutic nanoparticles known as "quantum dots" that can be tailored to fight a particular infection. About 20,000 times smaller than a human hair, these particles successfully killed 92 percent of drug-resistant bacterial cells in lab tests.

The nanotherapy approach could help humans win the fight against "superbugs" that rapidly adapt and become immune to common antibiotics.

Related:

• Hrenya earns $3 million DOE grant for simulation technologies
• $1.1 million grant funds research into next-generation vaccines 
• $1 million grant spurs research on enzyme-based WMD detectors

The fifth wing of the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building is taking shape. The addition will provide three new labs, a classroom, six offices and a conference room for the department. Renovations also are underway in the south wing of the Engineering Center, part of which is slated for chemical and biological engineering.

In addition, four of our faculty are now stationed in the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex, allowing easier interaction with colleagues working on similar research. We're thrilled to start 2017 with new spaces that will help our department grow in size and stature.

Related:

• Students hold vigil for Borgmann Computer Lab

Outside the labs and classrooms, our students, faculty and alumni embarked on great adventures in 2016, from climbing Denali to winning the Coffin Races at the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Nederland. Our community found success across numerous pursuits in 2016, whether academic, athletic or unorthodox. Read more about Denali and the Coffin Races.

Related:

• Recent grad Clare Wise wins Pac-12 Leadership Award
• Alum Kathryn Tobey receives CU's George Norlin Award
• Alum Mike McAtee wins Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award
• Alum named founding director of OU biomedical engineering
• Alum Amy Kramer named to "Top 40 Young Lawyers"
• Christine Hrenya serves as AIChE Annual Meeting Chair