November 25, 2008

Chemical engineering students win national awards

The North Carolina State University student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers has been recognized as an Outstanding AIChE Chapter for the 2007-2008 school year. The NC State student chapter has received the honor 13 times in the past 15 years.

Several NC State students also won individual AIChE awards, which were presented earlier this month at the institute's national student conference in Philadelphia.

Peiwen Thor received the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship Award for 2008-2009. This award, given to 15 national AIChE student members annually, is based on academic achievement and involvement in student chapter activities. Winners receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Jennifer Gowen was recognized as the chapter's 2007-2008 recipient of the Sophomore Academic Excellence Award. It is presented to one national AIChE student member in each student chapter who has attained the highest scholastic grade-point average as a freshman and sophomore.

Lane Daley won the chapter's 2007-2008 Freshman Recognition Award. It is presented to one national AIChE freshman in each student chapter who has been the most active in the chapter.

Three students won awards in the poster competition at the conference. Garrett Swindlehurst won first place in the Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals Division with his poster, “Characterization of Real-time Drug Release from Engineered Biomedical Coatings.” Robert Bradley won second place in the Materials Division with his poster, “Materials of Controlled Shape and Stiffness with Photocurable Microfluidic Endoskeleton.” Jake Vestal won second place in the Food, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Division with his poster, “How Cholesterol Affects Lung Surfactant.”

At the 2008 AIChE annual meeting, which followed the student conference, graduate student Jairus Kleinert won third place in the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum Division with his poster, “Electric Field-Assisted Convective Assembly of Large-Domain Colloidal Crystals.”

AIChE is a professional organization for chemical engineers that boasts more than 40,000 members in 93 countries. The student chapter at NC State dates to 1930 when it became the 15 th chapter formed in the United States. The society sponsors a variety of programs and events for students throughout the school year.

Dr. Russ O'Dell is the student chapter advisor.

-daniel-

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