Individual Collaborators

Dr. Tim Keener has been the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Cincinnati since 2007. Dr. Keener is also a Professor of Environmental Engineering, as well as Director of the Air Pollution Control Program, and the UC Engineering Training Institute. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, as well as his M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, all from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His vast research interests include air pollution control processes, control of VOC’s in wastewater treatment plants, global warming and CO2 emissions. Since joining the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Keener has successfully managed over $9M of research contracts with federal and state agencies and the private sector, and is the co-author of five patents.

Dr. Soon-Jai Khang is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He received his B.S. from Yon Sei University, as well as his M.S. and Ph.D. from Oregon State University, all in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Khang’s research interests include air pollution control, microporous structures, flow pattern and mixing, simultaneous chemical reaction and separation, and new material development. Since joining the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Khang has successfully managed over $4M of research contracts with Federal Agencies and the private sector.

Dr. Joo-Youp Lee is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati with over 20 years of experience in academia, government, and industrial research and development and has been an active researcher in the areas of intelligent manufacturing and automation systems. Dr. Lee is founding director of NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Intelligent Maintenance Systems. The focus of the Center and his current research activities is on infotronics-based prognostics and e-manufacturing technologies, including remote monitoring, embedded prognostics, self-maintenance systems to enable products and systems to achieve near-zero breakdown performance. Since joining academia, Dr. Lee has been demonstrating strong leadership in building interdisciplinary research teams and fostering partnerships with a successful research portfolio. Under his leadership, the Center has attracted over $4M in funding since 2000.

Dr. Mingming Lu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering, both from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. She received her Ph.D. in 2000 from Georgia Institute of Technology, also in Environmental Engineering. Her research interests include submicron particle and PAH formation mechanisms from combustion processes including diesel, biodiesel, coal, and waste derived fuel, etc.; the compositional characterization of aerosols and gaseous pollutants from industrial, transportation and agricultural sources; development of novel carbon nanomaterials to remove highly toxic bioaccumulative air pollutants; and development of particulate control technologies.

Dr. Margaret Kupferle is Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as Director of the CEE Lab Hygiene and Safety. She received her Ph.D. in 2002 from the University of Cincinnati in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Kupferle’s research interests include biological and chemical remediation of wastewaters, leachates, soils and sediments; electrochemistry; sustainable urban engineering; drinking water distribution system biofilms; solid waste management; hazardous waste management; toxicity testing.

Dr. Vikram Kuppa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He received his Bachelor of Technology in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in 1999. He then received his M.S. from Penn State University, followed by his Ph.D. at MIT, where he also completed a Postdoctoral. Dr. Kuppa’s current research involves the use of computer simulations and experiments to investigate materials for plastic solar cells.

Dr. Makram Suidan is a Herman Schneider Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He also received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, both in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Suidan’s research interests include the fundamentals of adsorption of natural and synthetic organic chemicals on GAC; biological treatment of gas-phase organic chemicals in natural engineered systems; ultra filtration membranes in wastewater treatment, and the physical, chemical and biological remediation of contaminated soils, to name a few. Since joining the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Suidan has successfully managed over $80M of research contracts with Federal Agencies and the private sector, and is the author of three patents.

Lawrence Feist is the program chair for Efficiency and Renewable Energy at Cincinnati’s State’s Center for Innovative Technologies (CIT). Feist promotes the potential benefits of renewable energy that range from greater energy independence to reduced pollution to lower cost energy to jobs. He helped develop the first renewable energy major to win approval by the Ohio Board of Regents. Feist also chairs the Energy Task Force Team for the city of Cincinnati’s Climate Initiative Program, and serves as a board member for the Civic Garden Center.

Mr. David Brown earned a master’s in Workforce Development Education from Ohio State University where his studies focused on the needs of manufacturers and prescriptive solutions for workforce development gaps. As Dean of the Division of Information Technology & Engineering Technology, he manages 25 faculty and staff members who represent five academic and two non-credit departments. He has managed or been a primary collaborator in over ten state and national grants or appropriation distributions totaling over five million dollars. He is a visible leader with the West Central Ohio Manufacturing Consortium, Advanced Materials Commercialization Center, and Materials Deposition Center – efforts in or around the Lima area to improve manufacturing. Mr. Brown is a frequent presenter at local, regional and state events of all types to address workforce development topics specifically related to manufacturing. He has established an extensive network with business and industry throughout Economic Development Region 3 and is currently the Ohio Skills Bank Director for the Region.

Mr. James Dunlap is the Chair of the Allied Engineering Technology department in the Division of Information Technology & Engineering Technology at Rhodes State. He is responsible for all aspects of the Quality Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology and Environmental-Safety-Health degree programs. Mr. Dunlap serves on important decision-making committees at Rhodes State and is a frequent instructor for business and industry customized training. His previous experiences in manufacturing, as a Quality Control and Quality Assurance Manager, will help to ensure that this project maintains high standards of quality in all its phases. With a bachelor and master’s degree in biology/ecology, Mr. Dunlap possesses a unique skill set that will allow for robust design of experiments specifically employed for this project.

Luis A. Actis is Professor & Interim Chair of Microbiology at Miami University. His research interests include attachment to and formation of biofilms on abiotic and biotic surfaces. These are important steps in the process by which many pathogens survive and proliferate under the hostile conditions they normally find in their ecological niches. Actis’ other activities include the development and oversight of the Center or Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics and Summer Workshops on Bioinformatics and Genomics. Actis is also a member of the Steering Committee for the creation of the Center for Advanced Computational Research, the International Microbiology Education Committee, and the Editorial Boards of Infection and Immunity, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Dr. Annette Bollmann was appointed to Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Miami University in 2007. She received her M.S. in Biology from the University Hohenheim, Germany, in 1993, and her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Philipps-University, in Marburg, Germany, in 1996. Dr. Bollmann completed a Postdoctoral at NIOO-KNAW Center for Limnology, Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands, in the area of Microbial Ecology, from 1997-2001, as well as at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, from 2001-2003. Dr. Bollmann then worked as Senior Research Scientist at Northeastern University, in Microbiology from 2004-2007. Her research interests focus on the isolation, ecology, and physiology of difficult to culture bacteria with special emphasis on bacteria involved in environmentally important processes.

Dr. Gilbert Gordon has been a Research Professor Emeritus and Consultant at Miami University since 2003, as well as a Volwiler Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry from 1973-2003. He received his B.S. from Bradley University in 1955, his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1959, and completed his Postdoctoral at the University of Chicago in1959. Dr. Gordon’s other activities include research in dynamics of chemical reactions (Chemical Kinetics), reactions of Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorine, and Ozone, alternatives to Chlorine in water purification, and mechanisms of reactions of the Oxy-Halogen species.

Dr. Christopher Makaroff is Professor of Chemistry and Affiliate Professor of Botany at Miami University. Dr. Makaroff received his Ph.D. in 1986 from Purdue University. His areas of expertise include molecular and cellular biology of meiosis, chromosome structure, and chemical detoxification. His research interests include the utilization of modern biochemical, cellular and molecular techniques to investigate structure function relationships in proteins essential for cellular metabolism and chromosome function. Dr. Makaroff is especially interested in understanding processes involved in cellular division and chemical detoxification.

Dr. Rachael Morgan-Kiss was appointed to Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Miami University in 2007. She earned her B.S. in Biology in 1995 from the University of Victoria, and her Ph.D. in Plant Physiology in 2000 from the University of Western Ontario. Other professional preparation includes a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois in Microbiology, from 2001-2005, and work as a Research Associate from 2006-2007 at the University of Delaware in Microbiology. Her research interests include a focus on adaptation of microorganisms to their environments, in particular extremophilic photosynthetic life forms. In an attempt understand how an organism has adapted to fill its unique niche, her research program has an overarching goal to pursue questions that involve both natural populations of extremophilic photoautotrophs as well as isolated microbes grown under controlled laboratory conditions.

Dr. James T. Oris is a Professor of Zoology, the Zoology Graduate Program Director, and the Co-Director of the Center for Environmental Toxicology and Statistics. He is an environmental toxicologist with a primary interest in the fate, dynamics, and toxicity of trace organic contaminants in aquatic organisms. Dr. Oris' areas of research interest include the photochemistry and toxicology of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish, the molecular regulation of the cytochrome P-450 metabolizing system in fish, the fate and dynamics of sediment pollutants in fish and invertebrates, and the modeling and statistical analysis of toxicity dose-response relationships. Dr. Oris has received funding from the U.S. EPA, from NIEHS and from industrial sources to conduct research in these areas. In addition to toxicology research, he is involved in the development of multimedia materials for use in the environmental science classroom.

Dr. Gilbert E. Pacey is a professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Miami University, and Director of the Miami University Center for Nanotechnology. He received his B.A. in 1974 from Bradley University, and his Ph.D. in 1979 from Loyola University of Chicago. As leader of the Miami University Nanotechnology Initiative he helps to incorporate nanotechnology into the teaching and research at Miami University. The Presidential Academic Enhancement Award funds the initiative internally. This has lead to Miami’s inclusion in the $28 million Ohio Third Frontier Project in sensor development project, IDCAST. Own four patents and have started-up three companies.

Dr. Wolfgang Spendel is a Research Associate at Miami University. Dr. Spendel's research interests include nanomanufacturing, functional interfaces, sensors, and integrating nanotechnology with microbiological systems. Nanomaterials have shown us the properties of matter are dependent on size as well as composition. The goal of nanotechnology is to use the unique properties in the nano range - larger than atoms and molecules and smaller than bulk stuff properties.

Dr. Matthew Fields was appointed to Assistant Professor of Anaerobic Microbiology, Physiology and Ecology at Montana State University in 2007. He received his B.S. in 1993 from Western Kentucky University, his M.S. in 1995 from Mississippi State University, and his Ph.D. in 2001 from Cornell University. Dr. Fields’ current research in interested in environmental signals that are sensed by cells to mediate control over physiology and modes of growth. In particular, the genes used to sense environmental changes in response to biotic and a biotic parameters, and how microbial cells respond in order to optimize metabolism. He studies both monocultures and indigenous microbial communities to better understand the interrelationships between genomic content and phenotype at different levels of resolution and how these attributes contribute to stress and survival of biological cells. Within the contexts of cellular responses, he studies bacterial systems important for heavy metal bioremediation, metal corrosion, extemophilic lifestyles, and bio-energy.

Dr. David Bayless is a Loehr Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio University. He also serves as Director of the Ohio Coal Research Center and Director of the Robe Leadership Institute. Dr. Bayless received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla, his M.S. in Engineering Management at the University of Central Florida, and his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. His research interests focus on coal and biomass gasification via ultra-high temperature steam reforming, Fischer-Tropsch reforming of coal syngas adapting planar solid oxide fuel cells to use coal-derived syngas, hot gas particulate clean-up, membrane-based wet electrostatic precipitation for particulate and mercury control, development of photobioreactors for remediation of CO2 emissions, using microalgae for development of biofuels, membrane-based wet electrostatic precipitation for particulate control.

Guy Riefler is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at Ohio University where he teaches fourteen different classes focused on fluid mechanics, water treatment, water chemistry, and bioremediation. Guy leads a variety of research projects at Ohio University investigating remediation of pollutants in the environment. Recent projects include production of biofuels from algae, performance testing of a vegetated biofilter for the treatment of stormwater, innovative treatment options for acid mine drainage, identification of the microbial communities in wetlands by terminal restriction fragment polymorphism and clone libraries, sediment transport in streams impacted by surface mining, iron nanoparticles for the treatment of groundwater pollutants, and phytoremediation of explosives in soil.

Dr. Ben Stuart is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Ohio University. He also serves as Associate Director of the Ohio Coal Research Center, which is located in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University. Dr. Stuart received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in 1990, 1993, and 1995 from the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He is a registered professional environmental engineer in the State of Ohio. Dr. Stuart's research has investigated a variety of issues related to energy and the environment. Recent research projects include; biodiesel production from renewable feedstocks, CO2 capture using a novel photo-bioreactor, biomass gasification for use as a fuel cell feedstock, wet ESPs for air toxics control, the impacts and abatement of acid mine drainage (AMD) and sediment loads in Southeastern Ohio watersheds, and the utilization of constructed wetlands and coal combustion by-products for AMD treatment and/or abatement. Past projects have included characterization and utilization of air pollution control residuals from municipal waste combustion, as well as the fate and transport of microbes and recalcitrant organic contaminants in subsurface environments.

Dr. Eric T. Baumgartner became the Dean of Ohio Northern University’s College of Engineering and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in July 2006 and came to ONU after spending 10 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, where he held a number of technical and management positions. Prior to joining JPL, Dr. Baumgartner was a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics Department at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. He also held a visiting lecturer position at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and the UCLA Extension Program. At JPL, Dr. Baumgartner served as the Supervisor of the Mechanical and Robotic Technologies Group and as the Project Element Manager of the robotic sample acquisition and processing hardware for the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission. Dr. Baumgartner also served on the team responsible for the design, development and operation of the highly successful Mars Exploration Rover (MER) spacecraft, Spirit and Opportunity. In 2004, Dr. Baumgartner was honored with the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for his efforts on the MER project. In May, Dr. Baumgartner, along with two of his colleagues at JPL, was presented with the 2008 IEEE Robotics and Automation Award.

Dr. Robert G. Verb graduated from The University of Findlay in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and environmental and hazardous materials management. He earned a doctorate in biological sciences/environmental and plant biology from Ohio University in 2001. His dissertation was “Comparisons of Algal Diversity among Polluted, Restored, and Non-Polluted Streams in Southeastern Ohio.” Dr. Verb serves as associate professor of Biological and Allied Health Sciences at Ohio Northern University. He instructs a variety of plant and field/ecology based courses. He also has experience as a consultant in the environmental field identifying and enumerating algae for various companies and institutes throughout the region. Dr. Verb’s personal research has primarily involved work with algae as biological indicators of pollutants and algal colonies of temporary habitats. He has co-authored a number of articles that have been published in referred journals.

Dr. Stephen Myers is the Center Director for the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC). Dr. Myers leads the OBIC’s effort to expand Ohio’s high-tech research capabilities and promote agricultural innovation by building on the strength of two of Ohio’s largest industries, agriculture and the chemicals, plastics and rubber materials sector. This unique venture is designed to link genetics, biotechnology, chemical conversion and the production of and commercialization of value-added bio-products. The Center was funded in 2005 by the Ohio Department of Development through an $11.5 million Wright Center of Innovation (Third Frontier) award, leveraged with matching funds from external partners. The Center was created to accelerate commercialization and increase jobs and economic growth and stability.

Dr. Floyd Schanbacher is a professor of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University. He received his B.S. in 1964 from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in 1967 and 1970, respectively. Dr. Schanbacher has turned from a biochemist interested in cow development and milk-production quality into a bio-energy expert. He is the lead researcher of a Third Frontier-funded endeavor, the Biomass-to-Energy Project, based on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center's (OARDC) Wooster campus. With this project, Dr. Schanbacher seeks to turn Ohio's abundant agricultural and food-processing wastes into something we are all increasingly looking for: clean, renewable, domestic sources of energy. Dr. Schanbacher is doing this by applying the knowledge he has amassed in his more than 30-year career by using man-made bio-digesters that can turn large amounts of biomass into methane.

Dr. Yebo Li has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food, Agriculture and Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University since 2007. He received his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Shandong University of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from China Agricultural University. Dr. Li’s research interests include the development of value-added products from agro-based systems; development of biorefinery process for production of fuels, chemicals, polymers and materials from lignocellulosic biomass; development of renewable energy systems; and food and bioprocess engineering.

Steven Slack is the Associate Vice President for Ag Admin, as well as the Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). The OARDC is an outstanding research center that brings knowledge to life with top scientists and facilities to make a difference in the world around us. The mission of the OARDC is to enhance the well being of the people of Ohio, the nation and world through research on foods, agriculture, family and the environment. OARDC's research has an economic impact by bringing significant dollars and jobs into Ohio's economy.

Dr. Yong X. Gan has been Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Toledo since 2007. He received his B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Hunan University in Changsha, China, his M.S. in Materials Engineering from Beijing University Aero. Astro, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Dr. Gan’s research interests include materials, mechanics, manufacturing, energy conversion and mechanical design.

Dr. Jack Bantle is the Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies at Wright State University, and serves on the BioOhio Board. BioOhio helps Ohio-based bioscience-related organizations connect with the community to accelerate bioscience discovery, innovation, and commercialization of global value, driving economic growth and improved quality of life in Ohio. Prior to Dr. Bantle’s position at Wright State in 2007, he had provided strong leadership as the Vice President of Research at Ohio University since August 1999.