Schoenborn Research Symposium

The Schoenborn Research Symposium is a showcase for the talent and accomplishments of our graduate and undergraduate student researchers, featuring formal talks and poster presentations. The Symposium is divided into two sections.

During the first section, senior-level PhD candidates make formal presentations about their research and the associated results. During the second section, mid-level PhD students and a few exceptional undergraduates make informal poster presentations about their research.

We gratefully acknowledge a gift from Linde for logistical support of the symposium. We also gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Edward M. Schoenborn Graduate Student Fund endowment, established by Russ and Susie O’Dell, which funds the monetary prize for oral and poster award winners.

The Schoenborn Legacy

schoenborn1Dr. Edward M. Schoenborn, Jr. was a key leader in transforming the character of the (then) Department of Chemical Engineering. After completing his degrees in chemical engineering at The Ohio State University, he became well known throughout the chemical engineering community for his work with Dr. Allan Colburn at the University of Delaware.

In 1945 Dr. Schoenborn joined the department as its head. Early in his headship he oversaw two major educational milestones: in 1948 the undergraduate program was accredited for the first time by the Engineer’s Council for Professional Development (ECPD) and the AIChE; and in 1949 the Ph.D. program was established.

In 1966, Dr. Schoenborn ended his tenure as department head and was named the Charles H. Herty Professor of Chemical Engineering. He became an AIChE Fellow in 1973, and retired from the university in 1974. The Schoenborn Graduate Research Symposium and Exhibition is an on-going tribute to his longstanding service to our department.

The daylong symposium features oral presentations by Ph.D. candidates, and poster presentations by mid-level students. Oral presentations are judged by a faculty jury, while the poster presentations are judged by attending graduate students. Programs from previous years’ symposia can be accessed in the symposium archive.

Representatives from industry, government, and academia attend the Symposium, and all interested parties are welcome.

Dr. Schoenborn’s contributions to the department are also recognized by the Edward M. Schoenborn Graduate Student Award, which was originally funded by the Eastern North Carolina Section of the AIChE, working in concert with several department faculty members. The Edward M. Schoenborn Graduate Student Fund, established by Russ and Susie O’Dell, presently funds the cash prize given to oral and poster award winners at the symposium.

September 2021 Symposium Photos

Grad Student Oral Presentation: James Crosby

Dr. Sindee Simon (L), CBE Department Head and Ms. Begum Yagci (R), Linde Exceptional Teaching Assistant Award Winner

Grad Student Oral Presentation: Victoria Karakis

Sooik Im (L) and Zviko Machikiti (R) at the poster session

Lilian Okello (L) and Mariam Sohail (R) at the poster session

Fazel Bateni (L) and Lucille Verster (R) at the poster session

Himendra Perera at the poster session

Van Nguyen (L) and Rony Waheibi (R) at the poster session

Prof. Saad Khan introducing virtual Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ahmed Abdala, Texas A&M University at Qatar