News

Tue, 12/23/2025

Dr. Mark Shiflett Awarded 50th Patent, Marking Major Milestone in Sustainable Engineering Innovation

Dr. Mark Shiflett has been awarded his 50th U.S. patent, marking a significant milestone in a career dedicated to advancing practical, sustainable engineering solutions.

Wed, 12/17/2025

WISE Researcher Advances Reliable Process Design for Ionic-Liquid-Based Refrigerant Separation

A new study helps engineers better understand how advanced materials called ionic liquids behave at high temperatures—knowledge that supports more efficient, reliable, and sustainable cooling technologies.

Tue, 12/09/2025

Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering Hosts Fall 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium

WISE proudly hosted its Fall 2025 Wonderful Undergraduate Research Symposium, showcasing the latest research from talented students in its undergraduate engineering programs.

Mon, 12/08/2025

EARTH Researchers Publish New Study on Low-GWP Refrigerants to Advance Sustainable Cooling

EARTH researchers published a new study evaluating low-GWP refrigerants, specifically HFC-32/HFO-1234yf mixtures, as alternatives to R-410A. Their modeling shows that blends such as R-454B and pure HFC-32 can significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and lower operating costs. The work supports the cooling industry’s transition toward cleaner, next-generation refrigerants.

Tue, 11/04/2025

Sarah Walsh Wins KU Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) Award

The NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology (EARTH) proudly recognizes Sarah Walsh, a Chemical Engineering student and member of the Shiflett Research Group, for being named the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) Homecoming Award at the University of Kansas.

Thu, 10/30/2025

KU Chemical Engineering PhD Candidate Featured on Journal Cover for Innovative Refrigerant Research

Kevin Turner, a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas, was featured on the cover of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research for his collaborative study on refrigerant flammability limits conducted with Hudson Technologies. His work advances safer and more sustainable cooling solutions.

Wed, 10/08/2025

KU engineering professor wins Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists

Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering and KU Engineering associate dean for impact & belonging, is the laureate of the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. She is KU’s first-ever laureate.

Mon, 09/22/2025

KU and Chromis Technologies Achieve First-Ever Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerant Blend

Researchers from the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering (WISE) at the University of Kansas, in collaboration with Chromis Technologies, have been awarded U.S. Patent No. 12,427,473 for a breakthrough fluoropolymer-coated membrane that can separate previously inseparable azeotropic refrigerant blends.

Sun, 09/07/2025

Dr. Mark Shiflett Reaches 11,000 Career Citations

Dr. Mark Shiflett, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas reaches a career milestone of 11,000 citations.

Thu, 09/04/2025

EARTH Director Presents Plenary Lecture at International Fluorine Chemistry Symposium

Dr. Mark Shiflett, Director of the newly funded National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center "Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH)", delivered an invited Plenary Lecture at the 21st European Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry (ESFC-21) in Lisbon, presenting the vision and mission of the NSF-funded EARTH ERC.

Fri, 08/29/2025

Abbie Peters Named Awardee at the 2025 Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering Symposium

Abbie Peters has been selected as an awardee for the 2025 Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering Symposium, a premier national event hosted by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University.

Tue, 08/26/2025

Evanna Dominic of the Shiflett Research Group was selected for 2025 Millennium Fellowship

Out of 60,396 applicants from more than 7,500 institutions worldwide, 26 University of Kansas students have been selected for the 2025 Millennium Fellowship, a leadership development program overseen by the Millennium Campus Network in partnership with United Nations Academic Impact.

Tue, 08/19/2025

6 KU innovations selected for Rock Chalk Ready commercialization program

The University of Kansas Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC) has selected six promising research projects for its inaugural Rock Chalk Ready program, a universitywide initiative designed to mature early-stage innovations and position them for commercialization success.

Mon, 07/21/2025

Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering Research Team Awarded $31,000 for Sustainable Catalyst Innovation

The KU Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC) announced today that a Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering research team has been selected for funding through the Rock Chalk Ready Opportunity Development Program. The awarded project, led by Professors Mark Shiflett and Aaron Scurto, will receive $31,000 to advance the development of safer, more sustainable acid catalysts for industrial use.

Wed, 07/02/2025

Kevin Turner Passes Preliminary Exam with Insightful Presentation on Refrigerant Flammability

Kevin Turner, a Graduate Student working in the Shiflett Research Group, has successfully passed his preliminary examination, marking a major milestone in his academic journey. His presentation, titled "Refrigerant Flammability Metrics, Methodologies, and Modeling," showcased a deep understanding of critical safety and performance factors in refrigerant technologies. ...

Fri, 06/13/2025

Julia Espinoza Mejia Successfully Passes her PhD Comprehensive Exam

Julia Espinoza Mejia of the Shiflett Research Group has successfully passed her PhD Comprehensive Exam! Julia’s proposal was titled “Ionic Liquid-Based Extractive Distillation for Sustainable Refrigerant Recovery”. Congratulations to Julia for her success in passing her Comprehensive Exam!! 🎉🎉🎉...

Fri, 05/16/2025

Abdulrhman Arishi Successfully Passes his PhD Comprehensive Exam

Abdulrhman Arishi of the Shiflett Research Group has successfully passed his PhD Comprehensive Exam! Arishi’s proposal was titled “Separation of Hydrofluorocarbon Mixtures using Extractive Distillation with an Ionic Liquid Entrainer”. Congratulations to Arishi for his success in passing his Comprehensive Exam!! 🎉🎉🎉...

Tue, 05/13/2025

Odiri Siakpebru Successfully Passes his PhD Comprehensive Exam

Odiri Kingsley Siakpebru of the Morais Research Group has successfully passed his PhD Comprehensive Exam! Odiri’s proposal was titled “One-pot Synthesis of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignocellulosic Biomass using Transition and Noble Metals Loaded on Acidic Zeolite-based Catalyst Support”. Congratulations to Odiri for his success in passing...

Mon, 05/12/2025

Dr. Abby Harders and Dr. Andrew Yancey-Jardon win prestigious awards at the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Banquet on May 10, 2025

Dr. Abby Harders who received her PhD in Chemical Engineering in July 2024 received the Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD Award in Chemical Engineering and Dr. Andrew Yancey-Jardon who received his PhD in Chemical Engineering in December 2024 received the Maloney Award for Writing in Chemical Engineering. ...

Fri, 05/09/2025

Arthur Benson was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Presentation Award at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

More than 130 undergraduate students participated in the 28th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which featured Jayhawks' original mentored scholarship as well as artists’ talks and creative displays from many disciplines.

Wed, 04/30/2025

Emmanuel Ababio Receives the Prestigious Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship Award

Congratulations to Emmanuel Ababio, PhD student in the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering and the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering for receiving the prestigious Chancellor’s graduate fellowship award. This award recognizes outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, research potential, and leadership in their fields of...

Wed, 04/30/2025

CJ Ponge is Selected to Present his Research at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit

Congratulations to Charles “CJ” Ponge, PhD student in the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering and the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering for being selected to present his research at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS). The CGRS is an annual event where selected graduate students from all seven...

Mon, 04/28/2025

KU announces new 2025-2029 Self Graduate Fellows

Twenty doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is the largest cohort in the program's history. The total value of the four-year doctoral fellowship exceeds $225,000.

Mon, 03/31/2025

University of Kansas Receives $26M for Refrigerant Research

The University of Kansas (KU) is leading a new Gen-4 Engineering Research Center (ERC) funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) called the Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH). EARTH is headed by Foundation Distinguished Professor Mark Shiflett from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the KU School of...

Mon, 02/24/2025

Way cool: KU leads planet-protecting research on refrigerants

A new federally funded center, directed by School of Engineering professor Mark Shiflett, seeks to boost the Kansas economy while driving a heating and cooling revolution. As kickoff celebrations go, the launch of a research center dedicated to refrigerant technology might seem anything but cool. Refrigerants, the chemical compounds that...

Tue, 02/11/2025

Research yields eco-friendly way to separate, recycle refrigerants tied to climate crisis

Investigators based at the University of Kansas report using membranes — amorphous fluorinated polymers — that efficiently isolate complex refrigerant mixtures. Solutions for dealing responsibly with complex gases in existing equipment destined for landfills around the world are badly needed, according to researchers.

Mon, 02/03/2025

University of Kansas Renames Institute for Sustainable Engineering after The Wonderful Company

Recognition Honors University’s Partnership with the Global Agriculture Company, co-founded and led by Stewart and Lynda Resnick...

Fri, 01/10/2025

PhD student leads student engagement, diversity in $26M refrigerant initiative

As part of a groundbreaking national initiative to create sustainable refrigerants, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student is taking the lead on integrating cultural and diverse perspectives into climate change solutions. ...

Fri, 11/08/2024

From Microsoft to Walmart, new KU research center on refrigerants is attracting strong interest from businesses

If you could have just one statistic to understand how good it is to be in the air-conditioning industry, it might be this one: About 3 billion people live in the hottest regions of the world, but currently only about 8% of them have air conditioning. As new middle-class economies emerge in places like China, India, Africa and elsewhere, the industry estimates it will need to produce the equivalent of five air conditioners every second for the next 25 years to keep up with demand.

Fri, 11/01/2024

Asst. Prof. Ana Morais receives Collaborative Research Grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)

Asst. Prof. Ana Morais in Chemical & Petroleum Engineering and Deputy Director for the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering received a Collaborative Research Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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