My background is in the field of chemical engineering, with a focus on applications in the life sciences, both in biochemical and biomedical engineering.  I have served in several different positions at CSU: a professor in the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department; Associate Dean of the College of Engineering; Chair of the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department; and Interim Dean of the College of Engineering.  My most recent research and teaching interests are described here. 

Computational modeling of acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentations by Clostridium butylicum.  Butanol has significant potential as a renewable drop-in liquid transportation fuel since it can be produced from waste agricultural materials and can be used in existing gasoline engines.    However, the metabolism of C. butylicum, which is the major producer of butanol, is very complex, and suboptimal conditions can result in diversion of raw materials away from butanol production and towards other solvent or acid production.  Computational models are used to better understand the complex metabolic pathways of acid and solvent production, as well as to identify optimal operating conditions for large-scale efficient solvent production.

Transport in Bone Tissue
Mechanical loading is known to increase osteocyte activation and bone density.  In collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic, we have developed methods to measure the transport rates of bioactive compounds in dense cortical bone tissue, and the enhancement of these transport rates when the bone is subject to mechanical loading.  This research can be used to predict transient characteristics and possibly the efficacy of specific drugs that may be used to treat osteoporosis.

Algae for Biodiesel
Large-scale cultivation of algae is a potential major source of biofuels that does not divert farmland from fuel and that also mitigates carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. In our lab, we are determining media compositions that maximize oil productivity from algae and we develop kinetic models for algae growth and nutrient consumption.  Both of these activities are important for efficient operation of large-scale algae processes.

Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Lab

This lab contains pilot-scale distillation and absorption columns, along with benchtop heat exchanger, fluid dynamics, mixing, fuel cell, and diffusion systems.