Stories

Dr. Scott Rudge, Principal, CMC Development, Syner-G BioPharma Group

"Working with LORRE and Mike Ladisch has been a livelong learning experience for me. After I earned my PhD in 1989, Mike made the introduction for my first job, with NIST in Boulder, CO. I continued an aspect of my PhD research as a scientist at NIST and collaborated with Mike during the process, spending a week back in the lab at one point. I went on to work in the expanding biotechnology industry, and frequently reached back to LORRE, and LORRE colleagues for support with technology and career advice. My best friends in life have been people I met during my short time at Purdue and that has meant the world to me. In the last twenty years, I started and grew my own consulting business, serving biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. I reached out to Mike Ladisch yet again and co-authored several papers that have received quite a lot of attention and helped to bolster my business and credentials. I'm now trying to pay back in any small way I can, by being part of the future of LORRE and continuing to be a resource for the lab and the students."

–Dr. Scott Rudge, Principal, CMC Development, Syner-G BioPharma Group

Applied research and open collaboration

“I first learned about LORRE when I was looking through positions aligned with the national science and technology council in Mexico (CONACyT). As a biotech engineer, I really connected by the scope of LORRE on applied research on renewable resources, and after meeting with Dr. Mosier, I knew it was going to be a great change, so I joined the lab in January 2018 for my master's degree and continued Ph.D. in ABE.  I had never visited Purdue or Indiana, and joining in the spring was complicated, but all the members of the lab made me feel welcome and helped me adjust to day-to-day activities and school responsibilities.  After my journey at LORRE, I really appreciate the sense of open collaboration we have created, and although we are doing different research or come from different parts of the world, the kindness and support we get from each other and the faculty is great.”

–Elena Robles.

Renewable energy and Bioenergy research

“I was looking forward to an opportunity in renewable energy and materials after I finished my master's degree in the Institute of Process Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing with the topic of gasification of coal. Dr. Bernard Tao, a professor in ABE Department at Purdue University, gave me the opportunity to work in the biodiesel field, and Dr. Ladisch was one of my committee members. I worked in the bioenergy industry for about 4 years after graduation from ABE. I was hired by ABE Department to teach two undergraduate courses in 2022: ABE 202 Thermodynamics in Biological System II and ABE 301 Modeling and Computational Tools in Biological Engineering. Then, I became a postdoc to work with Dr. Mosier on biofuel and biomaterials from oils. LORRE is a great place for people to do research in bioenergy and bioprocess and significantly influences the bioindustry since it was established.”

–Dr. Junli Liu

Continuous growth and Pursuit of passion

“From industry professional to aspiring researcher, my journey has been one of continuous growth and unwavering passion. With a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of America in Bogota Colombia, I honed my skills and expertise during a remarkable 15-year tenure as a production and R&D lab manager. It was during a visit to the United States, where I had the fortune of connecting with Dr. Ladisch, my sister's advisor, that doors to new possibilities opened. Joining LORRE, part of the #1 Agricultural and Biological Engineering programs in the US, marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in my academic pursuit. Starting my master's journey in the spring of 2022, I am now on the verge of completing this milestone, brimming with anticipation to continue my voyage with a Ph.D. in biomass conversion. My story is a testament to the transformative power of seizing opportunities, and I am thrilled to forge ahead, dedicated to making meaningful contributions in the world of biomass conversion in sustainable and profitable products research.”

–Jorge Ramirez

Scientific pursuits and Cultural heritage

“I became acquainted with the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE) during my undergraduate years when my professor and a senior student joined the lab as visiting scholars. In 2015 and 2017, when Dr. Ladisch and Dr. Mosier respectively visited my undergraduate school, I had the privilege to meet them in person. Their expertise and accomplishments have made them excellent role models, inspiring me to pursue a path in the field and ultimately join the laboratory.

I was born in Shangqiu, a city located in eastern Henan province, Central China. This city boasts a rich history and abundant cultural heritage. In 2016, I earned my bachelor's degree in Engineering from China Agricultural University. Subsequently, I pursued dual Master's degrees, specializing in Applied Mechatronic Engineering from Harper Adams University in the UK, and Agricultural Engineering from China Agricultural University, both of which I completed in 2019. In 2020, I embarked on my Ph.D. journey at Purdue University under the guidance of Professor Nathan Mosier. My research focuses on biomass characterization, processing, and enzymatic conversion. Alongside my scientific pursuits, I have a passion for savoring good food, traveling, and engaging in sports”.
– Xueli Chen

Sustainability and Diversity

"During my Ph.D., I was seeking an international laboratory that would align with my research and personal interests focused on building a world based on sustainability. When I first heard about LORRE, I was very impressed with their research as they find new ways and ideas for manufacturing low-carbon footprint bioproducts. I was a proud Ph.D. student from the University of Brasilia, located in Brasilia (Brazil), heading to LORRE to do part of my Ph.D. research as a visiting scholar from September 2021 to March 2022. I appreciate my time at Purdue University, as it was an incredible experience that brought me a lot of learning, good times, friends, and joy. The team led by Dr. Ladisch is enriched with people from all over the world. This diversity contributed to a great environment resulting in collaborative discussions and a dedicated team that worked together. I loved working in the lab, but I also loved the city, the Purdue activities (like sledding the Purdue hills in the winter), the weather, and especially the snow. I am grateful for all the great memories, it was rewarding personally and professionally. "

–Dr. Luana Serra

Bioenergy and research collaboration

"I am an undergraduate student at ABE. During my sophomore year, I was very lucky to meet Dr. Ladisch and had a tour of LORRE Lab during ABE welcome back event. Because of this opportunity, I can make connections with LORRE lab. LORRE lab focusing on bioenergy and biomass aligns with my interests. Especially after listening to Dr. Ladischs speech, I felt this is the place where I can learn new knowledge and practice what I knew already. Therefore, I joined LORRE in summer 2023. Engaging in LORRE, I met amiable mentors and colleagues and sensed their cordiality of research. It is my pleasure to work in LORRE with everyone. "

–Zhujin Xia

Renewable energy and collaborative support

"I came to LORRE in August 2018 as a master's student and remained for a PhD following my BS in chemical engineering at Brigham Young University because of my interest in renewable energy. The exceptional faculty, staff, and students in LORRE encouraged and facilitated my research in anaerobic digestion, and their support and expertise helped me receive an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. LORRE connections also facilitated multiple collaborations with industrial partners. As a result of those partnerships and the flexibility of my fellowship, I have since had amazing opportunities to present my research at the ASABE Annual International Meeting and become principal investigator of a graduate student grant from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. This grant also gave me the ability to mentor 12 undergraduate research assistants, allowing me to pass on some of the skills and knowledge that I have gained by working in LORRE."

–Jennifer Rackliffe

Biomass research and Cross-disciplinary exploration

"I am from Tripura (A state in India). I did my Bachelors from BIT Mesra and Masters from IIT Kharagpur in India. I decided to pursue my PhD from the US and applied to a bunch of universities and as we already know ABE is #1 in the US so Purdue was one of my top schools. I was always interested in working in biomass conversion so while exploring more about ABE at Purdue, I came across LORRE and the research done at LORRE aligned with my interest. I joined in August 2021 as a PhD student under Dr. Ladisch. The most enjoyable thing about LORRE is that we have diverse projects and we are able to work on them depending on our interests so even though I joined the lab to work on biomass, I shifted my focus to health because of my background in Biotechnology. Most important aspect is the help I received from the people in the lab when I shifted from biomass to health. Recent news: I received a fully sponsored acceptance to BIOPRO World Talent Campus in Denmark that will be held in September of this year. It is a one week workshop in biotech manufacturing sponsored by Novo Nordisk Foundation and BIOPRO."

–Riya Debbarma

Sustainability and collaboration

"I had always had an interest in sustainability and knew I wanted to go to graduate school. Working in LORRE was a great opportunity for me to gain practical lab experience while also working on a project with an environmental focus and learn about how sustainability can be implemented in unexpected ways. While I am initially from St. Charles, Illinois, I did my undergraduate degree in ABE here at Purdue University. I have been working in LORRE since the summer of 2022, and I’m continuing to work with the lab as I start graduate school. The most enjoyable aspect of working in LORRE has been the collaborative environment. Everyone in the lab has helped me with my project at some point, either by introducing me to new equipment, advising me on ways to improve my methods, or by discussing my results. The collaboration within the lab has been the highlight of my LORRE experience and one of the things encouraged me to attend graduate school. During my time at Purdue and in the lab, I have engaged in competitive ballroom dance and Muay Thai as ways to keep my body active as well as my mind."

–Emily Aicher