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Jones Group News

October 2008 – Two new research collaborations with Dow and ConocoPhillips are announced:

Dow will support a collaborative effort combining experiment and theory at Georgia Tech and the University of Virginia on the development catalysts for syngas conversion to oxygenates such as higher alcohols.  In addition to research in our group, Professors Sholl and Agrawal will be involved at GT, and Robert Davis at UVA.  Dow will also support an effort focused on epoxide conversions using supported metal salen complex catalysts.

ConocoPhillips a collaborative effort combining experiment and theory focused on the development membranes for acid gas separations.  The overall program is led by Sankar Nair and involves efforts in the Nair, Jones, Sholl, Hesketh and Koros groups at GT.  Jones group efforts focus on incorporating amine structures into membranes for acid gas adsorption.

October 2008 – 7 New PhD students join the group, our largest influx ever:

Ms. Linda Al-Hmoud obtained her BS and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Jordan.  She will work on the design and application of supported copper complexes for C-N and C-O bond forming reactions important in pharmaceutical synthesis.

Mr. Praveen Bollini earned a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai (UDCT).  He will work on hyperbranched aminosilica materials for CO2 capture from flue gas.

Mr. Dun-Yen Kang will be co-advised by Sankar Nair while working on amine-modified mixed-matrix membranes incorporating inorganic nanotubes.  The membranes are targeted at acid gas separations.  Dun-Yen earned a BS in chemical engineering from the National Taiwan University and an MS from the same Institution.

Mr. Hyung Ju Kim earned a BS in chemical engineering from Korea University.  He will be co-advised by Sankar Nair, and will work on amine-functionalized mesoporous silica membranes for acid gas separations.

Mr. Michael Morrill earned a BS in chemistry from Brigham Young University and an MS in chemical engineering from the University of Utah.  He will work on catalysts for alcohol synthesis from syngas.  He will be co-advised by Pradeep Agrawal.

Mr. Joshua Thompson obtained a BS in chemical engineering from Auburn University.  He will be co-advised by Sankar Nair and will work on zeolite surface functionalization for applications in mixed-matrix membranes.

Ms. Weiyin Xu obtained a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan.  She will work on lignin conversions into fuels.  She will be co-advised by Pradeep Agrawal.

October 2008 - Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao joined the group as a post-doctoral fellow after completing a position at the Vietnam National University – Hanoi.  Previously, he completed a PhD at Laval University with Serge Kaliaguine.  Thao is working on syngas conversion to alcohols.

September 2008 - Dr. Jun Huang joined the group as a post-doctoral fellow after completing a PhD at the Institute of Technology at the University of Stuttgart with Michael Hunger.  Jun is working on zeolite catalysts for bio-oil conversion.

September 2008 - Dr. Xunjin Zhu was added to the group as a post-doctoral fellow after completing an appointment in chemistry at the University of Texas.  Jin is working on the design of supported salen complex catalysts for epoxide ring-opening reactions.

August 2008 - Dr. Sunho Choi joined the group as a post-doctoral fellow after completing a PhD at the University of Minnesota with Prof. Michael Tsapatsis.  Sunho is working on materials and processes for CO2 capture from flue gas. 

July 2008 – The ACS-PRF funds a two year project on supported cooper catalysts for C-N and C-O bond forming reactions.

June 2008 - Dr. Chil-hung (Henry) Cheng departs for a faculty position in Chemical Engineering at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

June 2008 - Mr. Travis Hoskins successfully defends his MS thesis. He will remain at GT through July and then join Siemens Energy & Automation in Houston, TX.

May 2008 - Jones Group paper #48 on palladium catalysis is among Inorganic Chemistry's most cited papers of 2007.

April 2008 - Dr. Rebecca A. Hicks (nee Shiels) successfully defends her PhD thesis. She has joined Chevron in Houston.

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