Purdue Chemical Engineering Professor Jeffrey Greeley and his research group are aiming to reduce the costs of electric vehicle fuel cells by cutting down on the amount of platinum in the fuel cell electrodes. Their new method evaluates how much metal would be required for fuel cell electrodes. The technique uses the forces on a metal's surface to identify the ideal electrode thickness. Their study, published in the February 22 issue of the journal Science, is a collaborative effort between Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, and the University of California at Irvine.

Dr. Jennifer Sinclair Curtis (BSChE '83) was among a group of seven honored on Thursday, February 21, as 2019 Distinguished Engineering Alumni. The award is presented annually to Purdue Engineering graduates who have distinguished themselves in any field in ways that reflect favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession, and society in general.

Six faculty from the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering were recently honored at the 2019 Purdue University Inventor's Recognition Reception for inventions patented during the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Rakesh Agrawal, Ronald P. Andres, William Nicholas Delgass, Fabio H. Ribeiro, Arvind Varma, and You-Yeon Won were recognized at the February 6 event.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering Professor Linda Wang is leading a research team that is developing technology to transform the world's polyolefin waste, a form of plastic, into useful products, such as clean fuels and other items. Dr. Wang, the Maxine Spencer Nichols Professor of Chemical Engineering, and her research team are utilizing the strategy to create a driving force for recycling by converting these wastes into a wide range of valuable products, including polymers, naphtha (a mixture of hydrocarbons), or clean fuels.

Two Purdue Chemical Engineering alumni were recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and will be formally inducted at a ceremony on October 6, 2019. Dr. Jefferson Lievense (PhD '84, OChE '14), senior adviser to the chief executive officer, bioengineering and technology at Genomatica Inc. in San Diego, CA, was cited for leadership in biomanufacturing of sustainable chemicals. Dr. Robert Scott (PhD '98), vice president, technology transfer, surgical research and development at Alcon in Lake Forest, CA, was cited for contributions in ophthalmological biomaterials for intraocular lenses, glaucoma implants, and surgical equipment.