NJIT in the News

NJIT researchers are at work on many scientific and technological frontiers. The National Science Foundation has recently provided support that totals nearly $4.3 million for the diverse efforts of the following investigators under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover thrilled friends of NJIT at the university’s recent annual black-tie benefit dinner, Celebration. 

Jeff Koberstein, PhD, of Columbia University will discuss "Modification of Surfaces Using Light and Click Chemistry" at the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering Graduate Seminar Series on Nov. 30 at 2:45 p.m. in Tiernan Hall Rm. 373. 

Ecevit Bilgili, PhD, an assistant professor in the Otto H. York Dept. of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering at NJIT, will discuss "Pharmaceutical Development of Comminution and Fluidized Bed Granulation Operations: from Theory to Industrial Practice" on Nov. 23 at 2:45 p.m. in Tiernan Hall 373.

NJIT will hold its annual black-tie benefit dinner, Celebration, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange.

Mark Panczyk, who received his bachelor of science in chemical engineering from NJIT in May 2008, was recognized by the American Chemical Society's Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry for his outstanding poster contribution at the Fall 2009 ACS national meeting in Washington, D.C.  Panczyk, who is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Delaware, won one of five awards in a competition that featured some 200 posters. 

Martin Katzen, PhD, professor in the department of mathematical sciences (shown here with NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch), Deran Hanesian, PhD, professor in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, and Onofrio Russo, PhD, professor in the department of physics, received awards for 45 years of service on Oct. 28 at the 2009 Service Award ceremony and reception. A total of 134 employees and retirees were recognized for their years of service to the university. 

NJIT will hold its annual black-tie benefit dinner, Celebration, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange. Tony Award-winning dancer, choreographer and producer Savion Glover, who was born and raised in Newark, will provide the entertainment.

Bob Farrauto, BASF Catalysts LLC, will discuss "Catalysis for the 21st Century: The Convergence of Energy and the Environment" on Nov. 2 at 2:45 p.m. in Tiernan Hall Rm. 373. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering Graduate Seminar Series. 

Two NJIT faculty members will receive Innovators’ Awards and two recent alumni will be honored at the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame dinner on Oct. 22, 2009 at Stevens Institute of Technology. 

Kalle Levon, PhD, a professor of Chemical and Biological Science at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, will discuss "Selective Potentiometric Detection of Macromolecular Ions" on Oct. 26 at 2:45 p.m. in Tiernan Hall Rm. 373. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering Graduate Seminar Series.

Using a colander to separate pasta from the water in which it was cooked is a commonplace kitchen experience. But what about the cooking water that usually disappears down the drain? Suppose you had a colander with holes that could not only separate pasta and water, but just as easily remove the salt and starch added to the water in the cooking process — making the water so pure that it would taste great.

Yossef Elabd, PhD, assistant professor at Drexel University, will discuss "Transport Phenomena in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells" on Oct. 12 at 2:45 p.m. in Room 373, Tiernan Hall.

Peng Wang, PhD, of the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering at NJIT, will discuss “Hot Melt Extrusion–A Novel Method for Drug Manufacturing” on Sept. 28 at 2:45 p.m. in Room 373, Tiernan Hall.

A. Jeffrey Giacomin, PhD, a professor in the Rheology Research Center and Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will discuss “Core Deflection and Flash in Injection Molding” on Sept. 21 at 2:45 p.m. in Tiernan Hall Rm. 373. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Graduate Seminar Series in Chemical Engineering presented by the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering. 

Laurent Simon, PhD, of Somerset, associate professor in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, received the Master Teacher Designation at NJIT’s University Convocation, an annual celebration held on Sept. 2, 2009. 

Priya Santhanam, a graduate student in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering at NJIT, took first place in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Region I-NE Student Conference for master's-level students held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her award comes with a $500 cash prize and an invitation to attend (all expenses paid) the national AIAA conference to be held in January 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Priya's paper is based on her MS thesis work at NJIT; she is now applying to the PhD program.

Z. Conrad Zhang, PhD, of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will discuss "Direct Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)" on April 13 at 2:45 p.m. in Kupfrian Hall Rm. 205. Contact: Assistant Professor XianQin Wang, 973-596-5707; Xianqin.wang@njit.edu.

Samir Mitragotri, PhD, associate professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will discuss "Designing Polymeric Carriers for Drug Delivery" at the Spring 2009 Graduate Seminar Series in Chemical Engineering on March 2 at 2:45 p.m. in Kupfrian Hall Rm. 205. 

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has announced the appointment of Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president for research and development, to the position of interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009. 

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has announced the appointment of Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president for research and development, to the position of interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009. 

Members of the NJIT community shared memories of Dana E. Knox, PhD, professor of chemical engineering, member of the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs, at a celebration of his life yesterday in the Campus Center Atrium. Knox passed away on Sept. 24, 2008; he was 53. Speakers led by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch remembered Knox as an exceptionally dedicated administrator, teacher, colleague and sports enthusiast whose legacy continues in the lives of the numerous students he mentored in his 25 years at NJIT.

Rajesh N. Davé, PhD, a distinguished professor in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological & Pharmaceutical Engineering, received at NJIT’s annual awards convocation, the NJIT Excellence in Research Award.

Piero M. Armenante, PhD, of Millington, a professor of chemical, biological and pharmaceutical engineering in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, received an excellent teacher designation at NJIT’s recent convocation.