RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering

I will be giving a talk on August 13 as part of the Wisdom Wednesday series. If you are on-campus at RPI, please consider attending. The goal is to describe the basics of quantum computing. So if you are interested in using our quantum computer but unsure where to start, this event is for you.

#GradSpotlightWednesday | Graduate Student Spotlight This week, we're excited to highlight Thi Nguyen Xuan, who is a 1st year PhD student in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at RPI. Thi is advised by Prof. Prashun Gorai, and her research focuses on the computational discovery and design of wurtzite ferroelectrics for next-generation microelectronics. 💬 What’s a big question or challenge your research is trying to answer? The rise of AI and large language models has caused a surge in data center energy consumption, creating an urgent need for more efficient computing and data storage. Ferroelectric materials enable energy-efficient, non-volatile memory and compute-in-memory and other logic-memory hybrids. My research focuses on designing a new class of wurtzite ferroelectric materials, understanding what drives their performance, and engineering them to improve their performance. 💬 What first sparked your interest in your research field? In high school, I learned about catalysts and was fascinated by how small changes in the material's composition, via alloying, could dramatically alter its ability to speed up technologically-useful chemical reactions. That insight sparked my interest in chemistry and materials science, and ultimately led me to research how we can improve materials properties. 💬 What do you like most about the department, center, or RPI? I really value the highly collaborative environment in CBE. This collaborative spirit is especially evident in the RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, where many labs from different departments work closely together. I also appreciate RPI’s cutting-edge high-performance computing resources for materials modeling, including AiMOS and IBM Quantum System One. 💬 Outside of research, what brings you joy? I enjoy exploring my creative side through ballroom dancing, painting, and crocheting beautiful things. I also find joy in hiking and spending time in nature. Stay tuned as we continue to shine a light on the incredible students who make our department special. We eagerly await to feature another student next week! Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, RPI Engineering, RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering #ChemicalEngineering #Materials #Microelectronics #Semiconductors #GraduateSpotlight

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Hannah Doss, who recently earned her Ph.D. in CBE at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, under the guidance of Profs. Todd Przybycien and R. Helen Zha,. Displaying entrepreneurial drive, she has transformed her doctoral research into a startup (NovaGlo Scientific) bringing cutting-edge science from the lab into the real world. At Rensselaer CBE, we take pride in students like Dr. Doss who are turning breakthrough research into real-world solutions Dr. Hannah Doss shares her journey from Ph.D. to founder. 💬 What’s a big question or challenge your research is trying to answer? “Can we help get life-saving biologic therapeutics to market in less time, at a fraction of the price?” By implementing more efficient validation tools for time and cost-intensive regulatory studies, we are attacking this problem at its source. During my PhD, I developed novel fluorescent viral surrogates, or nanoparticle systems designed to closely mimic the size, surface charge, and hydrophobicity of live viruses. These particles can be tracked and quantified based off their fluorescent properties, making them easier to work with compared to other viral surrogates. 💬 What first sparked your interest in your research field? I grew up in a family of healthcare workers, and chemistry and biology were my favorite subjects. I knew I always wanted to contribute to healthcare, but I quickly learned being an MD wasn’t in the cards for me. The sight of blood makes me pass out as I learned the hard way working my first job in my Dad’s oral surgery office. After participating in undergrad co-op programs at Genzyme and Cubist Pharmaceuticals while studying at Northeastern University Department of Chemical Engineering, it became clear that the biopharma was my home. It was the right amount of applied biochemistry, and still allowed me to contribute to healthcare and help save lives. 💬 What do you like most about the department, RPI?  RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering is truly a special place. Before starting my PhD, all my former industry colleagues had many a horror story to share about their graduate school experiences and advisors, so needless to say I was apprehensive about starting the program. Much to my surprise though, in addition to being incredibly talented, the CBE faculty were all also so kind and understanding. I will always be grateful for their support over the years, particularly Steven Cramer and Jonathan Dordick, who I had the privilege of characterizing lentiviruses. 💬 Outside of research, what brings you joy? I love to be active and outdoors. On a nice day, you’ll find me either at a body of water or up a mountain somewhere. I also like hanging out with dogs, particularly my American Eskimo, Nico, DIY, camping, traveling, and going to concerts! Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, RPI Engineering #ChemicalEngineering #Biotech #GraduateSpotlight

Our students and faculty are tackling one of biotech’s toughest purification puzzles - removing pesky double-stranded RNA from single-stranded mRNA, and doing it without affinity ligands. Why does it matter? Because scalable, cleaner mRNA means better therapeutics and vaccines. Congratulations! Thomas Neuman, Riddhi Banik, Surya Karla, Mengyang(Claudia) Hu, Pankaj Karande, James Kilduff, Georges Belfort Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI Engineering, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies

#GradSpotlightWednesday | Graduate Student Spotlight This week, we're excited to highlight Atharwa Thigale, who is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at RPI. Atharwa is advised by Prof. Sangwoo Lee, and his research focuses low-energy degradation and upcycling of polystyrene. 💬 What’s a big question or challenge your research is trying to answer? My Ph.D. research addresses plastic pollution by exploring low-energy degradation pathways for polystyrene, a commonly used single-use plastic. I focus on understanding its potential for upcycling by studying reaction mechanisms over time and under varying conditions. My work aims to offer more sustainable alternatives to current high-energy recycling methods. 💬 What first sparked your interest in your research field? My interest in this field began with the realization that plastics like polystyrene are deeply embedded in our daily lives, from single-use coffee cups to car parts. Given their widespread use and environmental impact, I was drawn to the idea of finding sustainable solutions. This inspired me to explore ways to break them down and upcycle them into valuable products, contributing to a circular plastic economy. 💬 What do you like most about the department, center, or RPI? RPI was one of my top choices because of its legacy of innovation, top-notch faculty, and excellent research facilities. CBE offers a collaborative, supportive environment with exciting research projects and strong student support. I particularly appreciate the advising style of my advisor, Dr. Sangwoo Lee, where together we have focused on solving problems using basic scientific principles and careful observations. 💬 Outside of research, what brings you joy? I serve as a graduate senator on RPI's student senate, advocating for student well-being and a supportive campus environment. I'm passionate about mental health and community-building, and recently led a 50-member team in a Dhol-Tasha performance at NY’s first Diwali celebration in Albany. I actively participate in sports and have been part of a team that won multiple cricket tournaments. Stay tuned as we continue to shine a light on the incredible students who make our department special. We eagerly await to feature another student next week! Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, RPI Engineering, RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering #ChemicalEngineering #SustainableMaterials #GraduateSpotlight

#GradSpotlightWednesday | Graduate Student Spotlight This week, we’re excited to launch our new series by highlighting Sahiti Tamirisakandala, a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at RPI. Sahiti is co-advised by Profs. R. Helen Zha, PhD and Mattheos Koffas, and her research focuses on engineering vibrant proteins as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. 💬 What first sparked your interest in your research field? "As a high schooler, I went on a NatureBridge backpacking trip in Olympic National Park, where I saw firsthand the spectacular beauty of our National Parks and how technology often draws inspiration from biological systems. I was amazed by how closely our innovations can mirror nature, and ever since then, as cheesy as it may sound, I knew that biotechnology was the field for me." 💬 What do you like most about the department, center, or RPI? "I love the collaborative environment at RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies. Everyone loves the scientifically crazy and 'out there' questions. Both the faculty and students create a supportive atmosphere that has been ideal for my growth as a scientist." 💬 Outside of research, what brings you joy? "Traveling. Upstate New York is an incredible location—close to the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, and major cities like Boston, New York City, and Montreal. It makes exploring easy, but everything’s just far enough away that I can still focus and get research done." Featured alongside her portrait is a stunning image of the colorful proteins she has synthesized — a vibrant display of bioengineering in action! Stay tuned as we continue to shine a light on the incredible students who make our department special. We eagerly await to feature another student next week! Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, RPI Engineering, RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering #ChemicalEngineering #Biotech #SustainableMaterials #GraduateSpotlight #WomenInSTEM

I am truly grateful to Ned ’62 and Nanci Feltham, RPI's School of Engineering, our Dean Shekhar Garde and my brilliant student William Lawler for this wonderful honor and award. This award will help us advance our research on genome editing with applications in Alzheimer's and other chronic conditions. https://lnkd.in/gED6AaBA

Congratulations to R. Helen Zha on being named a Dean’s Faculty Fellow by the RPI School of Engineering! This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Zha’s innovative contributions at the intersection of chemical, biological, and materials engineering, as well as her deep commitment to advancing both the RPI community and the broader engineering profession. Read more: https://bit.ly/3HqWqx8 #RPI #Engineering #WomenInSTEM

Thank you to everyone at RPI Chemical and Biological Engineering who supported me on this journey. Excited for what’s next! #ClassOf2025

🎓 Congratulations to the newest CBE graduates! 🎉 We were honored to celebrate your achievements at the hooding ceremony, marking a major milestone in your academic and professional journey. Your hard work, resilience, and curiosity have brought you to this moment, and we couldn’t be more proud. As you move forward into careers in industry, academia, and beyond, know that you carry with you not just a degree, but the support and pride of the entire department. The future is full of opportunity and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make. 🌟 Wishing you all the success in the world! Please stay in touch – we’d love to hear about your next chapters and cheer you on from afar. Once part of our Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute community, always part of our community. RPI Engineering, RPI Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies #ChemicalEngineering #FutureLeaders #Engineering #RPI