Category: Research

University of Florida chemical engineering researcher Helena Hagelin Weaver, Ph.D., is uncovering how the structure of catalyst materials can dramatically improve the efficiency of methane conversion. Her team’s findings, recently published in ACS Catalysis, reveal how manipulating nanoscale support structures can boost methane oxidation at lower temperatures — a key step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling more sustainable chemical production.

UF researchers have developed a breakthrough CRISPR upgrade — called CRISPR-LEAP — that can target nearly any DNA sequence, potentially transforming cancer detection, infectious disease testing and personalized medicine.

University of Florida researchers have developed a new “designer” catalyst by combining platinum and chromium into atomic pairs within silver, enabling a more stable process for producing hydrogen gas. The breakthrough, led by Professor Jason Weaver, Ph.D., could improve energy conversion and reduce industrial costs. The team’s findings were published in Angewandte Chemie, a prestigious, peer-reviewed German journal.

A University of Florida professor is developing a fast, powerful tool for blocking harmful human enzymes, a process that could result in better medicines and more precise treatments for diseases. 

Albert DaCosta (BS ‘98) returned to his old stomping grounds recently to discuss life after the University of Florida and offer advice for future graduates.

The goal: Healthier organs ready for transplant. The UF-developed process stands to revolutionize organ transplants and post-surgical treatment.

Ryan Montes’ upbringing in a “humble Latin family” in Florida may seem so different from his experiences at the University of Florida and his career path. But, in reality, their tightly held family values, such as hard work, resilience, and focus on pursuing a better life, are why he has thrived in his field.  These […]

When you think about scientific research, you probably envision a sterile room that houses gleaming beakers, rows of pipettes and centrifuges. But what if you could house a lab on a chip? Call it the science of small, but a trio of University of Florida chemical engineers have developed a lab-on-a-chip process that could make a big […]

Six chemical engineering faculty members were recently awarded professorships in recognition of their academic accomplishments. The three-year appointments, lasting from 2024 to 2027, provide supplementary funds to support teaching and research efforts. The recipients were selected by a faculty advisory committee and approved by department chair, Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., and Forrest Masters, Ph.D., PE, interim […]

Congratulations to Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Dean’s Leadership Professor at the University of Florida, who was recently elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The honor, awarded at AIChE’s annual conference in San Francisco, recognizes Rinaldi-Ramos’s outstanding service to the profession and his significant […]

A new, easy-to-use HIV-detection test kit being developed at the University of Florida using advanced CRISPR technology shows promise as an early-warning alarm system that could save millions of lives.   While at-home test kits have become increasingly common for various health screenings, innovations in HIV testing have been limited. Current HIV tests are effective only […]

Caroline Lubbe, a doctoral student with the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) at the University of Florida, has earned a prestigious internship opportunity at the National Science Foundation (NSF) through The Talent Development and Innovation in Sciences (TDIS) Summer Internship Program. Lubbe is supervised by Sindia Rivera-Jimenez, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Education […]

  When Dr. Whitney Stoppel isn’t working as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, she loves spending her free time outdoors and tending to her garden. During these moments, she reflects on the intriguing connections between healthcare, medicine, and the natural world, particularly plants and insects. As a result, she has studied […]

Going beyond pregnancy and COVID-19, the world could someday soon come to rely on at-home tests for many diseases thanks in part to AI-fueled improvements. University of Florida scientists have used artificial intelligence tools to simplify a test that works for both hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The simplified test happens […]