CBE mourns the loss of another long-time faculty member, as Thomas Wheelock passes away

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Thomas (Tom) Wheelock, University Professor Emeritus, who died February 3 at the age of 97. Read More

February 14, 2023

Chowdhury computational research crosses new frontiers in protein structure study

Research led by Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering assistant professor Ratul Chowdhury has landed firmly on the cutting edge of new computational technology in protein research – and on the cover of a recent issue of Nature Biotechnology, one of the highest ranked journals in this field. Read More

January 30, 2023

Mars Wrigley Confections donates more than $750k worth of lab equipment to ISU

The spirit of giving isn’t just limited to the Christmas holiday season! That’s what Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) Professor of Practice John Kaiser has experienced recently with the help of generous benefactors at his former employer, Mars Wrigley Confections. They've supplied more than $750,000 worth of lab equipment to the department. Read More

January 30, 2023

George Burnet, one of CBE’s most influential figures, passes away

A pillar in the history of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has passed away. George Burnet V, who progressed from student to faculty member to department chair over a span of more than 60 years, died January 13 at the age of 98. Read More

January 18, 2023

CBE alumnus, Hall of Fame member G. Paul Wilhite passes away

Paul Wilhite, a 1959 B.S. graduate of Iowa State’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and a member of the department’s Hall of Fame, has passed away. Read More

December 20, 2022

Apply now for CBE’s 2023 BioMaP undergrad research program

The application period for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s 2023 BioMaP REU program is now open. The program will be held from May 30 – August 4. Read More

December 14, 2022

CBE’s AIChE student chapter proudly represents ISU at national conference in Phoenix

The Department of Chemical Engineering’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter recently returned from the organization’s Annual Student Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Twenty ISU student members took part in the event. Read More

November 30, 2022

Tessonnier-led research bridges gap for more efficient conversions of lignin for cleaner and greener chemicals

Effective conversion of lignin to increase the production of bio-oil and reduce a solid by-product called “char” has been addressed in Iowa State University engineering research and published in Energy & Environmental Science. Read More

November 21, 2022

CBE’s Shanks named Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Fellow

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering faculty member Brent Shanks has been named an American Chemical Society (ACS) Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (I&EC) Fellow for the Class of 2023. Read More

November 21, 2022

Hui Hu icing research study receives AIAA best paper honors

A paper published by Department of Aerospace Engineering Martin C. Jischke Professor Hui Hu and three of his students has been selected to receive national recognition by the American Institute of Aeronautics and  Astronautics’ (AIAA) Gas Turbine Engines Technical Committee. Read More

November 15, 2022

Help uphold AIChE student chapter’s tradition of excellence! FundISU page is now available

Twenty Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering undergraduates have made the trip to Phoenix for the AIChE Annual Student Conference. While the experience is definitely worth the trip, it is costly. Prior to departing, the chapter’s faculty advisor Dr. Stephanie Loveland estimated more than $10,000 had been spent on air and hotel reservations and conference registration fees alone. The chapter has established a FundISU page through the Iowa State University Foundation to allow contributions that will help defray some of these costs. Contributions can be made through December 9. Read More

November 14, 2022

Phillips 66 CEO, alumnus Mark Lashier to CBE Hall of Fame

Mark Lashier earned a B.S. in chemical engineering at Iowa State University in 1985 and a Ph.D. in 1989. In the years since he has earned respect and recognition as an engineer, business professional and industry leader. The President and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips Petroleum Co. joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) Honors and Awards Banquet where he was inducted into the department’s alumni Hall of Fame. Read More

November 9, 2022

“Groundbreaking” research in earthquake mechanisms sees publication in Nature Communications for AerE’s Levitas

Hypotheses and theory regarding what occurs during deep-focus earthquakes have been taken on by Department of Aerospace Engineering Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and Vance Coffman Faculty Chair Valery Levitas, in his first work on geophysical problems. Read More

October 31, 2022

Four graduate students top CBE’s Perfect Pitch research competition

The comment, “So, tell me about your research!” will be easier to field for CBE’s graduate students who took part in this year’s Perfect Pitch competition. The students once again faced a 90-second time limit (with the aid of one PowerPoint slide) in presenting an “elevator speech” of what their research is all about. Read More

October 19, 2022

Marine aviator, ISU alum Dwight DeJong is new flight simulator instructor in Aerospace Engineering

In the Marine Corps Dwight DeJong spent many hours training aviators in the fine points of flying military aircraft. In Iowa State’s Department of Aerospace Engineering he’ll be employing that experience teaching undergraduate students the basics of flying – without leaving Howe Hall. DeJong has joined the department as director of the Flight Simulation Laboratory. He’ll be introducing students to techniques of flying fixed-wing aircraft with the use of six simulators. Read More

August 29, 2022