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The Y Output | April 1999 Next Page |
The BYU Catalysis Laboratory recently received a $35,000 grant from the Mobil Technical Company (Dallas) designated for fellowship support of graduate students in research related to conversion of natural gas to middle distillate hydrocarbons via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. George Huber, a first-year master's student in chemical engineering, working under the direction of Professor Bartholomew, has been chosen as the first Mobil Fellow and will receive a fellowship stipend of $15,000 plus $2,500 in supplies to support his investigation of the kinetics of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on cobalt/silica catalysts.
Professor Bartholomew, Daniel Bennett, and Thomas Conrad attended the 13th Annual Meeting of the Western States Catalysis Club held February 25th and 26th in Albuquerque, NM. Dan, a senior, and Tom, a junior in chemical engineering, presented a poster paper on "Deactivation of Co/cabosil Catalysts by Support Collapse," and Professor Bartholomew gave an oral presentation treating the 'Kinetics of CO Hydrogenation on Co/titania Catalysts."
This semester in Dr. Bill Pitt's Polymer Science course, he is trying a wide variety of polymerizations in class. They have made nylon, Plexiglas, polystyrene glue (model airplane cement), polyacrylamide, and more. On the research side, Bill and one of his graduate students, Lori Johnson, published a very significant paper that has received reprint requests from all over the world. This paper presented their experiments in which they used safe levels of antibiotic and ultrasound to eradicate the infective organisms from a polymer sample covered with bacterial contamination. Although this research was done in the lab, not in animals or people, it proved a technology that may someday be used to eliminate bacterial infections on medical devices in people. Their research with ultrasonic enhanced drug delivery is continuing. Stay tuned.
After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Biochemical Engineering from Chengdu University of Science and Technology, Jian Xu went to work for Beijing Petro-Chemical. After two years, his company sent him to Beijing University of Chemical Technology to get a Master's degree in Industrial Catalysis. After completing his Master's degree, he returned to Beijing Petro-Chemical Corporation for half a year, before moving to the American Orbit Valve Company Asia-Beijing Representative Office.
Jian Xu heard about BYU from his friend Haifeng Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate in our Chemical Engineering Department. After applying to the graduate program in Chemical Engineering at BYU, he waited a year and a half for admittance as a Ph.D. candidate. Enrolling in January 1998, Jian Xu is pursuing an emphasis in Catalysis and is advised by Dr. Calvin Bartholomew. He plans to graduate in the Spring of 2002 and return to Beijing to work in the field of catalysis engineering. One day he hopes to start his own company, as well as help to improve education in China.
During his three years of graduate studies at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, he became acquainted with a student who was also an employee of Beijing Petro-Chemical, Ms. Tian Xue Sun. They were married on August 29, 1996, and now have a fifteen-month old son, Zhao Yu Xu. Following Jian Xu's acceptance, his wife and son remained in Beijing while Jian Xu traveled to Utah in mid-December 1997. Just over a year later, his wife and son received their visas and came to Utah on December 25th, 1998. They now live in BYU's Wymount Family Housing.
He has been impressed by both the Honor Code and the people at BYU. He was amazed that no one smokes or drinks alcohol and has found the BYU community very polite and kind.
Back to TopOn January 20, 1999, the Chemical Engineering Department hosted a dinner for 41 of our top undergraduates. The purpose of this dinner was to encourage promising students from the Junior class to consider and begin preparations for graduate studies in Chemical Engineering. The student candidates listened as both professors and alumni discussed the advantages of graduate school.
The first speaker, Dr. Merrill W. Beckstead, outlined some of the benefits of a BYU graduate education:
Graduate school is a confidence builder.
Graduate students learn for the sake of learning. They have a freedom unavailable to undergraduates.
Graduate school is for those interested in research. Industry is looking for researchers and innovators.
The Chemical Engineering graduate program is geared toward design.
Another professor, Dr. Paul O. Hedman, discussed some of the perceived disadvantages of graduate school. Hedman said students are often concerned about the time it takes to complete the degree. On the average, a masters degree takes two years to obtain, whereas a Ph.D. takes four years to complete. Other students are concerned that graduate school does not significantly increase starting salary. While it is true that there is not much difference initially between the pay for masters or bachelors degrees, a graduate degree will later provide opportunities that are not available to those holding only an undergraduate degree. In the long term, obtaining a higher degree will help your career.
Ph.D. candidate Daniel Flores of Monterey, Mexico, also addressed the students. In his remarks, he noted that with a Ph.D., you will receive job offers for jobs you want. Some of the most interesting and rewarding jobs are not available without a Ph.D.
On a personal note, Flores said he has found his education particularly challenging and fulfilling. "I have experienced a change that I would not have experienced had I gone straight into the industry," he said. "In graduate school, you learn how to utilize all of your talents." Flores feels his schooling has given him greater perspective.
Our Chemical Engineering professors feel that the banquet was a success and believe that some of our talented undergraduates will stay for graduate degrees in Chemical Engineering.
Following are actual excerpts from "Thank You" letters by Undergraduate Scholarship recipients:
"Time and money seem to be in large demand for today's student. The time issue can't always be solved, but thanks to companies like yours, part of the financial strain can be lifted from the student's back to lessen the burden. I truly appreciate your contribution to my academic studies."
"As a chemical engineering student, my course load keeps me extremely busy with school work, leaving little time to earn the money I need to pay for school. [Your] kindness will give me the freedom to focus on my studies without the financial concerns that can be so omnipresent in academia."
"I am very appreciative of the fact that you and your organization make available generous contributions to help offset the financial burdens of a technical education. I am confident that these funds in my behalf will be used so that I may, in the near future, be able to perpetuate such gifts."
"This recognition of my academic success provides incentive to maintain a higher work ethic and level of learning."
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The AIChE student chapter at Brigham Young University has had an exceptional year. We have a large, outstanding group of new freshmen, and our chapter membership is above the National average. Our student chapter has been recognized for excellence from many quarters, and we have been involved in some great service projects and field trips. Here is our year in review:
Throughout the year we have had field trips to: Intermountain Power Plant (I.P.P.), Geneva Steel, Fairchild Semiconductor, Kennecott mines, and other sites. We have also had exciting speakers at our group meetings-- with topics ranging from pursuing a career as a medical doctor to working as a process engineer to working as a patent attorney.
I hope that all of you, wherever you may be, will remember us and continue your support. One of the best ways to show your support is to keep our students updated on jobs and internship opportunities with your respective companies. You can forward employment/internship information to: cheme@byu.edu.
This year has gone by quickly and has been a lot of hard work, but the results have been rewarding. I am excited for next year's students and the legacy they will continue. Serving our AlChE student chapter has been fun and will always be a part of me.
-David G. Anderson
AlChE President 1998-99
The second significant alumni event of 1999 will be the Reception for BYU Alumni and Friends at the Annual AICHE Meeting in Dallas, TX. The reception will be held Monday evening, November 1, 1999. We will announce the location in the next newsletter. Please plan ahead to attend this special event. We have many friends and alumni, and we expect a fun gathering. We also are planning a trip to the Dallas Temple on Tuesday evening, November 2, 1999. Please mark these events on your calendar, and plan to get to the AICHE meeting by Monday. See you there!
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