UW Chemical Engineering

Next Tuesday, September 29, join us in the Benson Hall lobby from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Come snack on coffee and baked goods, chat with student representatives from your RSOs, check out some new ChemE artwork, and more!

We can't wait to kickoff the academic year with you!

Meet Anna Stewart! Anna is a third-year Ph.D. student working in Dr. Samson Jenekhe’s lab. She will present her research in the areas of clean energy and sustainability at tomorrow’s research showcase.

Here’s Anna describing her research:

“I study structure-property relationships in conjugated polymers for organic electronics, which offer unique opportunities for lightweight, flexible, and solution-processible electronic devices. My research focuses on the conjugated ladder polymer poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) and its derivatives, which are promising materials for applications including organic electrochemical transistors and neuromorphic devices. I investigate how molecular and nanoscale packing influence electronic and ionic charge transport using transmission electron microscopy, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical measurements. This work revealed orientational heterogeneity and three-dimensional interchain registry in BBL thin films, providing new insight into how polymer microstructure can be controlled to improve the performance and stability of emerging organic electronic devices.”

The Department Research Showcase highlights the research of graduate students and postdocs in ChemE. This post is the third in a three-part series spotlighting students who will present their research at the Showcase this Thursday, September 24. Learn more and register for the showcase: cheme.washington.edu/research-showcase

Joelle Scott is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Dr. David Bergsman’s lab. Here’s Joelle describing her research in advanced materials and clean energy, which she will present at the Department Research Showcase on Thursday:

“My work focuses on the removal of PFAS, or "forever chemicals", from water through membrane filtration. I am utilizing a vapor-phase synthesis process known as Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) to fabricate these membranes with various polymer thin film chemistries. By varying these chemistries, I can assess how changing membrane hydrophilicity impacts PFAS removal performance.”

The Department Research Showcase highlights the research of graduate students and postdocs in ChemE. This post is the second in a three-part series spotlighting students who will present their research at the Showcase this Thursday, September 24. Learn more and register for the showcase: cheme.washington.edu/research-showcase

Hey everyone, meet Faiza! Faiza Abdillahi is a second-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Elizabeth Nance’s lab. Faiza will present at the Department Research Showcase this Thursday, September 24.

Here’s Faiza on her upcoming showcase presentation:

“My research focuses on identifying modifiable factors that are associated with cognitive health in older adults. At the research showcase, I will present results from an ongoing analysis examining which health, lifestyle, and other potentially modifiable factors are most strongly associated with cognitive performance. I will also show how these factors relate to cognition, including whether their effects appear to be linear or whether there are certain ranges or thresholds where the relationship changes. The long-term goal is to better understand which factors may offer practical opportunities to support healthy cognitive aging.”

The Department Research Showcase highlights the research of graduate students and postdocs in ChemE. This post is the first in a three-part series spotlighting students who will present their research at the Showcase this Thursday, September 24. Learn more and register for the showcase: cheme.washington.edu/research-showcase

Congratulations to Rachel Gaines, who won the Top Speaker Award for this year's Distinguished Young Scholars Seminar!

Gaines, a postdoc at , studies the electrocatalytic upgrading of complex wastes. She designs reactions that transform chemically messy feeds from landfill fodder to market-ready chemicals. Her presentation titled "Trash CAN Do That: Electrocatalytic Reaction Engineering for Upgrading of Complex Industrial Wastes" was the top presentation of this year's speaker series, as measured by attendee evaluations.

Thank you to all of the graduate students and postdocs who shared their work with us this summer!

Ready to catalyze your career? Apply for a graduate program at the University of Washington Department of Chemical Engineering.

Whether you’re looking to delve into research, sharpen your skills in data science or develop a specialty in battery engineering, our master’s and PhD programs can set you on a path to success.

Applications for the Ph.D. program are due December 1. The priority deadline for the master’s program is December 1; applications will be accepted for master’s students only on a rolling basis through June 2027.

Learn more and apply: https://grad.uw.edu/prospective-students/how-to-apply/apply-now/

Dr. Nada Naser will lead the creation of an automation research and teaching laboratory this academic year, thanks to new funding from UW.

Naser will collaborate with Professor Lilo Pozzo and Facilities Manager Benjamin Hornburg to remodel an outdated laboratory space in the basement of Benson Hall. “Our vision is to establish a self-driving, accessible laboratory that provides a unique platform for research innovation and experiential learning for both undergraduate and graduate students across UW,” Naser says.

Learn more at https://www.cheme.washington.edu/news/article/2026-09-03/chemical-engineering-develop-shared-instrument-facility-autonomous

Eric Karp, Ph.D. '12, is the keynote speaker for the upcoming Department Research Showcase! Karp is CEO of Safion Renewables, a Colorado-based company developing and commercializing renewable chemicals and low-carbon fuels. He has built his career at the intersection of scientific research, technology scale-up and entrepreneurship. In 2023, Karp won ChemE's Early Career Impact award.

Learn more about Karp and register for the research showcase at cheme.washington.edu/research-showcase

Nick Porter (B.S. ‘26) found a surprising way of applying the skills he gained in the ChemE research lab to create a thank you gift for faculty member Dr. Alex Prybutok. Working alongside facilities manager Benjamin Hornburg, Porter used his skills in 3-D printing and Computer Aided Design to create seven custom PEZ dispensers resembling himself and his classmates. Along with his peers, Porter presented the dispensers to Prybutok at the end of the academic year.

Swipe through the photos to see the (somewhat horrifying) transformation from 3-D scan to custom PEZ head.

Read more of the story and find step-by-step instructions to create your own custom PEZ heads: https://www.cheme.washington.edu/news/article/2026-07-27/cheme-seniors-devise-perfect-gift-dr-prybutok-custom-pez-dispensers