I, Wayne Curtis, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Penn State, am actively seeking exceptional senior undergraduate students looking to pursue their PhD in Chemical Engineering in the 2017-18 academic year for a Gates Foundation Project on African Food Security.
For a brief introduction to the project, read HERE. In brief, the project is based upon continued development of a novel, low-cost bioreactor design in tandem with molecular techniques to enhance propagation of orphan crops (e.g. banana, cassava/tapioca, and yam) for improved food and economic security in Africa. For more details on the project, read HERE.
Because the grant and the work for this project have already begun, I am eager to directly admit (i.e. bypass traditional recruiting process) a graduate student to my lab, such that one would actively enroll/begin research starting Summer 2017. For more about the Penn State graduate program, visit HERE. For an overview of the breadth of my research, visit HERE. For more about working in my lab and/or to supply your resume, visit HERE.
I will be at AIChE throughout the week; arriving 11th; co-chairing a session on Thursday 17th; judging poster competitions; attending recruiting events & socials; tossing a frisbee; leading day/night hikes, etc. Feel free to track me down and/or e-mail directly at biomole360@gmail.com with the subject "AIChE SF16" (easier to filter). Feel free to also contact me with more general inquiries; I've been a Penn State faculty member for 28 years, an AIChE advisor for 20+ years, and have done research spanning the gamut from genetic & metabolic engineering to cellulosic and algae biofuels to bioremediation to plant propagation and beyond!
Minimum Qualifications:
- 3.5 GPA or higher
- Undergraduate Research Experience
- Ability to work with an intense group including passionate undergraduate researchers
- Passion for using ChE to solve big, real world problems
Preferences:
- Some molecular/ biology experience (e.g. cloning, PCR, tissue culture)
- Demonstrated autonomy in laboratory
- Leadership & Mentoring skills
NOTE: Studies have shown that while men will apply to positions for which they hold ~60% of the desired skills/traits, women will apply to only those for which they hold 100%.
------------------------------
Wayne Curtis
Professor of Chemical Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA
www.curtislab.org
@curtislabtweets
------------------------------