Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Alumni News
Steven Chalk (B.S. '83) was featured as the Washington Post's "Federal Player of the Week" on November 16. 2009. Chalk, the Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the Department of Energy (DOE), is responsible for managing many of the billions of dollars in stimulus funds issued to the Department of Energy by Congress. The article profiles Chalk's career, as well as his past and current efforts to support and improve renewable energy solutions and energy conservation. The article profiles Chalk's career and efforts in the fields of renewable energy and energy conservation. Read the Article »
Nickolas B. Pippen (B.S. '05) passed away on August 13, after a struggle with myelogenous leukemia. He was 26. While attending Maryland, Pippen, who was known for his generosity and interest in using his skills to contribute to society, was a member of Engineers Without Borders. He traveled to Ecuador and Honduras with the group, and also raised funds for the organization. Reporter Frederick N. Rasmussen's thoughtful obituary for Pippen, including stories of his life and career, can be found on the Baltimore Sun web site.
Chan-Mo Park (M.S. '64, Ph.D. '69) has been appointed president of the newly-established National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), an organization similar to the United States' National Science Foundation (NSF).
Thomas Kooken (B.S. '66), a retired plant designer and manager, presented a talk on the history of Westernport, Md., covering its founding in 1795 to 1840. Kooken's family has lived in the town for more than 140 years. His talk combined oral history, research, and his own family genealogy.
Hsu-Wei Fang (M.S. '96, Ph.D. '03) has been promoted to the rank of professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) in Taiwan, effective August 1, 2009. This year Fang was also awarded the Mr. Wu, Da-Yo Memorial Award from the National Science Council of Taiwan, which recognizes the outstanding young researchers. Fang has published more than 40 journal papers and has received more than $1.2 million in grants in the past six years. Fang's research includes biomaterials, biomedical engineering, stem cell and tissue engineering, surface engineering, and commercialization-oriented medical device research. Since February 2008, Fang has also served as the director of the Innovation and Incubation Center at NTUT. In addition to his regular research activities, Fang has devoted himself to promoting interdisciplinary research to guide the outcomes of successful products.
Karen Rose (B.S. '86) is the best-selling author of 11 romantic crime/thriller novels. According to her web site, Rose began writing while working as an engineer in Ohio for what she describes as a "large consumer goods company": "The scenes were rolling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job," she writes, "so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and then I was hooked." She published her first book in 2003. She and her husband Martin (B.S. '86, Psychology) currently live in Florida. You can learn more about her novels at her web site, www.karenrosebooks.com.
John A. Gurklis, Ph.D., P.E. (B.S. '43), 87, passed away April 16, 2009. Gurklis also held a M.S. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He was a registered Professional Engineer who had a 40-year research and development career at the Battelle Memorial Institute. Gurklis was also a veteran of WWII.
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