Research Interests
Molecular thermodynamics and modeling
Glycoside hydrolase processivity
Protein-carbohydrate recognition mechanisms
Lignocellulosic biomass conversion
Biocatalytic desulfurization of petroleum products
Selectivity and stability of cytochrome P450BM3 for immobilization within membranes
Polyethylene terephthalate-degrading enzymes
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering
Vanderbilt University
2007
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Tennessee Technological Univ.
2002
Experience
Program Director
National Science Foundation
2018 to present
Adjunct Professor
University of Kentucky
2017 to present
Associate Program Director
National Science Foundation
2017 to 2018
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
2012 to 2017, tenured in 2017
Guest Researcher
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
2013 to 2017
Staff Scientist
National Renewable Energy Lab.
2011 to 2012
Postdoctoral Researcher
National Renewable Energy Lab.
2011
Chemical Process Engineer
URS
2008 to 2011
Honors and Awards
NSF Special Act Awards (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022,2023)
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2019)
University of Kentucky College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (2017)
NSF CAREER Award (2016)
ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award (2014)
August T. Larson Guest Research Award, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (2013)
Professional Engineer, KY and CO (2012)
URS Top Talent program (2010)
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (2003 - 2007)
IBM Fellowship (2002 - 2006)
Course Instruction
Product and Process Design
Thermodynamics
Professionalism, Ethics, and Safety
Chemical Engineering Laboratory I & II
Special Problems in Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering Seminar
Outreach and Community Service
Alexandria City Public Schools Science Fair Mentor – 2018 to present
Alexandria City Public Schools Science and Engineering Ethics Workshop | Alexandria City High School – 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024
Alexandria City Public Schools Science Fair Judge | Alexandria City High School – annually, 2018 to 2024
Alexandria City Public Schools STEM-H Careers Virtual Seminar Series | Alexandria City High School – 2020
USA Science and Engineering Festival, Meet the Scientists | Washington, DC – 2018
Expanding Your Horizons Girls STEM Conference | Lexington, KY – 2017
Planning committee co-chair for day-long STEM conference for Kentucky-area girls and their parents/guardians
University of Kentucky Engineering Day | Lexington, KY – 2014 to 2017
Molecular modeling demonstration for K-12 students
Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science | Lexington, KY – 2014 to 2016
“Turning sugars into energy with enzymes” – a hands-on demonstration of lactase hydrolysis of lactose
Society of Women Engineers Quiz Bowl Moderator – University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY – 2014
Denver Rescue Mission | Denver, CO - 2008
Organized books at the on-site library and served lunches
Pencil Foundation Mentor | Nashville, TN - 2005 to 2007
Math and reading tutor for middle school students in the Nashville public school system
Research Group Alumni
Postdoctoral Researcher
Inacrist Geronimo - (Freelance scientific English editor)
Graduate Students
Japheth E. Gado - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2020 (Principal Data Scientist, Solugen, Houston, TX)
Suvamay Jana - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2017 (Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, India)
Abhishek A. Kognole - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2017 (Applications Scientist, Computational Chemistry, SilcsBio, Baltimore, MD)
Landon C. Mills, Ph.D Chemical Engineering 2019 (Process Development Engineer, Summit Biosciences, Lexington, KY)
Yue Yu - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2017 (Sr. Research Computing Facilitator, University of California, Merced, CA)
Undergraduate Researchers
Nolan Anderson - B. S. Chemical Engineering 2017 (Currently a postdoc at UC Santa Barbara)
Robert Brooks - B.S. Chemical Engineering 2017
Codell Gibson - B.S. Chemical Engineering 2016
Dylan Gilley - B. S. Chemical Engineering 2017 (Currently a PhD student at Purdue Univ.)
Tyler Karnes - B.S. Chemical Engineering 2015 (Recipient of the John Walker Biology and Engineering Undergraduate Research Award)
Shawn Nigam - B.S. Chemistry and Biology 2017
Damarcus Smiley - B.S. Chemical Engineering 2018
Devin Wren - B.S. Chemical Engineering 2017
Visiting Scholars
Ingvild Isaksen - PhD 2019 (supervisor - Åsmund Røhr at Norwegian University of Life Sciences)
István Tamás - PhD research with Beáta Lontay at University of Debrecen, Hungary
Contact
