Jones Group Members
Chris Jones, Principal Investigator
Research Scientist
Post-docs
Graduate Students
Mariefel Valenzuela Olarte, PhD Candidate, M.S. (ChE) Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006; B.S. (ChE) University of the Philippines, Los Banos, 2001.
Project: "Base-catalyzed Depolymerization of Lignin and Hydrodeoxygenation of Model Compounds towards Production of Renewable Fuel Additives" -- Joint with P. K. Agrawal
Eric Ping, PhD Candidate, B.S. (ChBE) University of California, Los Angeles, 2006.
Project: "Well-defined Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Supports for the Catalytic Decarboxylation of Fatty Acids" -- Joint with T. Fuller
Jeff Drese, PhD Candidate, B.S. (ChE) University of Florida, 2004.
Project: "Organic and Organometallic Surface Functionalization of Oxides for Catalytic and Adsorptive Applications"
Tae-Hyun Bae, PhD Candidate, Ph.D. (Biological Resources & Materials Engineering) Seoul National University, 2006; M.S. (BRME) Seoul National University, 2001; B.S. (BRME) Seoul National University, 1999.
Project: "Zeolite Synthesis and Functionalization for Applications in Mixed-matrix Membranes" -- Joint with S. Nair
Wei Long, PhD pre-candidate in Physical Chemistry, B.S. (Mat. Sci.) University of Science & Technology of China, 2007.
Project: "Magnetic Nanoparticle Catalysts for Green Polymerization"
Linda Al-Hmoud, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (ChE) University of Jordan, 1997, M.S. (ChE) University of Jordan, 2000.
Project: "Supported Copper Catalysts for C-N and C-O Bond Forming Reactions Important to Pharmaceutical Synthesis."
Praveen Bollini, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (ChE) Mumbai University Institute of Chemical Technology (UDCT), 2008.
Project: "Hyperbranched Aminosilica Materials for CO2 Capture from Flue Gas using Novel Contactors."
Hyung-Ju Kim, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (ChE) Korea University, 2008.
Project: "Amine Modified Mesoporous Silica Membranes for Acid Gas Separations." -- Joint with S. Nair
Michael Morrill, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (Chem) Brigham Young University, 2006, M.S. (ChE) University of Utah, 2009.
Project: "Higher Alcohol Synthesis from Synthesis Gas" -- Joint with P. K. Agrawal
Josh Thompson, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (ChE) Auburn University, 2008.
Project: "Zeolite Functionalization for Mixed Matrix Membrane Separations" -- Joint with S. Nair
Weiyin Xu, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (ChE) University of Michigan, 2008.
Project: "Lignin Conversion into Fuels" -- Joint with P. K. Agrawal
Andrew Brown, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (Chem) 2008.
Project: TBD -- Joint with S. Nair
Rebecca Key, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (Chem) Augusta State University, 2005.
Project: TBD
Megan Lydon, PhD pre-candidate, B.S. (Chem) California Polytechnic State University, 2008.
Project: TBD -- Joint with S. Nair
Visiting Students
Group Alumni
Graduate Students
Benn Wilson, M.S. 2004. Thesis: "Silica-supported organic catalysts for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers."
Current Position: Law Student, University of Georgia
Joseph V. Nguyen, Ph.D. 2005. Thesis: "Design, Synthesis and Optimization of Recoverable and Recyclable Silica-Immobilized Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalysts."
First Position: BASF Catalysts
Current Position: Chevron
Michael W. McKittrick, Ph.D. 2005. Thesis: "Single-Site Olefin Polymerization Catalysts via the Molecular Design of Porous Silica."
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo.
James P. Russum, Ph.D. 2005. (w/ F. J. Schork) Thesis: "Copolymer Synthesis via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerizations in Continuous Miniemulsion Reaction Systems."
First Position: Nalco Company, Sugar Land, TX
Current Position: Multi-Chem Group, Houston, TX
Jason Hicks, Ph.D. 2007. Thesis: "Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Amine and Sulfonic Acid Tethered Silica Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Application."
Current Position: Chevron ETC, Houston, TX
John Richardson, Ph.D. 2008. Thesis: "Distinguishing Between Surface & Solution Catalysis For Palladium Catalyzed C-C Coupling Reactions: Use of Selective Poisons."
Current Position: Criterion Catalysts and Technologies (Shell), Houston, TX
Rebecca (Shiels) Hicks, Ph.D. 2008. Thesis: "Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Silica and Polymer Supported Catalysts for the Production of Fine Chemicals."
Current Position: Chevron ETC, Houston, TX
Travis Hoskins, M.S. 2008. Thesis: "Carbon-carbon Bond Forming Reactions of Biomass Derived Aldehydes."
Current Positions: Siemens Energy & Automation, Houston, TX
Genggeng Qi, Ph.D. 2008. (w/ F. J. Schork) Thesis: "Unconventional Free-radical Miniemulsion Polymerization."
Current Position: Post-doctoral position, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Christopher S. Gill, Ph.D. 2009. Thesis: "Novel Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Single-Sited Catalysts and Supports for Fine Chemical Intermediate Synthesis."
Current Position: ConocoPhillips Company, Bartlesville, OK
Postdocs
Kunquan "Quin" Yu, Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2002-2004.
First Position: Milliken and Company, Spartanburg, SC
Current Position: Criterion Catalysts and Technologies (Shell), Houston, TX
Wilfred Smulders, Joint with F.J. Schork. Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2003-2004.
First Position: Stahl Holland, The Netherlands
Current Position: BASF, Wyandotte, MI
Nam Thanh Son Phan, Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2005-2006
Current Position: Lecturer, Department of Chemical Technology and Petroleum, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Xiaolai Zheng, Joint with M. Weck. Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2004-2007.
Current Position: BASF Catalysts, New Jersey
Chil-Hung "Henry" Cheng Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2006-2008.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
Carsten Sievers Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2007-2009.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
Jun Huang Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2008-2009.
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, ETH Zurich
Visiting Students
Conny Ablasser, visiting research student, Chemical Engineering, Technische Universität München.
Sabine Pilsl, visiting research student, Chemical Engineering, Technische Universität München.