MSU Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

Caroline Szczepanski has been honored with the PMSE Early Investigators Award and highlighted her research in a symposium earlier this week at the 2025 Fall ACS National Meeting.

https://pmsedivision.org/early-investigator-symposium/

ChEMS Professor Scott Calabrese Barton joins 12 renowned experts in the U.S. and abroad who were named Fellows in The Electrochemical Society. His broad-ranging research includes biological fuel cell design and optimization of new catalysts. More at

Scott Calabrese Barton named Fellow of the Electrochemical Society | Michigan State University Scott Calabrese Barton of Michigan State University has joined a renowned group of 12 experts in the U.S. and abroad as a Fellow in The Electrochemical Society (ECS).

MSU is developing an ultrastable catalyst to improve fuel cells

Research at Michigan State University and Princeton University developed a highly stable electrocatalyst for fuel cells that are used in sustainable energy applications, such as electric vehicles. The innovation promises cheaper and more efficient clean energy systems, helping to combat climate change and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. See https://engineering.msu.edu/news-events/news/2024/10/23/msu-is-developing-an-ultrastable-catalyst-to-improve-fuel-cells for more details.

Congratulations to Rachel Schenck, who is studying Materials Science Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, for being nominated by MSU for the US Rhodes Scholarship!

https://studentawards.msu.edu/news/five-msu-students-one-alumna-nominated-for-rhodes-scholarship/

The Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department at Michigan State has an open search for a new faculty member at any career stage (Assistant/Associate/Full).

See the position advertisement for full details:https://www.egr.msu.edu/~scb/ChEMS.OpenArea.Search.pdf

Please consider applying: https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/520712/assistantassociatefull-professor-tenure-system

CHEMS webpage: https://engineering.msu.edu/about/departments/chems

Work from Professor Jose Mendoza and colleagues from Georgia Tech (Marta Hatzell) and University of Rochester (Kathryn Knowles) was recently accepted for publication in Advanced Functional Materials!
Title: Nitrogen-containing Surface Ligands Lead to False Positives for Photofixation of N2 on Metal Oxide Nanocrystals: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

This experimental and theoretical work reveals that nitrogen-containing ligands used in synthesizing metal oxide nanocrystals can lead to false-positive results in studies of photocatalytic nitrogen reduction. These ligands introduce ammonia contamination, which skews results, making the catalysts seem more effective than they are. The study emphasizes the need to avoid nitrogen-containing compounds during synthesis to obtain accurate photocatalytic activity measurements.

Authors: Daniel Maldonado-Lopez, Po-Wei Huang, Karla R. Sanchez-Lievanos, Gourhari Jana, Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes, Kathryn E. Knowles, Marta C. Hatzell

The preprint is available here: https://lnkd.in/ekU8vkdr

The latest from Prof. Assaf Gilad's lab! (https://www.linkedin.com/in/assaf-gilad-4a4a3720)

Magnetoreception sounds like sci-fi... allowing creatures to navigate the globe by sensing the Earth's magnetic field. Well, it turns out there are a lot of animals that harbor this keen sense. The Gilad lab found 72 teleost species with proteins homologous to the electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) from Kryptopterus vitreolus, all containing a conserved three-phenylalanine (3F) motif. Through phylogenetic analysis and functional characterization, they postulate how EPG evolved over time and the potential loss of function in certain clades due to different fitness pressures. Interestingly, inserting the 3F motif from Brachyhypopomus gauderio into EPG results in a faster response, indicating potential for engineering EPG to improve its function and utility. This work will certainly open the door to some interesting applications in the future!

Brianna Ricker, Alejandro Franco Castellanos, Gustavo de los Campos, Galit Pelled and Assaf A. Gilad.
A conserved phenylalanine motif among teleost fish provides insight for improving electromagnetic perception
Open Biol. 14240092 (2024)

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.240092

Congratulations to ChEMS Chair and University Distinguished Professor Christina Chan!

University Distinguished Professor Christina Chan has been named a AAAS Fellow and is being honored for excellence in investigating disease mechanisms. She is chairperson of MSU’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. More at: https://tinyurl.com/nbcewvmp

Congratulations to MSE senior Rachel Schenck!

Congratulations to Rachel Schenk for being named one of 12 recipients of the MSU College of Engineering's Undergraduate Student Service Awards!

Congratulations to C. Robert and Kathryn M. Weir Endowed Associate Professor of ChEMS Alexandra Zevalkink!

MSU honored the excellence of contributions by Alexandra Zevalkink of ChEMS and Dana Spence of Biomedical Engineering during the All-University Awards ceremony on May 1. The recognitions are among the highest presented by MSU. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ykcazmm3

Congratulations to ChE graduate, Kayla Myles!

Congratulations to Kayla Myles for being named one of 12 recipients of the MSU College of Engineering's Undergraduate Student Service Awards!