Sources: Ron Madl, 785-532-7022, rmadl@k-state.edu;
and Mary Rezac, 785-532-5584, rezac@k-state.edu
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
K-STATE'S CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SELECTS 14 FOR GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIPS
MANHATTAN -- Fourteen Kansas State University graduate students representing six departments and three colleges have been awarded assistantships to conduct research in sustainable energy for the 2009-10 academic year.
K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy requests proposals annually from eligible K-State faculty in support of the assistantships for projects related to enhancing research on renewable energy topics. The assistantships are intended to expand the current research base at K-State and encourage new research clusters addressing issues related to renewable energy.
Proposals included bioenergy research topics in plant genetics, biomass production, conversion processes and utilization, as well as wind, solar and economic issues related to renewable energy.
K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy was established in 2007 with a grant from the university's Targeted Excellence program. Through research and educational efforts, the center seeks to provide sustainable, renewable energy while maintaining the environment and providing an adequate food supply. Center co-directors are Ron Madl, director of the K-State's Bioprocessing and Industrial Value-Added Program, and Mary Rezac, professor of chemical engineering.
K-State offers significant educational and scientific resources related to the complete cycle of biofuels production and other renewable energy sources. Basic and applied research, education and outreach activities are components of the center. More than 30 faculty from across campus, including the colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering, are involved in center activities.
Progress and results of the students' research is presented each May at the center's annual meeting.
Students selected for 2009-10 Center for Sustainable Energy graduate assistantships and their faculty sponsors include:
Mark Davis, master's student in agronomy, Bavaria, with Nathan Nelson, associate professor of agronomy; Nolan Rothe, master's student in plant pathology, Bison, with Bikram Gill, university distinguished professor of plant pathology.
From Manhattan: Khem Acharya, master's student in chemistry, with Ryszard Jankowiak, professor of chemistry; Khushal Brijwani, doctoral student in grain science and industry, with Praveen Vadlani, assistant professor of grain science and industry; Leidy Pena Duque, master's student in biological and agricultural engineering, with Donghai Wang, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering; Xinyi "Abby" E, master's student in food science, with Ron Madl, research professor of grain science and industry; Jing Gan, doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering, with Wenqiao Yuan, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering; Jayfred Godoy, master's student in agronomy, with Tesfaye Tesso, assistant professor of agronomy; Myles Ikenberry, master's student in chemical engineering, with Keith Hohn, associate professor of chemical engineering; Ronald Michalsky, doctoral student in chemical engineering, with Peter Pfromm, professor of chemical engineering; Satheesh Subramanian, doctoral student in agronomy, with P.V. Vara Prasad, associate professor of agronomy; Feng Xu, doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering, with Yong-Cheng Shi, associate professor of grain science and industry; and Juhyun "Camila" Yoo, doctoral student in grain science, with Sajid Alavi, associate professor of grain science and industry.
From out of state: Cody Schneider, master's student in animal science, Ames, Iowa, James Drouillard, professor of animal sciences and industry.
