March 2026
SPEAKER: Dr. Wenji Dong, Paul Hohenschuh Distinguished Professor, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
BIOGRAPHY:
Wenji Dong is a professor in Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at Washington State University. Dr. Dong received his B.S./M.S. in chemistry from Lanzhou University, China, Ph.D. in biophysics from London…
Dr. Hurlock is a chemist and material scientist in the Materials and System Design team, a part of the Nuclear Materials group at PNNL. Dr. Hurlock’s work focuses on the development and demonstration of scalable separations using processed sorbent materials. His work seeks to elucidate structural–property relationships of sorbents under process conditions to gain material design insights for new and emerging separations.
Oscar Hernandez, from Dr. Cliff Berkman’s research group, will present a literature review on the application of targeted breast cancer therapy on colon cancer cells. The data presented will support the efficacy of the antibody drug conjugate RC48 through in vitro and mechanistic studies using colon cancer cells that express HER2 proteins. Overall, summary of objectives, findings and conclusions will be presented.
Title: Beyond the Harm Principle: What Students Can Teach Us About Cyber-Sanctity
Speaker: Dr. Sherri Conklin, Washington State University
Abstract: Current ethical frameworks in cybersecurity seem to gravitate toward utilitarian-style or rights-based harm reduction, yet this fails to capture the full scope of moral injury. Drawing on recent experiences developing and co-teaching…
Ashlyn Belton, from Dr. Jack Zhang’s research group, will present a literature review on Application of Semiconductor Spin Defects for Quantum Computing.
Design of third-generation bioactive glasses: Challenges and future research directions from the perspective of a materials scientist
Presented by Dr. Ashutosh Goel, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University
Abstract
The concept of third-generation biomaterials is based on the principle of activating a synchronized
sequence of genes at the…
Eric Jacobo, from Dr. Jim Brozik’s research group, will present on “The Sequences Specific Binding and Thermodynamic Driving Forces of the Extended Region of Aquaporin-4 Binding to α-Syntrophin.”
Ivan A. Popov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Washington State University, will present his seminar, “Pushing Actinides to the Limit: Bonding and Reactivity at Extreme Oxidation States.”
SPEAKER: Dr. Norbert Kruse, Emeritus Professor, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
BIOGRAPHY:
Norbert Kruse graduated from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, in 1976 in chemistry and chemical engineering. He then moved to the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin for a PhD…
Phong Huynh, from Jack Zhang’s research group, will present on “Conventional and Modern Approaches in Iodine Adsorption: Mechanisms and Host–Guest Interactions.”
John was born in Wisconsin and obtained an A.B. from Ripon College (WI) as a double major in Chemistry and History. John was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a summer in the lab of Hairong Guan at the Univ. Cincinnati for a 10 week crash course in synthesis. John continued studying the coordination chemistry of polydentate sulfur ligands with transition metals under the guidance of Mas Iimura until he departed for Lafayette, IN and graduate school at Purdue University. At Purdue, John worked almost exclusively with the actinide elements and obtained his Ph.D. under Suzanne Bart. Their work focused on utilizing redox-active ligands to perform multi-electron bond cleavage reactions. After Purdue, John relocated to Ypsilanti for a post doctoral appointment at the Univ. Michigan under Nate Szymczak where he investigated intramolecular boron Lewis acids to promote bond activation reactions. In 2021, John accepted a position at Drury University (PUI) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. His lab studies the fundamentals of hydrogen bonds tuning through adjacent redox events.
Materials in Extreme Applications: Compact Fusion
Presented by Dr. Sergey Tsurkan, Research Materials Scientist, Avalanche Energy
Abstract:
Complex concentrated alloys (CCA’s) have recently emerged as candidate materials for extreme environments such as those found within fusion reactors [1], [2], [3] and hypersonic systems [4]. A large area…
Iaroslav Gureev, from Dr. Ivan Popov’s research group, will present on “Orbital Localization–Driven Disruption of Peripheral Bonding in Valence-Isoelectronic B12– Clusters.”
Featuring Dr. Gurtej Sandhu, Principal Fellow and Corporate Vice President at Micron Technology, this 2026 Innovative Leaders Lecture Series event will highlight Dr. Sandhu’s insights on the future of memory chip technology and the pivotal role continuous innovation plays in shaping the next era of computing.
SPEAKER: Dr. Sakcham Bairoliya, Postdoctoral Research Associate, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Sakcham Bairoliya is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at Washington State University. He received his Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University, where he investigated extracellular nucleic…
Ananya Biswas, a member of Dr. Sharma Anjali’s research group, will present “Dendrimer-Mediated Corneal Drug Delivery: Bridging Anatomical Barriers to Translational Therapeutics.”
Title: Scholarship Opportunities for Cybersecurity Students
Speaker: Dr. Assefaw Gebremedhin, Washington State University
Abstract: This seminar will cover several exciting opportunities for cybersecurity students. First is WSU’s CyberCorps SFS program. This program provides scholarships for cybersecurity undergraduates and graduate students, funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). In return…
Byron Fisher, a member of Dr. Xiaofeng Guo’s research group, will present “Computational Thermodynamics of Molten Salts.”
Join us in person for our annual weekend Veterinary Spring Conference. There will be a large and small animal track and a track for technicians & assistants. We encourage veterinarians, technicians, and assistants to attend.
Please join the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering for a special departmental seminar by Dr. Joan B. Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at Michigan State University and recipient of the 2016 Stockholm Water Prize and 2024 IWA Global Water Award.
Dr. Rose will share reflections on four…
Join us for a Virtual Alumni & Mentorship Day—an interactive, online event designed to help you explore career paths, gain practical insight, and build meaningful professional connections. Hosted by our Alumni & Mentorship Coordinator, this…
Mark E. Eberhart is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines and founder of First Principles Materials Design and Software. His research develops first-principles methods for understanding bonding and reactivity directly from the electron charge density. Building on QTAIM, he has introduced morphological and geometric analyses that quantify bond directionality, charge redistribution, and electrostatic structure in molecules, enzymes, and materials. His group has also developed electron-density analysis software used in both academic and applied research. Dr. Eberhart holds degrees from the University of Colorado (B.S., M.S.) and MIT (Ph.D.).
SPEAKER: Dr. Matthew Bernards, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Idaho
BIOGRAPHY:
Matthew Bernards is a Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of Idaho, where he has been a faculty member since 2016. Since August 2019, he has also served as the Director…
Discover how your personality can shape your career direction.In this interactive workshop, Career Adviser Chris Miller, will guide you through the Truity/MBTI assessment to help you identify your strengths, work preferences, and communication style—and translate those insights into potential career paths and majors.Leave with clearer next steps, a better understanding…