Professor Wayne Seames was selected for UND's University Relations "Spotlight" web feature.  The following is the Spotlight. 

Wayne Seames
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering students – a minority in the School of Engineering and Mines – stuffed the ballot box to elect Wayne Seames the SEM Outstanding Professor of the Year.  And Seames couldn’t be more proud of them. 

“It’s the first time a chemical engineering faculty member has won since 1992,” he says.  “Because there are so many more students in mechanical and electrical engineering, it’s a little tough for us.”  The school, which has around 750 undergraduate students in chemical, civil, electrical, geological, and mechanical engineering, has just under 90 chemical engineering majors.

An associate professor of chemical engineering, Seames is known as one of the toughest and most demanding profs in the college.  He’s also one of the most fondly remembered by former students.

He most enjoys teaching a senior capstone course, Process Design, which lasts for two semesters.  Students design a chemical plant, then assess its economic and practical viability to determine whether the plant can make money in the “real world.”  Throughout the course, Seames also teaches ethics, conflict resolution, professional behavior, safety, environmental issues, and energy conservation.  Students especially enjoy learning about conflict resolution. 

“We do case studies and negotiate conflict,” Seames says.  For example, in one case study, we look at the Camp David Accords.  One team is Palestine and the other is Israel.  It's fascinating to watch the dynamics between the students.” 

The chemical plant designs, often sponsored by alumni or corporations, are wide-ranging.  Some of the projects have included finding ways to make oil wells more productive, developing plants that produce healthier processed foods, and finding ways to incorporate North Dakota products or byproducts into commercial products.  Last year, a North Dakota business sponsored a project to develop a biodiesel plant, which they used to win a $500,000 USDA Rural Development Grant.  Another group of students evaluated a new mercury removal technology for the EERC. 

Seames worked in industry in Saudi Arabia for 16 years, including 13 years in the oil and gas industry for the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), where he trained Saudi engineers in the field.  He found he enjoyed teaching and after "retiring," earned a doctoral degree at the University of Arizona and began teaching and performing research at UND in 2000.

“UND had what I was looking for,” he said.  “The engineering faculty here value teaching and research, and they’re good at both.”  In 2005 and 2006, chemical engineering faculty won both UND teaching and research awards, which is nearly unprecedented.

9/5/06
UND Chemical Engineering Students Team with Center for Innovation to help Northwood Mills win $500,000 USDA Rural Development Grant For Biodiesel Plant
The USDA announced $17.5 M in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program grants to 375 9/5/06recipients in 36 states. These grants are to promote energy savings and increased energy independence through the development of renewable energy resources especially in rural America . With help from Della Kapocius and the staff at the UND Center for Innovation, Northwood Mills of Northwood , ND applied for and received $500,000 from the program - the maximum allowable - to develop a biodiesel production plant next to their new $8 M soybean crushing operation. The $500,000 grant will help finance a $3 M plant capable of 3 million gallons of biodiesel per year. (Click on headline above for the full release)

UND Awarded $1.5 Million U.S. Department of Energy-EPSCoR Grant to Improve Sustainable Energy Research Infrastructure (Click headline for full release)

UND: Students' jet fuel idea cleans up at major competition
Soybean-based product impressed panel of venture capitalist and angel investors
(Click headline for full release)


Sen. Conrad Impressed by UND Biojet Fuel Research, Potential For Markets
United States Sen. Ken Conrad, N.D. (seated ) got a crash course from University of North Dakota chemical engineering faculty on their research to develop a biojet fuel that will run at colder temperatures, cost less and be more environmentally friendly than the conventional jet fuel.





New Faculty Addition to UND Chemical Engineering Department

UND Chemical Engineering Juniors Receive EPA Fellowship

The Department of Chemical Engineering receives Fellows of the University Award for Departmental Excellence in Research

John Erjavec, Ph.D. Recives the UND Foundation/Lydia and Arthur Saiki Prize for Individual Excellence in Teaching

Department Collaborates in NSF Sustainable Energy Research Initiative

Tom Owens Endowed Chair Fundraising Campaign

UND Chemical Engineering Graduate Earns Engineering Award

UND Awarded $1.5 Million U.S. Department of Energy-EPSCoR Grant to Improve Sustainable Energy Research Infrastructure
A University of North Dakota-based team of researchers organized to study problems related to sustainable energy has been awarded a major grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the North Dakota EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) program. The $1.5 million three-year DOE grant and the supplemental EPSCoR funding total close to $2.5 million.

The grant funds research that is part of UND's SUNRISE (Sustainable Energy Research, Infrastructure, and Supporting Education) initiative. The interdisciplinary research team includes eight UND faculty from chemistry and chemical engineering and two chemistry faculty from North Dakota State University.

"This research addresses a major national issue: managing energy to the benefit of the United States and world," said Peter Alfonso, UND vice president for research. "It supports sustainable and renewable energy research projects that we have under way. What's important about the EPSCoR funding is that it buys necessary infrastructure for future complicated research."

The research team will study the fundamental chemistry of coal combustion, including the resulting gaseous and particulate emissions, according to Wayne Seames, a UND associate professor of chemical engineering and combustion systems expert. A key objective of the project is to develop information about how to reduce the environmental impact of coal combustion.

"The research portion of this grant, which starts June 1, will allow us to train students to explore fundamental questions about complicated combustion systems," Seames said.

Seames noted that this grant underscores EPSCoR's congressionally mandated goal of leveling the odds for states such as North Dakota in reaching for federal research dollars against heavyweights such as California and New York.

UND SUNRISE researchers say they're thrilled by the latest DOE-EPSCoR grant news.

"I'm very happy and quite excited about this funding" said Mark Hoffmann, chair of the UND Department of Chemistry and an expert in theoretical physical chemistry who studies molecular-level interactions. "What's so interesting about this grant is that it provides funds for a fairly large group of people; it builds a cohort with a lot of very positive symbiotic relationships. I'd call it a sum-is-greater-than-the-parts grant."

Moreover, he said, grant money can be used to buy much-needed experimental equipment, such as a Transition Electron Microscope (TEM) and additional computing nodes on the UND Computational Research Center cluster, which will enhance the ability of the team to study the complex molecular reactions that occur when coal is burned, and analytical devices "that a number of my colleagues will be very excited to get," Hoffmann said.

The cooperative nature of the grant is vital to leveraging UND's interdisciplinary talent pool to bigger and better things, in this case, in energy research, Alfonso said.

"This grant intensifies our collaboration between the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Chemical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Mines," Alfonso said.

Michael Mann, chair of the UND Department of Chemical Engineering, said that the grant represents a major coup for UND SUNRISE investigators because it also includes money for a new faculty member.

"We've been accepting applications and screening will likely begin this week, now that we have the grant," Mann said.

The grant is part of a series of federally and state-funded initiatives delving into coal's sometimes controversial combustion profile. Relative to many other forms of energy, coal is known to be relatively "dirty," Seames explained.

"It's got every mineral in it that you can think of because it's been in the earth for millions of years" he said. "When you burn coal, you release potentially hazardous material that can ultimately wind up in the air we breathe, into the water supply, and onto agricultural land. So if we continue to burn coal as a primary fuel, we should try to reduce its environmental impact. The point isn't to drive coal companies out of business; it's to find reasonable solutions to very difficult problems."

The cross-disciplinary component of this research team---and the grant that funds it---is vital to both faculty members and students alike, Seames said.

"We find that being able to focus the work of very specialized scientists along with a spectrum of researchers, leading all the way to engineers can translate how fundamental advances lead ultimately to the commercial products or production processes, allows you to answer questions in a more organized way," he said. "It leads to real-world results more efficiently and gives students more insight that particular disciplines don't have all the answers. Getting these different points of view enriches the educational process for students."

The program will be administered through ND EPSCoR under codirectors Gary Johnson of UND and David Givers of North Dakota State University. The research cluster is under the direction of scientific leads Seames, who also is principal investigator (PI), Hoffmann (co-PI), and NDSU chemist John Herschberger (co-PI). The primary research goal is to produce "a first-principles-based model of the behavior of trace elements during combustion. But there are a number of other minor related projects and research goals included in this large, diverse research program," Seames said.

This is the second major EPSCoR grant in two years related to sustainable energy research at UND. Last year, ND EPSCoR was awarded a National Science Foundation Infrastructure Improvement grant that included SUNRISE as one of two research initiatives.

UND: Students' jet fuel idea cleans up at major competition
Soybean-based product impressed panel of venture capitalist and angel investors
By David Dodds, Herald Staff Writer
3/3/06 reprinted with permission from the Grand Forks Herald

UND's idea for a new environmentally friendly jet fuel derived from crop oils is gaining friends and fans around the country.

The invention, developed by students and faculty at the School of Engineering and Mines and researchers from the Energy and Environmental Research Center , took a big step toward commercialization last week during a business plan competition in Boulder , Colo.

Two UND students, Marko Jukic (chemical engineering) and Nicholas Cox (business) presented a business plan for the new jet fuel that impressed a judging panel of venture capitalists and angel investors at the Sustainable Venturing Business Plan Competition at the University of Colorado .

UND's business plan, GreenFlight LLC, took top honors in the competition against teams from schools such as Dartmouth University , University of Michigan , Vanderbilt and the University of York in Toronto .

Jukic, who hails from Croatia , and Cox, from Grand Forks , brought home the competition's top prize of $12,500.

The students' plan would use soybean oil to create their new fuel, called "JB-100." Their product runs at colder temperatures and is more stable than other oil-based biofuels and is comparable to the JP-8 jet fuel that the military currently uses. The U.S. Air Force has shown interest in the product because it helps the military decrease its dependence on foreign oil.

Because of the students' impressive showing in Boulder , they have been invited to the Northwest Venture Championship, which will be held at Boise ( Idaho ) State University later this month, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Investor Conference this fall in Philadelphia . Both will offer the opportunity to draw more investment capital.

The Boise State invitation gives Jukic and Cox a shot at making the prestigious Global MOOT Corp 2006 Competition held May 3-6 at the University of Texas at Austin, said Jeffrey Stamp, a UND team adviser and chairman of entrepreneur programs at the school.

"MOOT Corp is the Super Bowl of world business-plan competitions and it would be unbelievable for us to make it to this event," Stamp said. "And only teams that win one of the regional championships can be invited to participate."

The technology to produce the biojet fuel is in the process of being patented.

New Faculty Addition to UND Chemical Engineering Department
Dr. Frank Bowman joined the five-member faculty of the Chemical Engineering department. Dr. Bowman came to North Dakota from Nashville , Tennessee with his wife and three daughters. He got his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and his PhD. at the California Institute of Technology. Previously Dr. Bowman taught at Vanderbilt University in Nashville .

Dr. Bowman will be teaching Reactor Design, Unit Operations, and Advanced Separations. He will also be researching atmospheric aerosols. He says, "The ultimate goal of my work is improved atmospheric models that will allow us to better understand and manage air pollution health effects, visibility reduction and climate change." Dr. Bowman is a welcome addition to the Chemical Engineering faculty.

UND Chemical Engineering Juniors Receive EPA Fellowship
Julie Kadrmas a junior in Chemical Engineering at the University of North Dakota is the recipient of Greater Research Opportunities Fellowships from the U.S. EPA. The EPA established this program to encourage students to pursue careers in environmental related fields and to contribute to their education beyond the bachelor's degree. Julie applied for the fellowship in the fall, and learned this spring she was one of fifteen students to receive the award. The fellowships will cover tuition, fees, and books; pay a $500/month stipend; travel to a national conference; and provide a paid summer internship with EPA. Last year two other UND Chemical Engineering students Joey Guido and Clancy Kadrmas earned this fantastic fellowship.

The Department of Chemical Engineering receives the Fellows of the University Award for Departmental Excellence in Research

In March the Department of Chemical Engineering received the Fellows of the University Award for Departmental Excellence in Research. On the per faculty basis, the Department leads the School of Engineering and Mines in publication, grant and contract awards, and research proposals, and also advises the most graduates students in the School. Since 2000, the department has submitted 165 proposals with a combined value of approximately $27 million. They have been awarded contracts in excess of $3.8 million, averaging $750,000 per active faculty member. During this time, they have published a combined 45 articles in refereed journals, have had their work presented at 64 conferences, and filed for 4 patents.

The number of graduate students in Chemical Engineering has seen a tremendous increase since 2000. There are currently 33 graduate students at the Master's level and 9 students pursuing a Ph.D. with ChE advisors. All of the graduate students are fully supported, with the majority supported on funds from sponsored programs. Undergraduates also play an essential role in the research conducted in Chemical Engineering. Since 2000, 58 undergraduates have participated in research programs under the supervision of Chemical Engineering faculty. Of these students, 17 have pursued advanced degrees upon graduation.  

John Erjavec, Ph.D. Recives the UND Foundation/Lydia and Arthur Saiki Prize for Individual Excellence in Teaching

Dr. John Erjavec was awarded the UND Foundation/ Lydia and Arthure Saike Prize for Individual Excellence in Teaching. Many nominations were sent in to recognize Dr. Erjavec for his excellent teaching. The students are especially impressed by his knowledge of industry that he brings into the classroom. The students also speak of his open door policy and the way he will explain things from different points of view to help them understand the material he is teaching.

Department Collaborates in NSF Sustainable Energy Research Initiative

North Dakota 's two primary economic sectors are agriculture and energy. Researchers at UND and NDSU have been developing experience and infrastructure so that a future Center of Excellence in Sustainable Energy can be realized that directly impacts these two primary economic sectors. The cornerstone of this effort is the NSF EPSCoR funded SUNRISE (SUstainable eNergy Research Infrastructure and Supporting Education) Initiative. Funding to support SUNRISE was received May 2005 from a National Science Foundation EPSCoR Infrastructure Improvement Grant. The SUNRISE initiative addresses three aspects of sustainable energy that are particularly important to the State of North Dakota :

•  Sustainable coal utilization through improved environmental performance

•  Agriculture-based fuels and chemical development

•  Novel processes for the hydrogen economy

The strength of this research group is the demonstrated commitment of the principal participants to truly collaborative research and development programs. The NSF team is built around researchers in from UND Departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry and NDSU Departments of Chemistry and Plant Science. The primary vision of SUNRISE researchers is that all stages of the research and development process must be incorporated into a unified program so that fundamental research results can be effectively and efficiently translated into commercially viable solutions. It is the development of commercially viable products that will lead to increased job production within our state. The goal of our current efforts with agriculture-based fuels is the construction of biofineries in North Dakota that will produce jet fuel, biodiesel, and commodity chemicals from soy, canola and other crop oils. Capture of 1% of the jet fuel market will produce about 300 jobs in North Dakota . Our work in coal is coordinated with the lignite industry to help promote their continued growth and viability. Hydrogen production via wind energy promotes the installation of wind sites in the rural areas of the state .  

Tom Owens Endowed Chair Fundraising Campaign

As most of you are well aware, Tom Owens had, over his long tenure at UND, an extraordinary impact on the lives of the engineers that were trained as students in this department. His impact was recognized over the years with a number of honors, culmination in 2000 when Tom was selected as the North Dakota Professor of the Year. Tom was more than just a teacher, he was a mentor, a coach, a cheerleader, and sometimes a father-figure for the students he trained and also for the faculty who served with him during his long tenure as Chairman of the Department.

The Department decided the best way to honor Tom in a lasting way was to create an endowed chair in his name. The chair position named after him would not only be a tribute to Tom, but to his ideals. It would be lasing reminder of the contributions of a remarkable individual and it would also fulfill one of Tom's dreams for the department - the addition of a sixth faculty member.

The Chemical Engineering Department urgently needs this addition. Most importantly, adding a sixth faculty member will allow us to improve and expand the elective courses offered to our student. Chemical engineering is becoming an ever growing field with opportunities in an ever expanding list of industries. It is increasingly more important to offer students exposure to more subjects than in the past, while still keeping the number of credit hours at a reasonable level.

Our goal is to raise $1.5 million, which would support a position perenamentaly here at UND. Currently we have received over $200,000 in gifts and pledges. This is a great star, but we still have along way to go! We need everyone's help to be successful.

For further information concerning the Tom Owens endowed chair in Chemical Engineering please contact Kristi Brindle at (303) 888-8317, e-mail: Kristi@heftagroup.com , the Alumni Association at (800)543-8764/ (701) 777-2611, or the Chemical Engineering department at (701) 777-4244

UND Chemical Engineering Graduate Earns Engineering Award
(reprinted with permission from the Grand Forks Herald)
Miranda Kleven of Grand Forks recently received the George Warren Fuller Award at the recent North Dakota Water Pollution Control Conference. Kleven graduated from UND with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering in 1994. She is a special projects engineer for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. She works with municipalities and rural water systems on financial issues such as cost of service and rate studies as well as funding development, security, and regulatory compliance. The American Water Works Association presents the George Warren Fuller Awards annually to the state sections' respective selected members for their distinguished service to the water supply field in commemoration of the sound engineering skill and the constructive leadership that characterized the life of George Warren Fuller.)