News

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).

Tue, 08/27/2024

Odiri Siakpebru Receives Best Oral Presentation Award from 2024 GPCS Fall Symposium!

Odiri Siakpebru was the recipient of the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Great Plains Catalysis Society (GPCS) Symposium, hosted by The University of Oklahoma.

Wed, 08/21/2024

University of Kansas awarded $26 million for new Engineering Research Center from National Science Foundation

KU is the lead institution for a new National Science Foundation Gen-4 Engineering Research Center — Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) — that will focus on developing sustainable refrigerants to address climate change. EARTH is led by Foundation Distinguished Professor Mark Shiflett in the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the KU School of Engineering.

Mon, 07/22/2024

Abby Harders Successfully Defends Thesis with Honors

Congratulations to Abby Harders, who successfully defended her thesis “Development of Membrane Technology for the Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerants” with honors today.

Thu, 06/27/2024

Andrew Yancey-Jardon publishes article in Chemical Engineering Journal

Andrew Yancey-Jardon publishes article entitled "A new activity coefficient model for describing adsorbed phase nonidealities" in collaboration with David R. Corbin and Mark B. Shiflett in Chemical Engineering Journal

Wed, 06/26/2024

CJ Ponge publishes article in I&EC Research

CJ Ponge publishes research article in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research titled "Zeolites for Sorption of PFAS from Water"

Wed, 05/08/2024

Abdulrhman Arishi publishes article in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

Abdulrhman Arishi published the research article entitled, “Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerant Mixtures: R-450A, R-456A, R-515B, and R-516A Using Phosphonium- and Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids” in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

Tue, 05/07/2024

Dr. Kalin Baca receives Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering Award

Dr. Kalin R. Baca was named the “Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Kalin is now the Chief Operating Officer at Icorium Engineering Company.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Hannah Uhl receives Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering

Hannah Uhl was chosen as the University of Kansas “Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Hannah will be attending Massachusetts Institute for Technology in the Fall to obtain a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Tiana Bish receives Academic Honors Award

Tiana Bish, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Andrew Yancey, received the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Hannah Uhl receives Outstanding Academic Achievement and Academic Honors Awards

Hannah Uhl, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Abby Harders, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.95 or higher) and the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Dr. Kalin Baca receives Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering Award

Dr. Kalin R. Baca was named the “Frank Bowdish Outstanding PhD in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Kalin is now the Chief Operating Officer at Icorium Engineering Company.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Hannah Uhl receives Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering

Hannah Uhl was chosen as the University of Kansas “Most Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering” at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024. Hannah will be attending Massachusetts Institute for Technology in the Fall to obtain a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Tiana Bish receives Academic Honors Award

Tiana Bish, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Andrew Yancey, received the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.

Tue, 05/07/2024

Hannah Uhl receives Outstanding Academic Achievement and Academic Honors Awards

Hannah Uhl, Senior Undergraduate Researcher, working with PhD graduate student, Abby Harders, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.95 or higher) and the Academic Honors Award (GPA 3.5 or higher) at the KU Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Awards ceremony on May 4, 2024.

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