Chemical Engineering News

Author: Kristi Kesti-Pieti

Seth Kriz Selected as MTU Nominee for MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award

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The Graduate School announced that Seth Kriz, Ph.D. student in chemical engineering, has been selected to represent Michigan Tech as a nominee for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Excellence in Teaching Award. Congratulations to Seth on this significant achievement.

Kriz’s journey is a testament to his dedication to both research and teaching. In his nomination materials, he shares a powerful anecdote about an early college experience that ignited his passion for engineering and ultimately led him to Michigan Tech. This pivotal moment involved his engineering physics professor, Professor Joe, who spent two hours helping him debug a program. This experience instilled in Kriz a deep appreciation for the impact of dedicated teaching.

Inspired by Professor Joe and other mentors, Kriz has pursued his own passion for education. Read about his philosophy of teaching and accomplishments at Michigan Tech at the Graduate School Newsblog.

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Robert Handler Receives the Bayard Rustin Award

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The Daily Mining Gazette and WLUC TV6 covered Michigan Tech’s 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. The event included a keynote address by author and Finlandia alum Schwartzen Precil and the presentation of the Bayard Rustin Award to Robert Handler (ChE) by the Michigan Tech chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Handler, Wayne Gersie (EB) and senior Brett Hamilton (electrical engineering) were quoted by the DMG.

 The MTU chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers presented its annual Bayard Rustin Award, named in honor of the ’60s civil rights organizer who aided more high-profile leaders and given to a faculty or staff member helping make strides behind the scenes.
This year’s recipient was Robert Handler, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Michigan Tech.

One of his nominators described him as “a remarkable mentor, combining sustainability expertise with commitment to students’ growth.”

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MTU Research Team Honored for Work Advancing Sustainable Materials in Road Construction

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A research team from Michigan Technological University has been honored with the Best Paper Award by the Standing Committee on Binders for Flexible Pavement (AKM20) of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). This prestigious recognition highlights the team’s groundbreaking work on advancing sustainable materials in road construction.

The awarded paper, titled “Role of Pyrolysis Wax on Enhancing the Performance of Waste Plastic Modified Asphalt Prepared with Wet Process,” explores innovative methods to improve asphalt performance using recycled materials.

The authors of the paper include the following MTU researchers:

  • Ph.D. student Sepehr Mohammadi (civil engineering)
  • Postdoctoral Scholar Dongzhao Jin (CEGE)
  • Research Assistant Professor Daniel Kulas (ChE)
  • Former Research Assistant Professor Ali Zolghadr (ChE)
  • Research Professor David Shonnard (ChE)
  • Distinguished Professor Zhanping You (CEGE)

The study investigates the potential of pyrolysis wax, derived from waste plastic, to enhance the performance of asphalt when integrated through a wet process. This innovative approach not only addresses critical challenges in road material durability but also contributes to waste reduction and sustainability goals. The MTU team’s recognition underscores the University’s commitment to research excellence and sustainability.

Zhanping You received the certificates in Washington, D.C., earlier this week and shared the exciting news with his co-authors and collaborators. “This is a great achievement and recognition of our team’s effort to advance sustainable infrastructure materials,” he said. “This achievement will undoubtedly inspire future research endeavors in transportation and materials engineering.”

The TRB, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is a leading institution dedicated to improving transportation through innovation and research. The AKM20 committee, which presented the award, focuses on cutting-edge developments in binders for flexible pavement.

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In the News—Robert Handler

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Adjunct Instructor Joshua Pearce (MSE) was quoted and Robert Handler (ChE/CEGE/SS) was mentioned by Ontario’s Western University in a story about the economic and environmental benefits of using sheep for vegetation management on solar farms. Their 2022 study highlighted how sheep grazing under solar panels provides a profitable revenue stream for farmers while reducing the need for herbicides and grass cutting.

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