Weimer Research Group wins three AIChE national poster awards
Professor Al Weimer
Three undergraduate researchers from Professor ’s team received national poster awards at the 2024 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) annual meeting, held Oct. 28-31 in San Diego.
Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos, a chemical engineering senior, and Jessica Connell, a chemical engineering junior, each took home first-place, Barrientos in the "Catalysis and Reaction" category and Connell in "Materials Engineering and Science." Nathan Smith, a chemical engineering senior, took home third place in the "Separations" category.
The achievement places them among top undergraduate researchers in chemical engineering, selected from over 400 presenters and judged by approximately 100 professionals.
"Through focused team meetings, our students are encouraged to delve into the 'why' questions that underlie their research—a critical step for effectively communicating their work and standing out in a competitive setting," said Weimer, a Melvin E. and Virginia M. Clarkprofessor of chemical and biological engineering.
Students are also coached to deliver concise, one-minute presentations, allowing them to present confidently and capture the interest of their audience, he said. PhD mentors assist the undergraduates with the development of their posters, offering support with presentation techniques and strategies to maximize their impact.
Additionally, attending the AIChE meeting also allows undergraduate students to network with professionals and peers, often leading to job offers or graduate school opportunities.
"This exposure opens doors for future career paths," he said.
Over the past 25 years, Weimer has mentored roughly 125 undergraduate students through independent study and internships, with more than 25 of them going on to earn PhDs, MDs or other professional degrees. Each year, he supports undergraduate participation in the AIChE annual meeting with assistance from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) or the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program (DLA).
Weimer's research spans diverse areas of engineering, focusing on particle surface modification by atomic layer deposition and high-temperature chemical reaction engineering using concentrated sunlight.
Catalysis and Reaction
First Place: Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos, senior, chemical engineering
Title: “Optimizing Tungsten Powder Fluidization: Applications for Atomic Layer Deposition"
PhD student mentor: Davis Conklin
Materials Engineering and Sciences
First Place: Jessica Connell, junior, chemical engineering
Title: “Iron-aluminate Reticulated Porous Ceramic Fabrication for use in Solar Thermochemistry”
PhD student mentor: Linnea Helenius
Separations
Third Place: Nathan Smith, senior, chemical engineering
Title: “Additive Manufacturing Plant-derived Char Meshes for Point-source CO2 Capture”
PhD student mentor: Katarina Odak