51.

Clemson University South Carolina | Clemson

#56 in North America #180 in the World
Acceptance Rate 49%
Average SAT 1320
Average ACT 30
Receiving Aid 87%

Fueling Innovation

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Clemson is known for providing
research opportunities that encourage interaction between students and faculty. We pride
ourselves on creating an open environment that allows exploration and hands-on learning. Our
department aspires to foster an environment of diversity and inclusion that fuels innovation and
celebrates the uniqueness of our students.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs leading to a B.S.,
M.S., or Ph.D. degree. Faculty specializations include biotechnology, polymers, nanoscience,
sustainability, catalysis and molecular simulation. Both Undergraduate and Graduate students
participate in hands-on research.

Student organizations include the Society of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE),
the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Organization (CEGSO), as well as specific interest
engineering groups.

Ph.D. Program
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers a Ph.D. program where
students develop a rigorous fundamental science base and an insight into engineering
applications. The department has strong research programs that cover the spectrum from
fundamental to applied and are usually highly interdisciplinary. Students with degrees in
engineering or science often bring unique strengths and valuable insight to research. A Ph.D. in
chemical engineering prepares students to pursue a career in academia, industrial research, and
governmental research.

Graduate Research Areas

 Chemicals
 Polymers
 Pharmaceuticals
 Electronic Components
 Consumer Goods
 Petroleum Products

Qualified students may enter the Ph.D. program directly after completing their B.S.
degree (direct entry) or receiving an M.S. degree. Full-time Ph.D. students will receive a
competitive stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance.

ChBE Program Curriculum

Qualified students may enter the Ph.D. program directly after completing their B.S. degree or
after receiving an M.S. degree. Full-time Ph.D. students will receive a competitive stipend,
tuition remission, and health insurance.

You must also complete at least 30 credit hours of research under the supervision of one of our
outstanding faculty mentors. Ph.D. students will perform cutting-edge research in of the
departments’ research areas. The research interests of our faculty are distributed from the
purely theoretical to the deeply translational and applied, from the fully experimental wet lab to
the completely computational dry lab, and everything in between.

As a Ph.D. student, you will need to pass CHE 8030, 8040, and 8050 with a minimum grade of
B, maintain good academic standing, pass a written proposal, pass an oral Ph.D. comprehensive
exam, and defend a research-based dissertation.

Required Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering requires 30 credit hours in courses numbered 6000 or
above that include:

 24 credit hours of courses required for the M.S. (Thesis) in Chemical Engineering degree
 6 credit hours of courses numbered 8000 or above taken at Clemson
For students entering the Ph.D. program with non-chemical engineering B.S. degrees, the
following courses are also required (some requirements may be waived based on B.S. degree;
additional requirements may apply):
  CHE 2110 - Mass and Energy Balances (3)
 CHE 2200 - Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3)
 CHE 2300 - Fluids/Heat Transfer (3)
 CHE 3300 - Mass Transfer/Separations (3)
 CHE 4500 - Chemical Reaction Engineering (3)
The written proposal is a 2-page NSF-style document that describes your broad research plan.
The oral comprehensive exam consists of a more thorough presentation based on your research
project. Normally this exam is scheduled in the Fall of your second year. Your final requirement
as a Ph.D. student is the oral defense of your dissertation.

Applying to the ChBE Program

Degree Prerequisites
Although most students entering the Ph.D. program have a B.S. degree in Chemical
Engineering, students with B.S. degrees in chemistry, physics, or other related branches of
science and engineering are encouraged to apply and are considered fully for admission.
Special programs are available to facilitate a transition from B.S. degrees other than Chemical
Engineering. Students can enter the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering directly after
completing a B.S. degree.

Required Documents
 Online Application
 Unofficial Transcripts - Official Transcripts required upon acceptance. Do not send
official transcripts until you have received your letter of acceptance.
 Letters of Recommendation

How to Apply
To apply for Clemson’s graduate programs in chemical and biomolecular engineering, you must
submit an application, at least two letters of recommendation from faculty members or work
supervisors, and unofficial transcripts of all college work - official transcripts are required after
acceptance. Students who completed a B.S. or M.S. degree in the US are not required to submit
TOEFL scores.

Applicants are accepted at any time, but to be considered for all financial aid possibilities,
you should apply by early January for the Fall semester or early September for the Spring
semester.

Information on deadlines and financial aid can be found on our Graduate Admissions FAQ.

Supporting Materials

For most graduate programs the items described below are all that are required for your
application to be considered complete. However, some programs request additional
supplementary materials such as a specialized personal statement, resume, thesis, portfolio, etc.,
to help them evaluate your application. Please be sure to check with your program area to be
sure you’ve supplied all the necessary support materials.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Unless your program specifies otherwise, the personal statement section will ask you to address
the following:

Please articulate your career goals and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at
Clemson University in your chosen field of study.

You can upload a prepared statement of purpose directly into the application. As you get started,
check out this Personal Statement handout (PDF) from Clemson’s Center for Career and
Professional Development.

RESUME/CV

You can upload a digital-file resume/CV directly into the application.

Sample resumes and helpful tips can be found on Clemson's Center for Career and Professional
Development Page:

 CV packet (PDF)
 Master’s Resume (PDF)
 Ph.D. Resume (PDF)
 Veteran Resume (PDF)
Admissions FAQs

Graduate research assistantships are available to qualified Ph.D. applicants. All full-time Ph.D.
students in chemical engineering receive financial assistance to defray living expenses. Tuition
also is covered. Ph.D. students with graduate research assistantships work on funded research
projects related to their dissertation.

Assistantships offered to new students are set at competitive rates each year and are paid bi-
monthly on a 12-month basis. Offers of financial aid for each new academic year start by the
end of February, and offers are made as long as funds are available. Apply by January 15 to
ensure full consideration in the awards process.

Presently, students admitted to the M.S. program do not receive financial aid.

 What is the application deadline?

Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so we technically have no deadline. We
do encourage applicants to submit applications before our January 15 Priority
Deadline. Applications received after January 15 are considered based on availability.

 What are the minimum GRE, GPA, TOEFL scores needed?

Our department no longer requires the GRE as a part of our application.

 Will I receive financial aid?

Presently, all students admitted into the Ph.D. program receive financial support that
includes a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance. The stipend in FY 2018-2019
was $26,000.

Additional scholarships and fellowships are offered to outstanding applicants before enrolling in
the Ph.D. program. The graduate studies committee identifies and nominates these applicants to
the Department, College, and Graduate School for competitive enhancements, typically between
$2,000-5,000 per year in addition to the general stipend.

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents that are accepted may apply for a Graduate Assistance
in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship. The GAANN Fellowship is a prestigious award
that prepares Ph.D. students to become leaders in education and research in the broad area of
Molecular Engineering in Sustainability and Health. GAANN Fellows participate in a
supervised teaching experience and receive a stipend of up to $34,000 per year. Visit
our GAANN Fellows webpage for more information or to apply.

Is health insurance provided?

Health insurance is required for all full-time, on-campus graduate students. Full-time Ph.D.
students will be offered the benefit of employer-provided health insurance. Students covered on
another plan can opt out.

The research interests of our faculty range from theoretical to translational and applied, from
the experimental wet lab to the computational dry lab and everything in between. The activities
of the research groups in these areas encompass most of the traditional branches of chemical
engineering as well as several of the newer areas, such as advanced materials, bioengineering,
bioseparations, visual process modeling, and molecular simulation. Because Chemical
Engineering occupies all of Earle Hall, students and faculty can go readily from the classroom
to the lab. This allows many students to work alongside faculty in research and computational
labs easily.

FOCUS AREAS
The Research Cluster descriptions provide a glimpse into the department's cutting-edge
exploration, with boundaries constantly blurred and highly overlapping between focus areas.
This research is performed not just by our faculty but by our undergraduates, M.S. candidates,
and doctoral students.

 Biotechnology and Biomedical Science

Unraveling how combinations of drugs can be used to more effectively treat cancer; using
biological systems to manufacture chemicals and drugs more sustainably and economically;
treating diseases through innovative materials for drug delivery; modeling the molecular
dynamics of viruses infecting cells; reducing the cost of biopharmaceutical manufacturing
through novel bioreactor control and continuous separation processes. These are just a few
of the challenges our faculty in the Biotechnology and Biomedical Science Research Cluster
address using Chemical Engineering principles. Research projects are supported by NIH,
NSF, DoD, NASA, and various industrial sponsors. Graduates are highly sought and have
found employment in major biopharmaceutical companies, startup biotech companies,
national labs, and academia.

Faculty:
Marc Birtwistle
Sarah Harcum
Scott Husson
Jessica Larsen

 Advanced Materials, Polymers and Nanoscience

Polymers and advanced functional materials are ubiquitous in contemporary fields such as
energy storage and transport, water purification, and drug delivery. Here at Clemson, the
faculty in the Advanced Materials, Polymers, and Nanoscience Research Cluster are working on
a myriad of topics, including the development of low-cost carbon fibers for the automotive
industry from sustainable sources such as lignin, advanced polymer membranes for water
desalination, and radionucleotide detection, next-generation material replacements from green
chemistry processes like cellulose nanomaterials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS),
nanocomposites for reduced cost and improved lifetime energy storage, and brain-penetrating
nanomaterials that deliver enzyme therapeutics for treating neurodegenerative disease and
brain tumors. Research projects in the cluster are supported by NSF, DoD, and DOE. Graduates
have ample employment opportunities across academia and industry.

Faculty:
Ana Alba-Rubio
Eric Davis
Scott Husson
Jessica Larsen
Amod Ogale
Mark Thies
Ming Yang

 Energy and Sustainability

The world population is increasing towards what many propose is near capacity, while the
supply of natural resources traditionally used to support this population is ever decreasing.
In many cases, it has a detrimental environmental impact. The Energy and Sustainability
Research Cluster faculty are at the forefront of research efforts to facilitate this necessary
global transition as seamlessly as possible. For example, projects here are creating novel
chemical processes to convert the next-to-unusable 1.3 billion tons of U.S. lignin biomass
into valuable feedstocks, novel polymer-based energy storage and battery solutions for
dealing with intermittent renewable sources, new sustainable materials for energy-efficient
housing, and lightweight wind turbine blades, and intelligent algorithms and delivery
infrastructure designs that are robust to the vast amount of uncertainty in and complex
dynamic behavior of wind and solar energy sources. The NSF and DOE currently fund such
projects, and graduates are employed in a wide array of careers in environmental and
chemical engineering science.

Faculty:
Ana Alba-Rubio

Ana C. Alba-Rubio, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Ph.D., Autonomous University of Madrid

Office: 207A Earle Hall

Phone: 864-656-0290
Email: aalbaru@clemson.edu
Website: Alba-Rubio Group
Twitter: @AlbaRubio_group

Research Interests
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Nanomaterials
Rational Design and Synthesis
Control of Catalyst Deactivation
Sustainable Processes

Overview

Education
Ph.D., Autonomous University of Madrid
B.S., University of Malaga

Research Interests
Prof. Alba-Rubio’s research focuses on the rational design and synthesis of nanomaterials for
catalysis and sensing applications. We are especially interested in producing fuels and materials
sustainably and developing technologies to improve the human condition. Specific examples
include:
 1. Development of dual-function materials for CO2 capture and conversion into methanol and
higher alcohols.
2. Development of soluble and reusable polymer (and hybrid) catalysts for HMF and levulinic
acid production from glucose.
3. Control of catalyst deactivation via encapsulation using wet chemical methods.
4. Development of nanocomposites for the detection of hydroxyl free radicals and
formaldehyde.

WELCOME TO THE ALBA-RUBIO GROUP!

Our research focuses on the rational design and synthesis of nanomaterials for catalysis and
sensing applications. We are especially interested in producing fuels and materials sustainably
and developing technologies to improve the human condition.

Some our projects include:

1. Development of dual-function materials for CO2 capture and conversion into methanol and
higher alcohols.
2. Development of soluble and reusable polymer (and hybrid) catalysts for HMF and levulinic acid
production from glucose.
3. Control of catalyst deactivation via encapsulation using wet chemical methods.
4. Development of nanocomposites for the detection of hydroxyl free radicals.

RESEARCH
Dual-Function Materials for CO2 Capture and Conversion into Methanol and Higher
Alcohols
The goal of this project is to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate materials capable of both
capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) and catalyzing its conversion to value-added chemicals.
Specifically, capture and conversion at the exhaust of combustion sources (e.g., flue gas at
power plants) is an attractive option for CO2 valorization due to its simultaneous economic and
environmental benefits. To achieve more efficient CO2 conversion, the project will design novel
materials that locate the sorbent and catalytic components in close proximity at the nanoscale.
This dual-function approach can potentially replace existing multi-step processes that are more
energy intensive and require corrosive CO2 capture and storage technologies.

This project will advance the understanding of mechanisms involved in one-pot concentration,
capture, and catalytic conversion of CO2 to methanol and other value-added products, a
strategic goal for sustainable reduction of CO2 release to the atmosphere.
Soluble and Reusable Polymer-Based Catalysts for the One-Pot Synthesis of HMF or
Levulinic Acid from Glucose
The goal of this project is to develop soluble and reusable polymer-based catalysts with
Brønsted and Lewis acid sites for the one-pot synthesis of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) or
levulinic acid from glucose. Being soluble makes the catalyst very active because the reactants
are easily accessible to all active sites. In addition, deactivation through coking is avoided
because there is no physical surface for carbonaceous species to be deposited. On the other
hand, the catalyst can be easily recoverable by ultrafiltration and be reused due to its high
molecular weight.

HMF is primarily produced as a platform molecule to be converted into other value-added

products. One of the most important is 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is a precursor
of a renewable plastic called polyethylene furanoate (PEF), and has been proposed as a
replacement for terephthalic acid in the production of polyesters. Likewise, the increasing use of
levulinic acid in different applications, such as plastics, nylons, and rubbers is expected to boost
the demand even more in the coming years.
Control of Catalyst Deactivation through Encapsulation Using Wet Chemical Methods
Different methods have been explored over the years in an attempt to overcome the problems
associated with catalyst deactivation. Some of those techniques include Atomic Layer
Deposition (ALD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Strong Metal-Support Interaction, and
core-shell methods. ALD has particularly received increased attention due to its potential to
prevent leaching and sintering in base metals (e.g., copper) for liquid phase reactions. Although
ALD is effective, it makes use of expensive precursors and high vacuum, and it is time
consuming. SMSI has also been used to encapsulate catalysts to protect them from deactivation.
However, SMSI is extremely selective, as not all metal oxides show this phenomenon, which
limits its application. The challenges associated with these and other approaches propelled our
desire to develop a facile and more economically viable process.

We have recently developed a wet chemical method to grow an alumina overcoating layer onto
silica spheres, and this has been further optimized to control its thickness. Future efforts will be
geared towards utilizing this method to encapsulate metal nanoparticles to prevent their
deactivation through leaching and sintering, which are predominant modes in aqueous systems.

Development of Nanocomposites for the Detection of Hydroxyl Radicals (with Dr. Kim,
UToledo)
Free radicals are extremely reactive and unstable chemicals generated from various sources like
biological metabolism and atmospheric reactions. Overproduction of free radicals, such as
hydroxyl radicals, in a human body, is known as one of the causes for accelerated aging, cancer,
Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Therefore, a rapid and efficient detection of free
radicals is essential for the prevention and cure of these diseases. Several methods have been
used for the detection of free radicals; however, most of them are not accurate and consistent
enough in identifying the type and concentration of free radicals. The goal of this project to
make a highly sensitive, robust, and reusable sensor for hydroxyl radicals. The sensor is
regarded as greatly beneficial not only for medical diagnosis, but also for fuel cells, and
environmental monitoring.

1,769 Posts2,602 Followers2,512 Following

Dr. Ana C. Alba-Rubio (she/her) PI of the Alba-Rubio group at @Clemson_ChBE. Developing

#HeterogeneousCatalysts for #SustainableProcesses. Just shoot for the stars, if it feels right 🎶
http://www.albarubiogroup.com

Scott Husson

Scott M. Husson, Ph.D.

William B. “Bill” Sturgis, ’57 & Martha Elizabeth “Martha Beth”
Blackmon Sturgis Annual Distinguished Professor in Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering
 Professor
Advanced Separation Materials, Bioseparations, Water-Energy Nexus
Associate Editor, Separation Science and Technology

Phone: 864-656-4502
Office: 126 Earle Hall
Email: shusson@clemson.edu

Education
Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 1998
B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1993

Research Interests:
Advanced Separation Materials, Bioseparations, Water-Energy Nexus

Our research group uses synthetic and polymer chemistry to create advanced separation
materials to tackle some of society’s grand challenges: affordable medicine, access to clean
water, sustainable energy generation, and prevention of nuclear terror.

Affordable medicine: The development of efficient separation processes for biologics is one of
the most pressing challenges facing the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Production costs for protein therapeutics have shifted from cell culture to downstream
processing, bringing economic pressure to develop new separation technologies. Our group
plays the lead role in the development of next-generation adsorptive membranes for the recovery
and purification of biologics. Our ‘use-inspired basic research program focuses on the
development of new classes of membrane materials with advanced functionality for high
productivity protein chromatography. The work is transformational because it will help
manufacturers face emerging challenges that include the need for more selective
chromatography media, improved resolution, and tolerance of feedstock conditions, while
simultaneously increasing productivity and lowering the cost of therapeutic products for the U.S.
consumer.

Water-Energy: The connections between water and energy present both challenges and
opportunities. Water is used in energy production and electricity generation. Energy is required
to recover, treat, and deliver water for diverse uses. Thus, water scarcity, variability, and
uncertainty make the U.S. energy system vulnerable. To address the challenges, our group is
developing new membrane materials for energy-efficient water purification, as well as new
materials for sustainable energy production from water systems; these new membrane materials
are largely the result of advances in nanotechnology and include organic (polymeric) and
inorganic compositions. Focus is given to emerging technologies such as advanced thin-film
composite membranes designed for desalination and osmotic processes involving high salinity
gradients. The group uses emerging materials to develop robust pressure-retarded osmosis
membranes with enhanced performance for harvesting clean and renewable energy from salinity
gradient resources. Since performance loss due to fouling is one of the largest costs associated
with membrane processes in water treatment, the group also explores new surface treatments
that limit membrane fouling, as these will have significant economic and societal impacts.

Prevention of nuclear terror: Our group collaborates with researchers in Clemson’s

Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences to advance scientific
understanding in the development of high-selectivity sensor materials and high-sensitivity
sensors for ultra-trace-level isotopic analysis of radionuclides in aqueous media. The work is
motivated by the quest to combat threats associated with the early detection of nuclear weapons,
as contamination of water is likely to result from clandestine nuclear activities associated with
the assembly of a nuclear weapon. The materials and methods under development by our group
are able to concentrate and detect radionuclides in natural water, making them a powerful
nuclear forensics tool.

Mark Roberts
Thies Research Group

CONTACT

Welcome to the Thies Research Group

The Thies Research Group focuses on chemical and biomolecular separations where
thermodynamics and phase equilibria play a key role. The fractionation and molecular
characterization of poorly defined systems with potential applications in materials and energy
are of particular interest. An example of such a system is lignin. After cellulose, lignin is the 2nd
most abundant organic compound on earth; furthermore, it is the only abundant biopolymer
with aromaticity. Nevertheless, today lignin is considered to be a biorefinery by product at best
and a waste stream at worst. Thus, the recovery, fractionation, and purification of lignin is a
focus of current research.

Technology developed by the Thies group (the “ALPHA” process) is being used to control the
molecular weight, chemical functionality, and purity of lignins, with the properties being
tailored for each specific application as required. Carbon fibers, activated carbons, hydrogels,
and polyurethane foams are but some of the applications where our "ALPHA” lignins have been
shown to have unique advantages.

Lignin as a Biofuel

A "liquid" lignin has been discovered that can be used to produce

a clean-burning biofuel from a key industrial by-product stream. Greenhouse-gas reductions of

millions of tons of carbon dioxide/yr are now possible.

Ultrapure Lignin
 Separation processes are being investigated that can convert the

lignin recovered from a dirty by-product stream into an ultrapure product containing less than
100 ppm metals. Such a clean lignin has potential applications as a renewable biopolymer.

Liquid-Crystalline Carbon

The fractionation of carbonaceous oligomers via supercritical

extraction has been used to isolate the lowest mol wt liquid-crystalline PAH oligomer ever
observed. Advanced-materials applications are anticipated.

For more information on Research Areas, Click Here

Research

Renewable Lignin Biofuel from an Industrial By-Product Stream

In collaboration with Liquid Lignin Company, an easily

processable, flowable lignin has been discovered that can be used to continuously produce a
clean-burning, low-ash biofuel from a key paper mill by-product stream.
Purification and Fractionation for making Ultrapure Lignin
Separation processes are being investigated that can convert the

lignin recovered from a dirty by-product stream into an ultrapure product containing less than
100 ppm metals. Such a clean lignin has potential applications as a renewable biopolymer.

Watch video to see how we can simultaneously purify and fractionate lignin to make it
ultrapure!
Carbonaceous Oligomers via Supercritical Extraction for Advanced-Materials Applications
The fractionation of carbonaceous oligomers via supercritical

extraction has been used to isolate the lowest mol wt liquid-crystalline PAH oligomer ever
observed. Advanced-materials applications are anticipated.

Rapid expansion of sub- and supercritical solutions into liquid solvents (RESOLV) process for
encapsulation of bioactive agents in polymeric nanoparticles
Rapid expansion of sub- and supercritical solutions into liquid

solvents (RESOLV) process has been used to fabricate bioactive compound-loaded polymeric
nanoparticles with tunable particle size, loading capacity, and release profile. Renewable
biopolymers such as poly(L-lactide) and lignins are being investigated as encapsulating
matrices for natural oxidative labile bioactive agents (e.g., catechins and curcuminoids).
Group Members

Oreoluwa Agede
Graduate Research Assistant
Contact: oagede@g.clemson.edu

Contact Info

Thies Research Group

116/222/224 Earle Hall (Labs)
221 Earle Hall (Office)
Clemson, SC 29634-0909
Phone: +1-864-656-5424
Email: mcths@clemson.edu
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
127 Earle Hall
206 S. Palmetto Blvd.

Mark Thies

Ming Yang

Ming Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Catalysis, Advanced Materials, Reaction Engineering for Energy and
Environmental Applications
Email: myang3@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-6130
Office: 221 Earle Hall
Social: X - @MingYangClemson
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ming-yang-5641111b/

Education
 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Tufts University
 M.S., Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University
 B.S., Chemistry, Nankai University
 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University

Research Interests
At the crossroads of thermal-, electro-, and magnetochemical reactions, Dr. Yang’s research
centers on the relationship between the fundamental properties of catalysts and their catalytic
performances. The current research of Yang Lab focuses on the design, synthesis, and reaction
engineering of catalytic materials that enable negative emissions and sustainable energy
production. Using advanced characterizations such as isotope experiments, microscopy
analyses, and operando spectroscopies, Yang Lab aims to unveil those broadly relevant catalytic
descriptors at an atomistic precision for energy and environmental applications. Before
Clemson, Dr. Yang worked at General Motors R&D as a senior researcher, bridging
fundamental catalysis research with engineering implementation. Dr. Yang is currently an
inaugural early-career editor of Applied Catalysis B: Environment & Energy.

@MingYangClemson

Group picture of 2024!@ClemsonCECAS

Catalysis, Chemical, and Biochemical Reactions
Catalysts alter chemical reaction rates in both traditional processes and biochemical systems.
They also have substantial societal importance, as they are estimated to be involved with at least
35% of the global gross domestic product. At Clemson, our Catalysis, Chemical, and
Biochemical Reactions Research Cluster faculty are learning how to make catalysts more
efficient, more effective, and more durable. Some of our catalyst applications are converting
sustainable biomass into widely usable fuels and chemical products, reducing carbon dioxide
emissions to improve energy independence and sustainability, producing versatile and less
dangerous ethanol fuels from geologic and biologic natural gas sources, and generating
ammonia fertilizer from air and water alone to better feed the world’s poorest regions. Research
projects are supported by NSF, DOE, and NASA. Our graduates have gone on to careers in
industry, academia, and government agencies such as NASA.

Faculty:
Ana Alba-Rubio
David Bruce

David A. Bruce, Ph.D.

Professor and Department Chair
Catalysis, Kinetics, Mass Transfer, and Molecular Modeling
Email: dbruce@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-5425
Office: 127 Earle Hall
Education
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1994
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991

Research Interests:
Catalysis, Kinetics, Mass Transfer, and
Molecular Modeling

Professor Bruce's principle research interests are

in the areas of catalysis, kinetics, mass transfer, and molecular modeling. Some particular areas
of interest include: the modeling driven development of heterogeneous catalysts for the dry
reforming of methane, syngas conversion to alcohols, selective conversion of lignin and
cellulose based sugars into high-value chemicals, and chiral epoxidation reactions important to
the synthesis of pharmaceutical and agricultural products; development of supercritical water
and sonochemical waste treatment and chemical conversion processes; prediction and
measurement of diffusion phenomena in polymers and catalysts; and the prediction of structure-
activity relationships for catalyst materials and chiral polymers via quantum mechanics and
parallelized molecular dynamics methods.

Ming Yang

 Computing, Systems Engineering, and Molecular Simulation

Mathematical models, from pencil and paper first-principles to big data-based machine
learning, to their supercomputer implementations, not only facilitate deeper scientific
understanding of chemical and biomolecular processes but as engineering tools also
reduce lab-to-market cost and translational time by orders of magnitude. Our Faculty in
the Computing, Systems Engineering, and Molecular Simulation Research Cluster
develop and use state-of-the-art computational tools to describe, for example, catalytic
quantum chemistry, biomolecules in native cellular environments from an atomistic
viewpoint, chemical and biochemical manufacturing processes from deeply intensified to
traditional scales, and chemotherapy drug responses of malfunctioning signaling
pathways in cancer cells. Example applications include ammonia synthesis catalysts,
water purification membranes, energy storage using gas hydrates, reducing process
scale through intensification, and tailoring cancer drug cocktails to individual patients.
Clemson’s world-class Supercomputer Palmetto is routinely used with ~400 Teraflops,
~23,000 CPUs, and ~400 GPUs. Funding sources include NSF, DoD, DoE, NIH, and
various industrial partners. Graduates are in high demand in academia and industry
alike.

Faculty:
Marc Birtwistle